Most Famous Foods in Chennai
Tamil Nadu’s capital, Chennai, is a food city with a taste of everything. This city has a spiced piggy history of obeying its bud and serving a great palette of dishes for each and every person. Start off with morning dosas right up to dinner of Biryani, Chennai’s food scene is an ode to your taste buds. Below is the list of top foods you should not miss to enjoy when in this lively city.
1. Idli and Dosa
It is impossible to mention anything about the culinary scene of the city of Chennai without thinking about its breakfast, always created with the two symbols of Tamil Nadu’s food culture: the idli and the dosa. These are small steamed dishes made from fermented rice and a lentils batter, accompanied by chutneys and hot, spicy sambar. These steamed cakes are as tender as a sponge but definitely lighter than the pancakes or the crisp crepes such as the dosa.
2. Sambar
Sambar is a preparation of lentils mixed with a variety of vegetables, with an undertone of tamarind and specifically blended spices, it is probably the most popular dish from Chennai. One of the accompaniments of rice or idli or dosa, sambar is a food that gives comfort and also has stiff flavours.
3. Filter Coffee
Filter coffee of Chennai is the filter coffee of the paste. This is a very potent coffee brewed in a small metal container which percolates coffee through a pyramid-shaped metal filter which is then mixed with hot frothy milk and sugar. They say it is an event that is as much about taste as it is about heritage.
4. Chicken 65
Chicken 65 is the favorite of the Buhari Hotel Chennai, spicy and delicious fry chicken recipe all over India. This one is a non vegetarian dish with crispy texture and hot spices to which everyone who loves non vegetarian will prefer.
5. Vada
Vada is a tidbit prepared especially from lentils and deep fried to form a doughnut like product. Crispy outside and soft inside the vadas are best eaten with chutney and sambar and pairs well with idli or dosa.
6. Biryani
Vegetarians and non-vegetarians both know Chandni chowk biryani but in Chennai the varieties of biryani are famous. Chennai biryani differs from other biryanis due to the type of rice used: Seeraga Samba rice to be more specific. Among the many types of biryanis recognized in the city, Dindigul biryani and Ambur biryani are very famous.
7. Pongal
‘Ven Pongal’ , the dish prepared from cooked rice and legume, is the most popular breakfast among the Chennaiites. Spicy with ghee, black pepper and cumin, garnished with cashew and nuts it complements coconut chutney and sambar.
8. Kothu Parotta
Kothu Parotta is famous among the food joints in Chennai especially among the Non vegetarian food lovers. A steel cutlet is made from parotta by shredding it and stir frying with vegetables, eggs or meat with spices of choice. Dare I say it’s a delicious dish that can be taken as a dinner meal?
9. Chettinad Cuisine
Chettinad cuisine is one of the most popular yet spicy dishes and Chennai will act as a door to such a cuisine. Some of our specialties include Chettinad chicken curry, mutton chukka, pepper prawns contain a lot of spices and are very delicious for food lovers.
10. Murukku
Murukku is a crisp and savoury snack prepared from rice flour and urad dal. In Chennai, cutlets are savoured tea-time snacks and the hard core fans fry them to a perfect blend of spices and corn flour.
Where to Find These Foods
Murugan Idli Shop:
Well-known for its steamed rice cakes, wafer thin pancakes andfresh, filtered coffee.
Buhari Hotel:
Nice parotta, delicious Amin’s special Chicken 65 and an appetizing palaka malligai biryani proves that this is the place to beat.
Saravana Bhavan:
Popular for Thalis of South Indian cuisine and the famous filter coffee.
Marina Beach:
For example, Sundal and Bajji which is a daily food from the street.
Ritchie Street and Mylapore:
Especially useful for discovering original flavors of Chettinad and other non-villege and suburban foods.
More about other state food:
Conclusion
Chennai has always been rich culturally and the food a true testimony of their love for flavors. Even if you love trying out different food, the town presents a South Indian affair right from authentic non-spicy dishes to spicy and tangy chettinad meals. After reading this article, remember to try these Chennai specialties the next time you are in town!
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