2. One major difference between Chennai’s and Singapore’s food culture is that we despise chain restaurants, believing that they cannot maintain standards, but the Indians revel in consumerism; the bigger the franchise, the better they think the food is. Therefore many restaurants on the list can be found in Singapore.<\/p>\n
3. The Indians also don’t understand the joy of visiting the Original. When I went to Murugan to eat the original idli, an Indian native jeered at me, “Singapore also has one.”<\/p>\n
4. Like 80s Singapore, most fine-dining restaurants in Chennai are situated in hotels.<\/p>\n
5. 30%-40% Indians are vegetarians, so expect to find lots of vegetarian food.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
FINE DINING<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n1. Dakshin, Sheraton Park Hotel<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Sheraton Park Hotel & Towers, T.T.K. Road,\u00a0Austin Nagar, Alwarpet, Chennai 600018, India
\n+91 44 2499 4101<\/p>\n![\"Dakshin](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/img_0404.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1\")
Many “Best Restaurants in Chennai” lists included\u00a0Dakshin but when we were there, it was a strange affair because it was so quiet, except for the Indian musicians onstage. It was also very strange because Singaporeans are used to briyani, and the dishes and rice should come together. But here, you get served the dishes first, and after you finish, you get served rice.<\/p>\n
But the food was very good. The spices had subtlety, so the food had layered tastes of sweetness, and piquancy underneath the heat.<\/p>\n
Each of us spent about S$40-50. But the set meal can start from S$80-S$100.<\/p>\n
2. Samudra, Trident Hotel<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Trident, 1\/24, Gst Road, Meenambakkam,Chennai 600027, India
\n+91 44 2234 4747<\/p>\n3. Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel Hotel<\/a>
\n<\/strong>37, MG Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, TN 600034, India<\/p>\n4. The Raintree, Taj Connemara Hotel<\/b><\/a>
\nAnna Salai,\u00a0Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600002<\/p>\n5. Peshawri, ITC Grand Chola Hotel<\/strong><\/a>
\n63, Lobby Level ITC Grand Chola, Anna Salai, Guindy, Chennai (Madras) 600032, India
\n+91 44 2220 0000<\/p>\nVEGETARIAN<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n1.\u00a0Murugan Idli Shop<\/strong><\/a>
\nMultiple locations in Chennai<\/em><\/p>\n![\"murugan](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/img_0298.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1\")
Traditional south Indian breakfast. Idli is made from fermented lentils and rice. Actually they tasted like a sour tu-tu kueh. Very affordable. Only about S$2. There are 3 outlets in Singapore.<\/p>\n
2. Annalakshmi<\/strong><\/a>
\n18\/3 Rukmani Lakshmipathy (Marshalls Road), Egmore, TN 600008, India
\nYou pay as you wish. Donations go to charities. Singapore has an outlet at Central Square.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n3. Sampoorna Haven
\n<\/a><\/strong>Multiple locations<\/em><\/p>\n4. Cream Centre<\/a><\/strong>
\nMultiple locations<\/em><\/p>\n5. ID<\/a><\/strong>
\nMultiple locations<\/em><\/p>\nBUFFET<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n1. Barbeque Nation<\/a><\/strong>
\nMultiple outlets<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Barbeque](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/img_0319.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Barbeque](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/img_0325.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Barbeque](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/img_0329.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1\")
This is awesome for both vegetarians<\/strong> and carnivores<\/strong> at different prices, and they are allowed to sit at the same table (although how they ensure “vegetarians” aren’t cheating, I don’t know). There is a small BBQ pit with charcoal in the table, and they serve you the BBQ items. When you have enough, you pull down the flag (shown in picture 1). There are also hot buffet items and desserts. Very satisfying food. And as I was the only non-Indian there, the servers made the effort to talk to me. Only S$15 per pax<\/strong>. Worth it!<\/p>\nAFFORDABLE DINING RESTAURANTS<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n1. Anjappar<\/a>
\n<\/b>Multiple locations, including Singapore<\/em>
\n+91 44 2814 4033<\/p>\n2.\u00a0Copper Chimney<\/strong><\/a>
\nMultiple locations, including Singapore<\/em>
\n+91 44 2811 5770\/\u00a0+91 44 2254 1700<\/p>\n3. Saravana Bhavan
\n<\/a><\/strong>Multiple locations, including Singapore<\/em><\/p>\n4. Buhari Hotels & Restaurants<\/strong><\/a>
\nMultiple locations
\n<\/em>facebook<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Famous for biriyani<\/p>\n5.\u00a0Dindigul Thalappakatti
\n<\/strong><\/a>Multiple locations<\/em><\/p>\n![\"chennai](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/img_0431.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1\")
We had all three kinds of the biriyanis, and you MUST MUST MUST get the\u00a0mutton biriyani<\/strong> (S$3.80). When my friend ate it, her eyes rolled to the back of her head, showing only the whites of her eye, and she moaned as if in an orgasm, “OMG, I’m dead and gone to heaven.” Other recommendations:\u00a0Thalappa fish fry<\/strong>\u00a0(S$4.75), and\u00a0Thalappa special fried chicken <\/strong>(S$5). We spent about S$12 per person<\/strong>.<\/p>\n6.\u00a0Ente Keralam<\/strong><\/a>
\nMultiple locations<\/em><\/p>\n7. The Great Kabab Factory<\/a><\/strong>
\nMultiple locations<\/em><\/p>\nSTREET FOOD \/ FOOD COURT\/ FASTFOOD<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n1. Balaji Sandwich Stall<\/b>
\n149, Montieth Road, Egmore, Chennai, TN, India<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0Food Point<\/strong>
