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Alt Tag: Two Women Buying Foods in Local Store Image Photo Credits By: freepik

A Culinary Tour to Explore Authentic Local Cuisine of Chennai

Chennai is one of the best destinations for food lovers because they can explore a variety of dishes with the rich culture and tradition of them. The city is offering a delicious culinary landscape to all with the blend of flavours and spices. If you are a local person or a traveller you can start your flavourful journey from this city of South India. 

We know that there are so many people from other states who live in the city, so the food is always a problem for them. The local dishes are the recipes that are prepared mostly in the house of locals. So, they can explore the culture of the state while eating all these famous local dishes

Here’s the list of delicious local dishes in Chennai that satisfy you and your mind. 

  1. 1 Idli and Sambar

Alt Tag: Delicious Idly Image

Photo Credits By: sarthak

Chennai local foods aren’t complete without Idli and Sambar, because it is a famous local dish for breakfast that was available in the local street. It is already a humble dish for most of the cities in South India. You can find it on both streets and hotels, and it is served with sambar and coconut chutney. Murugan Idli shop is famous for exploring the tasty idlis in Chennai

Different Idlis available in the city; 

Cost: INR 30+ (one set)

  1. 2 Dosa Varieties

Alt Tag: Crispy Dosa Image

Photo Credits By: Jack Baghel

Dosa is also a famous breakfast in Chennai, if you walk on the street, you can see that the food is available for all of the small shops. The smell and the preparation of making it will attract people to explore the dish with complete happiness. There are variety of Dosa available in the city, they are; 

Cost: INR 30+ 

  1. 3 Pongal

Alt Tag: Rice Image

Photo Credits By: Suki Lee

Pongal is a dish that is prepared with savoury rice by adding moong dal, black pepper, ghee and cashews. It is considered as a major breakfast dish and is also a traditional food of Tamil Nadu. Most of the time the dish is served with sambar and coconut chutney that make the dish delicious. There are variety of Pongal available in Chennai that are; 

Cost: INR 30+ 

  1. 4 Bhajji

Alt Tag: Bajji Image

Photo Credits By: Hamza Awan

Bhajji is a similar dish to a pakora, it’s a snack that is one of the popular foods in India. In Chennai also it is a famous snack item, that is served with different tasty chutneys. In the morning and evening time you can discover the smell of hot and tastiest bhajji shops in all over the city. In the alleyways of Chennai, you can enjoy delicious bajji’s mixed with vegetables.

There are different types of Bhajji available in the city that are; 

Cost: INR 6+ 

  1. 5 Sundal

Alt Tag: Sundal Dish Image

Photo Credits By: azerbaijan_stockers

Sundal is known as the healthy snack of streets in Chennai, and also a popular local dish. It is made with boiled chickpeas that are mixed with shredded coconut, onions, mustard seed and curry leaves to make it delicious. The snack item is mostly available on the beach sides, so the people can eat the snack while enjoying sunset and it is a must-try snack for all beachgoers.   

Cost: INR 30+

  1. 6 Samosa

Alt Tag: SamosaImage

Photo Credits By: Shameel mukkath

Samosa is also a famous snack in Chennai. If it’s a rainy day or cool winter afternoon most of the people’s first option for snack is Samosa. It is a popular snack in all over India, in Chennai also you can try out the delicious and hot Samosas. There are many street shops that make it crunchy and is a tiny but heavy snack with an affordable price.  

Cost: INR 10+ 

  1. 7 Boli

Alt Tag: Boli Image

Photo Credits By: myzr1122

Boli is a popular South Indian sweet snack. It is known by different names in various states like Puran Poli, Obbattu and Holige. The Boli is made like chapati and that is filled with sugar, ghee, nutmeg, cardamom and mashed Bengal gram. If you visit Chennai, you should try this sweet evening snack that is available all over the city. 

Cost: INR 20+ 

  1. 8 Kothu Parotta

Alt Tag: Kothu Parotta Image

Photo Credits By: KavindaF

Kothu Parotta is also a form of Parotta that is made with refined flour and is similar to north India’s Lachha Parantha. It is prepared by using mixed meat, egg and vegetable and shredded Parotta. It is one of the special foods in Chennai that you can find both on the street and in restaurants. Kothu Parotta is one of the must try local foods in Chennai city. 

Cost: INR 120+ (one set) 

  1. 9 Kuzhi Paniyaram

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Kuzhi Paniyaram is a small version of Idli, but the tastes are very different from normal idlis and it is also known as Paddu. It is one of the most popular snack items in Chennai, and the locals will make it at their home. There are many stalls that serve delicious Kuzhi Paniyaram and even after leaving the city, you cannot forget the taste of this Chennai snack

Cost: INR 150+ (for two people)

  1. 10 Payasam

Alt Tag: Semiya Payasam Image

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Without a sweet dessert, a South Indian meal isn’t complete. It is a quintessential sweet dish; after completing meals everyone should try this dessert for digestion. The Payasam is made with jaggery, milk, and vermicelli or rice, and it is decorated with cashews and raisins. If you are in Chennai, it is a must-try dessert especially in the festival seasons or weddings.  

There are various Payasam you can discover in the city include; 

Cost: Complimentary dessert with meals 

Most of the people are travelling to explore the new tastes of the city, that will make their day more memorable with beautiful sceneries and foods. If you want to explore a place’s dishes first, you should try the famous local dishes because they are more delicious and tastier compared to other foods. I hope this blog will help you to find the famous local dishes in Chennai, that are giving you self-satisfaction and good health. To get more attractive information about Chennai city follow our Instagram page things2doinchennai.

Content Writer at Things2do