Karaikudi specialises in the cuisine of the Chettiar merchant community from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu — a cooking style built around an extraordinary array of spices, many of them used nowhere else in Indian cooking. Kalpasi (stone flower), marathi mokku (dried pods), and star anise go into dishes alongside the more familiar chillies, coriander, and cumin.
The signature dishes are the non-vegetarian preparations: chettinad chicken curry, pepper lamb, and kavuni arisi (black rice pudding) for dessert. The cooking is aromatic, intensely flavoured, and not especially chilli-hot despite its reputation. Portions are generous and the full-meal thali gives the best overview of the kitchen's range.
The restaurant has several branches around the city. The Anna Nagar location is the most consistent. Lunch is the main meal service; dinner is also available but the lunch spread is superior.