Craving biryani at 2 am? Chennai’s meals streets come to the rescue

It’s official. A wave of younger college students, IT professionals, households, and lounging associates are reclaiming the streets at evening. And the twinkling lights of the thriving meals hubs that cater to them now beckon travellers and passers by as nicely.

Eleven pm is when enterprise begins for the a number of meals streets in Chennai. Apart from catering to the inhabitants that steps out on a whim, wading by way of greasy fries and hen after an evening out, Chennai’s meals streets, courts and squares have gotten standard hangouts, offering an array of choices together with popcorn, cubano sandwiches and high-end teas.

Kathipara City Sq. sees about 5,000 walk-ins on a weekday and double that in weekends. Anna Nagar’s Kora Meals Avenue, however, has a minimum of 3,000 individuals sauntering in because the sky dims. Be a part of us as we do a meals stall hop although the evening.

Kathipara City Sq., Guindy

On days when Abishek Paul works lengthy hours, the physician finds himself making a beeline to the newly opened 24*7 Chettinad-themed Starbucks at Kathipara City Sq. for a espresso and a snack. It’s one in all 25 eating places at this central location hidden amidst the twists and turns of the Kathipara flyover — an accessible public area that skirts the clamour of Chennai site visitors.

“We normally have a tendency to complete our shifts late so we come right here to seize a fast chew. The odd timing helps us as a result of the site visitors reduces by midnight,” he says whereas munching on flavoured popcorn from Tam Corn. 

Whereas solely a handful of eating places like Junior Kuppanna and KFC serve meals, notably biryani and bucket hen, all by way of the evening, all the 25 eating places are open until 2 am. Prospects right here embody the late evening film crowds, and hungry partygoers who’re winding down after an evening out. 

What catches our eye is the eclectic number of stalls on the sq.. E Adhithiyan, the supervisor of Botaniq Meals, says that they serve tea fabricated from aged black garlic. It’s amongst their greatest sellers, he says. One other stall that stays busy is the Miso Ramen cafe. Some notable mentions on the city sq. are juices from Cocofit and South Indian meals from ID. 

Kathipara City Sq. has been internet hosting flea markets and increasing their play space for kids within the final 12 months in order that it presents one thing for everybody, says a ground-level supervisor. Along with this, they maintain including attention-grabbing meals objects to increase the range out there.

Meal for one: ₹100 onwards

Hits: Hen Biryani, Iced espresso, Flavoured popcorn, cotton sweet, egg and hen ramen.

Bilal junction, Chintadripet

Bilal’s dramatic rise in recognition because the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, is aspirational. The junction the place the restaurant is positioned amidst different giants like Buhari, is now popularly referred to by this title due to the crowds who perch on the balcony with jam buns and tea. At evening, the world is crowded with scooters and vehicles. The money counter rings nicely into 2am and cups of chai maintain flowing. 

Francis Xavier works at a financial institution on Anna Salai, which is strolling distance from Bilal. Because of this at by night, one is more likely to discover him and his colleagues munching on two maska buns break up six methods, whereas sipping on sturdy chai. “I haven’t missed coming right here even for a single day,” he says, including that it’s particularly handy when work hours prolong until late at evening. “The biryani is nice too.” 

His pal Anbu Vellaiyan who accompanies him each day provides, “The gentle bun butter jam is unbeatable. The mutton samosas deserve a particular point out too. The minced meat inside is superb.”

For individuals who choose a espresso break, iconic Buhari’s bakery is standard for its tea muffins, cookies and occasional, all served until late at evening.

The bustling junction additionally presents the occasional kati roll, hen and mutton samosas, puffs and rolls in addition to the famed Osmania biscuits. The restaurant shuts at 2 am.

Meal for one: Between ₹20-₹100

Hits: Bun maska, tea and mutton samosa.

Kora Meals Avenue, Anna Nagar

Kora Meals avenue in Anna Nagar bustles with mild and power nicely after the remainder of the residential neighbourhood has dimmed their lights and gone to sleep. Below one roof, one can take pleasure in meals from all over the world, like wooden fired pizza, birria tacos, noodles, momos and boba tea, around the clock.

Other than the road of stalls on the facade of the constructing, the arrange opens as much as what seems to be like an evening market as seen in Singapore or China. Proper on the entrance is a kiosk the place the cost playing cards could be bought or recharged. 

