Cuisine of Chennai

Tamil Nadu is famous for its hospitality and its deep belief that serving food to others is a service to humanity, so eating-out in its capital city Chennai, is a great experience and provides a glimpse of the unique lifestyle of the city. Chennai is known for Tamil cuisine, brought to the city by people who have migrated from different parts of Tamil Nadu. Its rich traditions offer a variety of dishes, not only Vegetaraian but also Non-Vegetarian food. Chennai has a large collection of restaurants, some of them are unique 'Speciality Restaurants', which serve 'Indian Cuisine' with an ambience to match, while most others cater South Indian tiffin and meals, at very reasonable prices.

Pure Vegetarian restaurant's under the brand name of Udupi cuisine, which is synonymous with delicious vegetarian food all over world, serve a variety of tiffin and vegetarian meals, mostly from South Indian state of Karnataka. Many of these restaurants have nowadays diversified and offer other Indian and Indianized Chinese dishes as well.

South Indian Restaurants

The South Indian Breakfast and meals.

Tiffin or Light meals is served for breakfast or as a snack. These are usually one or more dishes like Idli, Dosai, Idiyappam, Pongal and Vadai along with coconut Chutney, Sambar and Milagai podi. Tiffin is usually accompanied by hot filter coffee, the signature beverage of the city.

• Dosai, crepes made from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal (gram), and is accompanied by Sambar.

• Idli, steamed rice-cakes, prepared from a fermented batter of rice and lentils, served with different kinds of chutney and sambhar.

• Chettinad dishes like appam, uthappam.

• Parota made with maida or all-purpose flour, perhaps similar to the north Indian wheat flour-based Paratha.

• Upma, made from wheat (rava), onion, green chillies.

• Sevai or Idiyappam, Rice noodles made out of steamed rice cakes.

• Sambar, a thick stew of lentils with vegetables and spices.

Filter coffee is a morning ritual for many Chennaiites

Coffee is a major social institution in Southern Indian Tamil tradition. Its also called the Madras (a) Chennai Filter Coffee and is unique to this part of the world. They generally use gourmet coffee beans of the Arabica variety. The making of filter coffee is like a ritual, as the coffee beans are first roasted and then powdered. Sometimes they add chicory to enhance the aroma. They then use a filter set, few scoops of powdered coffee, enough boiling water is added to prepare a very dark liquid called the decoction. A 3/4 mug of hot milk with sugar, a small quantity of decoction is then served in Dabarah/Tumbler set, an unique Coffee cup.

Meals - Traditional

Tamil meal served on Banana leaf.

Food is generally classified into six tastes - sweet, sour, salt, bitter, pungent & astringent and traditional Tamil cuisine recommends that you include all of these six tastes in each main meal you eat. Each taste has a balancing ability and including some of each provides complete nutrition, minimizes cravings and balances the appetite and digestion.

• Sweet (Milk, butter, sweet cream, wheat, ghee (clarified butter), rice, honey)

• Sour (Limes and lemons, citrus fruits, yogurt, mango, tamarind)

• Salty (Salt or pickles)

• Bitter (Bitter gourd, greens of many kinds, turmeric, fenugreek)

• Pungent (Chili peppers, ginger, black pepper, clove, mustard)

• Astringent (Beans, lentils, turmeric, vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage, cilantro)

A typical meal (Lunch or Dinner) will be served on a banana leaf. As the staple diet is rice, steamed rice will be served along with a variety of vegetable dishes like sambar, dry curry, rasam and kootu. Meals are often accompanied by crisp appalams. After a final round of rice and curds or buttermilk or both, a meal is concluded with a small banana and a few betel leaves and nuts.

For a non-vegetarian meal, curries or dishes cooked with mutton, chicken or fish are included.

Meals - Restaurant

Indian meals(Thali) served on either a Silver or Stainless steel plate.

An Indian meal in restaurants is generally called 'Thali'. Its usually served on a round tray made of either Silver, Stainless steel or even Brass, with a selection of different dishes in small bowls. Depending on the regional cuisine they specialize, they offer a choice of vegetarian or non-vegetarian delicacies which are native to that region. For example one may encounter South Indian (veg) thali, Chettinad thali, Mumbai thali, Rajasthani thali or Gujarati thali.

Rice, even if it is in a modest amount seems to be essential to the popular definition of thali. While North Indian Thali consists mainly Indian Bread, like Chapati, Roti, Paratha, Phulka or Naan along with rice, South Indian Thali comes mostly with rice. In North Indian cuisine Pooris, Chappattis are offered first and the waiter serves the rice later, often in a separate bowl. The rest of the items like different Curries, Sweet and other miscellaneous items (Applams, Papad, Pickles and Beeda) is similar for both North Indian and South Indian Talis.

