Anjappar now has a loyal customer in me. Not only is their dosa the absolute best in orange county, but all of their dishes are well crafted, delicious, and surprisingly fast and efficient service. The staff is always amazing, and I have only had great experiences at Anjappar. I would recommend 10000x to anyone who is looking for dosa or any other indian dishes. read more

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I ordered the thali specifically because I wanted to sample a variety of Chettinad dishes. Unfortunately, the food was a serious disappointment and, in my opinion, an insult to authentic Chettinad cuisine. It tasted more like North Indian food being presented as South Indian food, with very little resemblance to the flavors I associate with genuine Chettinad cooking. The chapati was particularly disappointing. It tasted stale, almost as though it had been made a few days earlier. Surprisingly, the only things I genuinely enjoyed were the papad and the lemon pickle--which says a lot when those are the highlights of a thali. The staff themselves were pleasant and had a good attitude. However, the service lacked attentiveness. No one stopped by to ask whether the food was okay, whether we needed anything else, or even whether we needed more water or napkins. These are simple courtesies that make customers feel welcomed and looked after. Most concerning was seeing a bug crawling on the wall immediately next to our table while we were eating. I couldn't tell whether it was a small cricket or a roach, but either way, seeing an insect crawling beside you during a meal is extremely unappetizing. Management should seriously consider having the restaurant professionally inspected and treated for pests. I came expecting to enjoy authentic Chettinad flavors and a variety of South Indian dishes. Unfortunately, between the quality of the food, the lack of attentive service, and the insect near our table, this was not an experience I would want to repeat. read more

Heads up if you're a regular here like I used to be, the quality has really slipped lately. Went in expecting the usual solid meal and left pretty let down. The thali was flat and underwhelming, barely any flavor coming through. The dal needed salt badly, tasted almost like it was missing a step. The pakora was soggy instead of crispy. And the dosa was the real dealbreaker, the batter tasted old and had a sour edge to it that I just couldn't get past. I know this place used to be a go-to for a lot of people in the area, myself included, so wanted to give a heads up before you make the trip. Maybe it was an off night, but based on what we got, I'd hold off for now until things improve read more

Vibes: Cute, casual ambiance Crowd: Quite empty on a Monday evening Menu: Tons of choices, but the menu doesn't list prices Value for price: 5/5, large servings Service: I have some feedback... Parking: Small strip mall. Can get crowded I came here for the first time with my two friends who love this restaurant. We were the only ones in the restaurant for the first ~hour after they opened. The servers are likely used to regulars, but since I was a first-timer, I needed some time to decide and felt rushed to order. My friends each ordered a stuffed dosa (chicken/goat keema), I settled on the Aappam combo (they were out of Idli). We also ordered the Sukka varuval to share. I'd recommend the dosa most highly. The dosa itself was GIGANTIC (think 2 plates-large) and came with a ton of meat inside + lentil soup and chutneys to dip. Both the chicken and goat keema were delectable. Easily 1.5 servings of food (for a woman, at least). My Aappam were delicious, coconutty and soft with crispy edges, but the serving was a bit smaller. I ordered it with goat masala and it was very salty but great flavor. Sukka varuval was also salty but the spices were delicious and it was a great shareable. Let me be real- the food was awesome. I only give 3 stars because the service was not. Despite us being some of the only patrons in the building, we had to flag the waitress every time we needed a water refill, to-go boxes, etc. You do pay up front, but our server mistakenly added two random full-sized dishes to our bill and we paid without noticing. Maybe it was just an off day for the staff, but unfortunately the service affected our experience and our wallets. read more

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant - Stuffed dosa (chicken keema), sukka varuval (chicken), Aappam combo (goat masala), stuffed dosa (goat keema) - Indian Near Me - Tustin, California

