Tirunelveli is famous across Tamil Nadu for its wheat halwa — a dense, ghee-rich sweet that has been refined here over generations. The most famous place to buy it is Iruttu Kadai ("the dark shop"), a stall opposite Nellaiappar Temple that only opens in the evenings and usually sells out within an hour. Shanti Sweets and Lakshmi Sweets near the railway junction are reliable alternatives open normal hours.
Beyond the halwa, Tirunelveli cooking features robust mutton curries and fish preparations that tend to be spicier than in northern Tamil Nadu. Sethupillai Mutton Stall on Cheranmahadevi Road in Pettai is a long-running place specialising in mutton and parotta.