Chennai - Eating
South Indian cuisine, also referred to as Dravidian, usually consists of several (mainly vegetarian) dishes eaten with steamed rice. Tamil cuisine, famous for the use of a variety of spices, recommends that one includes in a main meal all the six tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salt, astringent and pungent. A Thali, here known as "meals", is traditionally served on a banana leaf. Look around and see how the other guests handle their leftovers and banana leaf, for good table manners. Restaurants are often referred to as a "hotel" on the signs outside, on which it usually also states if the restaurant serves meat or not. Most of the good restaurants in Chennai are located in the city’s up-market hotels, and are known for their lunch buffets. Don´t miss out on all the street stalls that serves wonderful south indian food and note that some foods are only served during breakfast whilst others only are served during night.
SaravanaBhavan/Egmore
With delicious food and good service, this chain of restaurants has spread in Europe, North America and India and has some 20 different locations in Chennai. The "Unlimited Thali" offer is a popular choice among diners.
Saravana Bhavan/Gopalapuram
Feast on Vegetable Biryani, Mushroom Seekh Kebab or Paneer Tikka at this restaurant belonging to the famous chain, which offers more than one hundred Indian and Chinese dishes, or dine in style with silver cutlery on the upper floors.
Ponnusamy Hotel
The obvious choice for food from India’s Chettinad region, this restaurant is definitely one of the best in Chennai. It offers a great selection of meat and strictly vegetarian dishes, with its seafood specialties being a popular choice.
Murugan Idli Shop/Triplicane
This is another chain of restaurants, with three different locations in Chennai. Famous for its idly – an Indian savory cake, similare to semolina, served with coconut and sambar – and its dosai, a crêpe, usually filled with potatoe curry, made from rice and lentils. This place serves some of the best South Indian food in Chennai.
Bay Leaf
If you decide to take a break from the South Indian cuisine and feel like trying some Bengali food, this clean and unpretentious restaurant is the place to eat, with both the vegetarian and the meat dishes being excellent.
Karaikudi restaurant
Chettinad cuisine specialties not to be missed at this place include Pallathur special chicken, Kaadai Varuval and Pigeon Varuval – all served by waiters in traditional attire.
Hotel Maharaja
At lunchtime, this place bustles with locals and Indians alike, who tuck into its famous lunch Thalis. The service is quick.
The Residency, Sheraton Park Hotel
This multi-cuisine restaurant is one of the best in Chennai, having made a name thanks to the broad range of meals and desserts served at the lunch and dinner buffets. The quality of the food, as well as the service, is excellent. There is also life music every evening as well.
