Original Madras Thalappakatu Briyani

We've been here at Anna Salai for a bit now. The morning starts early because the briyani takes a long time to get right. It's not just about the meat, it's the rice and how everything sits together in the pot. If you walk down Gorimedu, you can usually smell the spices. We don't have fancy decorations or anything. It’s just tables, chairs, and plates of food. People come in, eat their lunch, and head back to work. Sometimes it gets really crowded around noon, so things might feel a bit rushed, but that's just how it is. We try to keep the place clean, though the floor gets messy when it rains. The staff here mostly knows the regulars by their orders. It’s a busy spot in Pondicherry, especially being so close to Vallalar Salai. We use the same recipe every day, nothing special or new. It works. Some days we run out of certain items earlier than others, which can be annoying for people coming in late. But we just make a certain amount and when it's gone, it's gone. We aren't trying to be the biggest place in town, just a spot where you get a decent meal without too much fuss. If you’re around the 45ft road area, you probably know where we are already. It’s nothing more than a local kitchen where the fire is always going and the rice is always steaming.