Chennai Chef in Köln

Dal Fry and Chicken with Spinach plus Medhu Vada plus extra Chutney plus dessert Kesa Raveri

Finding soulful food miles away from home is a blessing. I am glad I found Chennai Chef, which serves you excellent quality food with perfect taste. I had veg thali and taste of each item (10 plus rice and papad) was cooked to perfection. Highly recommended and a must visit.

Best Indian Food in town! Biryani is my favorite👌

Very tasty. Small menu, but authentic South Indian. We went there with an Indian friend, who also loved it, or rather, we went there because he heard that the food there actually tasted Indian (which isn't usually the case with Indian restaurants in Cologne. For us Germans, a little curry powder is enough and we think it's Indian 🤣🤣🤣). We ate dosas, it was like being in South India: crispy, delicious chutneys...wonderful.

Overall the food was good, one must try this.

Really great food, incredibly friendly service. I know nothing about Indian food, but the taste here is unique, not standard; so it could well be authentic.

Incredibly delicious food at fair prices. The service and atmosphere are super friendly.

A delight for the palate The lamb korma is highly recommended.

Super delicious! The mix of kiosk and restaurant is kind of cool :-)

I'm really glad I stumbled upon the Chennai Chef restaurant by chance while looking for a place to eat near the Botanical Gardens! We arrived just before 2:00 PM on a Sunday and were warmly welcomed and shown straight to our table. There was no wait. The restaurant was busy, though. We actually wanted to try the vegetarian menu, which is only available on Saturdays. Since the Sunday menu wasn't vegetarian, we tried a few vegan dishes instead and loved it! The Medhu Vadai were wonderfully fluffy and fresh, served with a delicious coconut chutney. Upon request, we were also given a portion of sambhar each, which was absolutely delicious! The Masala Vadai were beautifully crispy on the outside and spicy and aromatic on the inside, a real taste experience that left us wanting more. The Tomato and Onion Uthappam was incredibly delicious. I had the Vegetable Korma with Parotta with it. The korma was coconut and cashew-based, beautifully creamy, and could be prepared with potatoes, green beans, and carrots, if desired. It was authentic, just like in South India. The parotta was soft, fresh, and warm, a perfect accompaniment. Next time I visit, I'll definitely come back on a Saturday to try the vegetarian menu. The owner also told us that the menu can be prepared vegan upon request! I'm glad I discovered this great restaurant before my planned move in the winter. Chennai Chef offers incredibly authentic, high-quality South Indian food with many vegan options and friendly, fast service. I'll definitely be back!

I had Chennai Chef on the to do list for a while and today we went there spontanously. We had to wait for around 20 Minutes to get a table but its worth the waiting. You get the best dhosa like in Kerala and the chilli paneer was sizzling on point. If you are looking for authentic south indian dishes this is the place. Plus the Lady in charge was very friendly and kind. A little piece of india in cologne.

I love the food here. Very authentic and traditional south Indian food. The filter coffee is so good! Recommend trying their Dosa, they are delicious. 5/5 for food but in one of my recent visits I was told not to drink water from my bottle! I found it very rude and inhuman. Water is a basic right, and you cannot stop someone from drinking it ( otherwise provide it for free). I never had this experience in any other proper German place in the last 3 years of being here. Please work on it otherwise a good experience.

One of Nippes' culinary highlights. Fantastic, superbly spiced Indian food and very friendly staff—even under pressure, as it's fortunately always busy on weekends. We're thrilled and look forward to our next visit.

Probably the most authentic south indian restaurant in Cologne! Flavorful, rich and extremely delicious! Super friendly staff and great authentic experience. Felt like in India!

It looks unassuming from the outside... but the food... oh the food! We had the mixed veggie platter - soooo delicious. Highly recommended.

Very good Indian restaurant, especially the dosas.

It's simply fantastic and delicious all around. I especially recommend the Chennai Chef chicken and the onion dosa. It's one of my favorite restaurants in Cologne. The service is also very friendly!

Food was good but not very clean

The dosas are incredibly delicious. I've never eaten such delicious dosas anywhere else.

I think Chennai Chef is the tastiest Indian restaurant in Cologne. The value for money is excellent, and the food is always delicious.

Always love this place. Food is super tasty and the owners are very humble and friendly people. Will always go back to this place.

Delicious, authentic, and very friendly and family-run. Thank you! We'll be back!

Excellent food and very friendly service. I've eaten there several times now, and it's been great every time.

