One of my favorite restaurants for AUTHENTIC Tamil food in the valley. There aren't too many Tamil restaurants in the Phx Metro area. This and Thirukuppusamy's in Chandler are the only two. If you are from North Phoenix or West Valley, this is the closet place to get a MEAN dosa. All of the South Indian food is great here. If you come here and expect a good Butter Chicken, lol. Order South Indian food and you won't be disappointed. The food at Chennai Cafe is salty, spicey, and tangy. It's got a good mix of all the flavors that remind me of home. I specifically get the Thali meals. These meals have a bit of every curry that is made that day. Usually split between 2 veg curries, 2 nonveg curries, rice, naan (roti), yogurt, and a dessert. All the curries were excellent. I couldn't eat the entire thali as the quantity of food will put you to sleep, so I ate all the meat stuff with the rice and bread and took all the vegetarian/dessert stuff home. Service is typical Indian restaurant, bunch of dudes standing around. You'll have to flag them down anytime you want something. Don't be shy to do so! That's how you do it at an Indian restaurant. Ambiance is typical no-frills Indian restaurant. Don't expect white glove treatment here. Small dining room area with chairs pretty close to each other. However, know what you are going to order and it'll come out fresh and spicy. Definitely an all time favorite for me in the Valley. read more

Chennai Cafe - Non-veg Thali Meal (mixed meal consisting of rice, bread, curries, and dessert) - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

This was my second visit to Chennai Cafe and this time I left feeling unwelcome and questioning whether I would return. When we arrived the employee told us it was a 15 minute wait and asked for our name and phone number. We looked forward to our meal and so after we gave our information and then left to walk around until we received the call. After about 15 minutes we got a call at 1:37pm that our table was ready. It took us about 3-4 minutes to walk back and we were promptly seated. I was happy to see that there were real plates unlike the paper plates we had to use the last time. I filled my plate and while it was just as good as the last time we were there I quickly remembered how spicy the food is. I sat with my plate of food as I made it through the spicy but otherwise tasty food. Not everything was hot. Some of the food even though presented on heated elements was actually slightly cold. When they cleared the table of our dirty plates I asked them to leave our water cups and the water pitcher which was still 1/3 filled as my mouth was still recovering from the heat/spiciness. Then to my surprise one of the employees approached our table and told us people were waiting and wanting us to leave. I have never felt so insulted by a merchant or dining establishment. We still hadnt drunk our water and I had paid the bill at 2:02pm so it hadnt even been 30 minutes since we were sat for our meal. If you don't mind being rushed during your meal then this is the place for you! read more

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When you search for a place, far from home, half way between you and a friend ... rely on Yelp reviews and pics and they dont disappoint! Got there promptly at 12pm for the midweek buffet. I also wanted to order some take out to take home too, so the server said he will ask the kitchen as they dont generally open the kitchen at lunch. By 1215 the place was packed! Great sign. We were quickly brought water jug and copper cups and left alone to feast on the great buffet. Now buffets in the last few years have slowly come back and Chennai Cafe came back with a bang! Salad and lemon Veggie Pakora Daal curry Veggie curry Veggie Biryani Chicken curry, huge pieces of meat Mutton Biryani Paneer veggie Pakora Plenty of dips to load up on for Dosa and Papadoms Doses brought fresh to the table Absolutely beautiful and well kept up buffet. About 40 mins in we went for seconds and plenty stocked food in the packed lunch time rush. Little desert and Chai tea at the ready. Also ordered Chicken Biryani, Chennai veggie and veggie vindaloo for home... loads of food for the cost. Staff was great, restrooms and buffet kept very clean. Food so good... I missed the pics! read more

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This is the best Indian lunch buffet ever! I think the buffet closes at 3pm so make sure to get there by 1pm - earlier is better though because seating is limited. Everything was so good, but my favorite was the Vegetable Samosa. It's super affordable and the food is great. I will come back as often as I can! read more

Came here during the lunch time, I really liked their lunch buffet. Good selection of salad, chicken, curry, soup, fried rice, dessert, chai and even dosa! There aren't like a loooot of selections but every item here is so good and something I'd eat at least once. Also, their dosa is so yummy and chai is like soo creamy. If you want some good South Indian food, and hungry for it, come here during their lunch buffet! read more

