Pongal is, undeniably, the quintessential Tamil dish. We love it so much that we celebrate the dish with a festival named after it. Chennai has its fair share of restaurants that serve perfect pongal dishes with the right amount of ghee, studded with cashews, accompanied by Chutney and Sambhar and a perfect cup of filter coffee to wash it down – Isn’t this the very idea of a perfect breakfast for most of us?
We have narrowed down 10 restaurants that seem to have perfected our idea of this perfect breakfast and made their way into our hearts through our stomachs with their Ven Pongal dishes.
Rayar’s Mess
Pongal is one of the only three dishes they serve (Idly and Vadai being the other two). Their Pongal-Chutney combination has been winning hearts for ages and reminds you of the much cherished home-cooked pongal that you would find at your grandmom’s kitchen.
Address: 31, Arundale Street, Mylapore
Time: 7 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
Cost: Rs. 35/plate
Sangeetha Veg Restaurant
Filling serving of Ven Pongal accompanied by three different chutneys and Sambhar.
Image Courtesy: hungryforever
Address: Multiple locations across Chennai
Time: 8 a.m to 10.30 a.m.
Cost: Rs.60
Ratna Cafe
Image Courtesy: Akshay Shivakumar
Address: Triplicane High Road, Triplicane, Chennai
Cost: Rs. 65 for 150 gms.
Time: 7.30 am to 10.30 pm
ID
Treat yourself to their bowl of yummy pongal after watching a movie at Sathyam Cinemas. They too serve pongal with Sambhar and three different chutneys.
Image Courtesy: ID
Address: 8, First Floor, Sathyam Cinemas Complex, Royapettah
Cost: Rs. 100 per plate
Time: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Welcome Hotel
An iconic and humble place serving hot pongal with all its authenticity.
Address: 112/241, Purasawalkam High Road, Purasavakkam, Chennai.
Cost: Rs.45 per plate
Time: 6 am to 10 pm
Saravana Bhavan
Despite our love-hate relationship with Saravana Bhavan over years, we can’t opt this one out of our list. Their Sambhar and pongal is a match made in culinary heaven.
Image Courtesy: Foodie’s World
Address: Multiple locations across Chennai.
Time: Open till 11 pm
Cost: Rs.50 (for regular plate) and Rs.65 (for large plate)
Hot Chips
Try Pongal at their Anna Nagar outlet.
Address: C44, 12th Main Road, 2nd Avenue, Anna Nagar West
Cost: Rs. 55
Time: 7.30 a.m to 10.30 pm
Mathsya
Image Source: The Hindu
Address: 1, Halls Road, Egmore, Chennai
Cost: Rs.80
Time: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Adyar Ananda Bhavan
Their signature pongal-vadacurry keeps us going back.
Image Courtesy: Foodspotting
Address: Multiple Locations across the city
Time: 7 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.; 3 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Cost: Rs.60
Murugan Idli Shop
Idlies maybe their specialty, but Murugan Idli Shop serves great Pongal as well. One shouldn’t miss their sweet pongal.
Image Courtesy: Murugan Idli Shop
Address: 9, Ramanathan Street, Usman Road, T. Nagar, Chennai
Time: 7 AM to 11 PM
Cost: Rs.55