What to Eat in Chennai Today?

Famous Food to Eat in Chennai

Chennai's food is built on rice, lentils, coconut and tamarind, with plenty of pepper and curry leaves. Try these dishes while you are in the city.

Idli and Filter Coffee

Soft, steamed rice-and-lentil cakes served with sambar and coconut chutney, followed by a strong filter coffee. It is the classic Chennai breakfast, and many places are known for their idli alone.

Masala Dosa

A thin, crisp rice-and-lentil crêpe folded around spiced potato and served with chutneys and sambar. You will find it in almost every vegetarian restaurant and mess in the city.

Ven Pongal

Rice and moong dal cooked soft and tempered with ghee, black pepper, cumin and cashews. It is mild, filling and a favourite breakfast, often eaten with a vada on the side.

Chettinad Chicken

A dark, peppery chicken curry from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, made with roasted spices. It is one of the hottest dishes you will try in Chennai, so ask about the spice level.

Madras Filter Coffee

Strong coffee decoction mixed with hot milk and sugar, then poured between a steel tumbler and a small bowl called a davara until it froths. It is served everywhere, from old cafés to railway stations.

Tiffin, Snacks and Coffee in Chennai

In Chennai, "tiffin" means the light meals of idli, dosa, vada and pongal that people eat for breakfast and again in the early evening. At Marina Beach, look out for sundal, a snack of boiled chickpeas or peas tempered with coconut and curry leaves, sold by vendors along the sand.

Food Tips for Travellers in Chennai

• Go early for breakfast, as the most popular tiffin places get busy by mid-morning.
• Eat with your right hand if you want to eat like a local, especially on a banana leaf.
• Ask for extra sambar or chutney; refills are usually free.
• Vegetarians will find it very easy to eat well here.
• Drink bottled or filtered water, and choose busy stalls with fresh, hot food.
• Chettinad dishes can be very spicy, so ask before you order.