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    Cholanad

    3.9 (455 reviews)
    ModerateIndian, Bars, Seafood

    Cholanad Photos

    Business Info

    CHOLANAD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Cholanad

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    Curry Chicken

    Beautiful restaurant. Quiet and serene - which is great for a nice Saturday lunch. Mango Lassi was amazing, smooth creamy and very tasty. Chicken curry with parota was excellent.

    Tammy H.

    Good, solid Indian food in Chapel Hill. The spring dosa was a fantastic appetizer with a few different sauces for dipping. The lamb vindaloo had a decent amount of tender lamb with a great sauce. The chicken tikka masala was great as well. The garlic naan was good. The main area for improvement would be on the service. Our waiter was attentive early on but then was more difficult to get a hold of to ask for the check and some to go boxes. He gave a great recommendation for the spring dosa though. Overall, Cholanad is a solid restaurant and I will come back!

    Chicken Tikka Masala
    Angie S.

    Cholanad has been my favorite Indian restaurant in the area a few years ago. I recently went back for the first time in a while and can confirm that is still the case. Naan is always something I debate ordering at an Indian restaurant, but here it is never a question. The naan comes with a curry dipping sauce that is unique to any other sauce I've had anywhere else. The menu offers exceptional options for each course, and nothing I've tried was a disappointment. Staff always go above and beyond my expectations. The manager has remembered me from past visits and offered free samples of new offerings. The opinion of a top customer obviously matters. If you haven't been here yet, stop the naan-sense and come try it's out for yourself.

    Pepper Chicken with Ceylon Veechu Parota Salna
    Vanessa H.

    Delicious, flavorful dishes! We got dinner on a quiet Sunday night, and the food came out really quick! I got the pepper chicken with Ceylon parota bread, and my friend got the chettinad chicken curry. the and they were pushed out on this little trolley. The presentation could be better, but I'm not judging off of looks here. The chicken was delicious and packed with aromatic spices, but pretty spicy, so make sure you can handle spice decently well before ordering. It was topped with raw onions and some mint leaves. The parota was really good for dipping, scooping the chicken, and eating it together. My one complaint was that the parota to chicken ratio was a bit off: much less chicken than I wanted but still filling. Overall, really good Indian food around the area!

    Mango Lassi
    Glenn G.

    We've been meaning to try Cholonad for a while and finally decided to go when we had a discount from a local dining club. They used to be in a separate building but are now located where Ham's and Mellow Mushroom were located. We made reservations for an early weeknight dinner and my wife went in while I drove around to the parking lot in the back. We got garlic naan, mango lassis and I got the chetinad curry with parota (a flaky bread I had never tried before). The food was good but unfortunately the service was lacking. It looks like on that night they seemed to have two servers for the entire restaurant. It took us a long time for someone to take our order, and a long time to get our check. Perhaps their service is better on other nights when they have more staff.

    Lamb Vindaloo

    Great customer service and large food portions, truly loved the food and the service from Cholanad. Thank you for a great experience staff and if you're in the area, try the lamb vindaloo!!

    Fish curry in Grandmother's Menu
    Shawn S.

    Really nice music and food. Short of service but overall a great place for a quiet lunch.

    Drinks menu
    Hari R.

    Being a South Indian and after reading the reviews i visited with my friends for dinner. The food was very bad and nowhere close to the actual South Indian food. There is not even enough people to serve and the answer I got was everyone is on vacation and they don't have any one to serve the cocktails. The ambience is average . I typically won't do this level of criticism in any of my reviews until it is so bad.

    Chana masala, naan, and lamb saag.
    Dave M.

    One of the most authentic tasting indian restaurants we've visited locally. Tender chana without being mush, and fall-apart lamb. The naan basket was underwhelming for me, but my wife quite enjoyed the subdued flavor. Only down side is the price... around $20 per meal, not including drinks, the naan basket, or starters. We spent $75 without trying. Not the cheapest, but very quality.

    Mango lassi
    Vy N.

    For South Indian cuisine in Chapel Hill, this place is pretty solid. I originally wanted to come here to try Pani Puri, which they called "tartlets" on their menu. It was really good. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, they offer vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis, which are basically an assortment of sauces along with a side of rice and a couple bread pieces. Of course, coming on a Sunday, we were on board to try that. We ordered mango lassi, saffron-infused iced green tea, the bone-in mutton, parota and the vegetarian thali. Everything tasted so great and we left feeling very content. Note-they are currently short-staffed at the moment since there was one waiter running the floor and takeout, and food took a bit of waiting before it arrived but I think it was worth it.

