Did you know
P N Balan, the man behind Hotel City Star, came to Kochi from Palakkad nearly five decades ago and started as a helper at a tea shop near the Church of Our Lady of Life on Bazaar Road, delivering tea to nearby shops, offices and warehouses.
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More about Balan Chettan Kada
7- Did you knowBalan Chettan Kada opens every day from 8am to 11pm. Hours can change.
- Did you knowBalan Chettan Kada is known for mutton chaps and square porotta. Menus can change.
- Did you knowLocals began calling Hotel City Star Balan Chettante Kada, and the second name stuck.
- Did you knowIn 2025, Hotel City Star had been running for 32 years with the same staff and style of cooking.
- Did you knowHotel City Star in Mattancherry began as a pharmacy, then became a tea shop before turning into the eatery it is today.
- Did you knowMothers around Hotel City Star made square porottas in P N Balan’s Ceylon style, and children brought them to school for lunch.
- Did you knowP N Balan of Hotel City Star died in May 2026. People came to Karippalam Community Hall to view his body before it was taken to his native Palakkad.