Chennai Cafe - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Always good Indian food. My go to place. Don't go there much often anymore. But still whenever in the neighborhood do definitely visit them. They have good North Indian and info Chinese food. I have always liked them and once even had catered from them. read more

Chennai Cafe was a gem of a find. As we got to mile 20 of our marathon bike ride we pulled into the nondescript plaza off of Washington St. I knew of the sbux here and the burger spot but didn't know an awesome Indian restaurant was hiding in there. The food was delicious and staff very friendly. It was busy inside on a Sunday evening and many people coming and going to pick up take out. The chicken tikka masala was perfectly spiced. And I see they have a buffet set up inside. Oh man I haven't been to Indian buffet in SO long. I'd like to come back and check that out. read more

Chennai Cafe - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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I ate here about a couple of months ago and here is my belated review. The food itself was good and the service was fine. I went for the early evening dinner at around 5:30 pm or so and ended up having their South Indian combo meal which comes with an idle, a Vada, a dosa and a coffee. Supposed to come with a dessert but I don't remember getting any but that's fine. The prices are a bit high for what they serve though. I think I ended up paying $30 for the South Indian combo with tax and tips. They also restrict the dosas you can order with this combo and it's essentially a couple of masala dosas you can order with it but not any others. I am taking a star off for the high price and restricted selection of dosas for the combo but overall food quality from the only time I ate here has been great. read more

Had their lunch buffet which was great. Everything was authentic and very tasty. Though it's a small place with limited seating, the quality of the food is amazing, so customers don't mind waiting for 20 minutes for a table. We love that they include South Indian and North Indian dishes in the buffet and all the southern dishes are so true to taste. read more

Chennai Cafe has nice decor & ambiance in a clean, welcoming space. I was happy to see attention to detail in the "vibes" component of the restaurant. They also serve their food in traditional dishes / cups / etc. which is a super nice touch and makes you feel like you're eating a home-cooked meal. That said, I wish the food was better. The chai was nice, but the bisi bele bath was basically tasteless. It was spicy, but that was the only flavor component in the dish. Bisi bele bath is one of my favorite South Indian rice dishes, and I was disappointed by their preparation. All that said, I would probably return at least one more time to give them another chance. read more

Chennai Cafe - Bisi Bele Bath - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Great spot for a casual lunch buffet! Kind service and happy to answer any questions you might have. It was $17.99/pp and I loved that they have unlimited dosas (you won't get naan here but there was paratha in the buffet). Everything was delicious and there was a mix of vegetarian and meat dishes. There was chicken and lamb available. There was also mango lassi and chai latte available! For dessert there was gulab jamun and a nutty cookie that was tasty. I think there could be a larger variety of foods available compared to other Indian buffets but I liked what was available here and it was very clean (some buffets I see children's hands everywhere lol). We were really satisfied after! read more

Chennai Cafe - Lunch buffet - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I was so excited to try this place. It has been a while since I've had a dosa! It has a very nice ambiance inside; very modern and clean. I noticed that nearly everyone else dining there was Indian - a sign of an authentic restaurant! The lunch buffet is set up off to the side. When you sit down, you can order dosas, which are included in the cost of the buffet. There is a "welcome drink" of a sweet milk with rose water, then in the buffet there is a good selection of curry dishes, rice dishes, and soups like dal. The food is spicy (which I anticipated from south Indian food). I was a little disappointed to find a hair in one of the rice dishes! I ordered a masala dosa, which was basically a dosa with a mashed potato with spices on the inside. It was good and similar to other dosas I have had in the past. The service was very good. read more

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This place is amazing! Stopped by for their lunch special and was absolutely pleased! The food was so tasty and amazing for the price point of $15 for a buffet- tasted the chicken tika masala, rice, and chickpeas: 10/10! read more

Food was yummy. Service was good and the servers were always around when needed. Both veg snd non-veg items tasted good. Dosa, coffee and mango kulfi were a cherry on top. Hope they continue to serve and maintain the quality. read more

