A Guide: Eating out in Chennai

hellstar · 26th September 2009, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

Went to Sea Shells yesterday. But did not enter as we were in the mood for something with a nice ambiance and stuff. Sea Shells does look like the food is great but we were not in that frame of mind.

yes, i forgot to warn you it is always crowded , i always order takeaways and have them hot at home. Especially during weekends and holidays the place is literally overrun by some expats and chennaites allike . not much of an ammbience though

dre@ms · 26th September 2009, 23:32

Let me share my 29 years of eating experience in Chennai. The cheap and best ones are the kai yaendhi bhavans. For 15 rupees you get a spicy beef briyani. You will love its taste when you are under alcohol.

During my school days, I love the venkateshwara fast food opposite Casino theatre. Their briyani, Parotta and egg currry is mouth watering. During college days, yadgaar inside devi complex is good for their briyani's. Velu military is also good, first time I went to that hotel after getting my 11th standard admission in a school with my father and grandpa. Amazed to see a waiter carrying a huge plate of cooked animal planet. In and around Anna Nagar the hotels count is rising, Opposite parvati bhavan, inside the road, there is a mess, which started like a kai yaendhi and branched into AC hotel. Lunch time you cant find a seat. Costly food, Zamindar in shanti colony is good. Anjappar and paramakudi is also good, but rush all the time. If you go by Anna Nagar west, near the Airtel showroom, there is a hotel called Paramount. Their takeaway is a big hit. They have one branch in ormes road too, which is always crowded. The quantity of biryani they provide can be eaten by 2 person, stomachful. Not to forgot our joint, At the end of Saravana bhavan hotel road, there is a fast food shop called Jack and Jill. Its a youth joint in the day and a family joint during night. The ambience in and around sucks but the food is great. Cheap and best. Karthik tiffin centre is also good, with huge varities of dosa and variety rices. I do not know how many of you know the below food available in our own chennai. My frnds in North chennai introduced this to me, its called as the Atham. Near beach railway station, behind GPO, in the night you can find the shops selling this like hot cakes. Huge crowd and mouth watering food and cheap too. Its basically noodles of some kind and offered in non veg and veg. It is too good. All chennaites, please visit this place and experience the food you would never get anywhere in this world.

Blue Thunder · 27th September 2009, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by dre@ms

...For 15 rupees you get a spicy beef briyani. ....

One good joint is at Lily Pond complex (erstwhile Moore market complex).

Quote:

Originally Posted by dre@ms

...My frnds in North chennai introduced this to me, its called as the Atham. Near beach railway station, behind GPO, in the night you can find the shops selling this like hot cakes. Huge crowd and mouth watering food and cheap too. Its basically noodles of some kind and offered in non veg and veg. It is too good. All chennaites, please visit this place and experience the food you would never get anywhere in this world.

You made me very nostalgic now

. I accidentally stumbled upon this place about 10 years ago, the noodles was amazing (I think it was 5-10 rs then). I guess it is the same place that you are referring to. Visited it a couple of times, then we moved home to another location. Would be interesting to know how their noddles taste now.

Blue Thunder · 27th September 2009, 21:40

The best beef fry I have had is not in any star hotel, but a simple Kerala mess in the Kodambakkam area. And it used to cost Rs. 7/- a plate about a decade ago...nowadays it is Rs 25/-. Excellent taste, boneless/tendonless and full pieces cooked till soft. And they used to make good rotis with dhall fry as side dish.

And I have tasted one of the best chicken biriyanis at a road-side eatery in Ritchie street. Used to cost Rs. 7/- per quarterplate about a decade ago, now I guess it is about Rs. 30-35/- per quarter plate.

dre@ms post above has made me start dreaming !

dre@ms · 28th September 2009, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

One good joint is at Lily Pond complex (erstwhile Moore market complex).
You made me very nostalgic now

. I accidentally stumbled upon this place about 10 years ago, the noodles was amazing (I think it was 5-10 rs then). I guess it is the same place that you are referring to. Visited it a couple of times, then we moved home to another location. Would be interesting to know how their noddles taste now.

I came to know about this place from the year 2004. Last year too, my frnds took me there and I had my stomachfull. But I beleive it is not the usual noodles, its something different. True?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

The best beef fry I have had is not in any star hotel, but a simple Kerala mess in the Kodambakkam area. And it used to cost Rs. 7/- a plate about a decade ago...nowadays it is Rs 25/-. Excellent taste, boneless/tendonless and full pieces cooked till soft. And they used to make good rotis with dhall fry as side dish.

