Chennai Chef in Köln

Amazing and authentic food.. loved each and every bite

Authentic South Indian, friendly and quick service.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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! :)

The best South Indian food ever

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.

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

We visited this place twice, amazing south indian food. Super authentic. Owners are amazing, very welcoming We tried Biryani, uttapam, dosa and idli vada. Everything was perfect, plus chutneys were so fresh Also loved butter milk. Will visit again soon

The food was very tasty and the staff was very friendly and nice. Always my pleasure.

I lost count of how many times I came here. I am not a big fan of Indian food, but this one, it's just out of this world. I think I have tried pretty much every dish and never got it wrong. Safe to say it is one of the best restaurants in NRW. The only problem is that they are so good that people are starting to realize it 🙈

Best place four South Indian vegetarian/ vegan food

We had the best and delicious, authentic dosa in Cologne. Staff was super friendly.

This is an amazing restaurant with great food. I will definitely visit this place again. We tried Medu Vada, Masala Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa, Mutter Paneer, Idlis, Mango lassi everything was tasty. It is a small restaurant with great food. Prior reservation is recommended especially on weekends. The staff is very friendly and courteous.

Even though I had one bad experience I visited this restaurant again and it was terrible than the first... I won't recommend this restaurant if you are in a group more than two or three. The food was okay but the service was too bad as it is like the second person will get the food after the first one finish eating. We were a group of nine and it takes around 3 hours for them to serve all of us even though we ordered the same item... And it's dosa that's too funny that I am thinking how much time required for them to make one dosa even in one burner. Anyway it's my experience and my opinion.

The best place in the world where you can it. Delicious, original, you cannot find it in another Indian restaurants. The lady owner is so kind and cares about the restaurant like about her home. We always feel like real guests, not like customers and we always come back.

Incredibly sweet staff, freshly made, tasty dishes (love the dosa!) and a relaxed atmosphere. Truly enjoy every visit. It's worth mentioning that they even offer filter coffee, which tastes great.

Full marks for the quality of tasty food and it was freshly cooked + served with a smiling lady owner. Simple and very authentic South Indian

If you love authentic South Indian food then this was a gem of a place. Food was fresh and very tasty, per Indian standards, down to earth people with humble servings. Truly recommend if you are in Cologne. Just lived it ❤️

The taste is authentic south Indian (Tamil Nadu) but during the weekends it's a bit crowded and there's quite some waiting time if you don't have a reservation in advance.

Dosa is good but sambar is too thick. Also items get sold out, which is disappointing.

Extremely good Indian restaurant with fair prices. The Channa Masala with the Parotta, a doughy bread, was a poem. With the Maritta you could dip into the sauce and be enchanted by the Indian cuisine. Anyone who otherwise likes to eat masalas should definitely grab this, it is wonderfully seasoned and forms an optimal combination with the bread. As a starter we ordered a “crepe” with onions, a so-called onion dosa. I have to say that it's nice to nibble on a bit, but it didn't quite suit my taste, it's not really anything special. I would also like to highlight the moderate prices, especially for water. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, and one woman in particular is particularly memorable. The business premises are almost typically very plain and simply furnished, but the walls show that we are in an Indian restaurant. You can pay by card.

Food really very nice i like ghee dosa very amaging colour and appearans texture next time will come again chennai chef

Very tasty food, dosa and sambar were really 🤤

Best place to feel as if you are in India in Cologne. The people, the atmosphere and the food!

I love this store. There is sooo good food! Unfortunately I live a little too far away.

Simply delicious. Fried rice tasted just like what is served in my region of India. Chilly chicken also tasted good. I would suggest to serve fried rice with some sauce.

The best Indian in Cologne. Incredibly delicious, authentic and super lovely owners. I just love it!

Amazing food and very friendly staff. Authentic South Indian food. 100% recommended.

Eating in the kiosk. The food was really good. The staff was friendly and attentive. The only point of criticism is the volume. Eating a cozy meal and having a conversation is difficult to achieve. Nevertheless, we would eat there again if we are in Cologne.

It was my first time eating dosa and it was so crispy and delicious. The masala dosa had potatoes in it and was very filling. I would like to try other types next time.

Best sound indian food ever had in Germany.

The best South Indian Restaurant. Wonderful home feel food. Nothing more can be done. Congrats to the team. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Very good authentic Indian food and loving service. We'll definitely be back!

Most authentic south indian food you can find in köln!! I tried Mysore Masala Dosa, Set Dosa and it was very delicious!!! Their Filter Coffee reminded me of Back home!!!! But waiting time was little longer than expected but overall everything was great.

Most authentic South Indian Restaurant in entire Cologne. Absolutely recommended to anyone who likes to experience the true indian cuisine. Though one has to accept that this place is within a kiosk, lacking some flair. I didn't care and I'd recommend you do the same.

