Offbeat Restaurants in Chennai

 Though, the food of the southern state of Tamil Nadu may differ from district to district, Chennai is a 'one-stop' where all the regional cuisines of the state like Chettinad cuisine, Thanjavur cuisine and other regional culinary arts can be relished. 

Tourists who visit the city and even the wonderful local people of Chennai mostly pick the well known and popular eating houses for all their 'gastronomic' needs and demands. 

On the other hand, the city is the home of numerous 'not so known' eating places that specialize and serve authentic Tamil delicacies. 

Find below the list of some of the Must Visit Offbeat Eateries of Chennai that people who visit the 'Singara Chennai' should know about!

Mylai Sri Karpagambal Mess

Location: 20, East Mada Street, Mylapore, Chennai
Landmark: Near Mylapore Kapaleeshwarar Temple


A landmark of the neighborhood of Mylapore in Chennai (of course, next only to the 7th century Arulmigu Kapaleeshwarar Temple), Mylai Sri Karpagambal Mess is a great choice, if you are looking authentic Tamil tiffin items. 

Known for their large variety of tiffin items served, Mylai Sri Karpagambal Mess is located pretty close to the Mylapore temple which makes it a reliable choice for food for the visitors.


The set up of this eating place may seem 'modest' to many, but they prove to be a princely place, in terms of variety and taste. 

It has to be said that Mylai Sri Karpagambal Mess is 'not yet famous' due to its lack of public promotion, then again, foodies who visited the mess will stand by its traditional dishes.

Some of the must try delicacies of Mylai Sri Karpagambal Mess include sambar rice, nei masala dosai, vaazhaipoo adai, pineapple pudding, nei thengai boli, degree coffee and so on.

Shri Gujarati Mandal

Location: Gunavanti Bhavan, 116, Prakasham Road (Broadway), Chennai
Landmark: Above Bank of Maharashtra, Near High Court


If you are looking for authentic Gujarati food in Chennai, then Shri Gujarati Mandal is an outstanding choice. One among the few eating places in Chennai that specialize in the royal Gujarati cuisine, 

The restaurant is always crowded for their Gujarati Thali meal which is a real treat for epicureans and for people who do not care about luxuriant ambience.


Another beauty of this eating place is that Shri Gujarat Mandal is popular for its affordable menu as even the unlimited North Indian buffet (unlimited rice, roti and vegetables) will cost you as low as Rs. 100 which you cannot get it anywhere in Chennai. 

Though, the place comes affordable, you cannot find any sort of compromise in terms of tradition, authenticity, quality and taste. Some of their must try delicacies include dokhla, thepala, Aamras, thali meals, khatta Mittha bhaat and so on.

Venkteshwara Boli Stall

Location 1: No.21/1, Thambiah Road, West Mambalam, Chennai
Location 2: No.46, Arya Gowder Road, West Mambalam, Chennai


As the name suggests, believe it or not, the Venkteshwara Boli Stall is a 'promised land' for gourmets who love to melt in the awesomeness of boli.

The eating house that is wholly dedicated to Indian snacks, savories and sweets, the stall welcomes you with an amazing aroma of ghee and milk!


An ideal choice to deal with your love affair with 'sugar', Venkteshwara Boli Stall in West Mambalam specialize in more than one hundred snacks and sweets, not compromising on quality, taste and hygiene. 

Hotel Raaj Bhavan

Location: 4, Dr Thirumurthy Nagar Main Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai


A landmark of Sterling Road and an easy name among the auto and car drivers of Nungambakkam, Hotel Raaj Bhavan is a 'hidden treasure' that specializes in South Indian cuisine. 

The strategic location of this eating house makes it even more special apart from their scrumptious food. Regrettably, avoided by people who use four wheelers as finding a parking space in this locality is 'out of the question'.
 

A dream place for kids as unlike other restaurants in the state, Hotel Raaj Bhavan offera more than one appalam (papad), which is an incredible deal for kids. 

Viswanathan Chettinadu Hotel

Location: 13/6, PV Koil Street, Mylapore, Chennai

A Shangri-la for non-vegetarian lovers, who want to indulge in gastronomic adventures while immersing in the Tamil tradition, getting to know more about the Chettinadu cuisine - the most aromatic cuisine of India.

The food they serve is nothing short of a demonstration of how Chettinadu delicacies can be prepared and how it has to taste!


The non vegetarian meals they serve comprise of rice and a few (meatless) curries followed by the typical items of sambar, rasam, poriyal, kootu, more and so on. The secret of their success lies in their flavorsome curries which are bona fide Chettinad delicacies.