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    7 years ago

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    Thank you for your review Steven! We really appreciate it!

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    6 years ago

    Chetinad chicken is heaven for you if you love spicy food like me. The food is very good and the just yum!

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    Mathivanan P.

    Happy to hear it! See you soon.

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    5 years ago

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    Happy to hear it! See you soon..

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    Thanks so much! We can't wait to help you again.

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    4 years ago

    Nice restaurant , great service and tasty dishes. Give it a shot if you are in town and looking for a southern aromatic delicacy

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    Ask the Community - Cholanad

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    Zayka Indian Grill & Bar

    Zayka Indian Grill & Bar

    4.7
    (26 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    This place occupies a busy stretch across from the university. It was not busy when I walked in…read more(noting that I visited this college town during the summer), but business picked up to the point where the one person working the front got busy rather quickly. I was not in a hurry but they could stand to hire some help. Their menu included a chole bhature, and they did a very credible rendition. Even at a medium spice level, it hit noticeably. More importantly, my fried bread and chickpeas came with pickled sides that made for a great flavor contrast in addition to the zingy herbal chickpea curry. I experienced no disappointment in what I ordered. Their menu includes markings for vegan and gf concerns, and their open kitchen offers to customize orders as needed. I also received an excellent papadum set to start with no fewer than six accompaniments. I was a bit surprised their menu didn't include anything in the way of a light soup or salad, mostly heavy comfort food. Having said that, I think they're doing a solid job and will likely be busy when the university is in season.

    Please keep in my mind i'm a white girl who got the most white thing ever so take my review with a…read moregrain of salt. I got the chicken tikka masala and garlic cheese naan. The naan was pretty good! I'd say a 4/5. The chicken tikka masala though I did not like. The rice was also stale and mushy. The sauce might be a different style I just found it to be weirdly sweet. The chicken itself was tough and chewy. Overall, didn't love and won't be back.

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    Lime & Lemon - Chapel Hill

    Lime & Lemon - Chapel Hill

    4.8
    (335 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Visiting the area for some training, and the front desk at the Rizzo Center recommended Lime and…read moreLemon. Glad they did. The moment I walked in, I was hit with those warm, spicy Indian aromas that instantly make you hungry. Friendly staff got me seated right away. The menu is huge, so I asked my waiter for recommendations. Usually a bit of a gamble, but this time it paid off big. He suggested the Cutlet Chaat, Saag Paneer, and Mango Lime Chicken. Every single dish was outstanding--deep, layered flavors, perfectly tender chicken, and that fresh, warm naan that pulls it all together. Each bite just lit up my taste buds. This is easily one of the best Indian meals I've had anywhere. The atmosphere is welcoming, the service is solid, the options are plentiful, and everything comes out looking and tasting fantastic. I wish I could pack the whole place up and bring it back to my neighborhood in Columbus. If you're anywhere near here, make Lime and Lemon a priority. It's that good. I'm already thinking about dragging some friends back this week so we can all enjoy it together.

    Thursday was an amazing lunch at the lime and lemon Indian grill. I had the lime mango chicken…read moreentree, the cauliflower pepper fry for an appetizer. All was great, Edwin our table service was extremely helpful and informative. Offering insight into the menu and what to try as novice eaters of Indian fusion. His service and suggestions were great. It was a nice quiet mid day meal. Will have to eat here more often.

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    So pretty!!!!!

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    So pretty!!!!!
    Kabab and Curry Durham

    Kabab and Curry Durham

    4.7
    (49 reviews)
    10.2 mi

    Great food great service, will expand on the perfectly spiced salmon later! Thank you Kabab and…read moreCurry - it's always a great experience.

    Met a friend here for lunch on Friday afternoon. Street parking was actually pretty easy to find…read morebut there is a paid lot really close. May be free lots close by as well but I was fortunate not to have to look very hard. There were three young men waiting at the front to assist. We were seated quickly. We got water and I ordered a Kingfisher to start my weekend early LOL. (Unfortunately they did not have it on draft, only in bottles, but it was still really good beer!) They brought us out some (I think) roti (crispy thin flat bread) with three different dipping sauces. A cilantro mint, a charred pepper, and a brown sauce. All pretty good. I ordered the Mulligatawny Soup and the Veggie Platter while my friend got the Chicken Tikka with a garden salad. The soup was just okay. It seemed to be very lacking in flavor at the restaurant. I took the rest of it home and ate it a couple of days later and it was much tastier. I guess it just need time for all the flavors to meld, I don't know. But the veggie platter was phenomenal. My favorites were the samosas (of course!) and the veg pakora. I would highly recommend those. My friend said her chicken tikka was just mid. Her garden salad was big and looked fresh and delicious. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the service either. The waiters constantly refilled our waters and the wait time was not long. They didn't even rush us when we spent an hour and a half at the table. The only reason this is a four and not a five is that there are other Indian restaurants close in this area that I enjoy the food more.

