Cuisines of Chennai are integral part of Chennai culture. Chennai is well known for its lip smacking South Indian food which is as popular as North Indian food but with a distinct flavor and distinct aroma. Food prepared in Chennai is appetizing and healthy. This is unique combination of various spices, fresh vegetable, rice and cereals.

Idli, Dosa, Sambar, Uttapam, vada and many other delicacies are popular not only in Chennai but also in other parts of India and abroad where Indian community lives. Eating out in Chennai is a popular activity, especially, on weekends. There are many vegetarian and non-vegetarian restaurants which serve all kind of food from a simple Tamil thali to a sumptuous spread.

Besides this, non-vegetarian Chettinad cuisines are among the popular Chennai cuisines. This food is loved by those who love spicy, non –vegetarian food. This cuisine offers variations in chicken, fish and mutton recipes. Chettinad Pepper Chicken is specialty of Chettinad Cuisine. Chennai is metropolitan city and is home to people migrated from different parts of Tamil Nadu. Due to this reason, there is great variety of recipes included in the Chennai cuisines. Ingredients and spices, traditionally used in dish are carefully chosen. Each of the ingredients, used in various famous Chennai cuisines, has some medicinal value attached to it. For instance, it is believed that when food is served over banana leaf, it wards off all the untraceable toxins present in the food.

A popular Tamil thali is consists of Idli,vada, dosa and Sambhar. This food taste great and is inexpensive at the same time. Vada is a kind of doughnut, prepared from lentils while Pongal is prepared from rice and lentils. Most of the dishes are accompanied by Sambhar and coconut chutney. Lentils and rice are two important ingredients of all the vegetarian foods. Being a coastal region, fish and seafood are also popular. Tamarind, chilies, peppercorn and garlic are important spices used. Filter coffee is a popular and traditional drink in Chennai.

Being a major city of India, Chennai offers a wide choice of foods to taste. You can find all sorts of food joints offering world cuisine including North Indian, Continental, and Italian, Chinese, Lebanese and more. Some of the Chennai famous eat outs are The Saravanaa Bhavan, Vasanta Vihar at Rajaji Salai, Udipi Home Mathsya, and Ananda Bhavan at Triplicane High Road – for vegetarian South Indian meals. Some other popular eating joints are Palki, Coconut Lagoon, Benjarong, The Red E Food Court, Bay Leaf, Carnival Heights, The Gallopin'Gooseberry and more.