Affordable Kerala Food in Chennai: Kalpaka Restaurant, Alwarpet

This place was probably the most often visited place during summer holidays when I was a kid. Summers,  having the Kerala meals along with some Syrian beef fry defined the experience here. Remember eating so full I could hardly walk out! :D Service would always be efficient, the plates warm and the food delicious and affordable. They used to serve warm jeera water not sure about now. However, lost touch for a few years since then. The place was owned by a nice family from Kerala but I heard that it has changed ownership recently and had undergone renovation as well. As I didn't see much being written about the food there I wasn't so enthusiastic about visiting and trying it. But recently I noticed Swiggy had enlisted them so I was waiting to try them one afternoon for their meals and some non veg as usual.


The day came and I was in the mood for a proper meal. Since I'm the only eater ordered a Veg meals (half portion) - rs 115 and the Kerala Chicken fry - rs 90. Chicken and Fish meals are also available for rs 150 and 200 respectively. Also an Ayla curry meals (mackerel fish) was there.


Food


The order came in due time and it felt like a huge quantity for the amount paid. I could see a pappadam right at the top and many plastic packets of curries and koottus. Time to open em up!

There was enough rice to serve three people a meal once. Kootu (pumpkin thoran) and poriyal were of a good quantity too. Thoran and poriyal were tasty, salt levels were correct for all the items. The sambhar was good enough and so was the rasam which was okay. Kootu had coconut shavings in it and tasted quite good. There was also moru curry (sour curd curry) which is good for health and tasted just right too. Rice wasn't the usual fat type that was earlier served in the restaurant this was normal. Not sure if the fat variety is still served here.

The Kerala chicken fry had four to five small pieces in a fresh reduced mishmash of onions and masala. It was mildly spiced and can be eaten by anyone. I prefer this kind of curry more spicy but this was a good change. Mainly the chicken fry was freshly made and that made it great. One could easily see it was just made a few minutes back. I initially wanted to try the Syrian beef fry but since that would be too dry I skipped ordering that. Everything was mildly spiced in this meal.

There was enough of everything for dinner too. Burp.