Tanjore is a South Indian restaurant at 6-8 Clerk Street in Edinburgh. Boon Ganeshram runs the restaurant with her husband, Dr Raja Ganeshram, drawing on her South Indian background and a desire to share the region’s food in a relaxed, friendly setting. The restaurant’s name refers to the historic Tamil city now known as Thanjavur.
Dosai, idli, vadai and uthappam form an important part of the menu. Rice, lentils and legumes are ground into batters and prepared to order, then served with sambar and house chutneys. Curries use ingredients such as curry leaves, tamarind, mustard seed, coconut, chilli and aromatic spices, producing flavours that are distinct from the North Indian dishes more familiar on many British menus.
Vegetarian cooking has a strong presence, alongside meat and seafood dishes rooted in southern Indian traditions. Thalis bring several preparations together in one meal, creating contrasts of aroma, texture and heat. Dairy, nuts, mustard and other allergens appear in the cooking, so diners with allergies should check the latest menu and speak directly with the restaurant before ordering.
Rice dishes, breads and accompaniments allow groups to share widely, while traditional desserts complete the regional focus. The family run character and made to order staples give the dining experience a sense of care and specificity. Tanjore is particularly rewarding for guests who want to explore South Indian food beyond a conventional curry house selection.
Address: 6-8 Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9HX, United Kingdom
Tanjore Menu
Starters
Papadam
2 pieces
Masala Papadam
Papadam garnished with onion, coriander leaves, peanuts & spices.
Chicken Malli Saaru
Soup made with slow-cooked chicken, infused with lemon, ginger, coriander and crushed special house herbs & spices.
Rasam
Soup with tamarind, tomato and chettinad spices.
Mutton Pepper Soup
South Indian style mutton broth slow cooked with garlic, ginger, fennel seeds pepper, mint, coriander, onion, tomato aromatic South Indian spices & herbs.
Mini Sambar Idli
6 pieces. Bite-sized idlis in a bowl of sambar.
Podi Idli
Idli cubes sautéed with spicy podi, white lentils and curry leaves.
Methu Vadai
Crunchy golden fried lentil donut made of blended Urud dal (white lentils) onion and curry leaves. Served with coconut chutney.
Rasa Vadai
Vadai soaked in warm rasam.
Sambar Vadai
Vadai soaked in sambar.
Cauliflower Chuka
Deep-fried cauliflower marinated with house special spices and simmered with onions, ginger, garlic and red chillies.
Spinach & Paneer Dumplings
Spiced Indian cottage cheese and spinach dumpling coated with smashed green peas, herbs & spices and deep fried. Served with a house special sauce.
Ghee Roast
Roasted ghee with homemade garam masala – coriander seeds, cloves, red chilli, garlic, curry leaves and fenugreek.
Paneer/Cauliflower Bhaji
Southern Indian-style crunchy vegetable tempura served with coconut chutney. Choose one. Potato/Courgette/Onion/Aubergine/Paneer.
Vegan Special – Soya Chaap Piratel
Marinated soya bean chaap sautéed with onion, garlic, ginger, tomato and house special herbs and spices. Tempting vegan meat option.
Meat & Fish Starters
Chuka
Choice of meat or seafood simmered in a sizzler with spices, herbs, onions and mixed peppers.
Chettinaadu Pepper Fry
Marinated meat simmered in coconut oil, red chillies, peppercorns, dry roasted coconut and curry leaves with chettinadu spices.
Chicken Lollipop
Deep fried chicken wings marinated in herbs and spices.
Tanjore Fry
Marinated meat with crushed coriander seeds, sesame, fennel, pepper and dry chillies and deep fried. Served with a special house dip.
Mysore Ghee Roast
Meat slowly cooked with tomato and tamarind then roasted with ghee, grounded coriander seeds, red chilli, fenugreek and garlic.
Dosai
Dosai is a crispy wafer thin savoury crepe made from a batter of wet ground lentils and rice. Made fresh to order with a wide choice of fillings. Served with sambar, coconut chutney and tomato thokku. A good accompaniment to meat and vegetable curries. Extra toppings are chargeable (green chillies, paneer).
Plain Dosai
Ghee Dosai
Podi Dosai
Dosai sprinkled with a special medley of crushed spices and herbs.
Paneer Dosai
Dosai stuffed with shredded cottage cheese & podi.
