South Indian fare at delightful fares

Appu’s Hotel in INA market is a small restaurant where hardly 20 people can be accommodated. 

But the limited space does not stop food lovers, especially non-vegetarians, from thronging the restaurant. 

Appu’s chicken curry and biryani is a much sought-after dish and especially favoured by the many South Indian residents in the area.  

 

So what makes their food so popular? Metrolife visited this place and tasted some popular delicacies. 

Skipping the snacks section which had Bando, Onion Vada, Dal Vada, Unniappam, Neyyappam, Sukhiyan and Pazham Pori, we decided to order some lip-smacking non-vegetarian food items. 

 

Since biryani and curry tops the popularity charts, it was the obvious choice. The delivery is fast. But the chicken in the biryani is nowhere to be seen! 

Did they miss out, in the rush to serve it? 

Apparently not, for a big chunk of meat lies hidden under the rice mound while a boiled egg adorns the plate.

 

Actually, what makes this biryani more special is its preparation. 

Essentially, the meat with its curry is prepared entirely separately from the rice, unlike the way biryani is cooked normally -- overnight and with the meat. 

It is only at the time of serving that the meat curry is ladled onto the plate and the rice piled on top. 

The serving of orange-red rice is delicious, especially when mixed with curry and eaten with papaddam and raita. 

 

In the non-vegetarian section there were other items like Mutton Biryani, Egg Biryani, Chicken Curry and Chicken Roast.  

 

As for the taste, the curry itself is very different. It makes use of ample amounts of pepper, cloves, cinnamon, curry leaves and a hint of sweet is infused through cashews.

 

It is not spicy at all, perhaps because of the coconut oil it is prepared in. 

The chicken piece is tender and juicy.

Both the biryani and curry turn out to be good choices.

The menu doesn’t mention beef items but ask the boys working there and it will 

be served.

 

Vegetarians don’t even return disgruntled from the place. 

Special vegetarian thali, unlike any north Indian thali is Appu’s speciality. 

What is served is rice with dry sabzi, spicy gravy, amla chutney, coconut chutney, sambhar, rasam and curd. 

 

Served in small portions, except rasam which was watery, every item had a distinctive taste. 

The dry vegetable dish had a miniscule amount of spices whereas the gravy was thick and had flavour of coconut oil.  

 

The place also has special breakfast menu, which includes Appam, Idiyyapam, Puttu, Sambhar Vada, Masala Dosa, Egg Dosa, Onion and Paneer Dosa. 

Wholesome, hygienic and pocket-friendly a meal at Appu’s will set you back by less than a 100 odd rupees!