Sri Ananda Bhavan

 

What to eat: "Kothu Parotta" - Minced Parotta pieces tawa fried with eggs, onion, curry leaves and chicken gravy.

Location: Sri Ananda Bhavan, Pandiya Vellalar St/South Veli St, Madurai

Cost: 50 INR per plate of kothu parotta

Verdict: Spicy kothu parotta is too tasty to go for dinner. One of the famous street foods in tamil nadu and sri lanka ( called as Kothu rotti over there). In Madurai, its accompanied with 2 different gravies (less spicy one and a more spicy one). Not suitable for all as the Parotta is made of maida. I used to eat only during my Madurai visit. In Chennai, we go for mostly wheat parottas. 




 

Kingiliyapillai Vadai Kadai

What to eat: Multiple varieties of bondas'

Location: Kingiliyapillai Vadai Kadai, Opp Dhandayudhapani Temple, West Masi St, Madurai

Cost: 3 pieces for 10 Rs

Verdict: It's been more than a decade I had Kara Urundai at this shop for 1 Rupee a piece. So I had a walk to this shop just to try their different varieties of bondas. Bought potato masala bonda, Kara Urundai, susiyam, vellaiyappam.

 

The Modern Restaurant

What to eat: South Indian Tiffin items like Idly, Pondal, Dosai, Filter coffee.

Location: The Modern Restaurant, Nethaji Road, Madurai

Cost: 12 rupees a piece of idly

Verdict: Madurai is famous for veg as well as non veg eateries. The Modern Restaurant is one of the oldest restaurant in the town. It was visited by several Indian presidents, prime ministers and TN chief ministers. A visit to madurai is not complete without having tiffin in this place. I believe it was started some where around 1930's. I have seen this restaurant's kitchen on a BBC program about sambar making. Pongal and Vadai is the best combo to have in the morning and a filter coffee at the end. We had idly, dosai and chappati (not pongal as it was dinner time). Go for it without any second thoughts.