This place is awesome. Service, authentic South Indian taste - just fabulous. Place and location are awesome. I would come here any-day. read more

Cholanad - Mutton Dosa - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Came by with my family around 5pm on Sunday for an early dinner. They were a little understaffed but told us this at the beginning so we could temper our expectations. Got the white korma, Gobi Manchurian, and kothu parota. All three dishes were quite good but the korma and kothu parota were my favorites. The white korma was a creamy coconut curry that was rich in spices without being overly Rich. The kothu parota was also wonderfully spiced and one of the better kothu parotas I've ever had. The roti and parota were also both quite good. There is no other South Indian place in chapel hill so I'd highly recommend this place. Also I'd advise to try items aside from the chicken tikka masala or saag paneer. Get a dosa or a South Indian staple you wouldn't be able to get elsewhere! read more

Very good Indian restaurant in UNC campus. We ordered assorted Baji and uthappam, which were really tasty. We also ordered Poori with potatoes & Kothu porota, both tasted good but little bit mashed & creamy. One thing I liked is that they have many gluten free options. read more

Cholanad - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

UPDATE: Appreciate the owner reaching out to me but that was a tepid response at best that didn't address any of the issues that I brought up. There really was no excuse for the poor service and mediocre quality. Decided to try Cholanad to celebrate a special occasion so we made reservations. We got there & was seated promptly. We ordered our entrees & drinks. The waters & drinks came out promptly but we waited for over 40 minutes for our food. No one came by to check in on us despite sitting right in the main dining room in direct sight of the host, bar and servers. No one came by to offer an explanation. We had to flag someone down and ask where our food was. The waiter's claim was that our vegetarian thali required extra time to prepare?!?!...& that they prepare everything to order. We also had a fish tawa fry, saag paneer, butter paneer masala & lamb saag. Of all these dishes, I would think that most of the items in the thali would be prepped in advance as it is in all the other Indian restaurants I have been to. If that was the case, why weren't we told this when we placed our order??!?!! When the food came out finally, it was just ok. We've had much better Indian food in other parts of the triangle. Portions seemed large but there was only a few cubes of paneer in our paneer orders. Most of it was sauce. For that price point, there should've been more substance to the dishes. Very disappointed in our experience with the food and with the service. Definitely not somewhere we would go back with so many great Indian restaurants in Cary, Morrisville and Durham. read more

Amazing atmosphere with equally amazing customer service, not to mention the food was great! My wife and I stopped by actually on accident as I was looking for a different place. We walked in without a reservation and were seated immediately which was a great sign. Our waiter came by and took our order and gave some great recommendations, we ended up going with the Chettinad Chicken Curry, Gobi Manchurian, & Vegetarian Biryani. All dishes were amazing would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for some flavorful Indian cuisines. read more

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The food is really good and the presentation of food is also something I like it here. Their naan is absolutely fresh and tasty. This is the third time I went and every time I go I order spring Dosa for sure. read more

Cholanad - Spring Dosa and garlic naan with cauliflower curry - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Really good South Indian food. Authentic chili chicken. Chicken 65 is excellent. Dosas are good, chutney's are fine. The older restaurant was warmer and cozier so now I mostly get takeout. read more