And I have tasted one of the best chicken biriyanis at a road-side eatery in Ritchie street. Used to cost Rs. 7/- per quarterplate about a decade ago, now I guess it is about Rs. 30-35/- per quarter plate.

dre@ms post above has made me start dreaming !

Yes, mate. I have poured my 29 years memories here. Missed out many, but the one's I have mentioned are the one's which are still lingering in my memory.

Blue Thunder · 28th September 2009, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by dre@ms

... But I beleive it is not the usual noodles, its something different. True?...

yes, it does not look like the usual noodles, it is wider, thicker (rectangular cross-section) more like Italian spaghetti...but whatever, it tasted yummy ! and it was cheap ! And I also remember they served tasty soup (not the bright-red-coloured stuff), which had some of these noodles in them.

dre@ms · 28th September 2009, 23:03

^^ya true..the noodles are thicker and tastes different too. I normally take the egged one. Yummy!!! Never tasted the soup though. Will visit Chennai next month, hopefully for Diwali, gonna taste the atham once more.

bblost · 29th September 2009, 08:57

Dinner from Sea Shells. Finally.

I picked up
1/2 BBQ Pepper Chicken
1 Hommous Shawarma
1 Mutton Masala
2 Butter Naan
3 Plain Naan.

The chicken was very well done. The style of cooking makes it come out completely flat. Its like a rectangular box. The taste was very good. And at just 110 for it, total VFM.

The Shawarma was not wrapped in. The pita bread, salad and hommous with chicken pieces in it were served separately. At 100 bucks it was quite good. But I prefer hommous from a Mediterranean joint in Hyderabad. But this was not bad. The bread was fresh and over all very good.

Mutton masala, at 110 bucks a total let down. No one liked it.

The Naans were made using maida. This made them hard to tear by the time I reached home.

Blue Thunder · 29th December 2009, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by dre@ms

...I do not know how many of you know the below food available in our own chennai. ... Its basically noodles of some kind and offered in non veg and veg. It is too good. All chennaites, please visit this place and experience the food you would never get anywhere in this world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

...I accidentally stumbled upon this place about 10 years ago, the noodles was amazing (I think it was 5-10 rs then). ...Would be interesting to know how their noddles taste now.

After about 10 yrs, I got a chance to taste these special noodles again. And they are yummmmy even today. They cost Rs. 25/- a plate for the veggy noodles.

I asked the guy where they get the raw noodles from, and his answer : "from Burma"

.

anekho · 30th December 2009, 00:44

Anyone eaten at Mast Kalandar? is it any good?

Had some pretty good oothapams at Murugans

Where's the best in town?

esteem_lover · 30th December 2009, 00:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

Dinner from Sea Shells. Finally.

I am sure you are speaking of the one in A.Nagar. The tandoori and grilled chicken are the best that I have had in my life including the ones I had in B'bay & Delhi. Maybe I should try Punjab next.

kiku007 · 30th December 2009, 10:16

Longtime back myself and my friends prepared a Restaurants guide for Chennai and Pondy (Only the ones we have visited). Better to place the file in this thread than in my hard disk

ikoneer · 30th December 2009, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by anekho

Anyone eaten at Mast Kalandar? is it any good?

Had some pretty good oothapams at Murugans

Where's the best in town?

Yep, murugan idly' 'chinna vengaya oothappam' is very good. Saravana Bhavan has also followed suit and even their oothapam has chinna vengayaam these days.

Another must try item in murugan idly is their 'sakkarai pongal', i personally do not like their idly's though

vdiatech · 30th December 2009, 13:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by anekho

Anyone eaten at Mast Kalandar? is it any good?

Had some pretty good oothapams at Murugans

Where's the best in town?

Mast kalandhar is very good. I have been their often. A good joint for people who want authentic northy veg food. A bit pricy I must say ( John sir, spare me on this one !)

I dont like the idea of paying at the counter first and then taking your seat for the meal though...

anekho · 30th December 2009, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikoneer

Yep, murugan idly' 'chinna vengaya oothappam' is very good. Saravana Bhavan has also followed suit and even their oothapam has chinna vengayaam these days.

Another must try item in murugan idly is their 'sakkarai pongal', i personally do not like their idly's though

Yep, the oothappams with small onions are delish

Somehow I've stopped enjoying food at Sarvana, dunno why.

Will try the pongal next time!

