Chennai, once called Madras, is a vibrant coastal city in southeastern India that has become a significant tourist hub and the epicenter of local healthcare. A fun fact is that Chennai wears two hats: "The Detroit of India" for its impressive standing in the automobile industry and "The City of Grooms" due to its predominantly male population. Chennai is also known as "The Land of Temples," with numerous remarkable places of worship dedicated to various deities hidden throughout the city, inviting tourists to pay their respects. In addition, some popular recreation areas, such as the deer and snake parks, will add a delightful twist to your leisure activities and enhance your exploration of the city's iconic landmarks.
And don't miss out on the splendid South Indian cuisine of the area, renowned for its rich aromas and intense flavor combinations. Explore the best dining establishments during your stay in this incredible city with the help of our guide.
This is a popular Indian vegetarian food consisting of cottage cheese panner and thick spinach paste, green creamy curry. Palak paneer is seasoned with a variety of aromatic spices, including ginger, garlic and garam masala.
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.
It's delicious and satisfying meat cutlets, where the main secret of their preparation is well-ground minced meat. The shape, size, products used and the method of heat treatment can be different. For example, they are prepared from different types of meat, all sorts of vegetables, cereals, with herbs, spices, etc. Some housewives cook them deep-fried, others fry in a pan, some stew, and some bake in the oven, on the grill or in coals.
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.
Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip, spread, or savory dish made from cooked, mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. The standard garnish in the Middle East includes olive oil, a few whole chickpeas, parsley, and paprika.
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.
It's a classic Italian appetizer, or antipasto, served before the main dish. Bruschettas are made from garlic-rubbed grilled bread and topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, olive oil, pepper and salt. Sometimes they come with mozzarella, cured meat and other vegetables. The dish traces back to the 15th-century Ancient Rome.
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!
The lamb meat is tenderer and more nutritional if compared to any other meat and has a particular gamey taste. It is not as firm as beef but chewier than chicken.
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.
May your travels to this enchanting South Indian city bring you the ultimate pleasure and allow you to relish the true essence of India through its delectable cuisine!
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