For over forty years now, Ameer Hamsa has been making the wee hours of morning deliciously memorable for the residents of Trivandrum. A quaint little shop bang in the middle of a diverging road at Kunjalumoodu, Karamana, Good Morning Fast Food sports a rustic ambience and seats just a few over 7 people at a time. Neither the space constraint nor the odd hours of service tamper Shibu Ameer’s (Ameer Hamsa’s son who we fondly call Shibu Ikka) business. People are ready to wait no matter how long, to devour that steaming luscious beef curry poured over hot flaky Porotta.
Before Mr Shibu returned from Dubai to take over his dad’s booming business, the restaurant served not just the popular Beef – Porotta combo but also Dosa, Appam and Puttu. It is he who 3 years ago introduced what is now an indispensable part of the meal at Good Morning – the ginger and mint infused black tea. I could go there and be disappointed about not being able to feast on the beef, but a return without a sip of that ‘kattan chaya’ is nearly impossible.
The place and its owner have an aura which calls you back, in fact, my friend and business partner – Arvind Soju makes it point to pay a visit here every time he is in town despite how early in the morning it opens. About the working hours: if we reach between 6.00 AM – 8.00 AM, we will be served Puttu (steamed breakfast made with rice flour), Payar (boiled green gram dal) and Pappadom (crisp and round flatbread), whereas between 8.00 AM – 12.00 PM it will be Porotta, Beef and Pappadom. While most of the restaurants have a seasonal menu, the only thing that changes here with the season is the availability of sliced onions. We know how the graph of onion price in India is, don’t we?
The Instagrammer in you will awaken at the sight of steaming hot beef cooked over an ‘Aduppu’ (open wood fire), and this could easily be one of the reasons for its success and popularity. The demand is so massive that he is now forced to open the restaurant even in evenings (except Sundays) between 3.00 PM – 8.00 PM to feed the hungry beef fanatics. Pay in cash, or if you are someone like me who relies on digital wallets, then that, but there is no POS machine.
The lockdown sure has trifled with his business, but Shibu Ikka is hopeful, he is willing to stay shut until necessary and will definitely be back with a bang to feed a lot of foodies like us. Good Morning Hotel will once again be open and we will all happily lose our sleep for a delicious plate of porotta and beef. The place taught me that if you do one thing with all your heart, that one is enough.
Very much interseted to know about kochannan sahib 🥰🥰🥰
Will post soon, need to collect more details on it 🙂
Vikaram ❤
<3
I have had the porotta and need roast from good morning, but never the kattan. Maybe next time I will try it. But for now I am under lockdown in distant Bangalore. Nice write up. Can’t wait to visit home (Trivandrum) again.
Soon <3 Stay safe 🙂
Reading your blog makes me want to visit Trivandrum ❣
You know you are always welcome, just bring yourself, nothing else 🙂
The best beef curry I’ve had in my life..bt more than the taste , the service there gets you back…
very true, his smiling face 🙂
Most of my friends have eaten from here and I’m the only one left out in the conversation about how tasty the beef curry is 🙄.. After our exams i’ve planned abt going there nd having the famous porotta and beef, unfortunately then the lockdown started.. Right now I’m Waiting for things to get better 😊
Soon then <3
Hi
Great blog; but how on earth does one subscribe to the blog?
Heeeey, hahaha, I am still working on it. I shall update you soon!
This is such a hunger inducing article! Love it 😍
Thanks, Momo :*