\n98, VM Street, Mylapore, Chennai
\nT: +91\u00a044 4553 5393<\/p>\n3. Triplicane Ratna Cafe<\/strong><\/a>
\nMultiple locations<\/em><\/p>\nSWEETS\/ DESSERTS\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n1. Gangotree Chaat<\/b><\/a>
\nMultiple Locations<\/em><\/p>\n![\"GANGOTREE](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/img_0436.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
![\"gangotree](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/img_0440.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Sheraton Park Hotel & Towers, T.T.K. Road,\u00a0Austin Nagar, Alwarpet, Chennai 600018, India
\n+91 44 2499 4101<\/p>\n
Many “Best Restaurants in Chennai” lists included\u00a0Dakshin but when we were there, it was a strange affair because it was so quiet, except for the Indian musicians onstage. It was also very strange because Singaporeans are used to briyani, and the dishes and rice should come together. But here, you get served the dishes first, and after you finish, you get served rice.<\/p>\n
But the food was very good. The spices had subtlety, so the food had layered tastes of sweetness, and piquancy underneath the heat.<\/p>\n
Each of us spent about S$40-50. But the set meal can start from S$80-S$100.<\/p>\n
2. Samudra, Trident Hotel<\/a> 3. Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel Hotel<\/a> 4. The Raintree, Taj Connemara Hotel<\/b><\/a> 5. Peshawri, ITC Grand Chola Hotel<\/strong><\/a> 1.\u00a0Murugan Idli Shop<\/strong><\/a> 2. Annalakshmi<\/strong><\/a> 3. Sampoorna Haven 4. Cream Centre<\/a><\/strong> 5. ID<\/a><\/strong> 1. Barbeque Nation<\/a><\/strong> 1. Anjappar<\/a> 2.\u00a0Copper Chimney<\/strong><\/a> 3. Saravana Bhavan 4. Buhari Hotels & Restaurants<\/strong><\/a> 5.\u00a0Dindigul Thalappakatti 6.\u00a0Ente Keralam<\/strong><\/a> 7. The Great Kabab Factory<\/a><\/strong> 1. Balaji Sandwich Stall<\/b> 2.\u00a0Food Point<\/strong> 3. Triplicane Ratna Cafe<\/strong><\/a> 1. Gangotree Chaat<\/b><\/a>
\n<\/strong>Trident, 1\/24, Gst Road, Meenambakkam,Chennai 600027, India
\n+91 44 2234 4747<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>37, MG Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, TN 600034, India<\/p>\n
\nAnna Salai,\u00a0Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600002<\/p>\n
\n63, Lobby Level ITC Grand Chola, Anna Salai, Guindy, Chennai (Madras) 600032, India
\n+91 44 2220 0000<\/p>\nVEGETARIAN<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\nMultiple locations in Chennai<\/em><\/p>\nTraditional south Indian breakfast. Idli is made from fermented lentils and rice. Actually they tasted like a sour tu-tu kueh. Very affordable. Only about S$2. There are 3 outlets in Singapore.<\/p>\n
\n18\/3 Rukmani Lakshmipathy (Marshalls Road), Egmore, TN 600008, India
\nYou pay as you wish. Donations go to charities. Singapore has an outlet at Central Square.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/a><\/strong>Multiple locations<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMultiple locations<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMultiple locations<\/em><\/p>\nBUFFET<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\nMultiple outlets<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\nThis is awesome for both vegetarians<\/strong> and carnivores<\/strong> at different prices, and they are allowed to sit at the same table (although how they ensure “vegetarians” aren’t cheating, I don’t know). There is a small BBQ pit with charcoal in the table, and they serve you the BBQ items. When you have enough, you pull down the flag (shown in picture 1). There are also hot buffet items and desserts. Very satisfying food. And as I was the only non-Indian there, the servers made the effort to talk to me. Only S$15 per pax<\/strong>. Worth it!<\/p>\nAFFORDABLE DINING RESTAURANTS<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>Multiple locations, including Singapore<\/em>
\n+91 44 2814 4033<\/p>\n
\nMultiple locations, including Singapore<\/em>
\n+91 44 2811 5770\/\u00a0+91 44 2254 1700<\/p>\n
\n<\/a><\/strong>Multiple locations, including Singapore<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMultiple locations
\n<\/em>facebook<\/a>
\n<\/strong>Famous for biriyani<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/a>Multiple locations<\/em><\/p>\nWe had all three kinds of the biriyanis, and you MUST MUST MUST get the\u00a0mutton biriyani<\/strong> (S$3.80). When my friend ate it, her eyes rolled to the back of her head, showing only the whites of her eye, and she moaned as if in an orgasm, “OMG, I’m dead and gone to heaven.” Other recommendations:\u00a0Thalappa fish fry<\/strong>\u00a0(S$4.75), and\u00a0Thalappa special fried chicken <\/strong>(S$5). We spent about S$12 per person<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nMultiple locations<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMultiple locations<\/em><\/p>\nSTREET FOOD \/ FOOD COURT\/ FASTFOOD<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n149, Montieth Road, Egmore, Chennai, TN, India<\/p>\n
\n98, VM Street, Mylapore, Chennai
\nT: +91\u00a044 4553 5393<\/p>\n
\nMultiple locations<\/em><\/p>\nSWEETS\/ DESSERTS\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
\nMultiple Locations<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
![\"Chennai](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rubbisheatrubbishgrow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/img_0584.jpg?resize=700%2C467&ssl=1\")
My bad experience with Gangotree (see #1 on the Desserts list) made me tentative about these sweets. I don’t know what they are called, but they were AMAZING. I finished the box in 2 days. The brown one is like a pastry soaked in honey, and the white one tasted like the fat of milk wrapped around sweetened jasmine and pistachio. The white sheet dissolved in the mouth.<\/p>\n