The restaurant is cozy and the menu has a wide variety of foods from tika masala to biriyani. Just be aware that there are no prices on the menu and the tab can run up quick, so keep that in mind as you order. The dishes we ordered were spice heavy. We ordered the Chicken Biriyani and the Masala Dosa. Both were new dishes to me (I'll attach photos). The Chicken Biriyani is a very seasoned dish with spices. It's a rice heavy dish with very little protein (i got 3 small pieces of chicken) - just a heads up for the meat heads. The dish was spice heavy and the rice had whole spices in it including star anise which you'll have to pick out. I also had multiple chicken bones I had to pick out as well which was odd for 3 chicken pieces. The Masala Dosa was a big pancake dish (the pancake almost had a cheez-it flavor) that was stuffed. This also isn't protein heavy so be aware of that as well and it comes with 3 sauces for dipping. The pancake looks big but the stuffing is only about 4"x2" of the pancake itself. It wasn't filling, but it a fun dish to try. The water served was very tap water with a chlorine-ish taste. I would definitely order a drink here. I ordered the mango lassi and it was good! read more

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Tustin, California

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This restaurant was hyped so much that we went to try this weekend. And oh boy we were disappointed. We ordered dosa appam coffee and chicken tikka biryani. Everything tasted mediocre. The chicken tikka were just broiled and kept on the pile of rice as you can see. It was a complete disappointment. read more

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Food: The food at Anjappar is amazing, and their Tamilnadu inspired biryani really satisfies any biryani craving you may have! Other than the biryani, their manchurians and 65s are really good! The green chutney that comes with the 65s is also good. Ambiance: The ambiance is nice with a beautiful peacock painting and clean bathrooms. Service: The service is also good. When it's busy, it's helpful to call the staff over to your table if you need anything. Overall, our all time favorite place to Uber Eats from as they are generous with their quantity and the quality is consistent! Excited to hear your thoughts!! read more

I had a great experience with friends at Anjappar for authentic South Indian food! It's a pretty casual ambiance with ample seating available on a Saturday night. Anjappar Chicken Thali: 5/5~I love that you can try a bit of everything with the thali. Great portions Goat Biryani: 4/5~the goat was tender and not gamey, the rice was alright Masala Dosa: 5/5~this was my first time trying dosa and I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was! It's almost like a pancake texture. Loved the masala that came on the side. Tandoori Chicken: 5/5~flavorful, mild spice, and wasn't dry at all Everything was DELICIOUS and would be happy to visit again! read more

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We've been regular customers here because the food has generally been good, but the service has become consistently disappointing. Once the order is taken and the food is dropped off, you're basically on your own. No one checks whether the food is okay, whether you need water, or if you need anything else. Even getting the check usually requires flagging someone down. Our most recent visit was especially frustrating. One person's food arrived, they ate their entire meal and finished, and only then did the second person's food show up. During that entire time, no one provided an update, acknowledged the delay, or apologized. That completely defeats the purpose of dining together. I also ordered the Chicken Keema Dosa because I had recently had a root canal and specifically needed something soft and finely minced. What came out was dry, chopped/shredded chicken, not what I expected from keema. After waiting quite a while because no one came to check on us, we finally asked the staff about it. The response was cold and dismissive: "That's how we make our keema. It's shredded chicken." No apology. No replacement offered. No alternative suggested. Just a very indifferent response. The disappointing part is that these are basic service issues that are easy to fix: check on the table, communicate delays, refill water, and show some concern when a customer has an issue with their food. Good food can only make up for poor service for so long. As regular customers, we've noticed the experience getting worse, and this last visit was underwhelming enough that we'll think twice before coming back. read more

FOOD: The food here was good! Flavorful and good. The garlic naan was very good and so was Saag paneer. I had the garlic Chicken kabob, but I thought it was over seasoned and that overpowered the dish. I think I will try a different chicken dish next time. They do prove a water pitcher and cups, but there is no ice. SERVICE: The service was good. Servers were friendly. DECOR/AMBIANCE: The restaurant is a good size with a good amount of seating. Very simple. It's definitely a casual place read more