This was another of those rare, almost magical dining experiences where everything falls into place, your fullest expectations are met & even exceeded, your complete appetite for food and adventure satisfied (for the moment), and you leave talking about how soon you'll return, knowing full well complete duplication is high unlikely. We'd had our eye on this place for a while because of its menu (a nice variety of Southern Indian dishes, especially Dosa & Uthappam), its location (easy drive from Greensboro, easy lunch time parking on Franklin St, this time of year), and the large number of positive reviews (out of over 200 reviews, nearly 79% were 4 or 5 stars). We arrived a bit early for the 11:30 opening, and while meandering up West Franklin Street we saw that there was some construction going on at the front of the restaurant. We walked over and ask if the restaurant would be opening for lunch. It so happened that it was the very personable owner that we ask, and he said yes they would be open, and invited us inside right then, at least 15 minutes early. We talked with him for more than a few minutes about his restaurant (5 year anniversary coming up soon - big plans, new & expanded menu - food & drink), his part of India (Chettinad, a region of southern Tamil Nadu state, on the Bay of Bengal), Indian Beers (serves them, but he doesn't like them, prefers Palm, a Belgian pale ale, his restaurant was the first in the area to offer it), Dosa or Uthappam (he likes Dosa, Uthappam is "too thick", his wife feels just the opposite), and he discussed the history of his part of India (the impact of the Chola Dynasty over a 1000 year period, and the name of the restaurant). Whew! For our lunch choices, we settled on the Uthappam (Pepper, Onion, & Cilantro savory pancake, served with 3 Chutneys and Sambar), and a lunch special, the Ellora (a Thali type combo) which included Chicken Tikki Masala, Lamb Saag Curry, Tawa Roti, Seasonal Vegetable mixture, Raita, Basmati Rice, & Gulab Jamun (a sweet, very sweet), and there was some Pappadum in there, as well. We'll be back for the Dosa - probably Rava Masala. And I settled on a Taj Mahal, because it was on draft. The food was out quickly, the various parts of the Ellora first, the Uthappam and its condiments soon there after. The table was small, the plates were large and irregularly shaped, there was much in the way of condiments, there was no room for share plates, there was plenty of silver ware, including two forks, a knife, and a very big spoon, things got messy, things got good, real good! The Ellora (I think there are caves in India with that name) - Chicken Tikki Masala, and the Lamb Saag Curry were excellent, with a nice, very nice, heat level. The Roti and the Pappadum were very good, as was the Raita, though a bit watery. The Seasonal Vegetables were, well, seasonal vegetables, and were best served wrapped in a bread form and sauced, heavily. The Gulab Jamun was a ball of dough in a very sweet syrup, and I have bookmarked this as an acquired taste, for further review. The Uthappam was very nice, and the 3 chutneys (Tomato, Dal & Coconut), and the Sambar made it all work, each with a nice spice level, the chutneys in particular. This is basically a dip and dunk process, and one needs to get personally involved - cleanup can come later, that's what napkins and hoses are for. This was an exceptional experience - the food, the service, the beautiful passion of the owner - not everyone will have the same experience, but we were there, and we did! read more

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Not my best dinning experience, the staff was mediocre almost nonchalant the cook was outside drinking beers I thought he was a customer, the waiter was nice but I didn't like that he came out with the bills while he was on the phone. The food. Not the best I got the tikka malsala and roti bread just cause they didn't have the whole menu at that time and I didn't really like it. It wasn't bad but it's wasn't the best Also got a lamb app that was rather chewy and the flavor was odd also. I tried a cocktail some kind of coffee mix and that's probably my fault for getting that cause coffee and alcohol don't mix so I didn't like it. Overall I don't see my self returning here. read more

My boyfriend and I love this place and eat here several times a month! Delicious food, kind folks, and very reasonable prices.

Finally found an Indian restaurant worth returning to. In addition to tandoori, which is always a favorite, I prefer more of the southern chaat type foods that Indian cuisine offers. We had the veggie sampler that included the beachside lentils, little poori and assorted bajji. I could honestly make a meal with that. We also had the chetinad chicken curry, served with parota, a thin spongey crepe used to soak up all that deliciousness. The cilantro chutney as good as any, and mango lassi sweet and filling. Would love to dine in and sample their dosa. Couldn't be happier that Cholanad is so close by. read more

We have tried a number of Indian restaurant in the triangle and this one is by far our favorite! We had the lamb chaat which was unique, I've never had that combination before but it did not disappoint! I had the chicken biriyani which was just spicy enough and very flavorful. My one complaint is that it probably had more butter/oil than was necessary but that's pretty standard for restaurants. We also tried the chicken tikka masala which was also delicious. The menu is huge and there were so many things we wanted to try so we will definitely be back! read more

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The food and service are amazing, and the wait wasn't long at all. However, it's pretty pricey. If you want to splurge, I definitely recommend Cholanad! read more

Cholanad - gobi manchurian with tomato pulav - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Went here with some friends and was very disappointed. From all the good reviews I expected something spectacular. The meal was very average, and the service was slow. They have very little parking available near the restaurant. And they contract George's Towing and Recovery-a predatory towing company-to manage their parking lots. He's single handily responsible for limiting Chapel Bill's ability to regulate parking prices. In summary, Cholanad - poorly prepared Indian food and exploiting the poor. Never eat here. read more