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    Vegetable Momo
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    Curry Palace

    Curry Palace

    4.9
    (64 reviews)
    26.3 mi

    My husband and I recently visited Curry Palace for the first time--and it was also my very first…read moreexperience at an Indian restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised! Everyone was super friendly from the hostess, waitervl etc. I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala at spice level 4, and it was absolutely delicious. The spice level was perfect for me--definitely had some heat without being overwhelming. My husband ordered the House Special Chicken Biryani, which included both lamb and chicken, and he really enjoyed it. I'd say his dish was closer to a spicej that's level 3. Before our meal, we were served complimentary crackers and chutney, which were fantastic and a great introduction to the flavors we would enjoy throughout dinner. One thing that really stood out was the portion size. The servings were enormous! These days, with grocery and gas prices being what they are, it's refreshing to find a restaurant that gives you so much food for your money. We both had plenty left over to take home. Great food, generous portions, and a wonderful first Indian food experience. We'll definitely be back!

    I was super excited to find an Indian restaurant in my hometown. Indian cuisine is my favorite and…read moreI'm no stranger to the dishes both here in the US and in England, which is other level by the way. One day I will make it to India....but I digress... We were greeted and seated immediately upon entering and I was instantly in love with the decor and the friendliness of both the host and server. We began with water to drink, me skipping a mango lassi because I had decided I would have a dessert today since it had been awhile. My friend was a newbie to Indian food so I ordered for us and kept it simple. Palak Paneer and Chicken Mango Jalfreezie, with garlic naan. The papadoms and sauce were tasty and always a nice nibble while we wait for our dishes. Everything arrived hot and fresh and nicely presented. We were advised if we needed more rice to just ask. This is when the disappointment hit for me. While both dishes were good food, cooked well and nicely presented, the true Indian flavors were missing. I also did not detect mango in the dish that should have been flooded with that flavor. I do order my dishes mild, but I always do, and while that does impact the heat which I cannot tolerate, it has never once impacted the full flavor of all the spices. Until here. So sad, as someone who almost craves those flavors and had been looking forward to them all day. I've gone back and forth as to whether to give three or four stars, because everything really was nice but if I go to an Indian restaurant I really am hoping for Indian flavor. It was missing. If I could give 3.5 I would. My big question is always, would I return? I will not. I live in High Point and will continue to dine at the numerous Indian spots near home.

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    Curry Palace
    Sample appetizer plate. Curry chicken, fried zucchini, veg somossa and a meat one that has lamb inside.the fried zucchini was FABULOUS
    Sample appetizer plate. Curry chicken, fried zucchini, veg somossa and a meat one that has lamb inside.the fried zucchini was FABULOUS
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    Bharath Cafe - Franklin St

    Bharath Cafe - Franklin St

    4.4
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    2.5 mi

    My friend and I recently stopped by Bharath Cafe for dinner. It definitely seems like more of a…read moretakeout spot since there was a constant stream of people coming in to pick up orders, but there are a handful of tables inside if you want to eat there. You order at the counter, and they'll bring the food out to your table. They have a huge selection of biryanis on the menu, and since we were both craving it, we decided to split the family size Vijayawada Chicken Biryani. The portion was massive--it also came with gulab jamun for dessert and all this food could've easily fed another 2-3 people on top of the two of us. The biryani had great flavor with a nice level of spice, and the value for the price was hard to beat. I'll definitely be back to try some of their other biryani options!

    This place is quiet spartan, and offers seats to dine in, but serves food in takeout containers and…read moredoesn't offer table service. I was a bit torn because a dosa is something you want to eat fresh, but I'd have been better served in other ways by getting takeout. Having said that, the food was intriguing South Indian cuisine. The gunpowder dosa I ordered was crisp and the sour, savory flavor zinged appropriately. I found the aloo tikki chaat too much to finish, but made the rest of the office jealous when I brought it in for lunch the next day. There are certainly some more menu items worth trying.