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Great goat Biryani and Tandoori chicken with rice. The dipping sauce was a little bit salty for my taste but I assume that is how local southern Indian people prefer their food here. The chicken is juicy enough by itself and was not dry while the goat was a bit dry but paired well with the sauce. No hot tea from India tonight only on weekends I assume. Happy Anniversary to Anjappar restaurant celebrating over 10 years in Tustin. Nice clean restaurant and restroom. Plenty of free parking space. Good for large groups and families. Overall a very pleasant experience tonight. read more

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The food was really, really very good. I was very hungry, I am happy that I got to eat yummy food and came home very satisfied. We ordered the vegetarian thali, baby corn manchurian dry, veggie uthapam and the chocolate dosa. Our food came pretty fast. Our appetizer came within 2-3 mins of seating! I wish that they had folded the chocolate dosa instead of it falling out of the tray and touching the table. :( The chocolate dosa was soggy because of the chocolate syrup and my kiddo didn't eat it. I am going to order the crispy dosa with a side of the syrup next time onwards. read more

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I was passing through Orange County area and stopped by to get a dinner to go. I ordered one Butter Chicken entree with Garlic Naan. The food was delicious. Service was good but it took longer than expected. Ambiance is nice and clean. I will definitely be back to dine in to try the South Indian dishes. read more

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Authentic South Indian .. loved the tamarind curry . Parking is a little hard during peak lunch hours. Staff is friendly. The thali meals are a good deal. But they also have other delicious dishes on the menu read more

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant - Egg curry - Indian Near Me - Tustin, California

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Ordered chicken thali ($20) for lunch. Side soups were okay, a little watery and plain. Chicken was oily and not good. read more

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Tustin, California

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Delicious food! We had 4 people in our table and everyone ordered their own plates, two Thali sets, 2 dosas. We should have stopped here, but menu looked delicious so we ordered paratha, fried shrimp and beef curry on the side to share. Everything had distinct flavors and spice level was just right! On the Thali sets all the small sides are veggies and lentils, 2 of them are desserts, and you get to choose the center larger dish: protein or vegetarian. Delicious! Service was timely and polite! Clean interior which I appreciated! I would definitely revisit this place. read more

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After vetting some of the reviews, which highlighted vegan options, I was very excited to try the many dosa options and their thali. However, when I asked the servers to confirm whether the dishes I wanted to order did not contain dairy, I was informed that the dosa batter contains dairy, and many of the other dishes are also marinated in yogurt, cooked with ghee, or otherwise contain cream. After many tries, I was directed to a handful of the Indo-Chinese options. I ended up with the regular noodles. Honestly, I have no real complaints, as it was a very familiar flavor to me, just a hearty, comforting bowl of simple stir fried noodles with egg, green onion, and onion (3/5). While perhaps the Szechuan noodles or another option would have been more exciting, I was unfortunately not impressed enough to seek coming back here with my nondairy restrictions. Overall, I liked the informative service and selection of South Indian food, which is lesser known when the typical American thinks of "Indian" food. I am boosting my rating to support the business. read more

Our experience was pretty good. We got butter chicken, goat biriyani, vegetable korma, and some naan. Butter chicken 7/10 - aromatic, chicken was really tender. The sauce could be reduced a little more but I liked that it was light. Goat biriyani 8/10 - I thought the goat was cooked really well. I think the rice lacked a little flavor, but aromatics were there. They gave yogurt and some other sauce on the side that were really good. Vegetable korma 8/10 - would say this was really flavorful and aromatic, and it came out fresh and hot. Maybe a new batch. Garlic Naan 6.5/10 - I personally like it slightly more cooked, but i wish there was more garlic too. Not bad Beer and mango lassi were good. 5/5 haven't been to many Indian places in SoCal but would come back here. read more