Great place for authentic Chennai food. We tried Dosa,South Indian meals ,chicken biryani and everything was top class and as authentic as posisble. They have great service oriented mindset,must try while in the city

Probably the most authentic Indian food in Cologne. It was very delicious. Prices were okay. Service was very nice. The only point of criticism is the exhaust system. Unfortunately, after visiting a restaurant, all of your clothes smell very strongly of the food.

Excellent taste, a real insider tip. Very good service, friendly and professional. It's better to reserve in advance, as it's packed. Gladly again!!!

The best south indian food that i have ever eaten in my life and i am not exaggerating at all. I am very particular with food but i have to say this is the best when it comes to south indian cuisine. Chicken briyani is a must try. The owners are very nice and kind; which is an added charm to the great food served. Beautiful ambience with tranquility.

The restaurant hidden in the kiosk! Super friendly, super tasty and not expensive! Very authentic!

Very very nice people. Were very accommodating. Food took a little getting used to, but nonetheless very tasty. 👍

My wife is from South India and we visit Chennai Chef regularly and often invite friends. The owners are very friendly and warm. They always take time for their guests. The food is excellent. The South Indian/Tamil dishes are particularly recommended. Quote from my wife: "It tastes like home."

Tried this simple and cozy restraunt serving authentic South Indian food at a reasonable price. However, the service is a bit slow, but the owners are really humble and would make your experience pleasurable. Would definitely recommend the place.

Craving a taste of South India? Look no further than Chennai Chef in Cologne! This restaurant offers a delightful selection of dishes straight from Tamil Nadu. Dosa Paradise If you're a dosa fan, this is your heaven. They have a wide variety of these crispy, fermented crepes, including the classic ghee dosa. Their menu also boasts a good selection of idli (steamed rice cakes) and parotta (flaky flatbreads), perfect for mopping up flavorful curries like chicken, mutton and veg as well. They serve thalis as well… Authentic Flavors The highlight of Chennai Chef is undoubtedly the food's authenticity. They focus on Tamil Nadu cuisine, and judging by the number of Indian patrons, they're doing it right! A Few Caveats While the food is fantastic, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Finding parking can be a challenge, so be prepared to park elsewhere and walk a bit

Excellent restaurant with authentic South Indian cuisine which is not so common in Germany. Apart from the fantastic taste of every dish, the service was also a true example of Indian hospitality. Biryani was authentic and delicious.

The smell of curry and taste at its best and then a family welcome. Everything was very tasty, we ate dos and enjoyed it.

If there were 6 stars I would give them. Great interior wall design by street artist Sasha Kisselkova. From the outside you would never expect this to be the case. Very tasty - very authentic. Love it.

Hey there! A huge thanks for the fantastic experience! Your warm hospitality and delicious, authentic dishes really made our date special. We specially loved the authentic taste of Sambhaar. Plus, the prices were reasonable compared to other places. Thanks for creating such a memorable evening for us!✨🍀

Always great and authentically delicious!

Food was very tasty, atmosphere warm. We would definitely like to come back here. And if the ambience matches the rest, you can also get 5 stars. Still true even after years. Above all, you can enjoy the warm atmosphere and the really delicious food. No frills, just nice.

Just awesome! Very authentic Indian cuisine, super nice staff. We went there twice in a row.

For me it's the easiest 5/5 I've ever given! The staff is nice and absolutely lovely, the food is incredible and absolutely delicious for Indian cuisine and the atmosphere is also really cute with Indian paintings etc. Absolutely great for me and I won't go to any other Indian restaurant in Cologne!

Incredibly delicious! Friendly service. Loves children. Thank you, we’ll be happy to come back 😀

Wir lieben das Mysore Masala Dosa. Es ist wirklich sehr sehr lecker. Eine Art knuspriger, würziger Crepe dazu ein Kokosnuss Chutney, sehr zu empfehlen! Mango Lassi und Samosas sind auch sehr lecker! Wir freuen uns auch immer über den herzlichen Empfang der Chefin. Eines unserer Lieblingsrestaurants in Köln.

Anyone who loves India will also love this unassuming but fantastic Indian restaurant! It simply tastes incredibly authentic, delicious and super friendly. Thank you for the short trip to India in Cologne! Gladly again!

