Sangam Chettinad Indian Cuisine

"Sifting through Sangam Chettinad’s massive menu of soups, appetizers, and entrees feels like reading a textbook of classic South Indian dishes. If you know what you want, congratulations on being decisive. For everyone else, show up on the weekend and get one of the thali combos that comes with a massive assortment of curries, dhals, yogurts, pickles, and rice. It can feel chaotic on the weekends, with a crowd of people waiting in the entryway for a table and the phone constantly ringing for takeout and delivery orders. Just show up during the week or spend that extra time poring over the long menu." - nicolai mccrary

"This North Austin restaurant serves a South Indian menu with dosas, idiyappam (steamed rice noodles), uthappams (a type of dosa), and appams (a type of pancake) paired with delicious chutneys and curries. The vanjaram meen curry (kingfish curry), which tastes like it’s straight from coastal South India, is tangy with the perfect blend of Chettinad masala spices. The karaikudi nattu kozhi masala (country chicken) is another must-try specialty. Eat in one of the comfy booths or order to-go online." - Erin Russell, Sana Khan

"While the Milwood restaurant offers dishes from the entire country of India, its specialties lean more southern Indian, especially Chettinad cuisine from the Tamil Nadu state. The breakfast menu includes egg dosas, idiyappam (rice noodles) paired with coconut milk, and potato masalas. Lunch and dinner are comparatively more expansive with entrees such as mutton chops, tangy fish curries, boiled egg masalas, idlis, dosas, and halwa (a pudding-ish dessert). For drinks, there are rose milk and filtered coffee, plus booze. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury

"Trying to walk into this South Indian spot on a Saturday afternoon is like showing up at an exclusive sneaker drop that happens to take place in a North Austin strip mall. The crowd spills out onto the sidewalk and the phone won’t stop ringing. Be patient—the rich and spicy chettinad chicken is worth the wait. It's just one of about 200 items on the menu, which gets broken into vegetarian and non-vegetarian sections. If you already know what you want, congratulations on being decisive. For everyone else, just order the weekend-only thali combos that come with an assortment of curries, dhals, yogurts, pickles, and rice. " - nicolai mccrary

"Sifting through Sangam Chettinad’s massive menu of soups, appetizers, and entrees feels like flipping through a textbook of classic South Indian dishes. There are over 200 on the menu, broken into vegetarian and non-vegetarian sections, with a seemingly infinite options. If you know what you want, congratulations on being decisive. For everyone else, show up on the weekend and order one of the thali combos that come with a massive assortment of curries, dhals, yogurts, pickles, and rice. The weekends are a little chaotic, with a crowd waiting in the entryway for a table and the phone constantly ringing for takeout and delivery orders. Just show up during the week or spend that extra time poring over the long menu. photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel photo credit: Richard Casteel Food Rundown photo credit: Richard Casteel Veg Meal Thali Special The thali specials are only available on the weekend, but they’re the best way to sample more of the menu. If you’re here on a Saturday or Sunday, this is the way to go, otherwise you’ll need a couple hundred visits to make your way through the dishes. photo credit: Richard Casteel Gobi Manchurian Our favorite way to start a meal here. The little cauliflower nuggets are crispy and well-fried, then tossed with a slightly spicy, sweet, and sour sauce that coats the whole thing. photo credit: Richard Casteel Chili Chicken Dry These are lightly fried, but very tender inside. Not worth going out of your way for, but a solid app." - Nicolai McCrary