Yea Biryani was kinda ass ngl. I mean its edible and fine. No taste and spice. Will have to give a 2 stars

I rarely write reviews, but we had a wonderful time dining here. Really good food, great service. Loved the Ambiance. Convenient Parking. I am happy to recommend this place because they have earned my business. read more

Not our best experience, we could see the staff members taking a smoke break on the side of the restaurant... the service was ok but they talked on their cell phons while serving the table... The food was average at best and overpriced, well at least the football game was good!! GO APP STATE read more

Woohoo! Finally some good south Indian food in North Carolina! This is an acquired taste because its vegetarian and very differentfrom typicalIndian food; and if you got it then you gotta have it. The masala dosa came with sambhar + 3 chutneys (red, green & white) for dipping. Thr dosa was crispy but not brittle, done just right so it provided a good chew and didn't crumble in the mouth. Oil was low, big plus...The sambhar was just a tad spicey, but not unreasonably so. The chutneys were on point, red was medium spicy, white was zero spice and green was low spice. Next time I look forward to trying the Tamil omlette, cooked with onions and green chillies read more

Cholanad - Masala dosa was good! - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

This place is at the prime location. Parking is convenient during lunch time. Good food but high price. For that reason, I'm going with four stars. Either the quantity can be better or the price has to go down but the quality stood out. As a South Indian , I felt the spicy level is low and it would be great for the locals. My pick: Chicken roast with Parotta salna read more

The service was good. The food was way too spicy for me even with the raita. If you like spicy Indian food this is your place. If I could have dialed down the spice I would have enjoyed my meal more. Beautiful decor. read more

A delicious Indian restaurant in the middle of North Carolina! Who knew? I got the Gobi Manchurian as my entree. Vegetarians rejoice because the Gobi Manchurian makes cauliflower 1) more delicious than it already is and 2) definitely not healthy. The cauliflower is cooked in a delicious sauce (not spicy) and paired with seasoned rice. The combination makes you want to gorge yourself, except that the portions are huge and could easily feed two people. I also ordered garlic naan on the side. The naan, which was also enormous, came paired with a curry dipping sauce. The naan was nothing special, but a nice side dish. Overall a very satisfying dinner and well worth it's price. read more

Cholanad - Gobi Manchurian on Tomato Pulav Rice with Garlic Naan Bread. For one person. Needless to say there are lots of leftovers. - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

It started as a regular weekend discussion on what to eat for lunch that particular day and which restaurant to try etc., and that led to us choosing Cholanad that's almost 3 hours away from home. Hey you promised your stomach something specific so you better keep up. This dish - Chicken kothu parotta used to be my most favorite dish back in India and would always get this whenever we go to some specific restaurants. Cholanad seemed to have good reviews for this dish and we started driving with pure blind faith. We weren't disappointed, loved it. It was pretty close to the dish back home in India. The owner was great, he greeted us upon arrival as we already spoke to him over phone for a reservation. We had the lamb chat, chicken kothu parotta, lamb curry with egg dosa, and a chicken curry as well, yep had to pack some food and ate it for dinner. The food was amazing, lamb chat was unique for me and it was delicious. Curries were great, perfect blend of spices. Loved the whole experience. The only argument between my wife and I was, who was going to do the 3 hour drive back home. read more

Cholanad - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

So I went to lunch on Saturday at Cholanad. Place was not very busy at around 2pm. Its a nice place and the staff is friendly. I ordered the Lamb Vindaloo which had great flavor and texture. What it didn't have was much lamb. I joked with the server that half of my lamb turned into potatoes. For $20 they can surely spare a bit more lamb in the dish. I like potatoes but I don't want it in place of lamb. And, are potatoes even supposed to be in Vindaloo? Make it the way you want but give people a fair shake. read more