Great shop and very friendly owners. A favorite place

A cozy restaurant with authentic South Indian cuisine. We tried it during our visit to Cologne. The food was delicious, even better than at the other well-known South Indian restaurant in Cologne (which we had also tried). The staff was also very friendly. Highly recommended if you're in Cologne and craving authentic South Indian food.

Accommodative people and the food was very tasty. The chicken curry and the sambar was on point. Dosa was crispy and felt like restaurants from South india

Small but fine, delicious food and friendly service. The price is more than fair! 10/10

We were here for the first time yesterday. Chicken Chennai Chef, Mango Lassi, and especially the Parotta -> absolutely delicious!

The most authentic Indian Tamil food I have had in Europe. Trust me I am Tamil and I have been living in NL/BE/DE for close to a decade and looking for a restaurant like this.

By far the best South Indian food we've had in Germany. Very authentic and delicious! The owner and staff are very friendly. Definitely give it a try!

I was there for the first time yesterday and I'm thrilled! You walk in and you don't feel like you're in Cologne anymore. The kiosk is convenient, but go ahead and take a seat! The food is amazing! The people are so nice and the place is simply unpretentious; the menu isn't overloaded with frills, but rather simple and appealing. It was so, so good and the portions were generous! Definitely go!

Sensational restaurant. Well hidden, not very fancy, but absolutely delicious!

From a Chennai person's experience, absolutely loved the food 💛

Half kiosk, half restaurant, but in my opinion, the best Indian food in Cologne! It's refreshing to eat Indian dishes that haven't been (overly) adapted to the German palate. An absolute insider tip! Especially Chicken Chennai Chef: world-class!

From spicy chicken biryani to soft set dosa—every bite was pure joy. Sweet Pongal and mango lassi wrapped the meal in perfect sweetness. And that parotta with chicken chennai chefcurry? Absolute food heaven

My partner and I were traveling through South India and had long missed the food there. The food here was just as good (or better) as in South India. The atmosphere is so authentic, and the service is excellent—we've already made our next reservation and are already looking forward to it 🤩

Simply extremely delicious - authentic and absolutely recommendable!

Can't get better than this outside India. All dishes are very rooted and authentic combined with very warm and welcoming service. The place also is very hygienic and has an open kitchen where you can see the expert chefs prepare dosa Prices are marginally higher but won't complain because the food really lives up to it.

Unexpectedly good. You wouldn't think that's what's on offer here. Great Indian cuisine. Top 👇🏅

Amazing food, very friendly and hospitable staff. It was a great experience for a Sunday afternoon, we would totally recommend it! :)

We had no reservation so we had to wait in line for about 15 minutes. The lady who was leading the shift was very kind and accomodating, made sure we were served well, and advised us not to order too much (as we ordered 4 main courses for 2 persons), but we did not listen to her (unfortunately). We left very full, and did not manage to finish it all. I wish whoever was making the potato dosa would just move in with me and make me one every 30minutes 😂 Biryani was good, there was a lot of it. It was very flavourful, lots of spices, might be one of the best ones I've had. Enough chicken meat as well. There is a large selection of vegetarian dishes. Highly recommend, I would suggest to make a reservation if you do not like to wait.

Incredibly delicious food, at a good price and very nice staff

Amazing Indian restaurant, the best one in Germany IMO. Authentic South Indian food 😋 1000% recommended. Can't wait to come back.

We went to Chennai Chef spontaneously today and were happy to get a table. We shared Masala Dosa as a starter and Chennai Chef Lamb as our main course. The food was really great and would definitely be recommended.

Lovely shop, very authentic taste, with friendly people there

Super delicious authentic food!

Hidden gem , original South India kitchen from the politest people in Köln

Over 6 years of living in Cologne, this place has become my favourite place for having south indian food, Tamil to be specific. It’s a simple place with an even simple and down to earth family, serving delicious food. The dosa, Idlis, medu vada, chicken biryani are to die for. Everything else is also great. Only one wish is if they start delivering food or tie up with Uber Eats or Lieferando, that would just be lovely.

Very typical restaurant. I was with Indian colleagues confirming the owners and all the dishes are 100% from Chennai region. Very kind people, great food and good price

Great, very authentic Indian dishes. Warm owners and very friendly service! One is very reminded of India, where it is often not important that a place is particularly cozy and decorated or that the dishes are presented imaginatively, but rather that the taste and quality of the food are the focus. Absolute recommendation! P.S.: We specifically stuck to the South Indian dishes, which I haven't found of this quality in Germany.

One of the best Tamil meals I had in Europe. Missed such authentic food for 16 months. PS: The place is really crowded when I visit on Saturday, so please book the table before visiting

It looks unremarkable from the outside, but the Indian food is delicious and the service is excellent.

