Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant in Santa Clara, CA

Some of the dishes we experienced on our most recent visit (8/25/18). Above: Mushroom Tikka Masala appetizer. 

Deeply rich Mutton Masala curry.

Prawn Biryani.

Fish Thali at Anjappar Chettinad in Santa Clara.

Mutton Thali.

Vegetarian Thali.

Deer Masala at Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant in Santa Clara.

So apparently branches of this restaurant are all over the United States, including Newark, NJ, Bellevue, WA, Houston & Plano, Texas. All these place have high tech workers from India, and although there are many solid Indian restaurants in all these places, given some of the horror stories I've heard from friends in the industry, it is no wonder that we're starting to get even more truly great Indian restaurants in the United States. This is one of those that doesn't ask how spicy you want the food. Which means: it's going to be very, very spicy.

Above, you can see it looks like another Indian restaurant in a strip mall. Below, check out the interesting decor.

We arrived just in time for lunch, and ordered up a couple of Thali plates. Above: the Mutton Thali plate: clockwise from 9 o'clock: lime pickle, yogurt, coconut porridge, spicy Indian beets, rasam, kootu (mixed vegetables), carrots, Mutton Curry, rice, chapati.

Above: Mutton Biryani Thali, with Raita, coconut porridge, Chicken Masala, and a chapati atop the Mutton biryani.

Deer Masala. Tender and exquisite.

The level of spice here is otherworldy, because of the amount used, the fresh flavor of the spices both in ground and whole form. If you don't like spicy food, go somewhere else. Based on our lunch today,  and reaffirmed by the leftovers we just finished, the chefs here are operating on a very exalted level. This is currently my favorite restaurant in the Bay Area. Looking forward to trying their other restaurants, and yet another great-sounding Chettinad restaurant for comparison sake. 

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant in Santa Clara, CA

777 Lawrence Expy, Santa Clara, CA 95051

Phone: (408) 243-5500