"Margaret Pak and Vinod Kalathil’s goal has always been to share the flavors of Kerala with Chicago diners, first at their food hall stand and now at Thattu’s permanent home in Avondale. The colorful, warm dining room is laid-back (you order via QR code and collect your own cutlery and napkins), full of families and locals eating the foods of India’s southwestern coastal state of Kerala. At lunchtime, try the must-order chaat masala-dusted tater tots and Keralan fried chicken bites; at dinner, the move is to order bone-in pork chops with tangy peralan gravy, fish steamed in banana leaf, and grilled appam to sop up the lingering sauces. Between the homestyle dishes and the relaxed atmosphere, it feels as if you are eating in Pak and Kalathil’s own dining room at home." - ByKate Kassin
