There used to be days when you only craved Chinese food, but now that the times have changed and there are more cuisines to choose from, everyone is craving Pan Asian food. If you’re craving some Japanese or Thai or a combination of the two, we have picked 7 of the city's finest Pan Asian restaurants in the city you can visit to satisfy your cravings! Your life is probably filled with a pile of to-do lists and pending assignments (or work targets). We get that. And if you’re new to the city, you probably have a ton of daily chores too. So, rewarding yourself with an evening out in a restaurant in Chennai is required from time to time. All you’ve gotta do is bookmark this button, put on your touristy pants and grab a pen to scratch off those names on your foodie bucket list.
If you wish to take a break from the ubiquitous South-Indian fare in Chennai and are willing to try international cuisine, then head to Benjarong. High on style and décor, this restaurant offers delicious Thai cuisine. It manages to lure you by not just the interiors but also the dishes served here. A favorite of celebs like legendary maestro AR Rahman, this popular Thai restaurant has been around for nearly two decades! And is a must-visit for authentic Thai food at its best. They’ve kept their décor simple with wooden chairs and Thai sculptures and paintings around. Quite a few tables offer enough privacy, so if you’re here with bae, there are enough cozy corners to choose from.
Must Haves: Siam Sparkle, Gai Hor Baitaey, Thai Grilled Fish, Thai Curry and Tub Tim Grob
Absolute Thai has been established in 2014 in India providing authentic Thai food made the traditional way from recipes developed by highly experienced chefs from Thailand. Filling the space with beautiful antique handicrafts, sculptures, paintings and plants to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere to better enjoy the impeccably crafted cuisine, Absolute Thai is a go-to place if you are up for experiencing a beautifully elegant calm homey ‘Truly Thai Bliss’ atmosphere where you can feel ‘at Thailand’.
Must Haves: Tempura Prawns, Lemongrass Tea, Peek Gai Tod Samun Prai and Pad Thai Noodles
Mamagoto follows the same design template that has worked for the chain across India. Known for their Asian and Thai cuisine, Mamagoto is a great place to go for a family outing and date nights. The restaurant gives the vibe of being in the heart of China with its exquisite decor and style. The interiors are filled with paintings and art from Chinese culture. Try their amazing menu filled with a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
Must Haves: Three Pepper Bomb, Crispy Lotus Stem, Old School Gyoza and Basil Cups
Nasi and Mee translate to ‘rice and noodles’ in Bahasa, with ‘mee’ coming from the Cantonese word for noodles - mien. Having evolved over the years through a variety of cultural influences– Chinese, Malay, Indian and Persian–South East Asian food is known to be a delicious melting pot of fusion cuisine. The intelligently called Nasi and Mee packs the same energy as a hawker center in South East Asia. The décor adds to this energy. Showstopper lights blend with bold wall art and you can watch the chefs in action from their display kitchen. The inspired menu spans the spectrum from tried-and-tested classics to the adventurous from the street & hawker stalls of Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. When in Nungambakkam, treat yourself to some of the best Pan Asian delicacies at Nase and Mee and you will not go back disappointed.
Must Haves: Iced Milo, Ayam Pongteh, Xia Long Bao Dumpling and Prawn Hargao
Golden Dragon has been Chennai's premier destination Chinese restaurant since it debuted in the 1970s. This legendary restaurant has a stunning and grand design. They offer a vast and assorted menu featuring a delightful mix of Sichuan and Cantonese flavours that promises an exquisite experience for your palate making it one of the best fine-dining Chinese restaurants in Chennai.
Must Haves: Kung Pao Chicken, Honey Chilli tossed Lotus stem and the Legendary Peking Duck
At 8500 sq. ft., one of the city's largest and finest restaurants, Pan Asian is a perfect place to be especially when you have to find the balance between different culinary-rich regions. The multi-layered layout ensures you find a new vantage point every time you visit. It serves an exhaustive menu of popular dishes and exotic options from cuisines as diverse as China, Thailand and Japan. We'd recommend ring-side seats near the display kitchen where the chef and his team always put on a good show especially when they carve out sashimi rolls with Japanese precision.
Must Haves: Chicken with Vodka Braised Chilli, Wasabi Prawns, Ramen, Bok Choy and Zucchini Dim sum and Stir-fried Chopped Pork
If you've traveled extensively through South-East Asia, you will know that some of the best meals are served in the region's busy streets. Soy Soi focuses on street food from across Asia's food capitals. The restaurant's Chinese selection is dominated by its exhaustive selection of dim sums. The culinary team at Soy Soi spent three weeks traveling through streets filled with culinary treasures in countries like Thailand and Vietnam. And probably thats why their menu is exhaustive; it's a good thing their staff can help you navigate it. They’ve got all your cravings covered from chicken to lamb to prawns and even lots of vegetarian options to choose from.
Must Haves: Char Siew Belgian Pork Bao, Curried Chicken Bao, Cheung Fung prawn, Salmon Maki and Nasi Goreng
