As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities, Madurai has a truly fascinating history and is home to one of the most beautiful temples in India. But the bustling town is also home to some of the best food I’ve ever tried with an abundance of simple restaurants overflowing with regional delights and an array of interesting street food. As well as discovering fun things to do in Madurai, I spent three days strolling the city hunting out delicious dishes, from dosas to halwa and an incredibly addictive drink. This tightly curated list details where to find the best food in Madurai, especially if you’re limited on time and can only sample a few dishes.
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| A selection of some of the best food in Madurai (clockwise from top: one of Madurai's many banana shops, halwa from Sree Prema Vilas, and South Indian coffee at Merina Restaurant) |
Where to find the best food and drinks in Madurai
1. Sree Prema Vilas Tirunelveli Lala Sweet Shop
Close to the city’s train station, this unassuming sweet shop is a truly unmissable stop in Madurai due to just one item; halwa.
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| Sree Prema Vilas's halwa |
Made using a secret recipe and cooked in water from the Tambiraparani River, Sree Prema Vilas's special halwa is unique and utterly delicious, especially when eaten warm.
2. Sree Sabarees
I loved eating at Sree Sabarees, and seeing how the place was packed out every single day it seemed I wasn’t the only one. The simplistic cafe serves vegetarian food on bright green banana leaves and everything is delicious. I tried the affordable set lunch and returned the next day because the food was so good. Seating is communal and once I placed my order, a huge banana leaf was swiftly set down in front of me with a poppadum balanced on top. Next came a spoonful of rice followed by ladlefuls of three varieties of vegetable curry, along with dahl, homemade chutney, and raita. Each curry is remarkable, an explosion of subtle spices and warming flavors. Don’t miss it.
3. Merina Restaurant
After a wholesome stay practising yoga at Soul and Surf and a few weeks traveling through Kerala, eating dosas became part of my daily routine and I’d have one most days for breakfast. But it wasn’t until I arrived in Madurai that I had one of the most delicious at Merina Restaurant, right next to the hotel I was staying in. As part of my stay, I’d get breakfast served in the restaurant every morning, where I would indulge in a delicious masala dosa filled with warm spiced cubes of potato, with homemade chutney and fragrant dhal. The simple dish arrived on a plastic tray, alongside steaming South Indian coffee.
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| Frothy South Indian coffee at Merina Restaurant |
It was a no-frills affair but a heavenly way to start the day. Merina Restaurant is an all-veg eatery and they also serve varied thali, fragrant vada, and the fluffiest idli. Prices are extremely reasonable too.
4. Famous Jigarthanda
5. Banana and fruit stands
The fruit offerings in Madurai are staggering with more varieties of banana than I’d ever seen elsewhere. I enjoyed trying a different variation each day, buying one or two bananas from one of the many shops around town or the fruit and vegetable market just a short rickshaw ride away.
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| One of Madurai's banana shops |
The mangos are also amazingly sweet in this part of India so if you see a mango stall on the side of the road don’t hesitate to indulge.
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