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Amma's South Indian Cuisine

A Mother's Delicious Legacy

From the steamy coastal plains to the lush hills, the five Southern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala boast a rich and diverse culinary landscape. Shaped by a hot, humid climate and abundant rainfall, the cuisine relies heavily on fresh, local ingredients like vegetables, fruits, and, most importantly, rice.

Each state offers a unique tapestry of flavors, but a few staples tie them together. Rice, whether boiled or transformed into popular dishes like idlis and dosas, forms the heart of most meals. It’s often paired with savory sambar or tangy rasam, a variety of vegetable and meat curries, and a host of coconut-based chutneys. The region’s vibrant food is a masterful blend of aromatic spices like mustard seeds, curry leaves, tamarind, and chilies, creating a brilliant symphony of natural flavors and colors. To complete the experience, many South Indians enjoy a special chicory-infused coffee.

Drawing from the rich traditions of South India, Amma’s South Indian Restaurant brings a taste of home to the West. Amma, meaning “mother,” is more than a name—it’s the philosophy behind every dish. We believe that healthy living starts with healthy eating, so we prepare our food with the same care and dedication a mother gives her family.

You won’t find artificial colors, flavor enhancers, or unhealthy additives here. We serve food that is naturally nourishing and delicious, just as it should be.

SOUPS

VAZHAITHANDU SOUP (BANANA STEM SOUP) Seasonal

Tender banana stem, garlic, herbs.

$9.49

NELLIKAI RASAM (INDIAN GOOSEBERRY SOUP)

Black pepper, tamarind, tomato, cumin, garlic and crushed amla.

$9.49

KOZHI KURUMILAGU RASAM (CHICKEN SOUP)

Chicken broth, pepper, garlic and spices.

$10.49

SUVAI THODAKKAM - VEG APPETIZERS

SPINACH ONION PAKODA

Fritters made with chickpea flour, fennel seeds, onion and spinach, deep-fried with curry leaves.

$10.49

MEDHU VADAI

Savory fritters made from black gram, spices and herbs.

$13.99

PUNUGULU

Fritters made from rice and lentil batter, spices and herbs.

$13.99

VEG SAMOSA

Crispy pastry filled with potatoes, herbs and spices.

$11.99

MASALA KEERAI VADAI

Fritters made from green leaves, onion, lentils, spices and herbs.

$12.99

SPICY PODI IDLY

Mini idly tossed with spiced lentil powder and ghee.

$14.99

GOBI MANCHURIAN

Crispy cauliflower florets tossed in a spicy Indo-Chinese sauce.

$15.99

CHILLI PANEER

Crispy deep-fried paneer with bell peppers, onion, tangy hot sauce, ginger, garlic and herbs.

$17.99

KARI THODAKKAM - NON VEG APPETIZERS

CHICKEN CHUKKA

Boneless chicken, onion, tomato, spices and herbs.

$18.99

CHICKEN PEPPER VARUVAL

Boneless chicken, crushed pepper, onion, tomato, spices and herbs.

$18.99

CHICKEN 65

Marinated boneless chicken, curry leaves and green chillies.

$18.99

EGG CHICKEN 65

Marinated boneless chicken, curry leaves, green chillies and fluffy scrambled eggs.

$18.99

ERA THOKKU

Shrimp, spices, onion, tomato and curry leaves.

$23.99

POMFRET PODI VARUVAL

Pomfret fish grilled with house made spices.

$23.99

GOAT GHEE ROAST

Bone-in goat, house made roasted spice blend and ghee.

$23.99

LAMB CHUKKA

Boneless lamb, crushed pepper, onion, tomato, spices and herbs.

$23.99

CRUNCH & CHAAT

PANI POORI

Crispy fried poori filled with potato masala and flavorful mint water.

$11.99

SAMOSA CHAAT

Smashed samosas served over boiled chickpeas with sweet yogurt and spicy chutney.

$12.99

PAPDI CHAAT

Soft and crispy chips with cucumber, onion, boiled potatoes, chickpeas, mint, tamarind sauce, sweet yogurt and crunchy sev.

$12.99

AMMA’S SIGNATURE FLAME

A sizzling selection of marinated vegetables, meats and seafood, grilled to perfection over an open flame and served with house made dips and chutneys.
Slow-grilled over an open flame, so they’re worth a short wait.

PANEER TIKKA

Paneer cubes marinated in yogurt and spices, grilled in the tandoor until charred and smoky.

$21.99

CAULIFLOWER STEAK

Thick-cut cauliflower marinated in yogurt and house spices, flame-grilled until tender and charred.

$22.99

EGGPLANT WITH TOFU GRILL

Eggplant and tofu marinated in house spices, grilled over an open flame.

$21.99

TANDOORI CHICKEN

Chicken marinated overnight in yogurt and house spices, roasted in the clay oven.

