Chennai is a place I visit quite occasionally. I have done my schooling there on and off. My dad was born there and many of my cousins, aunts and uncles stay there.\u00a0 I have never really thought about writing a post on it as it felt strange about describing a place so natural to you.\u00a0 Most of my trips to Chennai have always been a culinary loaded trip with me exploring holes in the walls and other off beat places. Some of the ones I frequented many many years ago are now major social media hotpots to the new generation foodies.\u00a0 The list below are the result of my stay and visit and some of them may no longer be around. Call it a trip down memory lane.<\/p>\n

Buhari Hotel<\/strong> – One of my earlier memories I know in Chennai was eating at Buhari. Buhari literally brought North Indian cuisine to Chennai. It was located opposite to the Central Railway Station. Now they have branches in many locations. Going there after literally 20 years but to another branch at Mogappair. Their specialty at one point was biryani and Chicken 65<\/strong> is supposed to have originated here.\u00a0 I am not much of a chicken person and given a chance I would rather have red meat and sea food than chicken. I consider them fowl \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

What we Wolfed? <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Mutton leg soup
\nChicken shawarma (recommended by the staff) which I thought the kid my eat
\nCampbell Mutton (An original Buhari recipe)
\nButter Naan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/td>\n

<\/a><\/td>\n

<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Google Link – https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/Vaqd2GhpnQztFPVm<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Pros – The butter naan was the softest I have had in years and along with the Campbell mutton which is their original recipe it was a brilliant combination.Unbelievably soul satisfying. The mutton was melt in the mouth and had a lovely burst of flavor.<\/p>\n Cons – Wasn’t too impressed with the mutton leg soup. It was spicy and sinus opening but way too thick to be a soup. Wasn’t too impressed with the shawarma either. I get much better ones in the Uru.<\/p>\n Dynasty at Harrisons Building<\/strong> –\u00a0I have been coming to Dynasty (in the Harrison’s building built in 1885) since childhood with my parents and holds a special place in my heart. The best Indo Chinese I know in Chennai. It only made sense to celebrate my better half’s birthday here. The kid has now been initiated into this place as well . <\/span>This restaurant has been around from 1985.<\/p>\n What we wolfed?<\/h4>\n Crab sour and pepper soup \nPork spare ribs \nMee hoon (rice noodles) \nChilli pork \nFried date wonton all washed down with carlsberg<\/span><\/p>\n Each and every dish was phenomenal with each of them satisfying at a whole new level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Google Directions – https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/49y5LBUvTBQZetcVA<\/a><\/p>\n Bill – Almost Rs. 2000\/-<\/p>\n Marina Beach<\/strong>\u00a0 –\u00a0 Ever since I remember I have been more fond of the Besant Nagar beach<\/strong> than Marina<\/strong> because it had fewer people making it cleaner, good places to eat around and there was a section for the fishermen when you got sunda kanji (fermented rice wine) which had a potent kick \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 \u00a0This and fried fish was a heavenly combination.\u00a0 However Marina has now been cleaned and given a makeover that makes it now better than Besant Nagar beach.\u00a0 All the vendors are now at the road side away from the sea which really keeps the thrash away.\u00a0 You have beach delicacies such as roasted corn on the cob, raw mango with salt and chilli (summers), various fried delicacies like chilli bajji, raw banana bajji and fried papads along with various other juices and snacks like roasted or boiled peanuts with a lot of spices.\u00a0 Weekdays are easier to go now as it’s less crowded. On weekend reach around 4:30 so you get a parking. After 5:30 it’s a nightmare so consider using public transport or cab service providers. I also like the fish market at the Marina beach next to the Lighthouse<\/p>\n Total Expenditure – Under Rs. 200 for three of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Hotel Pandian –<\/strong> One of the places I discovered in the recent trip, this is a carnivore’s heaven with a variety of non veg dishes with mutton\/chicken biryani being in demand.<\/p>\n What we Wolfed?<\/h4>\n Mutton biryani \nMutton brain fry \nSeer fish fry \nChicken 65 kabab for the kid \nKalakki (a kind of egg preparation) \nKerala Parotta (A kind of parotta that unravels as you eat)<\/span><\/p>\n \n Onions for the necessary vegetables intake \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Pros<\/strong> – Loved\u00a0 everything except the biryani. Exceptional service. Total bill Rs. 715<\/p>\n Cons<\/strong> – 1. The mutton biryani was just about average.<\/p>\n 2. Nothing great It’s a small place so don’t expect a swanky clean seating. They do have A\/C though.<\/p>\n Jannal Kadai<\/strong> –\u00a0One of those special literal hole in the wall places in Mylapore, Chennai is the Jennal (window) kada (shop) The name comes from the fact that the snacks are bought and delivered through a small window.