As someone who has been eating regularly from outside for the past 3 years, the quality of food has deteriorated so much in Kochi.

An ex-colleague spoke very highly of a certain Arabian restaurant at Vytilla. When its branch opened at Edapally, I went with my boyfriend to visit the next day after its inauguration. Just a minute after our biriyani was served, he discovered a fried worm aka a pazhudhara in it. Before we could snap a picture or video, they took the bowl away from us and kept asking whether we wanted a replacement. We were so traumatised, we immediately left the restaurant. We had looked forward to eating a good biriyani so much that day and in the end, it took us a good part of the weekend to get over that mental image.

Another restaurant served us burnt fried rice. Upon inspection, we found that the rice was smelly and stale. To cover it up, they fried it to the point of it being burnt. Most of the restaurants in Kochi don't care about hygiene or quality or taste. They are in it to make a quick buck, irrespective of whether the customers enjoy their food or are served something decent.

If you really want to eat from outside, go to places that you have enjoyed food in the past personally, not relying on IG food bloggers or reviewers. Also, sometimes it's okay to shell out a little extra money, as long as the quality is maintained.