By Jessica Mathiasz 

Some restaurants let the food do the talking, and Choccan is one of those places. They've been lowkey since opening in September, with barely any marketing to speak of. So, finding a crowd of people waiting for seats during lunchtime told me everything I needed to know. This was all word-of-mouth magic, people talking about their experience and customers coming back for seconds. I had a feeling it was because of the food, and boy, was I about to find out. 

The story of traveling flavours 
The smell of those spices was so aromatic, I was ready to just dive into the menu. But first, I had to understand the story behind the food. What was it that made Choccan different? I managed to grab a few minutes with the partners, Hary and Ashokkanth, just before the lunch rush really started. "We both often visit India, mostly the southern part," Hary explained. "And in the south, Karaikudi is a famous place for this cuisine. We'd come back from our trips, remembering these incredible flavours, and we realized we couldn't find that true, authentic taste of Karaikudi anywhere in Colombo. That missing taste, that's what we wanted to bring here."

That was the spark. They wanted to bring something unique to Colombo’s food scene, something that wasn’t just another restaurant, but a flavour experience. To make it happen, they went straight to the source. They partnered with a culinary consultant team from Karaikudi itself, and their head chef, with experience in star hotels, was brought over from that very region. "The taste is the same. We don't want to change it... It's authentic." Hary reiterated. Even most of the key ingredients and spices are sourced directly from India to ensure that real flavour.

The Karaikudi food 
The moment I’ve been waiting for… the ‘Weekend Virundhu’ (Rs. 1790) just arrived. Virundhu means feast and THIS was a feast! 

You get unlimited red rice or white rice, parotta/chapathi, veg curry, veg koottu, veg poriyal, thokku, rasam, curd, papadam, sweet, banana and limited gobi 65, egg roast, chicken kuzhambu, mutton kuzhambu, fish kuzhambu. Let me start by saying this is the most generous meal I’ve had in a long time. Absolutely nobody leaves here hungry. And it’s as flavourful and delicious as it is generous. Every single thing on that plate was amazing. 

Let's talk about the Chicken Biryani. It was so fragrant, and you could taste every layer of spice in the perfectly cooked rice. But the real magic happened when I ate it with the Mutton Chukka (Rs. 790), that combination was an absolute chef's kiss.

The Karaikudi Fish Fry (Rs. 490) was the smallest dish of the meal, but it ended up being my favourite. I was supposed to mix it with the rice, but the flavour was so uniquely amazing that I ended up eating the fish all on its own. It was just that good.

And finally, the Muru Muru Prawn Fry (Rs. 690). Incredibly crunchy, juicy, and seasoned prawns with a secret blend of Karaikudi spices that I’ve never tasted before. 

All in all food was a 10/10. It’s the kind of food that’s deeply filling and satisfying, the real deal that leaves you thinking, “So THIS is what good food feels like.”

The atmosphere 
Beyond the food, the space itself is warm and homey. They’ve worked with local artists to paint walls that blend traditional Chettinad art with a modern touch, creating an atmosphere that’s both vibrant and comfortable. The staff are friendly and attentive, which makes the experience even better. 

When I asked what advice they’d give a first-timer, they pointed to their special lunch thalis. It’s the perfect way to sample a wide array of their vegetable curries, payasam, rasam, and more, with the option to add on their incredible seafood, chicken, or mutton specialties.

My conversation with the partners kept circling back to one thing: the customers. Their faces lit up talking about the feedback. "Whoever comes and tastes the food, they appreciate," they said, highlighting that the most meaningful compliments are the ones where people take the time to call them personally, just to rave about the food.

So come check out what others are raving about. If you love food, real food with soul and story, you owe it to yourself to experience this virundhu. Just be sure to arrive early for lunch; word is clearly getting out.