\u00a0 Though it’s pretty old I came to know of this place very recently when my better half was searching for places to eat.<\/p>\n The day we went we got varieties of bajji (chilli and raw banana) and dal vada. The bajjis we’re super fresh and tasted amazing with the chutney though a tad oily but hey I have absolutely no problem with it. The vada was crisp and nice with lovely flavors from the dal and spices. It opens from 5:30 pm. A plate of bajji\/vada with three pieces costs Rs. 30.\u00a0 The\u00a0 way the locals throng to this place can attest to t equality and taste of the food. It’s divine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \n They also offer dosa, idli etc in the morning\u00a0 from 8-9 AM so ensure you get their fast. A view of the Kapaleeshwara<\/strong> temple completes the experience.<\/p>\n So next time you are in Mylapore go window shopping\u00a0\ud83d\ude09<\/span><\/span>. Use the map or you might just cross it without realizing.<\/p>\n Mylapore Jannal Kadai Window Bajji stall \n12, 1, Ponnambala Vadhyar St, Vinayaka Nagar Colony, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004 \nhttps:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/DFkyocxd2PEX4mjDA<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Hotel Millath<\/strong> – This is one place that was recommended by the locals and they literally swore they served the best biryani in the area..\u00a0 Its true.. Read about my experience here<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Shansi Restaurant<\/strong> (No longer around in the original location in Round Tana) – This used to be one of my go to places during my childhood.\u00a0 It was one among the best indo chinese restaurants along with Dynasty.\u00a0 I remember treating my family here when I got my first salary. Memories ae all that remain now. This was pre smart phone days and it did not last to see the new age.The new place now is on the Chennai Bangalore Highway near Saveetha.\u00a0 If its as good as what it was, it should be an experience.\u00a0 The hot and sour chicken soup, szechuan chicken and chowmein were my favourites.<\/p>\n Google link – https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/2M5mXHJrQkvVf4Jw5<\/a><\/p>\n Kim Ling Specialty Chinese Restaurant<\/strong> –\u00a0 This was comparatively new compared to the ones already there in Annanagar.\u00a0 It attracted me because hey had some Thai dishes in the menu which was new. The Tom Yum\u00a0 seafood soup was one of their best. Spicy sinus opening levels.\u00a0 The rest of the dishes are indo chinese though I would rate it a little lesser than Dynasty or Shansi.<\/p>\n Google Link – https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/q2D2wGGLRBpcvfrbA<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Velu Military Hotel<\/strong> – Military hotels are traditional Hindu non veg hotels. So you will not get pork or beef in here. At some point Velu was known for their more exotic offerings which is no longer served now.\u00a0 You can still get the occasional rabbit or pigeon now.\u00a0 The spice levels are exactly what I would like in my food.<\/p>\n Google Link – https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/eZSiZMg6PRQfzFao9<\/a><\/p>\n Ponnusamy Hotel<\/strong> – One of the best and earliest places for Chettinad food, Ponnusamy had it all. For the carnivores this was paradise and the waiting periods for getting a table was legendary.<\/p>\n Google Link – https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/ALBENPdcJgZDJfoq5<\/a><\/p>\n Virudhnagar Restaurant<\/strong> – There was a huge burst of Chettinad offerings after that based on places in Chettinad. Hotel Virudhnagar is a lovely place in T Nagar.\u00a0 My memories are of nethili (anchovies) fried crisp, idi aapam (string hoppers), mutton\/chicken stew, mutton chukka, kal dosai (dosa made on heated stone) and mutton leg soup. All brilliant with spice levels through the roof.\u00a0 They also serve rabbits.<\/p>\n https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/7pwzNpHfA51MKfAW9<\/a><\/p>\n Moonrakers – <\/strong>Located on ECR on the way to Mahabalipuram, this is a sea food lovers wet dream come true. Literally.\u00a0 Fresh superb quality prawns and fish.\u00a0 Order from the menu and don’t fall for the fresh catch though they are gigantic in size, especially the prawns. Almost looked like they were hit with some nuclear radiation and mutated to a giant size. They are tourist traps and you will be fleeced but its so brilliant :D.\u00a0 But the food is brilliant with the right hit of the local spices which makes the experience amazing.\u00a0 There are other similar hotels around but Moonrakers is the most popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n <\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/pSu1yA5KbDnPRFnS8<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Bosotto Bros<\/strong> – One of the earliest bakeries, I had a horrid first time experience when I ordered a pizza and they gave me one with the base burnst to a crisp.\u00a0 It was a scarring experience for\u00a0 a young boy and I never did order from them ever again. I did like their cakes and plum cake offerings though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n <\/a> \n <\/a>