CHENNAI: What started as a simple idea between two close friends with a big love for food has now grown into a favourite breakfast spot for many in Chennai. Madras Paya House was born when Thanigai Arasu and Shantha couldn’t find a place that served good non-veg breakfasts in the city. So, they decided to start one themselves in Mandaveli, offering dishes like idiyappam and paya. But soon, they wanted to go beyond that and explore more flavours.
Even though they’re new to the food business, the duo wanted to do things differently. “People often think Chettinadu food is super spicy, but it’s actually about balancing all the flavours,” says Shantha, who co-founded the restaurant. They carefully put together authentic recipes and created a menu filled with tasty, traditional Chettinadu dishes.
While making a profit is important, it’s not their main focus. “Our priority is to serve delicious, good-quality food,” shares Thanigai Arasu. Shantha, known for being very particular about ingredients, personally picks the best produce for their kitchen. Before opening the restaurant each day, the team tastes every dish to make sure it’s just right.
Getting high-quality ingredients isn’t always easy. Shantha explains that the market often separates items for home use and commercial kitchens, with the latter usually being cheaper but lower in quality. “We don’t take risks with our customers’ health – we always choose the best,” she says. Interestingly, most of their kitchen staff are women, and both founders believe that good food and warm service are what keep people coming back.
They’ve transformed a cozy house in one of Anna Nagar’s quiet streets into the new Madras Paya House, and it’s not just the food – the homely atmosphere adds to the charm.
During our visit, a large banana leaf was laid out before us, and the meal began. The parotta paired with pepper aatukkal paya was pure comfort food, with tender, flavourful meat. The “Chicken 96” – named after Thanigai Arasu’s 96th college batch – was a standout. The mutton chukka, packed with balanced flavours, and the non-veg thali featuring dishes like mutton kola urundai, kozhi milagu varuval, and prawn pepper masala, made for a feast to remember. The kola urundai, in particular, was a clear favourite.
They also serve seeraga samba biryani, ghee rice with Chettinadu chicken gravy, and Karaikudi mutton curry. New additions include a variety of parottas and a comforting naatu kozhi rasam. For drinks, the refreshing nannari sarbath is a must-try.
Even vegetarians have something to look forward to – the simple combination of hot rice with paruppu podi, ghee, and sambar is soul-satisfying.
But what truly makes Madras Paya House special is the way the founders personally interact with customers, treating them more like friends than diners.
With generous portions, tasty home-style food, and a warm, welcoming vibe – all at pocket-friendly prices – Madras Paya House is bringing something new and heartfelt to Anna Nagar.
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