Heart warming place, amazing food

It was a great experience to dine in over there with great hospitality. Food was amazing and had a very authentic taste. Service was excellent as well with pretty quick assistance. The opening timings can be extended on weekends atleast. Will definitely recommend it to other friends. It's worth trying out for south Indian cuisine when one is in Köln. Pre-booking of the table is not possible on weekends so be prepared to wait during peak hours.

real chennai taste caffe and dosa i had. unforgivable experience

Super nice shop with really delicious food. Definitely go!

Loved the food. The best for anyone looking for pakka south Indian food.

I absolutely love this meal! I've been there twice so far and the food was gone so quickly that I couldn't take any photos. As a starter, I definitely recommend a dosa (Indian pancake) of your choice - it's enough for 2-3 people. Each curry is also offered with parrotas (flat bread) or rice. Both side dishes will leave you very full - the parrotas themselves are very tasty and a specialty of this restaurant. Indian cuisine offers many types of bread and the dosas and parrotas are a further enrichment. The curry is very tasty in every version. The dishes have a basic spiciness due to spice mixtures. You can compensate for this by eating slowly and drinking a mango lassi (yoghurt drink with mango flavor). If you want it extra spicy, you should know what you are getting into and let the waiter know when you order. I will definitely eat here several more times and can absolutely recommend it!

We are absolutely thrilled, the food is fantastic! The best Indian restaurant we have been to!!!! There is a great selection and everything tastes like delicious, individually tailored spices!!!! We would love to come back! Thank you for this lovely evening!!!!

Have you ever eaten dosa in Cologne? I never have. This is a great dish 😍 I recommend it with potatoes and with onions. We also found the veggie thali menu at the weekend delicious! But you can't come too late because otherwise it will be sold out 😋 Almost all dishes can also be ordered vegan. The selection is great. However, everything was spicy, whether slightly spicy or strong - be prepared! The portions are also large and filling. We received a very friendly welcome and were told that we would have to wait longer. But that wasn't long by any means for us. It's nicer to sit in the back, but of course it's not the same atmosphere as in a restaurant. In addition, the clothes smell strongly of food/fried food after the visit.

Strong Indian restaurant disguised as a kiosk. The focus is clearly on the food and the service. In my opinion, very authentic cuisine. The Chicken Chennai Chef is super tasty, interesting and at the same time sportily seasoned. Top!

Everything makes a very authentic impression. The service is very attentive and friendly. Had dosa massala. I can highly recommend it. Looks like a kiosk from the outside. Definitely go in. Is often well attended.

Very tasty Indian food. From the outside you think it's a kiosk, but inside it still looks cozy for eating.

An absolute insider tip. Not only were we served very warmly, the food was also an absolute hit and seasoned in an incredibly varied way, so that every bite was an absolute taste explosion. The prices are absolutely fair and I will definitely come back to try out more of the menu. Absolutely authentic Indian cuisine, which is also noticeable through the guests, as many seem to have found the food that they miss from their homeland here.

Very tasty food Very nice and authentic service Very clean

So far the food has always been very good and the service has been incredibly friendly. The menu is so extensive that we have to come back often to try everything.

Very authentic south Indian food. It's was a pleasant experience. But it's not restaurant, rather imbiss

10/10, authentic Indian cuisine and great service <3

Attention and good food are two words that describe this restaurant.

Great food and great service!! Everything perfect I would say :)

We regularly visit this family run restaurant and fully recommend this place. Food is prepared in open kitchen, serviced with a smile alongwith small talk by owner before/during/after food. This place is around 150 km (to and fro journey), still my family is always ready to travel for such delicious food. Few of my friends have already visited as per my recommendation and their feedback is also quite positive. Please book the table as it gets really crowded during weekend!

Tasty authentic South Indian food with excellent service. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Authentic South Indian, friendly and quick service.

Amazing and authentic food.. loved each and every bite

Amazing place with real, traditional Indian food. Only here you can enjoy and taste great Masala dosa and delicious Idli or fantastic veg Thali. You need to try also deserts:-))))) Place is usually very occupied so better make a reservation:-))) I could feel South India's Heart for a while:-) Chennai Chef took my heart:-)

Absolutely authentic Indian cuisine & atmosphere. Entrance is a kiosk. There is a very good restaurant at the back. The dosas were a 10/10. The Paneer Marsala was also really good. Spicy but not too spicy. Overall, the food was at the table quickly. The service was very friendly. We got a free spot straight away & will definitely come back again!

