The new blips on the gastronomic map of Chennai can be used to understand the manner in which the city is changing.
With rapid development of the city’s infrastructure and its status as a major automobile hub, a number of restaurants serving Japanese, Korean and other South East Asian cuisines have come up in the city.
While economic development is one of the prime reasons, the growing expat population and food-aware youngsters in the city have also contributed to the new trend.
Says Wasim Mohideen, who writes a food blog, Chennai Foodie, “For a long time, Dahlia was the go-to place for Japanese food. But these days, restaurants serving South East Asian food have multiplied. The city even boasts of a Hibachi chef-served restaurant. Similarly, Korean restaurants have also mushroomed in the city.”
What explains the obvious popularity and awareness of Japanese food? “Sushi is popular around the world. Even a non-Japanese restaurant might sometimes serve Sushi,” he says.
The arrival of these restaurants has thrown a lifeline for Japanese and Korean expats, who visit the city for business and pleasure, making them feel at home.