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    Front of Bharath Cafe counter
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    Bharath Cafe - Franklin St
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    Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar

    Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar

    4.5
    (131 reviews)
    5.8 mi
    Vegetarian friendly
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    Urban Turban has awesome decor and vibes, it's such a beautiful restaurant! I came for lunch and…read morethe service was great. The music seemed to be modern Indian music, which I enjoyed. I had a lunch special, the Non-Vegetarian Thali, which came with a Vegetable Samosa, Dal Bukhara, Butter Chicken, Butter Naan, Rice, Raita, and a Gulab Jamun. This is the first time I've had a Thali and the presentation was beautiful. Vegetable Samosa: Perfectly crisp on the outside and soft inside. Mild spicy. Dal Bukhara: Delicious lentil curry! I've never had this before (I usually get Dal Makhani), and I now know I prefer Dal Bukhara because it has lentils only. Butter Chicken: Delicious curry. I loved the smoky flavor and char on the chicken. The curry was perfectly spicy (I ordered medium spicy). The butter naan, rice, and raita were all good in supporting the dish. Gulab Jamun: A delicious sweet doughnut in syrup, a nice little treat before leaving the restaurant. The lunch Non-Veg Thali is a great deal at $24, especially for the amount of food you get (I ended up with leftovers too). I can't wait to come back and try their dinner and bar offerings!

    We were at Urban Turban for a celebration and it did not disappoint at all. The place is bright…read morebeautiful and depicts rural Indian decor. We were seated immediately and ordered drinks which were out promptly. Jaljeera, wine and the cocktail urban turban special. I loved my jaljeera, perfect sweet and tangy spicy flavour. For starters we ordered chicken chapli kabab, tandoori fish tikka and dahi ke kabab. Dahi kebab was the winner, it was crispy and soft and went perfectly well with its sweet gravy which was good twist to this simple appetizer. My second favorite was the chapli kabab, it was so soft and juicy and very light on spice. Their fish dishes were a little disappointing, I guess the fish and preparation both were not impressive. For main course we ordered their malabar fish curry which again was a disappointment, punjabi chicken curry which was pretty good, but the daal bukhara stole our hearts, very well prepared and flavourful dish. We couldn't stop ourselves from ordering some desserts, so we ordered their balu shahi with Rabri and gulab jamun with icecream. Rabri was great, but balushahi was big, seemed undercooked and bland. It's very difficult to mess up gulab jamun so that was good. The service was fast and the people were so friendly. We paid tip over the bill that already had gratuity included since we dint know, and the person came back with money and returned it saying the gratuity is included. We loved the honesty and warm gesture of the people working there. I am really looking forward to visiting this place again soon and trying their other dishes.

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    Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar
    Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar
    Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar

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    Tandoori Bites

    Tandoori Bites

    4.2
    (138 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    Service: wonderful! They were quick and they were so sweet. We made a quick reservation online and…read moreby the time we arrived the table was set for us! Ambiance: perfect for a 1st date. It's a casual restaurant but all the decor and the modern touches with Indian influence gives it a great sultry vibe. Food: top notch. Thus far is our favorite Indian restaurant out there. The naan itself is freshly made and SOFT, thick, and has a nice chew. Best naan in the triangle area. Highly recommend the bread basket as you get a good variety of their different naans. The paneer pakora is crispy, piping hot, and has a great cumin and lightly salted taste. In the middle is mint chutney so it's has nice layers of flavors. The lamb palak was super tasty as well! The spinach was nice clay cooked where it was creamy with no bitter after taste. The lamb was fall apart tender! The lamb jalfrezi was also a show stopper, it was spiced, slight tomato sauce, and lambs again, super tender that can be broken up with just fingers. The malai chicken was good, but wasn't our favorite. The meat is tender, but I felt like the flavor wasn't hitting as much as the other two. It was lighter and even with the lemon it still felt like it was missing something. Overall: will definitely be coming back!

    Tandoori Bites is a solid, no-frills option if you're craving Indian food. We went on a weekday…read moreevening and ended up being the only ones dining in, but there was a steady stream of people coming through for takeout, so it seems like more of a grab-and-go spot. Service was friendly and attentive (probably helped that it was just us), and there was plenty of seating. The menu has all the classic Indian dishes you'd expect, and portions are decent. Food-wise, everything was good and hit the spot, but nothing really stood out. Overall, it's a reliable, standard choice--worth checking out if you're in the mood for Indian, especially for takeout!

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    Tandoori Bites
    Tandoori Bites
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    Cholanad - indpak - Updated August 2026

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