What is the difference between a hopper and a String Hopper?

A traditional hopper (Appa) is a bowl-shaped, crispy-edged pancake made with fermented rice flour and coconut milk batter, while a String Hopper (Idiyappam) is a flat nest of steamed rice flour noodles. They are really different in texture, cooking method, and overall look, even if English calls them by a similar name.

Hoppers are cooked one by one in a small curved pan, and they are often served with a fried egg, placed right in the middle. String hoppers need the dough to be pushed through a metal press so thin strands form, then those strands are steamed on small wicker mats. String hoppers feel softer and work as a calm, neutral base meant to absorb thin, tasty gravies, like coconut milk “kiri hodi”.