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdiatech

Mast kalandhar is very good. I have been their often. A good joint for people who want authentic northy veg food. A bit pricy I must say ( John sir, spare me on this one !)

I dont like the idea of paying at the counter first and then taking your seat for the meal though...

Thanks dude. Time for me and dad to feast

Checked out their menu, my dad can't wait for some authentic 'rajma chawal'!

cheers

BTW, Anyone eaten at Rangoli? Supposed to be decent according to burrp.

26th September 2009, 23:32	#182
dre@ms BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: MADRAS Posts: 638 Thanked: 206 Times	Let me share my 29 years of eating experience in Chennai. The cheap and best ones are the kai yaendhi bhavans. For 15 rupees you get a spicy beef briyani. You will love its taste when you are under alcohol. During my school days, I love the venkateshwara fast food opposite Casino theatre. Their briyani, Parotta and egg currry is mouth watering. During college days, yadgaar inside devi complex is good for their briyani's. Velu military is also good, first time I went to that hotel after getting my 11th standard admission in a school with my father and grandpa. Amazed to see a waiter carrying a huge plate of cooked animal planet. In and around Anna Nagar the hotels count is rising, Opposite parvati bhavan, inside the road, there is a mess, which started like a kai yaendhi and branched into AC hotel. Lunch time you cant find a seat. Costly food, Zamindar in shanti colony is good. Anjappar and paramakudi is also good, but rush all the time. If you go by Anna Nagar west, near the Airtel showroom, there is a hotel called Paramount. Their takeaway is a big hit. They have one branch in ormes road too, which is always crowded. The quantity of biryani they provide can be eaten by 2 person, stomachful. Not to forgot our joint, At the end of Saravana bhavan hotel road, there is a fast food shop called Jack and Jill. Its a youth joint in the day and a family joint during night. The ambience in and around sucks but the food is great. Cheap and best. Karthik tiffin centre is also good, with huge varities of dosa and variety rices. I do not know how many of you know the below food available in our own chennai. My frnds in North chennai introduced this to me, its called as the Atham. Near beach railway station, behind GPO, in the night you can find the shops selling this like hot cakes. Huge crowd and mouth watering food and cheap too. Its basically noodles of some kind and offered in non veg and veg. It is too good. All chennaites, please visit this place and experience the food you would never get anywhere in this world.
	() Thanks

27th September 2009, 21:40	#184
Blue Thunder Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Right here . Posts: 1,657 Thanked: 386 Times View My Garage	The best beef fry I have had is not in any star hotel, but a simple Kerala mess in the Kodambakkam area. And it used to cost Rs. 7/- a plate about a decade ago...nowadays it is Rs 25/-. Excellent taste, boneless/tendonless and full pieces cooked till soft. And they used to make good rotis with dhall fry as side dish. And I have tasted one of the best chicken biriyanis at a road-side eatery in Ritchie street. Used to cost Rs. 7/- per quarterplate about a decade ago, now I guess it is about Rs. 30-35/- per quarter plate. dre@ms post above has made me start dreaming ! Last edited by Blue Thunder : 27th September 2009 at 21:46.
	() Thanks

28th September 2009, 23:03	#187
dre@ms BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: MADRAS Posts: 638 Thanked: 206 Times	^^ya true..the noodles are thicker and tastes different too. I normally take the egged one. Yummy!!! Never tasted the soup though. Will visit Chennai next month, hopefully for Diwali, gonna taste the atham once more.
	() Thanks

29th September 2009, 08:57	#188
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,008 Thanked: 15,353 Times View My Garage	Dinner from Sea Shells. Finally. I picked up 1/2 BBQ Pepper Chicken 1 Hommous Shawarma 1 Mutton Masala 2 Butter Naan 3 Plain Naan. The chicken was very well done. The style of cooking makes it come out completely flat. Its like a rectangular box. The taste was very good. And at just 110 for it, total VFM. The Shawarma was not wrapped in. The pita bread, salad and hommous with chicken pieces in it were served separately. At 100 bucks it was quite good. But I prefer hommous from a Mediterranean joint in Hyderabad. But this was not bad. The bread was fresh and over all very good. Mutton masala, at 110 bucks a total let down. No one liked it. The Naans were made using maida. This made them hard to tear by the time I reached home.
	() Thanks

30th December 2009, 00:44	#190
anekho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: . Posts: 1,995 Thanked: 684 Times	Anyone eaten at Mast Kalandar? is it any good? Had some pretty good oothapams at Murugans Where's the best in town?
	() Thanks