We have been here quite a lot but I think we will cut down our visits going forward. I had the vegeterian Thali. It was a hit and miss...the rasam, raita and the eggplant curry were good. The chole and sambar were just about OK. My wife had the Mysore Masala Dosa. It was very good. They specialize in Dosas and generally don't go wrong. My problem was with the service. The service was hurried and the servers lacked fundamental courtesies including a simple smile and pleasant demeanor. You can get people to come for food but you will lose them quickly enough for lack of service. read more

We visited CholaNad to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary and returned back happy customers !!! The food and service was amazing !! Thank you Cholanad !! Sincerely, Shashin Surkund read more

We went to an event in Chapel Hill and were recommended by a friend to try out Cholanad. It's a nice and cozy place. We went there around 8pm on a Saturday night and got a table right away! For our Appetizers, we had ordered samosa chat. Loved the taste, the mini samosas and how differently it was presented. For our entree's, we ordered Malai Kofta, Garlic naan and rice. Again, loved the presentation. The taste of Malai Kofta was not too spicy and not too mild. My husband loves spicy Indian food so we got an order of green chilies on the side if you prefer to do. We got a huge piece of garlic naan which was enough for 2 people. For our desserts, we ordered Gulab Jamun and everything about it was amazing! The only thing we did not like was the presentation. I felt like they just took a glass of water and dropped 2 pieces of jamun in there. Overall taste wise it was a 5 out of 5! I would definitely recommend this place to a friend and will visit again soon! read more

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At one point, years ago, this was roughly as good as Vimala's and almost as good as the South Indian food in Cary or Morrisville. Since then there was a gradual overall decline in quality, though you could still have great meals. The last time we went was before they moved to a new location and before the pandemic, and things seem to have gotten dire. Their best dishes were creative riffs on South Indian staples, so we ordered the mussel curry. The mussels were old, and even though we sent the dish back after the first bite we got bad stomachaches upon returning home. The paneer we replaced the mussels with was burnt on the outside and undercooked on the inside. Due to some miscommunication with the server, the chicken chettinad we ordered was forgotten, which was ultimately for the best. Meanwhile, the service was very slow for a medium capacity Sunday night so we couldn't escape fast enough to get dinner somewhere else. To top it all off, there was a reality show about autopsies playing on one of the TVs (they did change the channel when asked). If the original owner still manages this place: why did you give up? If management changed hands in the past few years -- maybe you could ask the original owner to come back and help you? This isn't working. read more

Cholonad has been one of our favorite Indian restaurants in the Triangle, certainly in Chapel Hill, for many years now! Right on Franklin Street, opposite UNC Chapel Hill, Cholanad is strategically placed primarily for students but also families and couples who don't mind a bit of a drive! Us included! The essence of Cholanad is celebrating iconic dishes from various cities and states of India. And the flavors, spices and size of these dishes do not disappoint! My favorite meal here has always been the Thaali meals served on Fri, Sat and Sun - and you'd better have that on an empty stomach because it IS very filling and yummylicious! This time I tried the kothu parotta with egg and raita and it was perfectly made too! The wife got a plate of set/kal dosa and she was raving about it too! The high prices for many of the dishes are probably the only negative I could think about but the taste more than makes up for it! Parking: There are a few spots inside the parking lot area for Cholanad but not that many so expect to park right on Franklin if you find it too crowded. Menu: Not all dishes are available on all days and some dishes may not be available for Lunch so check the menu and call ahead if there's a dish you really want to try read more

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Something I really miss being in US of A is authentic South Indian food. Indian cuisine is heterogenous as the country and the food culture and types vary drastically across country. That said I have found some authentic South Indian cuisine in Bay Area but thats about it. But then I discovered Cholanad and rest is history. Because this is probably as good as it can get. We were here last Friday, we had a reservation for 6 people at 8pm but we went there early and the waiter didn't have trouble seating us earlier. The service was really good, the waiters knew the dishes well, they could explain ingredients and flavors when asked for suggestions. A huge thumbs up to the restaurant management for that. I will try and list out all our orders - Railway omelette dosa, Thali cholanad, Fish tawa fry, Tomato rice and gobi manchurian, assorted bajjis, Andhra style eggs, Kothu parota (vegetarian version), Gobi chettinad, Chettinad Chicken curry.. trust me this list is pretty endless. We were group of 6 who absolutely "love love" food! The tawa fish fry was out of the world! It was exactly how it was when made at home, cooked perfectly with all the spices incorporated but not so much that it would suffocate you. This is a must must try dish here. I got an opportunity to dig into all the dishes except the chicken based ones, and every dish was perfect. The Railway omelette dosa was a superhit, vanished moments after landing on the table, same case with the Andhra style eggs. If there was a particular dish I didn't care about much, it was the Kothu parota, though others in the table loved it, I personally found it a little soggy and eggy. Overall this place is an absolute must visit, if you are a food connoisseur or if you want to try authentic South Indian cuisine. I am personally waiting to do another trip to Raleigh and eat here again :) read more

