Indo-Chinese Restaurant Opens in Bay View

Chettinadu House, 2258 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Photo taken Feb. 5, 2026 by Sophie Bolich.

Shortly after opening its doors in Bay View, Chettinadu House welcomed a modest lunch crowd, with groups settling into booths across the spacious dining room for korma, biryani and fresh, soft naan. The restaurant, led by Ameen Khan, was warm and fragrant with toasted spices, a contrast to the winter wind outside.

Located at 2258 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Chettinadu House specializes in South Indian cuisine, offering popular curries like tikka masala, vindaloo and dal tadka, along with tandoori-grilled meats and seafood, soups and crispy dosa paired with a variety of flavorful dipping sauces.

The fusion menu also features Indo-Chinese dishes like fried rice, noodles and gobi manchurian — deep-fried cauliflower fritters flavored with soy sauce, ginger, garlic and chili. A cooler near the kitchen offers fresh juices and lassi, with hot drinks like chai and coffee also available.

Khan said his cooking is defined by depth of flavor, the result of high-quality spice blends and small-batch preparations. “Any food you eat here is freshly made,” he told Urban Milwaukee in December.

The traditional cooking techniques take years to master. Khan, who was born in South India, has been in training for more than 12 years and is now working to teach his Milwaukee employees.

“Learning is a tradition that we get from our elderly people. We grind our own spices, we make our own curd … everything is passed down from the chefs,” he said.

Chettinadu House replaces Sabor Tropical, a Caribbean restaurant and rum bar that closed in early 2025.

The new restaurant has outfitted the formerly bright and airy space with a uniform coat of matte black paint. Decorations reflect the business’s cultural roots: Colorful parasols float above the dining area, shelves display traditional fans and instruments, and lacquered food photos pepper the dark-washed walls.

It adds to Khan’s growing portfolio, which also includes the Madison-area Thalaisva’s Indian Cuisine and a fried chicken business. Another is set to open soon in Wisconsin Dells.

The full menu at Chettinadu House is halal, and the restaurant does not serve alcohol.

Chettinadu House is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch. The restaurant reopens from 5 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. for dinner. Dine-in, takeout and delivery services are all available.

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