Explore beyond the Dosa
Chennai doesn’t play around when it comes to good food. Here are some of our recommendations and favorite spots to try out in the city:
Murugan Idli Shop in Besant Nagar - its one of Mahitha’s favorite spots. Go there for breakfast to have the freshest and fluffiest idlis (rice cakes). Located right by the beach, you can take a walk on the shore if you eat too much. It does get crowded, but the service is fast and the food is amazing!
Royal Vega - It is one of the first restaurants we took our families to when we introduced them to each other, and everyone LOVED it. It’s an exclusive luxury vegetarian restaurant that features a fine collection of signature vegetarian dishes from the erstwhile royal kitchens of India and is located inside ITC Grand Chola. You’ll need to make a reservation before dining there.
Adyar Ananda Bhavan in Pondy Bazaar (A2B) - A sit-in vegetarian restaurant and a sweet shop all under one roof. Its a great spot if you need a snack or a meal as a shopping break while you’re in Pondy Bazaar. Highly recommend going there at 4pm for a quick filter coffee, chai and some snacks. Good for simple budgets and snacks.
Gangotree - best chaat in Chennai. Nothing more, nothing less. Go there to find out. I also recommend this place to everyone I know because you can safely have the spicy pani puri without upsetting your stomach LOL.
Soy Soi - Pan-asian restaurant in Chennai with a nice ambience, and a wide range of dishes. Their green curry is so good!
Raintree’s breakfast buffet - literally stuff your face and eat all you want here (there’s a wide range of food from Indian to Continental to Italian and there’s something for everyone).
Hamsa in Adyar - upscale, fancy and food served on a silver platter (literally). They have a few fusion delicacies that capture the taste of authentic South India perfectly.
Kathi Roll Shop - for a quick bite when you’re on-the-go or for that late night craving.
Chap Chay - a great restaurant to visit if you’d like to try some Pan Asian, Thai and Chinese options. They have a DIY wok station and sushi there too.
There’s a lot more - I’ll keep adding them as I think of them!