Onion Dosai
Dosai with chopped onions.
Rava Dosai
Dosai with cream of wheat to infuse texture
Onion Rava Masala Dosai
Onion rava dosai stuffed with seasoned potatoes, onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves and spices.
Masala Dosai
Dosai stuffed with seasoned potatoes, onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves and spices.
Chilli Garlic Dosai
Dosai with garlic & chilli.
Mysore Masala Dosai
Masala dosai sprinkled with Mysore-style spices.
Paneer Peas Masala Dosai
Dosai stuffed with paneer peas masala.
Tanjore Special Dosai
Dosai filled with mixed veg curry.
Family Dosai
4 foot dosai shared between 2-3 people.
Idli
Idli is a steamed rice and lentil cake. Served with sambar, coconut chutney and tomato thokku.
Plain Idli
3 pieces
Idli & Vadai
Idli (2 pieces) and Methu vadai (1 piece).
Mini Sambar Idli
12 pieces. Mini idli soaked in sambar.
Uthappam
Soft fluffy savoury pancakes with a topping of your choice. Served with sambar, coconut chutney and tomato thokku.
Plain Uthappam
Onion Uthappam
Curries
Kurma
Boneless meat or vegetables slow-cooked with special cashew- and coconut-based South Indian spices. (Mild)
Tanjore
Boneless meat or vegetables simmered with onion, ginger, garlic, tomato, herbs and special house spices. (Medium)
Chettinad village style
Choice of meat or vegetables cooked with onion, tomato & chettinad spices (roasted star aniseed, fennel seeds, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, & peppercorns). (Strong flavour & medium spicy.)
Kerala
Fish or prawns in onion, garlic, ginger, green chillies, coconut milk and lemon juice in Kerala style (Mild).
Chennai Seafood
Choice of seafood cooked with tamarind juice, onion, tomato, garlic and coconut milk seasoned with mustard seeds, curry leaves and dry chillies. (Medium).
Nilgiri
Boneless meat cooked with crushed fresh mint in Nilgiri style (Mild).
Southern Dal Fry
Moong dal cooked with cumin, onion, garlic, tomato & south Indian spices & herbs.
Brinjal Stuffed
Baby aubergine stuffed with roasted coconut, coriander, poppy seeds, lentils and cashew nuts, simmered with tomato, onion and spices in a tangy tamarind sauce. (Medium)
Channa Masala
Chickpeas simmered in a tomato curry with ginger, garlic, cashew nuts and special house spices and herbs. (Medium)
Paneer Peas Masala
Indian cottage cheese and peas simmered with onion, ginger, garlic, tomatoes, cashew nuts, herbs and special spices. (Mild)
Indian Bread
Parotta
1 Piece. Layered fluffy bread made in South Indian style to accompany South Indian curries.
Veechu Parotta
1 Piece. Thinly layered parotta, perfect with curry dishes.
Plain Dosai or Plain Uthappam (side)
Tanjore Egg Parotta
1 Piece. Parotta stuffed with egg.
Batura
Large puffed fried bread.
Bread Speciality
Poori Masala
2 Pieces. Puffed fried wheat flour bread served with potato masala.
Rice Dishes
Basmati
Saffron Pulav
Coconut
House Specialties
Ambur Biryani
Meat & basmati rice cooked with special house spices & herbs. Served with boiled egg, special house curry and raita.
Madurai Kothu Parotta
Parotta pieces grilled with onion, leeks, chillies, tomato, egg, house special spices and herbs and choice of meat or veg. Served with raita and special salsa.
Accompaniments
Idli
Sambar
Potato Masala
Mixed Veg. Pickle
Tomato Chutney
Coconut Chutney
Mango Chutney
Yoghurt
Podi
Kids’ Menu
Plain Dosai
Cone shaped thin dosai served with sambar and coconut chutney.
Cheese Dosai
Small sized dosai stuffed with grated cheese, served with sambar and coconut chutney.
Kids’ Idli
Tiny idlis served with sambar.
Drinks
Sarbath
Traditional South Indian summer drink, made from the extract of a herbal root (nanari), lemon juice and basil seeds.
Fresh Lime Soda
Lassis (Home Made)
Mango, Salt
Fruit Juices
Orange, Apple
Soft Drinks
Water Still/Sparkling, J20, Appletiser, Coke, Diet Coke, 7Up, Irn Bru