The first thing that comes to our mind while talking about Chennai cuisine is the early morning special ‘Filter Coffee’ and the all-time favourite ‘Thayir Sadam’ (curd rice). Other than that, the city has a variety of cuisine to offer food lovers – from the typical Idly-Sambhar to the spicy Chettinad dishes. While the authentic multi-cuisine restaurants are famous for their specific delicacies, carts selling steaming hot Idly-Chutney-Sambhar to office goers, small stalls selling Poli and Mini-Samosa at street corners and the Sundal, Bajji and Chat stalls at the beaches still remain the people’s choice.
The city is famous for serving cuisines from across Tamil Nadu such as a variety of Parottas (made of Maida), Puliyodarai (Tamarind rice), Aviyal (vegetables and curd mix for rice), Pongal (steamed rice and moong dal with pepper), Paniyaram (dough ball made of idly batter) and the Chettinad Chicken and Fish Curry. Adding to this list are sweets such as Appam and Mysore Pak and drinks such as Jigarthanda, Rose Milk and Paneer Soda (made of rose water).
Famous eateries such as Saravana Bhavan, The Grand Sweets and Snacks, Sri Krishna Sweets, Murugan Idly Shop and Thalapakatti Restaurant definitely maintain their standards to define the city’s multi-cuisine scene as one of the most authentic in the country.
To understand a foodie’s delight in Chennai, one must also attend a Tamil wedding and taste the ‘Kalyana-sapadu’ served on a banana leaf.
