Bay View just scored a quiet new heavyweight in the spice department. Chettinadu House, an Indo-Chinese and South Indian restaurant, has moved into the former Sabor Tropical storefront on South Kinnickinnic Avenue and started serving without much fanfare. Inside, the dining room is painted matte black, punctuated by bright parasols and glossy food photos, and a modest lunch crowd filtered in during a soft opening earlier this month. In the kitchen, traditional Chettinadu spices and tandoori techniques meet Indo-Chinese staples like fried rice, noodles and gobi manchurian. The spot offers dine-in, takeout and delivery, but no alcohol, as reported by Urban Milwaukee.
According to Urban Milwaukee, Chettinadu House is led by Ameen Khan, who leans on decades-old family recipes for curries such as tikka masala, vindaloo and dal tadka. Those share menu space with tandoori-grilled meats and seafood. The outlet’s photographer documented the space last Thursday, noting the bold decor and dark color scheme, and also reported that the full menu is halal.
According to Chettinadu House's website, the restaurant is located at 2258 South Kinnickinnic Ave. and lists current hours along with ordering details. The business page shows the kitchen is closed on Tuesdays, with lunch and dinner service the rest of the week. The site also handles online ordering and spells out carryout and delivery windows.
From Family Recipes to Bay View Bowls
Khan told Urban Milwaukee that “Any food you eat here is freshly made,” adding that he trains staff in traditional techniques like grinding spices and making curd. Urban Milwaukee reports Khan was born in South India and has more than 12 years of training in the cuisine. That background shows up on the table in dishes such as biryani, crisp dosa and house-made chutneys.
A New Chapter for the Old Sabor Space
Chettinadu House takes over the space left by Sabor Tropical, which closed in early 2025 amid a lease change, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The newcomer slots neatly into Bay View’s long run of small, owner-operated eateries and adds to the neighborhood’s roster of international restaurants. Shepherd Express included Chettinadu House in a December roundup of recent openings.
What to Order
The menu highlights biryani, tandoori chicken and crispy dosa, alongside Indo-Chinese favorites such as schezwan fried rice and gobi manchurian, all featured on Chettinadu House's website. For something cool or sweet, the offerings include lassi, rose milk and nannari sharbath, while chai and Madras coffee cover the hot side of the drinks list. The kitchen focuses on scratch preparations and spice blends that reflect the food’s South Indian roots.
Whether you are in the mood for a South Indian thali or a plate of schezwan fried rice, Chettinadu House brings a fresh, scratch-driven option to Bay View’s dining map. The menu is expected to be fine-tuned over the coming weeks as the restaurant settles into regular service.