Thalis in some restaurant's may include "bottom-less" refills on all components of food, the idea is that one eats until fully satisfied. Such thalis are referred to as 'unlimited' thalis. In some places the term means that everything in the plate excepting a few items like the Sweet or Vada is open to unlimited helpings.

Finally a banana, beeda, and a glass of juice or lassi will be offered..

Cuisine from other parts of the world

Chennai is a major tourist destination, so its also popular for cuisines from other parts of the world. While Indian (which includes a diverse range of cuisines from other states of India), European Continental, and Chinese cuisine have been around for a long time, Mexican, Italian, Thai, Korean, Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine to name a few, have become popular with many restaurants exclusively specialising in these cuisines.

Where to eat

Chennai boasts of a large collection of restaurants in different flavours, price ranges and ambience. Music Academy traffic junction where TTK Road divides a major Road of Chennai, its called Radhakrishnan Salai on the right and Cathedral Road on the left. This is the place where we can find many of the best restuarants.

Budget

• Geetha Café , Pondy Bazaar - South Indian tiffin and Meals.
• Hot Chips, T.Nagar and Anna Nagar for budget priced South Indian tiffin, including North Indian chat (snack) items
• Komalas, Kodambakkam High Road. Cuisine - South Indian Fast Food.
• Mansuk's, T.Nagar - Best for Bombay Chat, Lassi and an unlimited Gujarati Thali.
• Palimar, Parsn Complex, Anna Salai (Mount Road). Cuisine - South Indian.
• Rathna Cafe, Triplicane - South Indian tiffin. Quality maintained for more than 100 years.
• Sangeetha, chain of Vegetarian Restaurants - Good quality and tasty South Indian, North Indian, and "Indo-Chinese" cuisine at very reasonable prices.
• Sri Krishna Sweets, well-made Indian Sweets and an unique assortment of North Indian "chat" (snack) items.
• Vasantha Bhavan chain of vegetarian restaurants - South Indian tiffin.
• Woodlands Drive-In, Gemini Circle for good South Indian Tiffin.
• Hotel Dasaprakash, is on Poonamallee Road - South Indian tiffin and Meals.
• Gangotree, Cathedral Road - Bombay Chat
• Chit Chat Mount road - Tiffin and Ice creams.

Mid-range

• Aiwo, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, located next to Barista Cafe. Cuisine - Fusion and health foods. Aiwo features a 14-course meal served on a conveyer belt that moves around the room; various dishes are served, and the food is very good and rather expensive.
• Amaravathy, No.1, Cathedral Road, Gopalpuram. Andhra Special and also Tandoori, Chinese 28116416, 28110305.
• Amma, GN Chetty Road, T. Nagar. Cuisine - Chettinadu (Region of South India).
• Anjappar, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. +91 44 2628 9344 (Anna Nagar). Chettinadu cuisine.
• Anupama, GN Chetty Road, T. Nagar. Andhra cuisine.
• Coastline, Radhakrishna Salai, Mylapore. +91 44 2825 1128. Seafood.
• Dhaba Express, Cenotaph Road, Tenampet and Nungambakkam High Road (opposite the ICICI Bank and near Little Italy restaurant). +91 44 2432 8213. North Indian.
• Dynasty, Harrisons Hotel, 315, Valluvarkottam High Road, Nungambakkam. +91 44 5222 2777. Good-quality Chinese-Indian cuisine
• ECR Dhaba, On ECR Road, Next to Muttukadu Boat House, Muttukadu. +91 98407 04050. Indian, Tandoor, Chinese
• Gyan Vaishnav, Mount Road, Near Anand Theatre. North Indian
• Kadalivanam, Mogappair., 100% natural, fully vegetarian restaurant
• Karaikudi, VeeraRaghava Road, T. Nagar, +91 44 2815 1021. (also at Anna Nagar, Besant Nagar, Mylapore, Thiruvanmiyur) Chettinadu cuisine.
• Eden's, Harrisons Hotel, 315, Valluvarkottam High Road, Nungambakkam. Wonderful Continental cuisine, fully vegetarian.
• Murugans Idli Shop, 2 locations: GN Chetty Road T. Nagar and Besant Nagar. Murugan Idli Shop is a chain restaurant, and the GN Chetty Road shop in particular is a well-kept secret among locals as a purveyor of high-quality food; on weekends, there is a long line for entry. The price for one meal is around 20-40 rupees, or around $1. South Indian.
• Noodle House, A chain restaurant, whoese locations include: 1. Spencers Plaza, Anna Salai (Mount Road) and 2.the Intersection of Sterling Road and Nungambakkam High Road in Nungambakkam. Chinese.
• Pizzaurant, Velachery Road, Little Mount, Saidapet. Cuisine - Pizza & Pasta.(Without MSG) Home delivery for nearby areas, Very Indian.
• Poonamallee, Breeze Hotel, 850, Poonamallee High Road. +91 44 2641 3334, +91 44 2643 0596. Multicusine
• Ponnusamy, Commander-in-Chief Road (opp Ethiraj College), Egmore. Chettinadu cuisine
• Rangis, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. Chinese.
• Saravana Bhavan is a chennai based chain of Vegetarian Restaurants. They have branches not only in Chennai and Tamil Nadu but also have overseas franchises in the US, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, UK and Canada.
• Swati and Swayam, at Saravana Bhavan, Peters Road. South Indian.
• Sparky's, located in Egmore, is an "American diner" operated by an American expatriate settled in Chennai. Mexican, Italian and American food. Prices range from 70-150 rps for a meal.

