Must-try Chennai restaurants: top eats in the City of Grooms, India

From a humble dessert shop in 1956, Kakada Ramprasad has evolved into one of Chennai's top destinations for sweets and savories. Today, the restaurant boasts an expansive modern exterior and seamlessly blends a vast emporium with a colossal banquet hall, capable of hosting all of the city's visitors and locals alike.

Experience an explosion of flavors and make your days a little sweeter with an exquisite range of mouthwatering mithais — malai peda with saffron and cardamom, milk halwa, mango sandesh, made with paneer and flavorings, and many other Bengali sweets. Satisfy your hunger pangs and avoid midnight cravings with the exotic Indian curries such as fragrant palak paneer, sumptuous veg kofta curry, or traditional dal, served on a large plate with fluffy rice, assorted sauces, and warm flatbread. Leave some room for a grand finale and indulge in their signature Kakada royal falooda, an all-time favorite ice cream dessert, and spiral-shaped jalebi. Your taste buds will thank you for this unforgettable culinary experience.

Expect something between ₹400-₹1,100 for two, depending on your sweet-to-savory ratio.

It's rare to come across a place that instantly makes you feel at home, evoking memories of your grandmother's cooking. At Prems Graama Bhojanam, chefs avoid using white rice, maida, artificial flavors, colors, and sugar, instead opting for wholesome red rice, and other varieties of millet, which offers an array of health benefits.

Despite the food not being presented with flashy, sophisticated flair, the warmth of home-cooked meals shines through every dish. Sample vadas, resembling meatballs but made from protein-packed soy, and indulge in finger-licking good jackfruit biryani on Sundays. Don't leave without trying their panagam (jaggery drink) and pada neer (clarified palm drink). You can also purchase a variety of snacks to take home, including ragi mixture — roasted dry fruits and nuts, millet laddu, and millet thattu vadai — crisp fried rice crackers. Here, all rice is substituted with various types of millets, and even their filter coffee is sugar-free, meaning you can enjoy a sukku kaapi, or dry ginger coffee infused with pinches of fresh turmeric, tulsi leaves, and edible camphor. Simplicity, healthiness, and nostalgia are the core values they hold dear. If you worry about a lack of variety with millet-based food, put your fears to rest and come to this must-visit spot in Chennai.

Nice, light supper for two likely under ₹500. Casual, warm, and grounded in simple fare.

This restaurant in Chennai is undoubtedly one of the coziest spots around. With its charming white mansion, adorned with a beautiful veranda boasting green foliage and golden garlands, Mezze offers an array of dishes ranging from traditional Indian cuisine to Mediterranean European delicacies.

While exploring the menu, be sure to try their sun-dried tomato hummus paired with garlic and chili pita bread or crispy falafel that will keep you satiated for hours. Additionally, chicken wings marinated with spice rub and fried, lamb or paneer shawarma, and kofta kebabs, are a few more delectable options that you wouldn't want to miss. The restaurant also offers a lot of variants of mezes in generous quantities. For instance, we highly recommend a vegetarian plate Spanakopita, with its spinach, cream cheese, and feta phyllo triangles, complemented by a sweet caramelized onion dip. If you're a meat lover, you must try their giant nutty chicken patties — minced chicken cutlets with crunchy almonds and cashews served alongside toume (garlic sauce), harissa, pita, fries, and pickled vegetables. Mezze's charm and tranquility are sure to enchant you, offering a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Chennai and its street food scene.

Budget around ₹1,000-₹1,500 for a typical cozy Mediterranean sit-down.

Gossip Fusion Bistro & Dessert Bar, helmed by the enterprising duo Mr Hari and Ms Ramya, is a one-of-a-kind establishment with a fresh and lively atmosphere. Drawing inspiration from the iconic Barbapapa cartoon series of the early 1980s, the interiors are sure to delight diners of all ages. The restaurant boasts a loyal following, with the bustling lunch crowd serving as a testament to the quality of the food on offer. The extensive menu features a delectable array of fusion dishes, each one more impressive than the last.

For starters, be sure to try pumpkin broccoli soup, which is perfectly complemented by slightly sautéed peaches. Their mezze veg platter and bruschettas are also highly recommended, as are fried Arabian dates stuffed with cottage cheese and jalapeños. Don't miss out on the signature dishes, such as malai broccoli and cauliflower, Boston BBQ chicken, beef fry, grilled fish, baked vegetables, duck curry with indiyapam (rice noodles) and poached eggs. For dessert, indulge in Ferreo Rocher shake or tender coconut mousse, rum and raisin cheesecake, and eskimo choco bomb.

Tourists staying in 5-star hotels in and around the area up to Mamallapuram should definitely make it a point to visit Gossip Fusion Bistro & Dessert Bar for a refreshing change of pace. You won't regret it!

For a comfortable meal plus dessert, expect ₹1,600-₹2,000 for two — especially if you go for that mousse.

Nestled in the lower lobby level of the awe-inspiring Leela Palace lies a restaurant that is sure to exceed your every expectation. Jamavar, the signature restaurant of The Leela hotel group, offers a regal and exceptional Indian dining experience that is unmatched in every way. With a show kitchen, grand décor, and The Maharaja Table providing the finest dishes from the royal kitchens, your visit is guaranteed to be an unforgettable culinary journey.

Jamavar presents a menu that seamlessly blends North and South Indian cuisine, resulting in rich and delectable experience. Indulge in signature dishes that include the Kumarakom fish curry, prepared with shallots, green chillies, ginger, and kodampuli, a type of tamarind native to Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Also, try Raan-e-Jamavaar, a succulent leg of kid lamb marinated with cumin, cardamom, bay leaf, grilled to perfection in a tandoor and served with a splash of rum, and their renowned dal, among many others. Immerse yourself in the grandeur of this magnificent, Maharaja-inspired restaurant, an experience unparalleled to any European capital.

Dinner for two à la carte will run around ₹3,500. If you opt for the brunch experience, factor in ₹7,700-₹8,800 total (before taxes) for both — with alcohol pushing the price up.

Explore India with our 2025 travel and food guides — full of handy links, tips, and carefully curated recommendations. Here are a few picks to get you started: 

Top dining spots in the Himalayas – Manali, India
Try the best and cheapest of street food in Mumbai, India
Top tourist attractions & best restaurants in New Delhi, India