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A few of my colleagues had never tried Indian food before, so I suggested we visit this Indian restaurant--and it turned out to be a great choice! Everyone really enjoyed the experience and was pleasantly surprised by the rich flavors and variety of dishes. The food felt truly authentic, with a perfect balance of spices, aroma, and taste that reflects traditional Indian cooking . From the appetizers to the main course, every dish had its own unique flavor and was freshly prepared. It was especially nice to see everyone step out of their comfort zone and genuinely enjoy something new. Overall, a wonderful dining experience, and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to explore authentic Indian cuisine read more

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We recently went and had tamil new year virundhu at anajppar OC. The food was flavorful and authentic, clearly prepared with high-quality ingredients. We are vegetarians, our kids loved it. 5 Stars. read more

Fantastic restaurant. Friendly service, delicious food, and parking was not difficult to obtain. I did find it a bit odd that the menu did not appear to have any lamb options, but they made up for it by having a seemingly greater variety of sweet/dessert options than most Indian eateries I have visited! P.S. Probably a good idea to clarify requested spice levels during ordering, if you palate is used to fare on the milder side. read more

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Food is good. But I didn't feel place was hygienic!! Servers wear gloves BUT dont change them...serve food, clean tables (touching dirty cloth), touching broom... read more

Hidden Gem Alert: Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant in the OC!! This spot is an absolute treasure! Specializing in authentic Southern Indian cuisine, including Chettinad specialties, this restaurant delivers a feast for the senses. The food was absolutely delectable--flavorsome, aromatic, and perfectly spiced. From the vibrant presentation to the exceptional quality, every bite was a delight!! Our personal favorites (and definite must-tries) include the 65 Chicken, Chicken Lollipops, and the rich, flavorful Chicken Tikka Masala. They also have Indian beer available. We tried: 65 Style Chicken Chicken Lollipops Masala Dosa Goat Biriyani Chicken Tikka Masala Chettinad Chicken We had such a lovely time exploring the bold and vibrant flavors of South India. If you're in the Tustin area, don't miss out on this amazing dining experience! Perfect for gatherings with friends and family!! Prudhvi, Prawin and Gabriel had wonderful customer service!! Parking may be difficult during peak hours on the weekend. read more

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Our craving for South Indian food led us here, as we wanted to avoid the drive to Artesia for the perfect dosa. Parking was a bit challenging on the weekend, but the restaurant itself was spacious and had a welcoming South Indian vibe. We ordered the Mysore dosa, lollipop chicken, and butter chicken. The lollipop chicken was a highlight--spicy, flavorful, and perfectly fried. The butter chicken was decent, though not extraordinary and it came with ghee which was a flavorful touch .The dosa, unfortunately, fell short of expectations; it lacked the signature crunch and crisp texture and was smaller than we anticipated. They had many info Chinese options which looked interesting. Service was satisfactory, and we appreciated that the food was halal. Overall a good South Indian food fix. read more

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The food was delicious. Service food and space clean and colorful. Went with friends who ordered so cannot comment on the food but if you're craving southern Indian food, definitely give this place a try. read more

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Poor poor poor service. Flies were flying all around. They really need to focus on hygiene.

We unexpectedly came here for dinner and I'm glad we did! The restaurant was spacious and clean. The staff was also super friendly and came to check up on us often. The portions were pretty big so definitely good to share. Everything was super delicious and flavor and I'm definitely coming back here again! read more

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Wanted something not too heavy and so ordered the 2 vada+1 idly. Instead got 3 idlis. They were on the side of being soggy. Taste wise, could have been better, 3/5 Sambar was ok and so was the chutney. 3/5 Overall underwhelming experience. read more

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant - idly - Indian Near Me - Tustin, California

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Authentic indian food at this place. Kuli paniaram is like a rice bread ball with a puffy soft pillowy texture and it's dipped in the sauces. Delicious appetizer. I ordered the goat thali because I wanted to try a little bit of everything. It's spicy but tolerable for me. It came with rice, roti, and a crispy thing that is like a big chip with many sauces/curry, a soup, pickle, and milky dessert with noodles and raisins in it. Everything was interesting and it was delicious. Goat meat was nicely cooked. Service was fine. There was only 1 person and if you need anything you'll need to flag him, which is fine for me. My ratings are mainly focused on quality and value of food. read more