The best South Indian restaurant outside India (even saravanan bhavan doesn't stand close), absolutely home food, my home away from home❤️ 100% recommended.

A place to taste sub continental food. A family managed restaurant with choice of large South Indian dishes. Watch out for chillies and other spices.

Lovely staff and delicous Food. Go and get you something but be carefull, hot means hot!

The food tastes authentic and the waiters are happy to accommodate special requests. The owners are extremely friendly and helpful. Reservations are recommended as it was always packed when we went.

Amazing food. South Indian thaali is a must try if you are a South Indian 👌. Their filter coffee is pure bliss.

No matter if you're Indian or not this place serves the best food you'll ever taste. You just can't stop asking for more.

The food as well as the atmosphere is homely and comforting.

Very good food and friendly staff. A very homely atmosphere.

Everything is just right here. See good food, friendly staff and chic ambience. Keep it up!

Great food service friendly when taking the order Ambiance is worthy of an insider tip

You enter the restaurant through the Kosk and wait in front of the refrigerators in the entrance area until a seat becomes available. It took a relatively long time when I visited on Friday evening, for which the extremely nice service staff apologized several times. It's not her fault and besides, I had time and the wait didn't bother me in the least. Mine was taken when I was first in line and was served quickly but without hassle after a table became available. The food is exceptionally good and I will definitely come back and recommend the restaurant.

Home made, fresh and delicious food with loving service. Thank you!

Best Indian food we have ever eaten! The staff is super nice and the menu leaves nothing to be desired! Lots of gluten-free dishes too!

Really great restaurant to enjoy good food from south of India. Helpful and friendly staff and owners, and has vibe of typical restaurant from India. We ate Onion uttappa, chilly paneer and parota, feels authentic taste. All dishes were really good, but chilly paneer was little oily. It's also kind of open kitchen, so anyone interested can watch the making of dosa, vada, uttappa should really enjoy this place. I believe It's usually crowded, as it's not huge place. Nevertheless, great experience in Köln and definitely one of best Indian restaurants in Germany.

Good place for southern Indian foods.

From the outside, the Chennai Chef initially looks a bit inconspicuous. In particular, the kiosk in the entrance area does not immediately suggest that there is a restaurant behind it that offers great dishes from South Indian cuisine. We tried out the menu a bit and we were really impressed with the taste of all the dishes we ordered. Clear recommendation! :)

I think I honestly ate the best Indian food of my life here. I would never have expected this from the outside. The restaurant doesn't look particularly inviting; there is also a kiosk in the entrance area. The employee immediately invited us in in a very friendly manner. As a starter we ordered a samosa, it was very good, a bit spicy. Then I really wanted to try a dosa, we chose the one with potato filling and were completely thrilled. It tastes similar to grilled cheese and the warm vegetable sauce that comes with it is particularly good. Then we tried masala paneer, I don't think I've ever had this dish so delicately seasoned. If I visit Cologne again, I will definitely go here again.

The best South Indian food ever

Great food. We ordered Medhu Vadai, Masala Vadai, Ghee roast and Onion Dosa. Tastes delicious, authentic and prices are reasonable.

As soon as you enter the restaurant, you will feel as if you are in India. So anyone missing home then go here

We dined there last night, and the experience was absolutely fantastic! The food was delicious and reasonably priced. We tried the onion dosa, masala dosa, and chilli chicken—everything was incredibly flavorful and satisfying. I can't wait to return soon!

Addendum (14 Sep'24 - a year later): The high quality is maintained consistently till now! It's always lovely to see the owner couple who always ensures you get a personalized service ❤️ Will heartily recommend this restaurant to anyone anytime 😊 Thank you for the amazing food always 🙏🏻 Original review: When I miss my home food, I go to Chennai chef. When I miss my family, I go to Chennai chef. When I crave some amazing South Indian food, I go to Chennai chef. In a nutshell, I always find an excuse to have food here because of the amazing food, super genuine people and a really family-like environment. While I like all the food I've ordered here, my recent favourites are Podi Dosai, Set dosai, Vegetarian Meal with Parotta (which they only serve on Saturday afternoon). I even dreamt of eating the parotta the next day, because it was so delicious and felt homemade. They never use any additives or MSG or anything unhealthy. Thank you so much for establishing Chennai Chef which recreates the homemade aroma, flavour and taste!! 😊 Easily the best South Indian food in the entire Germany! 🥰

The spice is nice! Delicious Indian food, excellent customer service.

Great authentic dosa with spicy sambar. The buttermilk was also delicious but quite thick