My Favourite Eating Haunts in Chennai

Chennai, the city I grew up in. Madras, the city my mother grew up in. We squabble a lot, just like any mother-daughter duo. But the one thing we agree upon, is the exquisite array of food in Namma Chennai. Whether it's Continental, Thai, North Indian, Traditional South Indian, Chinese, Pan-Asian or just plain Chaat, you get it all, at it’s authentic best, right here, in my favourite city, our adopted home, Chennai.

Some of our favourite haunts in the last few decades of living in Chennai are;

Sangeetha

Masala dosas doused in ghee, filter coffee that you could just bite into, Punjabi Kofta that you can’t get enough of, flavoursome Gobi Manchurian and voluminous portions of thali, this is one restaurant you can’t afford to miss eating at, if you ever visit Chennai.

Benjarong

Authentic Thai food, straight from the heartlands of Thailand. I took this restaurant for granted, until I actually honeymooned in Thailand with my late husband. The Thai Chicken curry, the glass noodles and the Pad Thai taste exactly like the local Thai cuisine eaten by residents on any of the islands in Thailand.

Shree Mithai/Gangotree

Paapdi chaat, paani puri, samosa chaat, cheese balls - if you are in the mood for trashy, deep fried, comfort food, look no further than Shree Mithai and Gangotree. I spent 90% of my post graduate years in Gangotree as opposed to sitting inside a classroom of Stella Maris college. 

Tangerine 

Cheesy penne pasta, with corn, mushroom and chicken cubes has been my staple in this steak and sizzler joint, for the last twenty years. Death by chocolate seals the deal. 

Cascade/Liu's

Head to Cascade if you are in the mood for Indian Chinese food, with an interesting twist. Liu's is the place to be, if you are a fan of Tangra chinese. 

Cakewalk

Chennai's answer to Theobroma's, at half the price. Brownies, pastries and mousses to die for. A chocolate lover's haven!

Punjabi Nation

Let me be honest here, the Butter Chicken is a far cry from what you'd get at Pind Balluchi or Punjabi Nation (Delhi), but the fluffy rumali rotis, the creamy palak paneer, the moist Tandoori chicken and the decadent Afghani chicken, will leave you wanting for more. Dhaba Express was THE restaurant for Punjabi food fifteen years ago, but I shudder to enter the premises now. 

I'm so glad to be back home. Back to my Chennai. The land of warm filter coffee, warmer weather and warmest people. I am never leaving!