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Food was good although didn't quite meet the expectations of the good reviews. The eggplant was good, but the chicken curry was salty. The garlic naan was dry. Service was great. Our server was friendly and food was served quickly. For a weeknight dinner, they had plenty of tables. read more

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TLDR; heavy on spices, just how it should be. I've been on the hunt for bold South Indian food in OC for a while now. While the food isn't super spicy*, they pack a lot of spices in the curries so there's tons of flavor. The goat pepper curry is a must. Staff are nice, facilities are a bit run down. This may not be a fancy sit-down restaurant, but d*mn does the food taste good. The place is usually full of families with kiddos, so it's going to be loud. I also appreciate the fennel seeds they set out as a post-meal freshener. *they do have a spicy pepper paste they call Szechuan sauce, tho ironically it doesn't resemble Szechuan spice at all -- no numbing and made with reshampatti peppers. Packs a punch though! read more

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Worst experience ever! I ordered schezwan noodles and they made it so spicy that my lips are swollen and crying tears. Going to medical store to buy some medication. Upon calling to complain, they refused to deliver replacement and offered refund. Provided I am tourist and now I have to spend more money to order elsewhere. read more

Food was very delicious! Service was also great. We ordered pakora, thali and biryani. The variety in thali was nice and they also offered refills. read more

Incredible experience. Fast friendly staff, gorgeous decor, delicious food, large portions. What's not to love. Will be back and often! read more

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant - *Anjappar Goat Thali (right), **Masala Dosa (left) - Indian Near Me - Tustin, California

This'll must say I like the interior here! It's cozy, for those who knows the food in other anjappar location (artesia) then you know their quality and food taste is top notch! I really like their spicy level. Their mutton curry is absolutely best! Great amount of meat, well tasted spices and sure do, good kick of spicy level! Their biryanis are also enough for sharing, the meat is so soft and tender, the spices are best! Overall best experience here, good service. And next round..I need to try the fish! read more

One of my go-to places to eat whenever I land at John Wayne airport (Santa Ana). Am a huge fan of their veg thali and ilaneer payasam and will continue to visit this place for these delicacies. On busy weekday nights, I'd recommend doing a takeout as the wait time averages about 30-40 minutes to get your food. Plenty of parking is available and don't forget to checkout their specials board! read more

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant - Biryani - Indian Near Me - Tustin, California

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I'm not an Indian food expert, but this place is delicious! My friend and I were wanting some dosa and decided to give this spot a try. We shared a dosa and a chicken thali and both were very tasty. We felt all the dishes were well seasoned and had great flavor. The dosa came out perfectly crisp and paired well with all of the accompaniments. The thali had a nice assortment of side dishes, served with a roti and a pappadum, it was a delight and also very filling. I'll definitely be back. read more

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Tustin, California

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would not give this restaurant 1 star if I can write review without it. Really bad customer service. I had placed and order through Instacart accidentally and as soon as I realized in less then two minutes I called the customer service and they said they can call the restaurant and ask if they can approve my cancellation. And you know what this restaurant said they already made half of my order which was big lie and couldn't cancel my order. Second thing it took almost more than 45 minutes to deliver my order. And the food was not good at all as usual. Note: always had bad experience with quality of food and the service was never quick as they claim making half of the order in 2 minutes lol read more

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant - Indian Near Me - Tustin, California

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The food here is terrific. We went during a heat wave and apparently they don't turn on their air conditioning until the customer walked in so it was a bit warm, but the food was fantastic.Lollipop chicken was delicious. read more

Love South Indian cuisine, and if you love your spice then Anjappar is a must try. The ambience is basic, the service is friendly and attentive but they have a good varieties of food from crab to goat soup and curries. Definitely give falooda a try if you are up for dessert. read more

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