The air conditioned area has benches and tables for visitors to take pleasure in their meals whereas the stalls are made with repurposed transport containers. The meals market additionally homes two air conditioned eating places. 

“There are over 40 shops and greater than 5,700 dishes to take pleasure in at Kora meals avenue and every vendor has been handpicked. They’re all Kora manufacturers and a few have even moved on to open shops exterior this area,” says Rajashekar Kora, proprietor. 

The road-food market expertise apart, distributors and administration additionally concentrate on visually-appealing meals or ones with distinctive names to draw the younger crowd. Earlier this 12 months, ‘Spiderman Dosa’, Jalari Murtabaq , a dosa made to appear to be an online, full of keema and cheese, from the Zam Zam Murtabaq outlet went viral with over 17 million views on Instagram.

Curler ice cream on the Roll Away outlet is one other standard option to each movie and eat. Ice cream is smeared onto a relaxing curler and shaved with a grater right into a cup. Or you’ll be able to knock again a Kolaveri Vodka, one other standard favorite, is a lemon soda-based, non-alcoholic drink made with a complete inexperienced chilli. 

For sure, Biryani is a giant hit and is accessible throughout totally different shops in several types like bamboo biryani, pot biryani and extra.

This meals avenue opened in 2019 and has been seeing a gradual enhance in footfall. Rajashekar says that there are six to seven bouncers monitoring the venue, other than full CCTV protection to make sure security. “We see plenty of college students and younger professionals are available late within the night and at evening. Anytime they stroll in, there’s something healthful to eat and is simple on the pocket as nicely,” he provides. 

“I’ve visited Kora meals avenue late at evening two instances now. It is vitally secure and we will take pleasure in ourselves with out worrying an excessive amount of. I go to this place with my associates and revel in a scorching bowl of ramen or Amritsari kulcha,” says Neera Kabilan, a pupil.

On the primary flooring, there are gaming services and a trampoline park for the little ones. Few tables have additionally been put aside for visitors with pets. 

Meal for one: Rs 250 onwards

Hits: Atho and Bejo, Jalari Murtabaq, Turkish ice cream, pot biryani, curler ice cream, wooden fired pizza and kebabs

RTS Meals Avenue, Navalur

On the RTS meals avenue in Navalur, A Solomon and his group of techie associates are bonding over laptops, fried rice and an assortment of gravies. At 12am after their shift, that is the place they select to unwind.

“We come right here a minimum of as soon as each two days. It’s nice for us to hang around as associates and we will spend any period of time as we please. Not simply common lunches, dinners and breaks, that is our spot for birthday events, farewells and different celebrations as nicely,” he says. When requested about his favourites, he factors to the parottas from Malabar Cambose and provides that the Madurai kari dosa can also be standard. 

Sprawling throughout 15,000 sq. toes, this meals avenue is likely one of the largest within the metropolis. It homes over 70 shops and may accommodate near 200 vehicles. “The most important benefit for us is being near a number of IT parks and gated communities. We see shut to five,000 visitors strolling in in the course of the evenings, largely late within the night and round 3,500 individuals throughout weekdays,” says Pravin Casmir, whose household owns the institution. 

BBQ Trip is a well-liked favorite right here: a grill is connected to a Royal Enfield bike. They serve grilled hen and mutton, kebabs, shawarmas and rolls. Coco Island, which additionally serves tender coconut-based pudding, panna cotta, ice cream and coconut milk chilly espresso sees a giant each day crowd. Nestled deep into the meals avenue is Excessive Joint, one of many landmark eateries in RTS meals avenue. It serves a choice of premium burgers, hen wings, fries and nuggets.

“Our objective is to make it possible for no two spots serve the identical delicacies, apart from staples like fries or some drinks. We conduct common inspections and style assessments to verify hygiene and high quality is maintained constantly,” says Pravin. 

On this meals avenue, most stalls wind up at 11:30pm with virtually 10 stalls open until 2am. Through the weekends, the timeline is pushed to cater to the demand. 

Other than a variety of meals stalls, there may be additionally a digital actuality recreation centre, a spa and a flea market. 

Meal for one: ̥₹200 – ₹500

Hits: Hen burgers and wings, Tender coconut pudding, waffle cone fried hen, kebabs, chaat and biryani