Trendy and High Class

• Akasaka, Suraj Towers, Ground Floor, 128 L.B. Road, Behind Jayanthi Theatre, Thiruvanmiyur. Japanese Chef, Own fishing boat, excellent sushi and sashimi
• Arirang, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. Korean.
• Bella Ciao The Italian Restaurant, 4, Sree Krishna Enclave, Kottivakkam, Chennai - 600 041 - Phone:+91 44 24511130 ---- 140, Nungambakkam High Road, Chhotabhai Center Chennai - 600 034 - Phone:+91 44 28330085 ---- Italian: Roman owner, Excellent Food and Real WoodFire oven Pizzas, lovely setting.
• Cafe Mercara, Chola Sheraton, Cathedral Road. +91 44 2811 0101, Multicuisine.
• Cedars, #29, Gandhi Mandapam Road, Kotturpuram. +91 44 55855 111, +91 44 2447 5073, Mediterranean
• Cilantro, Le Royal Meridien, #1, GST Road, St. Thomas Mount. +91 44 2231 4343, Chinese
• Citrus, Savera Hotel, Radhakrishna Salai, Mediterranean.
• Copper Chimney, Cathedral Road. Mainly North Indian with the odd Iranian inspired dish on the menu. Opposite the Chola Sheraton.
• Dakshin, Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chamiers Road, Alwarpet. +91 44 2499 4101. Rose wood furniture, antique tanjore paintings, bronze idols, fresh water lilies and flower garlands create a festive mood. Live Carnatic Music. Excellent food - Starters include traditional fare like Kuli Paniyaram. Try the Idi Appam or Appam and Mutton Stew. Finish off with a Kulfi.
• Don Pepes, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram. Mexican. +91 44 2822 1461
• Kayal, Le Royal Meridien, #1, GST Road, St. Thomas Mount. +91 44 2231 4343, Seafood
• Mainland China, Tulip Inn, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam. Chinese
• Navaratna, Le Royal Meridien, #1, GST Road, St. Thomas Mount. +91 44 2231 4343. Indian
• Peshwari, Chola Sheraton, Cathedral Road. +91 44 2811 0101, North Indian, Afghan.
• Shansi Chinese & Tandoori Restaurant, AnnaNagar - Indian and Chinese - 26213109
• Shanghai Club, Chola Sheraton, Cathedral Road. +91 44 2811 0101, Chinese
• Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. +91 44 5500 2827. South Indian
• Tandoor, Aruna Hotel, 145 Sterling Road, Nungambakkam. +91 44 2826 2626, +91 44 2828 366, Gourmet dining.
• The Great Kabab Factory, Radisson GRT Hotel, #531, GST Road, St. Thomas Mount. +91 44 2231 0101. Mughlai.
• The Patio, Taj Coromandel, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. +91 44 5500 2827. Gourmet dining
• The Residency, Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chamiers Road, Alwarpet. +91 44 2499 4101.
• Vijays, Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chamiers Road, Alwarpet. +91 44 2499 4101. Multicuisine Sports Cafe
• The Westminister. Park Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chamiers Road, Alwarpet. +91 44 2499 4101.

Experiment's - Mix and Match

A growing trend is fusing traditional Tamil cuisine with elements from other cuisines from around India and the world. This results in both spicier versions of foreign dishes (such as Szechuan Chicken Masala) and remixed versions of traditional Tamil dishes (such as Cheese Mushroom Uthappam), increasing the diversity of city cuisine.

Street Food

Recent trend includes eating street food, mainly Tiffin, Indianised Chinese food, and various types of Biriyani sold by vendors on push carts. While most restaurants tend to take enough preventive measures to safe guard the health of their patrons, the same can't be guaranteed for food from these push carts.