The Inspiring Journey of Devika from Thalassery to Calicut’s Most Loved Vegetarian & Multi-Cuisine Kitchen
Devika AV, originally from Thalassery, moved to Calicut many years ago and now resides in Chevayur. She is married to Balachandran, a retired Business Manager from MERK Pvt. Ltd. Together, they have two daughters—one currently working in a bank in Canada, and the other an architecture graduate seeking the right opportunity to begin her career.
A major turning point in Devika’s life came in 2017. With both daughters leaving for hostel and the house turning quiet, she found herself with long hours of free time. Instead of letting those days slip away, Devika and two of her close friends decided to create something purposeful. What started as a casual idea among three women soon transformed into one of Calicut’s most trusted food brands: Kaappikkoottam.
The journey began in a small house in Chevayur. Devika and her friends noticed a significant gap in the city’s food culture. Calicut, despite its busy and growing nature, had very few good vegetarian hotels offering breakfast options—especially for early morning travelers. Devika often recalled her years in Tamil Nadu, where vegetarian food was available anytime during the day. When she moved to Kerala in 1995, the only dependable option at the time was Sharavana. However, during heavy monsoons, the lack of proper drainage caused water to flow into the restaurant, creating an unhygienic environment.
Identifying the opportunity, Devika and her partners set up a vegetarian breakfast centre with a home delivery service. Their aim was simple but powerful—to serve clean, tasty, and comforting vegetarian dishes. The response was immediate and encouraging. What started as a humble home-based initiative began gaining attention, trust, and appreciation from people across the city.
Over the years, Kaappikkoottam grew steadily and confidently. Today, it operates three outlets across Calicut: one in Pottammal, another at CSI Mananchira, and the main kitchen at YMCA Cross Road. The name Kaappikkoottam itself carries a charming story. Devika coined it from the English phrase “Coffee Club,” giving it a warm, local, and memorable identity.
As the customer base expanded, Devika listened closely to the needs of the people who supported her. Many senior customers preferred vegetarian dishes, while their children often wanted non-vegetarian options. This meant families had to place multiple orders from different places. Understanding this difficulty, Devika introduced non-vegetarian dishes as well, ensuring that Kaappikkoottam could serve every member of a family with equal satisfaction.
Today, Kaappikkoottam runs with the strength of a dedicated team of 50 employees. The main kitchen at the YMCA outlet begins work at 7 AM and continues until 8 PM, serving fresh and delicious dishes throughout the day. What started as a small experiment in 2017 has now grown into a strong, consistent, customer-loved restaurant brand in Calicut.
Devika’s passion for cooking comes from her family. Her mother and grandmother were both exceptional cooks, and she naturally inherited their love for food. That deep-rooted passion is reflected in every item served under the Kaappikkoottam name.
Message from Devika to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
“Only enter this field if you have true passion. This industry cannot be copied from someone else’s formula. It demands hard work, dedication, and genuine love for the process. If you have that, success will come naturally.”
