Chettinad cuisine is fiercely spiced and deeply aromatic, using combinations of dried spices — including kalpasi (stone flower), marathi mokku (dried flower pods), and star anise — not found elsewhere in Indian cooking. The standout dishes are pepper chicken, mutton chops, and the richly layered Chettinad chicken curry. Rice and small metal tumblers of sambar are the default accompaniment.
Most restaurants in Karaikudi serve Chettinad food, and the quality is generally high — this is a cuisine you get right only when it's made daily and locally. The larger hotels offer Chettinad thalis (set meals with multiple dishes) that are the best introduction to the range of the cuisine. Street stalls around the main bus stand serve excellent idli and dosai in the morning.