New Restaurants in Chennai (June 2026)

Chennai's dining scene never really slows down — but every few months there's a noticeable surge of energy, new signboards going up, and regulars buzzing about where they ate last weekend. June 2026 is one of those moments, with a spread of openings and must-visit spots across the city worth putting on your radar right now.

TL;DR

• 🍛 Hyderabadi dum biryani lands in Anna Nagar at Ramaa's The Hyderabadi
• 🌴 Kerala comfort food is having a serious moment, with Ente Keralam in Poes Garden and Malabar Kitchen in Velachery both worth the trip
• 🍖 Mughlai lovers have new options — Turban Restaurant and New Mughal Biriyani are in the mix
• 🏙️ North Indian dining at Punjab Grill in Express Avenue suits a relaxed mall outing
• 🍬 Classic chaat and sweets cravings? Sree Gupta Bhavan and Mansuk's have you covered

What's Opening and What's Worth Revisiting

Not every restaurant on this list is brand new from yesterday, but they've all been generating genuine buzz in Chennai this season — either from fresh openings, expanded locations, or a renewed wave of locals rediscovering them. Think of this as your edited, no-nonsense guide to what's actually worth leaving home for.

The spread is wide: biryani from Hyderabad and Dindigul, Kerala meals that feel like someone's ammachi cooked them, Chettinad spice trails, North Indian grills, and even some solid chaats. Whatever your mood on a given evening, there's something here.

Biryani, Biryani, Biryani 🍚

Chennai has always been serious about biryani, and June 2026 gives us even more reason to eat it obsessively.

Ramaa's The Hyderabadi on 4th Avenue, Shanthi Colony Main Road in Anna Nagar brings dum-style Hyderabadi biryani to one of the city's busiest neighbourhoods. Their menu stretches to tandoori and Chinese too, so it works for mixed groups. You can check their current menu at ramaasthehyderabadi.com.

Khalid's Biriyani on 2nd Avenue, Anna Nagar West is open every day from 11 AM to 11 PM, making it a solid option for a late biryani fix. Their website khalidsbiriyani.com carries the full details.

Dindigul Thalappakatti needs no introduction — the Dindigul-style biryani with its distinct pepper heat has a loyal following across Chennai. The Anna Nagar branch on 4th Avenue, Shanthi Colony is well-placed for that part of the city, and thalappakatti.com lists their locations and menu.

Sukkubhai Biryani on Railway Station Road and Mani's Dum Biryani (reachable through manis.in) are both worth bookmarking, especially if you're chasing dum-pot style cooking done the slow, traditional way.

Yaa Mohaideen on Grand Southern Trunk Road is another name with serious biryani credibility. Call ahead on +91 44 4854 1717 or visit yaamohaideenbriyani.com for details.

New Mughal Biriyani at Nehru Bazaar is open every day from noon to 11 PM and pairs Mughlai-style biryani with Chinese sides — an unexpected but apparently popular combination in that area.

Kerala on the Table

If there's one cuisine having its best season in Chennai right now, it's Kerala food. A new generation of diners is seeking out proper Kerala meals — the kind with fish curry, thorans, and puttu — rather than generic "multi-cuisine" approximations.

Ente Keralam has opened a location in Poes Garden at No. 1 First Street, Kasturi Estate. The address alone signals that this isn't a budget mess — it's Kerala food positioned as a proper dining experience. Lunch runs from 12 PM to 4 PM and dinner from 7 PM to midnight, Monday through Saturday. Worth calling ahead on +91 63749 99504 to confirm hours before you go.

Malabar Kitchen on Velachery Main Road in Anna Garden, Velachery, runs from 8 AM to 11 PM every single day — that early opening makes it a rare option for a Kerala-style breakfast in that part of the city. Call them on 098844 07255.

Kairali Kerala Mess in Kodambakkam at 48 Palayakaran Street keeps it traditional: open seven days, but only for lunch between 11 AM and 3 PM. That tight window is a signal — this is the kind of place that runs out of food by 1:30 PM on a good day. Reach them on +91 63827 50779.

Kappa Chakka Kandhari on Haddows Road is the more elevated end of the Kerala dining spectrum in Chennai. It specialises in regional Kerala cuisine — the kind of cooking that goes beyond the standard hits — and has built a loyal audience over time. Contact them at (044) 28281010 or info@kappachakkakandhari.com, and check kappachakkakandhari.com for their current offerings.

💡 Desi Insider Tip: At any Kerala mess in Chennai, always ask if they're serving fish curry that day before you sit down. The best ones rotate their catch based on what came in fresh that morning, and on days they have nethili or ayala, everything else on the table somehow tastes better too.