Chennai Cafe - Front - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

We went there on the weekend, and they served buffet with dosa. I am so happy to get a plain dosa. The food here is so delicious, and they are generous with the spices. I love mutton briyani. It is spicy good. The paneer cheese curry here is surprised me with the heat. I felt like other places generally made paneer curry not spicy (to cool off other dishes?) but now I like spicy paneer curry. The gulab jamun dessert is deliciously sweet. The masala chai is so tasty that I wanted to know how they made it. There are good varieties of food, veg and non-veg. They are busy on the weekend. read more

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Went here while vacationing in Phoenix. This place was pretty packed on a Tuesday evening. We had gobi manchurian. I could tell the ketchup or the can tomato paste used to marinate the cauliflower but still it was quite edible. Very tangy and had a spicy kick to it. Next up was what we went here for!!! The dosa!!! We ordered 3 masala dosa and a Muttai dosai. The masala dosa were crispy, hot and came with sambar, coconut or peanut chutney (sauce) and red spicy sauce. It was also the first time I tried Muttai dosai as I wanted something without potatoes filing and that too was surprisingly good. They brought all the food in matter of minutes! After all this, I also wanted to try the spicy mysore dosa and I guess it was a special order as they had to layer spices inside the crepe so it took really long time compared to the other dosa. Next time I visit, will try something else tho. And the masala dosa is much better than the spicy mysore masala. read more

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Very good food. Great service. My first time there. I'd go back and try other stuff on their menu.

Coming from Seattle area, this place felt like heaven. Woah all those South Indian tiffins, we were just excited to see those many vegetarians options. Not to mention the price ! It was totally reasonable compared to Seattle and the taste is absolutely great. The starters were amazing and I would say the bhendi curry was decent. But given how amazing the starters were everything felt great. The staff were very friendly and accommodating too Totally recommend this place ! read more

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I've always liked curry, but it hasn't been one of my favorite foods. At Chennai, I got the butter paneer, and it really changed my mind. Curry is now one of my very favorite foods. It was, by far, the best curry I'd ever had! I actually called my friend in India so tell him about it. This is definitely the best Indian food I've ever had, and I highly recommend it! read more

I give 5 stars because of the food and the service. The staff were really helpful with the menu. I had accidently driven to this Indian restaurant instead and I'm so glad I did. When things like that happen. It's usually for the better. The food was amazing, good quality. Very appetizing. The servers were very nice and super attentive. There is a TV that was playing indian music videos which was actually very nice, not loud or annoying. The tables were white cloth and the silverware is actually goldware. One thing that's different is the Naan is a little different than what I'm used to, but still good. I had a platter. That allows you to pick an appetizer and two non-veggie currys. It also came with soup and dessert all for $20. I left so full and so happy. When I'm in the area again, I will stop by and try the pepper shrimp that they were out of this night. read more

Chennai Cafe - Combo platter - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I tried idli...that can be softer and more steamy but ghee roast is a must try. Speed of service is pretty good too so are desserts...I would go again for sure read more

This is a new place. Very new. Super duper new. I LOVE Indian cuisine! I love the vegetarian options often available, as well as the nostalgic feeling that ignites reminding me of my earliest memories of "back home" (Scarborough/Toronto Canada). I decided to swing by and give it a try on my lunch hour. My expectation was to drop in, place an order and be on my way. As I mentioned, they're new. I am trying to consider that and not review based solely on them likely still figuring it all out. Next time, I will dine in. Although I am curious if at this time the buffet is all they're offering, or whether they have menus for seated patrons. I am not clear on the answer to that, based on this visit. Upon asking if they offer to-go and being informed that I can load up a buffet box to-go, I nearly left. However, I mentioned, I truly love Indian cuisine and I accepted. Unfortunately for me, I'm not going to "load up" as I failed to ask what the cost would be. So, I took a little of this and a little of that and am unsure if I took a $13.99 meal. However, I've paid over that for smaller meals recently. So, whatever. Ok. Now, to the food. I wish I added all of the chutneys to taste but I got the green one and the orange one, I liked the green one on my fritter type thing which is mostly eaten in my picture. It's spicy but warm, not burn your taste buds off, but still spicy. I have no name for any of it. A veggie curry another veggie something and some more veggie things. The balls are honey coated honey balls lol (I'm trying here). The flavor is on point. I just hope folks are willing to give it a try and be patient as the restaurant figures out whatever they're still figuring out. A really big piece of star anise which I was going to eat because it had softened (I actually couldn't eat the whole star lol) Although, I could see whole spices throwing some people off, I happen to understand the depth of flavor they add and the challenge in removing every whole spice prior to serving. The aromatics of all that was in front of me. A cardamom pod, again soft enough to eat but bursting with cardamom which maybe "too much" for some but it is perfect for me. I remember now, one was lentil Dahl and one veggie curry (maybe not, maybe it was an eggplant curry in front and whatever I got wasnt curry at all?). The Dahl was not my favorite, note made. But if I added some of that green chutney atop, it wouldn't even matter. I could have ordered online and picked up. There seem to be several options available had I done it that way. Although I wonder if it is what they intend to offer, or don't offer for lunch? I'm not sure. It's yummy. A bit confusing but I am glad I decided to try it nonetheless. The lady who assisted was gentle and kind. Future patrons, be conscious it's a new business who may still be figuring things out. Be aware that the aromatics come from whole spices they're using in their cooking ie: whole cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods and star anise all made their presence known in my dish and it comes through in the flavor, again if you bite into it, if you're not familiar with whole spices, it may be overpowering or unpalatable for you to eat. All in all, the flavor was good, the food was good and yes, I may wander in to eat there more frequently. I'm glad I had a chance to try it and it hit my taste spots for me! Yum! read more

