The humble Idli and the royal Masala Dosa are seeing pan India fame, after starting out as simple South Indian favorites. The filter coffee is another rage across regions. Chennai is a foodie’s delight. So many restaurants have gone on to become global brands and have branches spread across continents, so that nobody gives these yummy experiences a miss.
To start with, Saravana Bhavan has long been an iconic brand for South Indian delicacies. I personally love the filter coffee that is served here. One of the USPs of Saravana Bhavan is that the food tastes exactly the same in the dozen branches they have in the city.
Image courtesy: www.veethi.com
Ratna Café from its base in Triplicane has been around from 1948 and its sambar –idlis are famous. Its absolutely mouth-watering to watch the idlis drown in hot sambar as the waiter pours it in the plates.
Sangeetha Bhavan is one restaurant I will never forget, for I had my three squares there every day in Abu Dhabi for a year. The food is good, but the better part is you pay at the counter and there is no need to ‘tip’ anybody.
The Grand Sweets in Adyar is famous for savouries like kai murukku, thattai, mixture, ribbon and all those crunchy snacks served in a typical South Indian wedding. You enter the second Main Road in Gandhinagar and the entire road is filled with the scent of oil and ghee. While awaiting your turn to get the food, you would be treated to free “chakra pongal” or “curd rice” in a “dhunai”!
Image courtesy: wikimapia.org
Sri Krishna Bhavan is famous for its Mysore Pak. This is a chain that’s grown rapidly across cities and towns. There is an outlet in my neighbourhood at Besant Nagar where they serve the usual items like Idly, dosas apart from its crunchy mixtures, laddoos, and gulab jamoons. I find them quite pricey but there is no doubting the quality.
Dindingul Thalappakatti is another brand that is fast joining the elite group of brands, that is coming out from the Tamilnadu stable. It is renowned for its biryani, kababs, chicken, and a good range of non-vegetarian items.
Adyar Ananda Bhavan too is climbing the popularity charts in chats, samosa, bhelpuri, and the chola kinds.
Image courtesy: www.thalappakatti.com
Ever thought of so many brands from Chennai go on to conquer foreign lands? We sure know how to run the kitchen and steal your hearts.