Chettinad, Mughlai, and North Indian Options

Sri Magesh Chettinadu Restaurant on M.T.H Road in Villivakkam is open every day from 11 AM to 11:30 PM, which is a generous window. Chettinad cooking is one of Tamil Nadu's great culinary gifts — complex spicing, slow-cooked gravies — and this restaurant extends its menu to Chinese and Arabian dishes as well. Visit srimageshchettinadurestaurant.com or call +91 7338 802151.

Turban Restaurant specialises in Mughlai cuisine. Their website is turbanrestaurant.com if you want to explore the menu before heading out.

Punjab Grill on the 3rd Floor of Express Avenue in Royapettah brings North Indian food into a proper mall-dining setting. Open daily from 11:30 AM to 10 PM, it's a reliable choice for families who want a sit-down meal after shopping without driving across the city.

Punjabi Restaurant at Gateway Office Parks, Perungalathur is worth noting for South Chennai residents — it opens Wednesday onwards and does North Indian, Oriental, and biryani. Call +91 9884338398 for current timings.

Sweets, Chaat, and Comfort Stops

Some meals are about the main course, and some are entirely about the snack.

Sree Gupta Bhavan specialises in chaat and sweets — the kind of stop you make before deciding what's for dinner, or after. Their website sreeguptabhavan.com has more details.

Mansuk's on 7th Avenue is a sweets institution open from 10 AM to 10 PM on Mondays (check mansuksweets.com for full weekly hours). They're the sort of place where you walk in for one mithai and leave with a box.

Adyar Ananda Bhavan at 748 Thiruvottriyur High Road needs little introduction for most Chennai families. Their vegetarian menu and sweets counter have been a consistent part of the city's food culture — aabsweets.com lists their current branches and menu.

Paati Veedu on Bhagirathi Ammal Street leans into the nostalgic grandmother's-kitchen theme that has resonated strongly with younger diners who grew up on home cooking. Check paativeedu.com for what's on.

Practical Tips for Eating Out This Month

A few things worth keeping in mind as you plan your June outings:

Weekend lunch at any biryani-focused restaurant in Anna Nagar tends to get crowded by noon. If you're heading to Khalid's or Ramaa's on a Saturday, plan to arrive by 12:15 PM or accept a short wait.

For Kerala messes with limited hours — particularly Kairali Kerala Mess — call ahead on the morning you plan to visit. Closing early when the food runs out is a feature, not a flaw.

Express Avenue restaurants like Punjab Grill benefit from weekday visits when parking and queues are far more manageable than weekends.

Many of the restaurants listed have websites now — biryani places in particular are increasingly taking advance orders online, which is worth exploring if you're feeding a group.

FAQ

Q: Which new restaurants in Chennai are best for a family dinner in June 2026? Sri Magesh Chettinadu Restaurant in Villivakkam is open late every day and has a wide menu. Punjab Grill at Express Avenue is another strong option for families who want a comfortable, mall-adjacent setting.

Q: Where can I find authentic Kerala meals in Chennai right now? Ente Keralam in Poes Garden, Malabar Kitchen in Velachery, and Kairali Kerala Mess in Kodambakkam are all operating this month. Each has a different price point and vibe, so pick based on your area and appetite.

Q: Which biryani restaurants in Chennai are open late? Khalid's Biriyani in Anna Nagar West and Sri Magesh Chettinadu Restaurant in Villivakkam are both open until 11 PM or later. New Mughal Biriyani at Nehru Bazaar runs until 11 PM daily.

Q: Are there good vegetarian options among these new Chennai restaurants? Sree Gupta Bhavan specialises in chaat and sweets and is a strong vegetarian choice. Adyar Ananda Bhavan is a long-standing favourite for vegetarian meals and mithai. Paati Veedu also carries a home-style menu worth checking.

Q: How do I find updated hours before visiting any of these restaurants? Several of the restaurants listed have active websites — thalappakatti.com, khalidsbiriyani.com, kappachakkakandhari.com, and ramaasthehyderabadi.com are good starting points. For the others, a quick call before you head out saves the trip.

The Bottom Line

June 2026 is a genuinely good month to eat your way across Chennai. From dum biryani in Anna Nagar to a proper Kerala lunch in Kodambakkam, the city's restaurant scene is firing on multiple cylinders — and the best part is that most of these places are neighbourhood spots built for regulars, not tourists. Go with an appetite and without a rigid plan.

For more neighbourhood guides, event listings, and community picks, keep exploring Desi.Net — your local corner of the internet, made for Chennai.