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My review of Cholanad is based on two recent visits, both at lunchtime: in December 2018 and February 2019. In both cases, I enjoyed delicious food -- the excellent food is what keeps my rating from being two stars overall. Unfortunately, less and less effort is being put into the lunch service at Cholanad. In December 2018, my friend and I arrived at 11:30 AM, when the posted hours on the door and on the website stated that Cholanad opened for lunch. One party of two was already inside waiting for a table. The host/server appeared to have fallen behind; after seating the first party, he stopped to turn on the "OPEN" signs in the windows before seating us. He seemed to have a general attitude like we were inconveniencing him as if we had arrived too early. At this point, I *would* get into describing the wide variety of very tasty and affordable ($7.50 - $11) items on their lunch menu, BUT Cholanad is no longer offering a lunch menu as of January 2019! When we were seated at 12 noon on a Tuesday in February -- in an empty restaurant -- only a dinner menu (along with an extensive wine and cocktail list) was offered to us. I asked our server and was told that they no longer have lunch specials. It felt a bit awkward being in a nearly empty restaurant, especially with only one server who was not visible most of the time. I noticed a party of three come in, get seated, and then gather their things and leave a few minutes later (probably when they saw the prices they were about to pay for lunch off the dinner menu). Now searching for an affordable lunch option on the dinner menu, I remembered that the dosas were good, so my friend and I ordered the Spring Dosa ($12) and Chicken Dosa ($14). My Spring Dosa was filled with finely chopped veggies that fell out and went all over the place, and came with three tasty chutneys; the coconut-based one (white) and cilantro-based one (green) were particularly delicious. A good-sized naan was an extra $3. All the other listed entrees started at $16, which felt really expensive for eating off of plastic red-checkered tablecloths (these are covering the fancier white linen tablecloths that are reserved for dinner). The whole situation felt particularly sad with the knowledge that only two months before there were many, many lunch choices including Shrimp Tikki Masala ($11) and Saag Paneer ($8.50). :-( A note about the service at lunch: I'm pretty sure that our February server was also our cook because a) he would disappear for long stretches of time, even though (a few) other people were coming in for both eating-in and picking up take-out, and b) his apron had splotches of food all over it, the kind that a server just doesn't get. Service was pretty slow and spotty overall: we were not checked in on (e.g. "Is everything OK?") after being served and starting to eat, and the wait time for both having our table cleared and for being given our check was long. Our weekday lunch of only dosas -- no appetizers or desserts -- took 1.5 hours. My experience sounds suspiciously similar to that of Emily H. a week ago (see her 2/13/19 Yelp review), suggesting to me that the problems that she experienced with service were not one-offs. My takeaway feeling was -- and message to Cholanad is -- your food is delicious, BUT if you aren't going to do your lunch service well, don't do it at all. Your dinner service can be quite lovely, but your 2019 lunch customers will notice that you are cutting corners and jacking up prices in an effort to make ends meet. read more