$24.99

LAMB CHOPS

Lamb chops marinated in Indian herbs and spices, flame-grilled until juicy.

$34.99

SALMON TIKKA

Salmon fillet marinated in mustard, lime and house spices, roasted in the tandoor.

$34.99

WHOLE POMFRET GRILL

Whole pomfret marinated in traditional masala and grilled for a coastal flavor.

$34.99

SOUTH INDIAN MEALS

VEG MEALS (FRI‒SUN ONLY)

Veg appetizer, main veg curry, rice, variety rice, rasam, sambar, mor kuzhambu, kootu, poriyal, appalam, pickle, chappathi and dessert.

$23.99

NON-VEG MEALS (FRI‒SUN ONLY)

Non-veg appetizer, main non-veg curry, rice, variety rice, rasam, sambar, mor kuzhambu, kootu, poriyal, appalam, pickle, chappathi and more, including dessert.

$25.99

KOTHU PAROTTA

Shredded Indian flatbread with assorted vegetables, eggs or meat, tossed with house made salna.

VEG

Mixed vegetables, house spices and salna.

$18.99

EGG

Scrambled eggs, onion and spices.

$18.99

CHICKEN

Spiced chicken, onion and salna.

$22.99

LAMB

Spiced lamb, onion and salna.

$25.99

AMMA’S SPECIAL COMBO

TIFFIN COMBO

Idly, pongal, vadai, mini dosa, dessert, and filter coffee or masala chai.

$20.99

VEG COUPLES COMBO

Veg biryani, veg kothu parotta, spinach onion pakoda, veg kurma, choice of 2 parottas, garlic naans or chappathis, and dessert.

$40.99

NON-VEG COUPLES COMBO

Goat biryani, chicken biryani, chicken roast, chicken kurma, choice of 2 parottas, garlic naans or chappathis, and dessert.

$45.99

SIGNATURE BIRYANIS

Traditionally prepared aromatic rice blended with marinated spices, gently cooked and served with raita and salan.

JEERAGASAMBA CHICKEN BIRYANI (FRI‒SUN ONLY)

Chicken slow-cooked with fragrant jeeragasamba rice and South Indian spices.

$26.99

JEERAGASAMBA GOAT BIRYANI (FRI‒SUN ONLY)

Goat layered with jeeragasamba rice, caramelized onions, mint and spices.

$26.99

VEG BIRYANI (BASMATI)

Mixed vegetables layered with basmati rice, mint and house spices.

$22.99

EGG BIRYANI (BASMATI)

Boiled eggs layered with basmati rice, fried onions, mint and spices.

$22.99

CHICKEN BIRYANI (BASMATI)

Marinated chicken layered with basmati rice, mint and house spices.

$24.99

LAMB OR GOAT BIRYANI (BASMATI)

Tender lamb or goat layered with basmati rice, mint and house spices.

$25.99

SHRIMP BIRYANI (BASMATI)

Spiced shrimp layered with basmati rice, mint and house spices.

$25.99

SOUTH INDIAN RICE BOWLS

BISI-BELE BATH

Rice and lentils simmered with tamarind, vegetables, house-blend spices and ghee.

$16.99

CURD RICE

Yogurt mixed into soft-cooked rice with curry leaves, mustard seeds and green chillies.

$15.99

RASAM RICE

Smashed rice mixed with tamarind juice, tomato, chilli, pepper and cumin.

$15.99

VEG TIFFIN

VEN PONGAL

Rice and lentils cooked with ghee.

$13.99

VEN PONGAL VADAI

Rice and lentils cooked with ghee, served with vadai.

$14.99

IDLY

Steamed rice cakes served with sambar and chutneys.

$13.99

IDLY VADAI

Two idlies and one vadai, served with sambar and chutneys.

$13.99

SAMBAR IDLY

Mini idlies dipped in sambar.

$13.99

GHEE THATTE IDLY

Steamed flat rice cake topped with ghee, served with sambar and chutneys.

$13.99

THATTE GHEE PODI IDLY

Steamed flat rice cake topped with ghee and dusted with spicy podi.

$13.99

THATTE KARUVEPPILLAI GHEE IDLY

Steamed flat rice cake with ghee and curry leaf podi, served with sambar and chutneys.

$13.99

BENNE DOSA

Dosa is a thin crepe made from fermented rice and lentil batter. Benne dosas are cooked with butter.
Every dosa and uthappam is spread fresh on our griddle, one at a time. Worth a short wait.

BENNE PLAIN DOSA

Soft dosa cooked with butter, with a rich golden crust.

$16.99

BENNE MASALA DOSA

Butter dosa filled with potato masala.

$17.99

BENNE PODI MASALA DOSA

Butter dosa spread with spiced podi and filled with potato masala.

$17.99

BENNE KAARAM MASALA DOSA

Butter dosa spread with spicy red kaaram chutney and filled with potato masala.

$17.99