Chennai Cafe - Lunch buffet. I have not idea what anything is - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Well, I stopped here for the lunch buffet and the 4 1/2 star rating but as some indicated, they had a very limited selection of food (again, buffet). And what they did have I found to be very spicy. It was good but a little hotter than I'd like. As far as meat goes, there was only chicken, no beef and there was no naan either (paratha, just okay). Napkins were paper, water was from a plastic pitcher at room temperature. The service was great (I was only one there), and the people are extremely nice. But 4 1/2 stars? Ah, no. read more

Everything tasted amazing! I just wish they brought both entrees out at the same time. My father was done eating by the time mine came out read more

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This is one of the best South Indian buffet in the area. The staff is super nice, kind and welcoming. Food is freshly prepared and everything tasted amazing, very close to the authentic flavors you will find in India. The masala chai and filter coffee are also terrific. The inside is not fancy, but very clean and functional. I would recommend to start with buffet if you are new to trying South Indian food, so you can get a feel for many things. When you get the buffet, please ask your server for the Masala dosa / dosa, since, it is prepared fresh, made to order. I will definitely be coming back and will spread the word! read more

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Worth the 90 min drive for this South Indian food fix. Savory, freshly made, and down right delicious. Not particularly recommended for anyone who is shy of spices and heat for sure but highly recommended for Someone who likes bold flavors. The Ghee masala dosa is my favorite and the chicken korma was spot on. I would not recommend the ras malai as it was too chewy. Friendly service. Place can get busy the later it gets in the evening on a weekend. read more

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Great food, especially if you are looking for authentic south indian flavors. Their weekend buffet didn't have many options, but other items on the menu were great. read more

The food is great. We ordered medu vada, maysoor masala dosa, masala dosa, onion -chili uttapam, bhel...all the chutney- peanut, coconut-cilantro, tomato were all tasty and delicious. The sambhar reminds you of eating authentic recipe of india..awesome experience, service was good as well and food arrived quickly as well. read more

Visited Chennai Cafe twice during my recent visit to Arizona. Coming from Bay Area (California) I had a lot of the best and tastiest Indian food. Was very surprised on how tasty, yummy, authentic, fresh, generous quantity and quality of the South Indian food in Phoenix. Oh and the food was so economical and great prices. It was so good that we went there twice during our 2 day trip. Medu vada: damn so crispy crunchy piping hot tasted really amazing Idly was alright could be better Sambar was super delicious and so authentic. Mysore masala dosa: the portions were huge. Dosa is very crispy, lot of potato fulling and good spice to the red chutney spread. Poori kurma curry: really liked the curry. Poori was well puffed and soft. Salt Lassi and mango lassi: yummy Next day we ordered the lunch thali Togo. We got a take away box and few small Togo cups for liquid items plus masala dosa. Loved the buffet spread. Wide variety. Very tasty and fresh. I especially loved the mutton biryani so yummy. The service was quick and prompt. Ambiance looked neat and tidy. I'd recommend anyone visiting Phoenix/Tampa area to visit Chennai Cafe for authentic South Indian Tamil style food. read more