Pros: Excellent food! Cons: No lunch menu apparently? Terrible service. Came here for lunch with coworkers on a Tuesday at noon. We were greeted and seated quickly by the server and there was only one other group there when we arrived. He handed us menus and waters and then....disappeared. We scoured the menu looking for the lunch specials that are listed on their website but found none. When the server eventually returned about 15 minutes later, we asked about a lunch menu or lunch specials. He said they didn't have any. Again, the website clearly lists a lunch menu: http://www.cholanad.com/Traditional-Indian-Cuisine.html So we ordered off the pretty expensive dinner menu ($16+ per entree, comes with either rice OR naan.... which really felt like a rip off for lunch). Our appetizer, Chicken 65, came promptly and was delicious! It was plenty for each of the four of us to have a few good bites. I would definitely get this again. Our mango lassis also came quickly and were equally delicious! But then the wait began again. Our entrees didn't come for almost 40 minutes. About 30 minutes into the wait, the server came by to tell one of my coworkers that the lamb saag she ordered was unavailable. Why it took him 30 minutes to tell her this I have no idea. That being said, the entrees were really tasty. I had the Chettinad Chicken Curry which was a pretty large portion, served steaming hot, and just spicy enough to be flavorful but not overpowering. My coworker ordered roasted brussels sprouts in place of her lamb saag - honestly I didn't know brussels could taste so good! However, after we were done with our entrees the wait began again... We waited a half hour for the waiter to appear (he was no where to be found in the tiny dining room). The other table that was there before us was clearly done and waiting also. We actually watched one group come in, wait by the host stand for a few minutes, and then leave. When the server finally reappeared he asked if we wanted the check split; we said yes. Then he disappeared AGAIN for another 20 minutes! If you're keeping track we're at over 2 hours for a weekday lunch at this point. Finally he came back, handed us one check, and said he couldn't split it. What? Why even ask then? Overall we didn't plan to spend $20+ per person and 2+ hours on lunch. I'd love to come back here for the good food but the service is such a turn off I'm not sure I will. read more

We visited this place on a friend's recommendation. This place is in downtown so the menu prices are reflective of that. Entree prices range from $14-$28. The place is clean and tables are close to each other. The food is south Indian flavored and tasted authentic. read more

Cholanad - Non-vegeterian thali -$22... kinda expensive, but can be enough for 1.25 person. - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Cholanad has amazing food and the staff is knowledgeable and solicitous. We would most definitely eat there again, as well as order from them via GH or DD! read more

We were craving Indian food and after looking up reviews decided to try Cholanad, due to their Gluten Free options. They did not disappoint! I ordered spicy curry as main dish and rice pudding....it was AMAZING! The hubby ordered vegetarian thali, which he said was good. The only reason 4 out of 5 stars is because the waitress wasn't the warmest person. She was a little bit rude at first, but was better towards the end. I will go back to Cholanad and try something new in the near future! read more

Cholanad - Spicy curry? - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Upscale Indian esp South Indian Cuisine in the middle of chapel hill downtown. Good food, nice ambiance and separate parking makes this one of the places to visit if you are in the area and like indian food. read more

Cholanad - Menu - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I'm visiting from out of town and tried this based on a recommendation. Atmosphere is lovely but for the price this place is way way overrated. $15 for a mediocre tasting kofta that doesn't even include roti just cheap white rice is unacceptable! Oh and no one offered us more water the whole time we were there (almost two hours). I would avoid this place. read more

Good food, good service! I definitely can't see anyone being disappointed with their experience here. We were seated immediately, our waiter was quick, friendly, and attentive, and our food was prepared promptly. My boyfriend and I order two different curries and they were both excellent! The curries were super flavorful, cooked perfectly, and they give you a good amount for what you pay for. The sides (of rice, etc.) are also decently sized. Definitely one of my favorite Indian places in the area! I also really like that they give you recommendations on the menu! (E.g, this curry goes best with naan bread; we recommend this with rice; etc.) Some bonuses: Dog friendly because they have a patio, parking on site (a great plus on Franklin street), some dietary restrictions are clearly labeled on menu (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free). read more

Decent food, Desi's should make sure what you order. Food is ok, drinks are good. Try parata Ckn wings Lamb read more

Cholanad - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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This may the the best tasting Indian food I have ever had and I eat amazing food everywhere I travel. Might even be the specific dishes I had too-I was celebrating something recently and asked the host his favorite appetizer and his favorite meal...I've never heard of the dishes before and ordered a side of fresh garlic naan too. Wow. I will eat here every chance I can from now on! read more

Tried whole fish on banana leaf.... Its the most tasty fish recipe I had in US P.S. I dont like fish usually and avoid eating but this one is the best (must try) read more

Cholanad - Fish on Banana Leaf - Indian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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