What to Eat in Mahabalipuram Today?

Famous Food to Eat in Mahabalipuram

The food here mixes Tamil home cooking with seafood from the boats that land on the beach every morning. These are the dishes to look for.

Coastal Seafood Platter

Grilled and fried fish, prawns and squid, cooked with Tamil spices and usually served with rice or chips. Many beach-side restaurants show the day's catch so you can choose it yourself. It is the town's signature meal.

Prawn Masala

Fresh prawns cooked in a spicy, thick coastal masala. It is one of the hotter dishes on most menus and goes well with rice or appam.

Tamil Meals

A full lunch served on a banana leaf: rice with sambar, rasam, a vegetable kootu, poriyal, curd and pickle. It is filling, affordable and the best way to taste everyday Tamil food.

Dosa and Idli

Crisp dosa and soft steamed idli with coconut chutney and sambar. They are mostly a breakfast food here, and the veg restaurants are busiest with them early in the morning.

Coffee and Breakfast in Mahabalipuram

South Indian filter coffee is the local morning drink, strong and milky, poured between a steel tumbler and a small bowl called a davara to cool and froth it. Have it with a dosa or idli before you head to the Shore Temple, or as a break between monuments.

Food Tips for Travellers in Mahabalipuram

• Eat seafood where you can see it is fresh, and ask what came in that day.
• Agree on the price of seafood sold by weight before it is cooked.
• Order vegetarian breakfasts early, as the best dosa and idli go by mid-morning.
• Ask for less spice if you prefer, as coastal masalas can be very hot.
• Drink bottled or filtered water, and plenty of it in the heat.
• Carry some cash for smaller eateries and snack stalls.