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A great place for authentic South Indian food. Pricing is fantastic and there is a wide variety of options. The portions are large and very filling. The sambars are jain which makes it a great option. This place also appears to have a buffet, but we did not use that option. read more

Chennai Cafe - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Was pleasantly surprised at their lunch buffet lay out. It all looked good quality and fresh. We went there right at opening and as time passed and the crowd started to come in. It was difficult for the restaurant to handle a large crowd coming in. But it seemed to be like an organized chaos. They need to have more staff to control the crowd and have a better flow. They need to get their dirty dishes processed somewhere in the back that is not visible to the people eating. But the overall experience was good and we will return for the buffet again. read more

Great food, choices and good seating. The staff is friendly and they just opened 6 months ago. read more

Chennai Cafe - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I had such a great time at the Indian restaurant! The dosa was seriously amazing, and that puri was like a fluffy cloud. I'd totally recommend this spot if you're craving some delicious Indian food in Arizona. read more

Chennai Cafe - a plate of food on a table - Indian Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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If you're craving authentic Indian food and are around the Tempe area you have to give Chennai Cafe a visit. The food here is some of the most deliciousIndian food I have had since coming to the States. To start things off the restaurant is located in a great location right next to the main road. The staff greeted us well and we were able to get seats without any waiting. Contrary to other reviews I read the place had no hygiene issues. They have a buffet during Lunchtime and the selection is pretty great especially considering the price which is only $17.99. The place was full of Indian families who seemed like they were regulars which again highlights the places authenticity. The ambiance of the restaurant was great, they had a high open ceiling and played Indian music, the restaurant was lingering with the smell of Indian spices, The walls were adorned with classical Indian-style paintings, adding a touch of elegance and cultural richness. and the utensils were golden in color which all together created a good dining experience (they were almost trying too hard to mimic an experience you might find in India). I tried to eat little portions of many different things so that I could understand whether this place is as authentic as I heard. I ate paneer butter massala, spring rolls, paratha, Tandoori chicken, massala chai, massala dosa and chettinnad chicken curry. Out of all these dishes the chettinnad curry, paneer butter massala, massala tea and massala Dosa were great while the spring rolls were just not good everything else was alright. The restaurant does a good job creating an experience which you might find in India. The two food items which really stood out to me were the massala dosa (you have to try it with chutney or sambar) and the massala chai which really took me back to India. Overall this place has really good south Indian food (definitely a must try) while other dishes are like a hit or miss. If this wasn't the case this place would be perfect. read more

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Came here with my family on Sunday for the buffet. I was really impressed with the Welcoming and friendly atmosphere and the delicious smells and to top it off everything taste Fantastic just enough spice great selection for vegetarians and meat eaters the tandoori chicken was excellent!! as well as a customer service was awesome the staff was friendly and attentive! read more

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We tried Chennnai Cafe for the first time tonight. We ordered Dhal, Mushroom Veggie Chettinad, Paratha, Masala Dosa, Sambar and Veggie Samosas. All were delicious. We will be back! read more

Biryani was off , on top of that was made up with goat meat plus chicken. And when asked the waiter that we never heard or seen a dish was given a lame explanation. This was a group of six and all had the same opinion. read more

10/10 one of my and my boyfriends favorite restaurant. Always amazing! Not overpriced and huge portions.

I am originally from the Bay Area and I have to say that this is by far the best Indian food that I have had in the entire 6 years I have been here. I could tell that the food was prepped with care and I enjoyed every bite of every dish that I had. The best part about it all, is that I made it in time for their lunch buffet. The service was over the top and they didn't mind teaching me things about their cuisine whether it's how to pronounce it or properly eat it and such. As far as the ambiance, it very contemporary and simple which I like. I will definitely be returning monthly here. Thanks for your amazing hospitality. read more

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Note: I've only been here as a takeout customer. I have tried this restaurant at least four times before writing this review. Excellent consistent dishes with my favorite type of curries. And tasty food every time. They always make my food less spicy, and are very nice about doing so. read more

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