Three of us were here last night because we had heard good things, but unfortunately our experience was suboptimal. As a starter we ordered: A piece of samosa for €3.50 and three pieces of veg rolls each for €3.50 and 2 pieces of papadum. It's a shame that all starters only have the Chinese ready-made sweet and sour sauce from the bottle on the plates. And no Indian chutnies were served with it. And 3.50 for a piece of samosa is a lot. For the main course we ordered two different types of dosas which were good and a chana masala with parantha. I wanted this one to be sharper. But unfortunately it was too spicy (for my mother) the nice lady in service also offered to soften the dish with coconut milk, but we were already full and were also very disappointed with the chana masala, as it wasn't the original way have been done. Masala sauces are based on onions and not cashew curries. This basic sauce is probably used for most dishes here. We ordered the chana masala with parontha. However, when I looked at them, I realized that they were ready-made frozen paranthas. The price for the chana masala here is also far too high for the snack. The sight also seemed very unappetizing. This morning I found out that my mother was very, very sick last night and my wife also had diarrhea in her stomach. PLEASE pay attention to hygiene. If it isn't already done. I am an Indian restaurateur myself and know what I'm talking about. The lady in service was always nice and helpful, but the price-performance ratio was not at all good. The snack bar is good with South Indian cuisine but the North Indian main dishes here are definitely not authentic and NOT appropriate for the price. The price of all main courses should be reduced by €5 to match the ambience and the rest of the service. There is no background music here, not to mention speakers. I wish the family all the best and I ask that you view this feedback as constructive. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Insanely delicious! And the owners are very welcoming. Absolute insider tip!

Authentic South Indian food. . My go to place for Biriyani, Dosa and Idly in Cologne. Quality is top notch.

Nice evening for four, although we expected more from the food, service and ambience.

A warm welcome of the staff made us to get a feel of getting into a home served with yummy homely food.

I won't recommend this restaurant. 1. Highly priced 2. If you are taking huge amounts for items, the restaurant is not giving a peaceful atmosphere to eat. I went there without booking, they offered us a place, but they were showing urgency from the moment we sat. They are like hurry, hurry...we felt very uncomfortable. They are apologising saying we have lots of people coming in, that is why they don't have space. But for me as a customer, when I am paying, I need a peaceful atmosphere. I can see they are not professionals. 3. The taste wasn't great. We ordered Fried rice, Mutton biryani, filter coffee, masala vada. Vada and coffee was good. Rest all I felt like eating in a below average restaurant in Chennai. They were not ready to take the second order as well. But I had to wait 10-15min at the bill counter.

Feel sorry for the people who eat here. Low quality Srilankan food served with substandard customer service. This is just a Kiosk/Convenience Store with few tables in the corner, dull deco, unprofessional/rude service staff and top of all these, extorting prices. Well, people in Cologne have no choice or never tried South Indian food.

Mega delicious and authentic Indian food! The service is super nice. Won't be the last time :)

For me the best Indian restaurant in Cologne. The food looks authentic and tastes excellent. My wish would be that there were a few more vegetarian dishes to choose from

Well what can I say. The only thing I can say is that it felt like a part of India. Sweet, minimalistic and simple.

A little piece of South India in Cologne! I came for an original masala dosa and literally devoured it. It tastes absolutely authentic and the “chef” let me try the filling beforehand to see if it wasn’t too spicy. There was a milder version for my palate. Great atmosphere in the restaurant. I'll definitely come back.

All dishes with(-out) meat are very good. Recommend you to make reservation bc it's crowded easily. Open kitchen, looks like a normal Indian mini market kiosk from. The front area, but has some space/tables in the back area. It is noisy like in all asian countries restaurants, what we don't mind. very authentic atmosphere and food! Prices are normal but a good price-performance ratio 😍

Very very tasty, especially the starters. Everything is freshly prepared and you can pay by card. Highly recommended

Their Dosa are absolutely flawless

I totally love the food here! The staff is very kind and very attentive. Thank you for coming to Köln with your fantastic food!

Very authentic with very courteous staff. You immediately feel welcome and the food reflected that. Only recommended if you want delicious Indian food

One of my favorite places in Cologne. Food is amazing and the staff is lovely :)

Very good restaurant. Food tastes great and I was offered to make my food, which was too spicy (for my standards), less spicy. The service is great the staff is very nice. Would come again when I'm in Cologne again :)

Finally I found a place where I can get south Indian dish in the original taste. The only thing is it takes more time to deliver the order.

I recently dined at Chennai Chef,South Indian Restaurant , and I must say, it was an absolute delight! The chicken biryani I tried was incredibly authentic and simply delicious. The flavors were rich and aromatic, truly reminiscent of homemade comfort food. The ambiance was welcoming, and the staff were friendly and attentive. Chennai Chef has definitely become one of my favorite spots for authentic south Indian cuisine. Highly recommended for anyone craving a taste of South India.

Perfect for South Indian lovers!

I finally got to try Chennai Chef and was totally impressed! They specialize in South Indian (dosas and idlies) but the dish I had was mouthwateringly scrumptious. Family-run place with friendly service, casual place with a kiosk at the front, I can't wait to come back soon!

We arrived unannounced and as expected we were politely turned away as there was no place for us. Will write more after our next visit