Muthu's Curry is a well-known South Indian restaurant at 138 Race Course Road in Little India, rated 4.1 from more than 3,000 Google reviews. Diners praise the warm welcome, attentive service and, above all, the fish head curry.
Fish head curry lives or dies on freshness: the fish should taste clean and sweet, with none of the muddy note that betrays an older catch. A good gravy balances tamarind tang against chilli heat, fragrant with curry leaves and thick enough to cling to the fish while spooning over rice. Heads are big, so this is sharing food — one to a table, with rice or briyani alongside to soak up the gravy, and vegetable sides off a banana leaf. A busy room is the surest guide, since steady turnover keeps the fish fresh.
Regulars say the bright lights make it easy to spot on Race Course Road, and more than one review suggests looking out for Venkat.