KAMATCHI (Non-Veg Restaurant)White Town branch — Restaurant in Puducherry

Kamatchi Biriyani is a renowned culinary destination in Pondicherry, celebrated for its authentic South Indian flavors and traditional biriyani recipes. Known for serving non veg meals in the traditional style on banana leaves, this restaurant is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Whether you’re a fan of spicy curries, tender meats, or aromatic biriyanis, Kamatchi Biriyani promises a feast to remember.Limited options for veg.

Location and How to Reach from Pondicherry Railway Station: Kamatchi Biriyani is located within 3 kilometers of the Pondicherry Railway Station, making it easily accessible. You can reach the restaurant by auto-rickshaw or taxi in just 10–15 minutes. For those exploring Pondicherry on foot or by bike, the restaurant is well-connected and easy to locate using any map application. Its central location makes it an ideal stop during your culinary adventures in the city.

Ambiance and Atmosphere: The restaurant has a lively and bustling atmosphere, especially during lunch and dinner hours. With its straightforward and functional interiors, Kamatchi Biriyani focuses more on delivering exceptional food rather than extravagant décor. The dining space is clean and well-maintained, offering seating that accommodates both small groups and large families.

On weekends and festive occasions, the place is known to be packed, so be prepared for a bit of a wait if you visit during peak hours. However, the delicious food more than compensates for the rush. Watching the servers bring out steaming plates of biriyani and starters on banana leaves only adds to the excitement.

Food Varieties and Specialties: Kamatchi Biriyani is best known for its biriyani, prepared in the traditional South Indian style with aromatic spices, flavorful basmati rice, and perfectly cooked meat. During my visit on New Year’s Day, I savored their Nattukozhi (country chicken) Biriyani and Mutton Biriyani, both served on banana leaves. The rustic flavor of the country chicken, paired with the rich and spicy biriyani masala, was a standout dish. The mutton was tender and melted in the mouth, blending beautifully with the aromatic rice.

Their menu also features an array of delectable starters, including:

Malli Chicken: A flavorful coriander-marinated chicken dish, known for its fresh and herby taste. Fish Platter: A variety of fish starters cooked to perfection, highlighting the coastal flavors of Pondicherry. Fish Kamatchi: A signature dish that combines perfectly spiced fish with a unique preparation style. Chicken and Fish Starters: Crispy, spicy, and incredibly flavorful, these are ideal for kickstarting your meal. Each dish is a testament to the restaurant’s commitment to authentic flavors and high-quality ingredients. The generous portions and reasonable prices make Kamatchi Biriyani a value-for-money...

Single line review: Must visit 🔥, it will not disappoint 👍🤝

Full review:

If you came to pondi, you must visit this. One of the best hotels to taste original pondi food. Everything here is good.

We ordered Chicken Biryani, Mutton Kuzhambu, Chicken Kuzhambu, prawns kamatchi, fish kamatchi, chicken kuzhi omlet, viral fish fry, Jigarthanda and guess what Everything is too good. None of them disappointed. And everything is must eat.

Cost was not that high. Don't come here if you are not that hungry. Come With empty Stomach and go wild on the menu.

Trust me you will not disappoint. Service was good, they were polite. It doesn't have much ambience just good enough.

Free Dish Alert 😋 : They will provide Rasam annam as complementary. Try it. It is not the best rasam, but as it is free it tastes good 😅.

Note :

✅ This restaurant is too famous here. So, basically in the peak hours it will be much crowded. So come at earliest hours.

✅ This restaurant will be opened from 12-4 PM and 630 to 11PM. So it's best to come at 12:15PM or 6:45PM.

✅ They can speak English, So it's not a problem to communicate.

❌ Don't randomly order the food if you don't know them. If you ask they will suggest the dishes according to your taste.

❌ Don't prefer this If you are vegetarian.

Ratings : Food: 8.5/10 Ambience: 7/10 Cleanliness: 8/10 Service : 7.5/10

✅ They will accept UPI, Cash, Card. ❌ It is better to carry cash or card as we can't get signals inside the restaurant.

Pros: ✅ Cost is Not that high ❤️ ✅ Authentic tastes 👍👍

Cons : ❌ Parking Not Available. ❌ Not good for vegetarians. ❌ Quantity will be less.

Can you go with - girlfriend : ✅ ✅ family : ✅✅ friends : ✅✅

Oct 4th 2023 Edit: Now they are not giving...

By the time you're reading this, someone—either a local from Pondy or the hotel staff(you checked in) —has probably recommended this restaurant to you. Let me give you some advice: grab a newspaper or book before you head out, because you might need it.

Reaching the restaurant isn’t exactly straightforward. Even Google Maps might struggle to guide you accurately, as there are several ways to get there. But let’s assume you manage to find it. Be prepared for a wait. You’ll have to sign in with your name and the number of guests, and then wait outside. It’s likely to be hot and humid, so you’ll need that book or paper to fan yourself, or you can grab one from the security’s seat.

Expect a wait time of around 30 to 45 minutes before your name is called.

Once you finally enter and sit down, lower your expectations. The restaurant’s reputation doesn’t fully live up to the hype. If you’re there for lunch, your options are limited to biryani and a few starters. In the evening, they serve dosas and parottas.

If you opt for Kamachi Fish or other dry dishes, don’t expect large portions. They’re served in small, leaf-made bowls, almost like temple offerings. Prawns, mutton—most of the dry items—come in these small servings, and it’s a bit of a challenge to find the actual meat in them.

My suggestion? Go for the plain biryani rice rather than splurging on mutton or chicken biryani. It’s more economical, and frankly, the biryani itself is just average. The rasam and curd rice, on the other hand, are decent.

Lastly, if you want to avoid the hassle of the crowded washbasins, bring a water bottle to rinse your hands.

Overall, it's an OK experience, but definitely not one that matches...