Which is the best city to eat in Tamil Nadu? This question is likely to spark fierce debate and bring out regional and city-based loyalties. Coimbatore tops the list. During a recent visit to the city’s newest luxury hotel – O by Tamara, I tasted some of the region’s famous culinary specialties. Coimbatore is at the heart of the erstwhile Kongunad region in the southwestern region of Tamil Nadu (which includes areas such as Coimbatore, Salem and Erode). The hotel’s all-day O Café offers an authentic Kongunad vibe.
Coimbatore cuisine has a lot more to offer than just Kongunad cuisine. Whenever I am in the city, I make sure to stop at Annapurna for their famous ghee roast dosas and refreshing filter coffee. The city’s street food and fine dining scene has also changed a lot in the last decade. From the city’s mushroom to the unique crispy butter appam, melt-in-your-mouth Mysore Pak and delicious biryani made with short grain rice, we take you through the city’s most famous culinary destinations.
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Regional specialties at O Café at O by Tamara:
The all-day diner at O By Tamara offers a wide variety of dishes. The restaurant also pays homage to the Kongunad region and offers comfort food options like the authentic version of Chicken Sukka and Arisi Paruppu Saadham. End your meal with their popular dessert – Kavunni Arisi Halwa, made with black rice.
By O Tamara, Sakkarai Chettiar Colony, Uppilipalayam
Dosa and Filter Coffee at Annapurna:
It is one of the most famous homegrown restaurant brands in the city that has been around since the 1960s. The Ghee Roast served with their trademark Sambar is a local legend. It is one of their most popular dishes apart from their Pongal Vada and invigorating Filter Coffee.
Peelamedu-Padur Road (opposite KMCH Hospital)
Mutton Biryani at Kovai Angan Biryani House:
Located on the city’s busy Avinashi Road, Kovai Angnan has been in existence since 1926 and serves delicious biryani made from short-grain rice. Also, try their popular dishes like the Kongunad-style Pichu Potta Kozhi Varuval, their delicacy based on shredded chicken.
Avinashi Road
Butter Appam at Tiffin House:
You will hardly find Coimbatore’s unique appam in any other city of Tamil Nadu. There is an appam and then there is this one that isn’t. This is a crispy, almost crunchy version of the classic appam. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and loaded with butter. Leave the calorie counter at home and enjoy this.
Sambandhan Road E, RS Puram
Coimbatore-style mushroom at Lovely Mushroom Stall:
Mushrooms (kalan in Tamil) are an integral part of Kongunad cuisine. It has given rise to one of the most popular street food trends in the city and most Coimbatoreans are nostalgic for it. Lovely Mushroom Stall is one of the many places where you can taste kalan or mushrooms in the city. Batter fried mushrooms are marinated in a secret masala and served with other garnishes.
Raja Annamalai Road, Saibaba Colony
Karandi Omelette at Hari Bhavanam:
Karandi is the Tamil word for Karandi. It is an omelette that can be made quickly in a large Karandi (Thalippu Karandi in Tamil), which is what you would normally use for Tadka or tempering and it gives the Karandi omelette its soft texture and layers. Hari Bhavanam is a popular chain that leans towards Tamil Nadu cuisine; you can taste their Karandi omelette and local Kongunad specialities.
Goldwyns, Avinashi Road.
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Malli Pongal in Sri Anandadas:
This is one of the most popular vegetarian chain restaurants in Coimbatore. Look for daily specials like the Malli (coriander) Pongal and different types of Rava Kesari (Sheera) that are available on select days of the week; Chikoo Kesari is our favourite. The sweet shop offers a wide selection of sweets including the delicious Karupatti Mysore Pak made from palm jaggery.
Pallipalayam Chicken at Valarmathi Mess:
This family-run restaurant is a popular local institution and serves one of Kongunad’s most popular dishes. Pallipalayam chicken is pan-fried nuggets of chicken flavored with a tangy spice and served with coconut shreds. This dish gets its unique flavor from a unique spice blend – Pallipalayam chicken powder.
CSI Compound. Race Course
Elaneer Halwa in Norukkus:
This local sweet shop sells snacks made from millets and sweets made from karupatti (palm jaggery). Ilaneer halwa made from coconut water is one of their best-sellers.
Saibaba Colony
Chef’s Table Menu at KOVE:
A fusion of Kovai (or Coimbatore) and Love, KOVE is one of the city’s newest fine-dining restaurants with an emphasis on progressive cuisine. There’s a private dining room with a chef’s table special menu – a first in the city. The menu is a mix of progressive signatures such as curd rice arancini balls and comfort food like yam gallotti or baked brie.
E Arokiasamy Road, RS Puram
Shri Krishna Sweets in Mysorepa:
Most travellers who visit Chennai return home with a box of melt-in-your-mouth Mysorepa (Ghee Mysore Pak Krishna Mithai). The story of the origin of Mysorepa starts from Coimbatore and this sweet shop is a popular spot for locals and visitors.
Cross Cut Road.
Potlam Saadam in Rasnai:
Located in one of the city’s trendiest retail and dining destinations – Lakshmi Mills Compound – this beautiful restaurant pays homage to street food from across South India. The menu has been put together after extensive travels across South India and the Rameswaram-style Potlam Sadam, a one-pot meal combining rice and meat wrapped in a banana leaf, is one of their signature dishes.
Lakshmi Mills Compound, Avinashi Road
