Midnight snacks in Madras: A few must-visit and must-eat places in Chennai

Chennai is a vibrant city best known for its temples, delectable food and being a hub for music, dance, and culture. It is also well-known for its cosmopolitan nature and being a mix of tradition and modernity. In the past, people poked fun and called Chennai laid back. Chennai is rarely known for its nightlife and is considered almost a dead city at night.

All that is changing and if you are out late at night and are looking for late night grub, you are in for a surprise. Chennai has several midnight restaurants and food places that are open well past midnight.

Here we give you a glimpse of where to go and what to eat if you are a midnight snacker. A wide variety of restaurants are open till 3 am.

Waterside at Feathers Hotel

Waterside, located at Feathers Hotel on Mount Poonamallee Road, Manappakkam open 24 hours, is your go-to destination for a memorable midnight snack experience. Whether you’re craving a quick bite or a leisurely meal, our all-day dining service offers a wide range of delectable options that cater to every palate. Enjoy the serenity of tranquil water body, with the gentle night breeze adding to the ambience. With our open kitchen, you can watch as our chefs prepare mouthwatering snacks, from flavourful appetizers to comforting treats, crafted with the finest ingredients. No matter the time, Waterside promises a delightful culinary journey to satisfy those midnight cravings.

Buhari Restaurant

Buhari is a famous restaurant in Chennai and they stay open well past midnight and offer some delicious non-vegetarian fare. Buhari has restaurants all over the city of Chennai but you can find them in Nandanam and on Mount Road. Buhari started operations in Chennai in 1951. They are famous for their Biriyani, chicken 65, the Madras egg parotta, Buhari’s chicken kurma and Buhari’s mutton masala. If you love desserts, try their casatta ice cream or caramel custard. Finish up with a special Buhari Dhum tea!

Geetham Veg Restaurant

Geetham has locations all over Chennai. You can find them on Mount Road, G.N.Chetty Road in T. Nagar, Thoraipakkam, Navalur, Ashok Nagar and Perungudi. They have a diverse menu and cater to all ages. They are well known as a family restaurant. They offer South Indian and a variety of cuisines. They have a variety of chaats and dinner options. You must check out the paneer tikka, chaat combo, or dragon roll. They have a variety of North Indian food, tandoor dishes, gravies, Chinese dishes, rice, and noodles. If you are a light eater, try the sandwiches and the mocktails here. They also have a wide range of faloodas and ice creams.

Jonah’s Bistro

Jonah’s Bistro has outlets all over the city. You can find them in Poes Garden, Besant Nagar, Palavakkam, or in OMR. This is a great option for a late-night family outing. They have a diverse menu and some unique dishes. They focus on European, Pan Asian, Japanese, Indian and American cuisine and cater to all age groups. They have a wide variety of soups and starters, sandwiches, pasta, wraps, sizzlers, rice, noodles, burgers, rice curry bowls, and eggs to order. If you are a light eater, pick their vegetable momos with an accompanying hot sauce.

Kozhi Idli

You can find KozhiI dli on Avvai Shanmugam Road, Royapettah. This is one place that will prove that Idli is not just a breakfast option. They have a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options of idli. KozhiI dli transforms idli into a versatile meal suitable for all tastes. Try the idli with pepper chicken curry, chicken paniyaram, idiyappam (string hoppers) or chicken vadai. You could also try the Chicken 65, chicken cheese balls, or chicken curry. If you thought idli with chicken curry was a weird combination, think again!

Broken Bridge Café

Located inside Somerset Greenways in MRC Nagar, this is a safe and wonderful late-night dinner option. They serve fusion Indian and Chinese dishes and have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. On offer are soups, salads, and vegetarian small plates (podi idli, methi malai paneer tikka, Chettinad mushroom tacos, and hariyali cauliflower). For the main course, you can pick North Indian, Non-vegetarian options or rice bowls. If you like pasta, sandwiches, burgers, or kathi rolls, you can go for those as well. If you are trying dessert, try the sea salt fudge cake or the hazelnut custard with Maltova crumble.

The Flying Elephant

This is a chic venue inside the Park Hyatt Hotel in Guindy. It has a sophisticated setting and a stylish ambience. They have a wide variety of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options available here with kitchens at different levels. Excellent soups, salads, small plates, dim sums, poultry and lamb varieties, fish and seafood. If you want to try Pizza or pasta, they have excellent options. On offer is also a wide variety of desserts that are a paradise for those with a sweet tooth. In a five-star ambience, this is a multi-sensory dining experience that you will not regret.

Bilal Restaurant

Bilal has restaurant outlets across the city. You can find them on Mount Road, ECR, and in many other places. Bilal is a destination for grilled food lovers. This place is open till late at night so you need not worry about finding a place to eat if you are a night owl. You must try the bun butter jam, mutton keema samosa, malai kebabs, and mutton biriyani. Check out the special shawarma plate or the shawarma roll, chicken lollipop, chicken tikka, tangdi kebab, or egg masala, with Malaysian parotta or egg veechu parotta.

Aerohub West: Food Court

This is a 24*7 food court at the Chennai International Airport in Meenambakkam. Various brands have their outlets here. You will find a KFC, Burger King, Madras Coffee House, WOW Momo, Junior Kuppanna, Vasanta Bhavan, Subway and many more outlets here. Whether you are looking for dinner, just a snack, a dessert or coffee, you will find all that you want available here. If you are boarding a late-night flight or arriving in the city late, this is the perfect option for you. They have a PVR theatre here, so if you want to watch a movie and catch a show, you can enjoy yourself after a nice meal.

Conclusion

Chennai is no longer a sleepy city in the South of India. It is a bustling hub with lots of late-night food options available. Whether you are looking for a cosy evening, a family restaurant, a bustling eatery or just snacks, Chennai has several options just for you. With various cuisines ranging from South Indian, North Indian, Chinese, Pan Asian, European, Italian, and American available, you can suit your taste. Midnight craving need not go unanswered, make a choice.