The main course reviewed at Aachi Aappakadai, in Sunnyvale, Calif. (Top): Chilli Chicken; (Bottom, l-r): Kadhai Paneer and Paratha; Chicken Kothu Paratha. (All photos: Vansh A. Gupta | Siliconeer)

Aachi Aappakadai has two locations in San Francisco Bay Area, one in Sunnyvale, and another in Santa Clara. They specialize in Chettinad food, a flavorful and spicy cuisine from South India. Overall, we were impressed with the service, since the food arrived promptly, and was delicious for the most part. However, what bothered us were the missing serving spoons. If you crave Chettinad cuisine, this place is a formidable contender amongst many in Silicon Valley, write Siliconeer foodies Vansh A. Gupta and Rohan Kumar. – @Siliconeer #Siliconeer #DesiRestaurantReviews #AachiAppakadai #Sunnyvale #SantaClara #SiliconValleyEats #Chettinad

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Aachi Aappakadai
1105 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Phone: (408) 732-2244
http://www.aachiaappakadai.com
Cuisine: Chettinad, South India
Cost: $½. (Dishes are under $15 each)
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Rating: ✯✯✯½
✯✯✯✯✯ | Extraordinary
✯✯✯✯ | Superior
✯✯✯ | Good
✯✯ | Mediocre
✯ | Poor
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Points
Ambience: ✯✯✯
Service: ✯✯✯✯
Taste: ✯✯✯✯
Price: ✯✯✯✯
SCORE: 75%
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Chicken 65: The Chicken 65 was aromatic, tangy, appetizing, and crunchy. The dish was tasty but sautéed bell peppers and onions would have bought the extra zing to this mouthwatering treat.

Chili Chicken: The Chili Chicken lives up to its name in Aachi Aappakadai. This hot, spicy, piquant dish is recommended only for adults who like to eat 10 red chilies at once. The sautéed bell peppers and onions multiplied the taste of this dish. Aachi Aappakadai might not be an Indo-Chinese restaurant but they know how to make Chili Chicken.

Chicken Kothu Parotta: The Chicken Kothu Parotta is a favorite dish amongst many. With many variants of Kothu Parotta available, everyone can give it a try. The variant we tried had Chicken, Egg, Minced Parotta, and Onions brimmed with zesty spices. This dish was accompanied with a spicy chutney and yogurt. Would recommend the chutney for people who crave for spicy, and yogurt for people who prefer mild but tasty food.

Vegetarian Fare: Kadhai Paneer and Paratha: The vegetarian dishes were not lacking in flavor either. Kadhai Paneer was a bit on the mild side with an abundance of Paneer and bell peppers. The expectations for the Kadhai Paneer were different from what was served in terms of spice level. The Paneer dish is good for kids. The Paratha was amazing. It had its own unique flavor. It was crispy, fluffy, and goes great with any Indian curry.

Falooda: The Falooda was one of a kind. It looked rather handsome and pretty with different colors and 7 layers of sweet indulgence. To just eat it without shooting a photo should be a crime. Some of the ingredients that stood out: Ice Cream, Apples, Red/Green Jelly, and Falooda noodles. This dessert is something that should not be missed.

Falooda.
Falooda.

Verdict: Overall, Aachi Aappakadai provided a decent experience. The service was fast. Most of the food was fine although the Kadhai Paneer could use some more spices and the Veggie Cutlets could have been fresh. The ambiance is like any other try-hard fancy Indian restaurant. It’s more casual than fancy. If one craves for Chettinad cuisine in Bay Area, then Aappakadai is an economically sound choice.

NOTE: The Veggie Cutlets were actually not fresh and had a distinctive smell, possibly from not being frozen at optimum temperature and left out of the refrigerator for too long in between orders, resulting in the potatoes to rot, and a loss of a star in the review for food; otherwise the food was decent. Also serving spoons were needed for some dishes, which were not, provided resulting in a loss of a star in service. However all of the other dishes were great, the service was fast, and the waiters were delightful.

Reviewers:
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Vansh A. Gupta is the Youth Editor at Siliconeer. He is an avid foodie and likes to explore world cuisine. He lives in Fremont, Calif.
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PAGE-BON-APPETIT-AUTHOR-ROHAN-KUMAR
Rohan Kumar is an intern with Siliconeer. He is an avid foodie and loves to try out new places to eat. He lives in Fremont, Calif.
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