5 restaurants · updated November 2026
The Best Indian Restaurants in Chennai
Chennai's food runs from sambar-soaked idli in Triplicane to one of India's most celebrated South Indian tasting menus at ITC Grand Chola. In between are Kerala and Chettinad kitchens and hotel dining rooms that cook all five southern states.
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Fine dining 3Tiffin and classics 2
Fine dining
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Avartana
#9, India Top 50 Restaurants 2026 (Condé Nast Traveller)A progressive South Indian tasting menu at ITC Grand Chola. It was named the best restaurant in India in 2024 and ranked ninth in 2026.
Details, rating and dishesMapSources: esquireindia.co.in, itchotels.com
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Kappa Chakka Kandhari
#39, India Top 50 Restaurants 2026 (Condé Nast Traveller)Kerala home-style food, on the national top 50 for 2026.
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An upscale hotel restaurant cooking the food of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka.
Details, rating and dishesMapSources: www-lonelyplanet-com-57e2.imagizer.com, holidify.com
Hakka Noodles
Appam
ThaliTiffin and classics
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Open since 1948 and famous for idli drowned in sambar poured from little buckets.
Details, rating and dishesMapSources: lbb.in, thebetterindia.com, www-lonelyplanet-com-57e2.imagizer.com
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The Madurai-born chain with some of the softest idli in the city.
Details, rating and dishesMapSources: lbb.in, www-lonelyplanet-com-57e2.imagizer.com, holidify.com
Idli
DosaHow we chose
Picked from the Condé Nast Traveller x District Top Restaurant Awards 2026 (via Esquire India), ITC Hotels, LBB, Lonely Planet, The Better India and Holidify. Restaurants change, close and lose or gain stars, so check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.