Foodies’ guide: 6 iconic food joints in Chennai

CHENNAI: Chennai the state's magnificent city is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, and is prominent cultural, economic and educational center of South India. Chennai also has a lot to offer with some ionic restaurants that guarantee a complete culinary experience.

1. Ratna Cafe (1948)

The most cray South-Indian joint in town. It was founded and established in 1948 by Mr. Jaggilal Gupta originally hailing from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. It was initially named Ratna Cafe it was re-branded as Triplicane Ratna Cafe. Rajendra Gupta, the current promoter of the group, acquired it from his uncle Mr. Trilok Nath Gupta in 2002 and continued developing the business by expanding outside its flagship store in Triplicane. The group is being currently headed by Lokesh Gupta, the fourth generation successor who took over the reins of the restaurant business from Rajendra Gupta in 2012.

In 2006, Ratna Cafe established itself in the field of Corporate and Institutional catering. The restaurant chain is prominent in Chennai for its traditional nostalgic dishes and customer loyalty. This one deserves an Oscar for their supremely tasty Idli Sambar & Basundi. It operates restaurants and food courts in Tamilnadu.

2. The Buhari (1951)

The Buhari hotel on Mount Road Anna Salai still stands in its original location from 1951. It was the first restaurant to open in a post-independent Madras that brought new meaning to the term restaurant and stand alone Fine Dining. Over the years, the Buhari hotel, under Mr.A.M. Buhari, has created new dishes that revolutionized the culinary scene of the city.

Think Chicken 65, Think Buhari! While they should use this as their tagline, we are currently obsessing over their oh-so-famous Chicken 65 which is genuinely to-die-for tasty on the taste meter. Unmissables include Jamali Chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Mutton Kurma, Buhari’s Mutton Dum Biryani & Buhari’s Madras Parotta, so get yourself a plateful of all these scrumptious dishes at this perf place right away! The taste was truly wondrous and has kept families patrons coming back for generations.

3. New Woodlands Hotel (1938)

The New Woodlands Hotel is a vegetarian restaurant in Chennai, India that is designed in the Udupi fashion. After being established in 1938 by Kadandale Krishna Rao, it is recognized for being a pioneer in bringing Udupi cuisine to the city. The hotel adheres to high quality standards that have never been compromised over the years.

4. Ambassador Pallava (1981)

Ambassador Pallava, Chennai is a benchmark of comfort and impeccable services and is one of the most well-known hotels in Chennai's urban landscape. Being in the center of Chennai, in the area of Egmore, and being close to both the U.S. Consulate and the renowned Marina Beach provide this hotel a great value. The hotel's atmosphere is enhanced by the architectural style, which draws inspiration from the golden age.

5. Saravana bhavan(1981)

Hotel Saravana Bhavan is the largest South Indian restaurant chain in the world, founded in 1981 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. P. Rajagopal was the founder of the Saravana Bhavan chain of restaurants based in Chennai, India. In 1981, he opened his first restaurant, Saravana Bhavan, in Madras.

By 2019, his company had expanded to 111 restaurants in 22 countries, employing about 5,000 people. Annachi has from the outset, when he laid the foundation to the first branch of Hotel Saravana Bhavan to till date has always endeavored to synergise a high quality vegetarian restaurant that delivers consistent quality and one that always gives value for money.