Location: Chidambaram
Top Restaurants in Chidambaram
Where to Eat in Chidambaram: The Best Restaurants and Bars
A major pilgrimage site and home to the ancient Shiva temple, Chidambaram is also visited for a unique reason. The small town boasts of an old palm leaves reading tradition; the leaves are used to determine every individual’s past and future life. People travel from great distances to experience this special kind of horoscope reading.
Things to do in Chidambaram
1. Anupallavi Multicuisine Restaurant
Overall Ratings
3 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By Lalita T - Hyderabad, India
I went searching for a good Restaurant serving traditional Tamil Food. Based on my local friend's recommendation, I visited this one and was really satisfied with the serving. I asked for a Tamil thali. It contained typical tamilian dishes, one of which was prepared with local tamarind with Madras Onions. The sambhar and rasam were something to remember. The was Curd and payasam completed the meal.
However, North Indian Food was not available during the day despite of the Menu board claiming to serve multi cuisine food.
2. Krishna vilas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By sridharml007 - Coimbatore, India
Located in th heart of the city, very close to the temple.tasty South Indian food.very low priced.cleanliness is to de improved
3. Sri Krishna Vilas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By Mohan2013 - Chennai (Madras), India
The best place in Chidambaram to have tastier dishes on banana leaves. Clean and hygienic property with soothing air conditioning. However, no meals or thalis are served during the lunch hours; instead the variety of rice items are sold. The service is good. The restaurant is situated exactly opposite the Grand park hotel and the famous Thillai Natataraja temple.
4. Palagaram.com
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By Karthik B - Bangalore
We visited as a family Chidambaram.
Palagaram is a good place. The Ambience is good, clean. The north indian food was very tasty. The south indian orders were also good. Varied vegeterian only menu. The wait time at peak hour was only 7mins or so. The staff were courteous. The wait time was very less for the food. The restaurant is located right by the west gate of the Natarajar temple, so is very convenient.
We did not get to use the rest rooms. The water for washing was salty, apparently the whole of Chidambaram has this issue. Overall for Chidambaram's standard I would rate this hotel as a good choice. Very good value for money.
5. Southern Spice Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Mike K - London, United Kingdom
Due to really bad wifi in most places in India and being busy since returning back to London this review is for our visit on the night of 2/12/16. Edited and submitted 7/2. Hopefully still relevant. This restaurant was not listed (on my iPad or iPhone - see added Hotel Pari entry) in December but has suddenly appeared on my home computer TA login page - odd! It is not a well visited city by westerners and we were the only white faces there!
Now I am in danger of the plagiarising program TA uses of rejecting this entry. Grrrrr.
We three middle aged Brits arrived in Chidambaram at around 3.30pm after a scary, interesting and sometimes packed 'Express' bus from Pondy. Tired of the dangerous driving, constant beeping and honking and not having booked lodgings ahead as reviews were pretty bad, we needed a quiet space for the internet and a drink. The Hotel Valankaya and associated Restaurant was right next to the bus station, it offered an A/C quiet restaurant and wifi on its glossy billboard outside.
The menu looked promising so we chose some basic dishes as the kitchen was closed between lunch and supper. We asked for the wifi key and the waiter said that one needed to be lodging in the hotel for it! We explained our reasons for being there and cancelled our food, but had the drinks as they were already presented and started. (may be a ploy, it happened again later elsewhere)! I went to the reception and unfortunately I got the same answer. On my return the waiter offered me the key. Very grateful we logged on successfully and ordered food. The Hotel V we were by was only viewable on TA via a search (very annoying, a glitch again, not on the map either). It was no2 of B&Bs despite mixed reviews.
We ate very well at a very good price, used their wi-fi and paid up. The wifi was turned off immediately! WE had this happen many times since so do not pay the bill till you are ready! We went to reception where some youngish men were busy chatting by the desk. Other review sites had commented on their not bothering attitude. We requested a triple room away from the bus station and room noise. We were taken to a 'deluxe' double and extra bed offered for 800 extra on the second floor overlooking the entrance/bus station!! No hot water between 4 and 9am! It was not like the flashy big depictions outside. The elevator was out of action and the corridor carpets were tatty. Back with reception the price was 2000 + 700 extra bed (not matching the earlier quote so they invent them) we left immediately and headed west towards the temple to seek alternative hotels, but we had been fed well. I cannot vouch for the hotel itself.
The next day we dined there again (at the proper dining time) for the quality of food, A/C and wi-fi access as it was the only place in town for those two needs together!
See images for dining experience. It was good!
The big hotel opposite did not provide wifi although had good food ratings.
6. Ponnusamy Hotel
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By gerry3f - London, United Kingdom
It was raining and I needed a proper porcelain loo and some lunch. The Ponnusamy looked like the best there was. I was surprised that all they had to offer was chicken or mutton biryani. After 2 weeks of eating veg or fish curries 'mutton' sounded good. As expected it was goat. Rather grey on the outside which I put down to being cooked in the rice which was greasy. I only ate about a quarter of it.
That night my threw up 3 times while my bowels turned to liquid.
7. Ice n Cafe
Overall Ratings
5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Abhay K - Mumbai, India
We were waiting for our bus back to the Pondicherry city and found this place to beat the heat.
Very clean and amazingly fast service, you order and you get. The place has couple of good choices of drinks to relief from scorching heat and good ambiance to enjoy with couple of friends.
8. Udupi Sri Krishna Vilas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
One of the oldest and well renowned restaurants serving the most authentic Vegetarian food. Udupi Hotel is famous for its south indian style breakfast, lunch & dinner in the heart of the Temple City of Lord Nataraja in Chidambaram. With over 45 years in service, the name itself speaks for its quality.
Reviewed By raknash - Liverpool, United Kingdom
1. Great food for breakfast/ lunch and dinner - Cheap and great quality.
2. It's a homely mess-like set up; so don't expect sophistication by any means.
3. Their dessert choices are great - Basundhi, Badam milk, Panam Kalkandu Paal - all freshly made and so so yummy!
9. Geethanjali Vegetarian Restaurant
Overall Ratings
3 based on 2 reviews
Geethanjali A/c Vegetarian Restaurant Serves south indian, chinese tandoori vegetarian cuisines in a peaceful ambience. Situated at the lobby level
Reviewed By nana16march - chennai
The food was good, and the prices purse friendly. It was reasonably clean, crowded. The service was good
