Venue details
Best time to visit
Dinner, from 7pm onwards, or Sunday brunch when offered
How to get there
Inside Taj Coromandel on Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, close to the Gemini Flyover
Highlights
Chettinad seafood and meat curries, banana leaf tasting menus, degree coffee
Good for
Anniversaries, business meals, visitors wanting Chennai’s best South Indian fine dining
Price range
Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,000 for two
Southern Spice has spent years near the top of most best restaurants in Chennai lists, and unlike some places that earn that reputation once and coast on it, this one keeps showing up on newer lists too. Set inside the Taj Coromandel in Nungambakkam, it’s built its name on taking the Chettinad and broader South Indian repertoire and cooking it with the kind of precision usually reserved for far more expensive, unfamiliar cuisines.
How it earned the reputation
Chettinad cooking, from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, is known for its layered use of roasted and ground spices, its love of black pepper and star anise, and its confident approach to chilli heat. Southern Spice built its menu around doing that cooking justice, alongside dishes from Kerala, Andhra and Karnataka, at a time when hotel restaurants often defaulted to safer, blander interpretations of Indian food for a broad audience. The restaurant chose the harder path of staying authentic while still working within a fine dining format, and that decision is a large part of why it has picked up so many industry awards and continued critical praise over the years.
What to order
- Chettinad chicken or mutton, for the classic roasted spice profile the region is known for.
- Seafood specialities, particularly crab or prawn Chettinad style, when available, are a highlight for those who eat non vegetarian food.
- Meen kuzhambu, a tangy fish curry, for a more traditional home style flavour within a formal setting.
- A vegetarian banana leaf meal or thali, which brings together rice, sambar, rasam, and a range of vegetable preparations in one sitting.
- Filter coffee to close the meal, served properly strong the way it should be.
The experience
The dining room favours warm lighting, wood, and understated South Indian design touches over anything flashy, and the pace of service matches the setting, unhurried but attentive. This is a restaurant designed for a proper meal rather than a fast bite, and the staff are generally well informed about the regional origins of each dish, which is useful if you’re new to Chettinad cooking specifically. It attracts a mix of business diners, couples marking an occasion, and visitors who’ve read about the restaurant before landing in the city, so the atmosphere leans a little more formal than most standalone South Indian restaurants in Chennai.
Location and how to reach
Southern Spice is inside the Taj Coromandel on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Nungambakkam, one of Chennai’s more central and well connected neighbourhoods. It’s close to the Gemini Flyover and within easy reach by auto or cab from most parts of the city. Parking is available at the hotel, and it’s a straightforward stop if you’re already in Nungambakkam or nearby Egmore.
Practical tips
Book ahead, particularly for dinner on weekends, since it’s a popular choice for anniversaries and business dinners alike. Smart casual dress is appropriate given the hotel setting. Spice levels can be genuinely hot in the more traditional Chettinad dishes, so it’s worth asking the server to adjust if you prefer milder food. Vegetarians are well catered for, and it’s worth mentioning dietary preferences when booking so the kitchen can plan the tasting portions accordingly.
For a single meal that captures why Chennai’s food culture deserves more attention outside the state, Southern Spice remains one of the most consistent and rewarding choices in the city.
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