Welcome to The Chennai Cafe South Indian Restaurant, your destination for genuine, traditional South Indian dining. We pride ourselves on serving authentic regional favorites, including a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries, sizzling dosas, soft idlis, and fluffy vadas. Our crowning jewel is the Traditional Chennai Bhai Biryani, a recipe passed down through generations, known for its rich aroma and perfect blend of spices. Come enjoy the vibrant culinary heritage of Chennai!
Hours
| Sunday | 11:30 AM–10 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–9:30 PM |
| Thursday | 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–9:30 PM |
| Friday | 11:30 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 11:30 AM–10 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 14553 Bothell Way NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
Phone: (206) 829-8945
Website: https://thechennaicafe.com/?utm_source=google
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Reviews
medha bhat
More like 3.5/5
Dropped by this place after seeing some Instagram reels featuring their South Indian food. As someone who absolutely loves Medhu Wada, I was excited to try it. I’ll admit I was a bit disappointed. The coconut chutney and sambar were really good and full of flavor, but the wada itself felt a little too dense for my liking.
My daughter ordered the idli — it was soft and almost melt-in-the-mouth, though still slightly denser than what we’re used to back home in India. We also tried the filter coffee. It tasted good, but it was served in a glass instead of the traditional brass tumbler and davara, which took away a bit from the authentic experience.
The baby corn was the highlight of our meal — absolutely delicious and something we truly loved! The masala dosa arrived quite late and was served slightly cold, although the taste itself was enjoyable.
Service was quite slow overall, and in the end, we decided to walk up to the cashier to settle the bill instead of waiting at the table.
That said, I do see potential in this place. The flavors are there, and with some improvements in texture and service, it could be excellent. I’d consider visiting again to try some other options!
… moreDropped by this place after seeing some Instagram reels featuring their South Indian food. As someone who absolutely loves Medhu Wada, I was excited to try it. I’ll admit I was a bit disappointed. The coconut chutney and sambar were really good and full of flavor, but the wada itself felt a little too dense for my liking.
My daughter ordered the idli — it was soft and almost melt-in-the-mouth, though still slightly denser than what we’re used to back home in India. We also tried the filter coffee. It tasted good, but it was served in a glass instead of the traditional brass tumbler and davara, which took away a bit from the authentic experience.
The baby corn was the highlight of our meal — absolutely delicious and something we truly loved! The masala dosa arrived quite late and was served slightly cold, although the taste itself was enjoyable.
Service was quite slow overall, and in the end, we decided to walk up to the cashier to settle the bill instead of waiting at the table.
That said, I do see potential in this place. The flavors are there, and with some improvements in texture and service, it could be excellent. I’d consider visiting again to try some other options!
Ashik Nair
This restaurant may not be the best in the state, but the menu is extensive and offers a good range of authentic dishes from Chennai and Tamil Nadu.
We visited on a Sunday around noon and there was no crowd at all. We ordered the Chicken Biryani and Chemeen Fry (prawns). It took over 25 minutes for the food to arrive, and both the starter and main course were served together.
The biryani had fairly authentic flavors, but it lacked richness. The chicken pieces seemed fried or roasted and didn’t carry much flavor. The rice itself was good, though there was a slight odd smell at first (nothing too serious, but noticeable).
The prawn fry was more disappointing. The masala neither coated nor absorbed into the prawns, so it felt like we were eating plain cooked prawns with the spices sitting separately. I wouldn’t recommend this dish, though perhaps other starters might be better.
The ambience was okay. The place used to be another Indian restaurant and has now been taken over by this Chennai cafe. The washrooms weren’t great — no napkins to wipe hands, and the hot air blowing inside felt uncomfortable.
It’s an open kitchen setup, so the strong aromas can be overwhelming. Be prepared for the smell to linger on your clothes and jacket.
Overall, not the best experience, but there’s potential for improvement. I might update this review if I visit again for breakfast or try other items.
… moreWe visited on a Sunday around noon and there was no crowd at all. We ordered the Chicken Biryani and Chemeen Fry (prawns). It took over 25 minutes for the food to arrive, and both the starter and main course were served together.
The biryani had fairly authentic flavors, but it lacked richness. The chicken pieces seemed fried or roasted and didn’t carry much flavor. The rice itself was good, though there was a slight odd smell at first (nothing too serious, but noticeable).
The prawn fry was more disappointing. The masala neither coated nor absorbed into the prawns, so it felt like we were eating plain cooked prawns with the spices sitting separately. I wouldn’t recommend this dish, though perhaps other starters might be better.
The ambience was okay. The place used to be another Indian restaurant and has now been taken over by this Chennai cafe. The washrooms weren’t great — no napkins to wipe hands, and the hot air blowing inside felt uncomfortable.
It’s an open kitchen setup, so the strong aromas can be overwhelming. Be prepared for the smell to linger on your clothes and jacket.
Overall, not the best experience, but there’s potential for improvement. I might update this review if I visit again for breakfast or try other items.
Pahuni Aggarwal
I finally found an amazing South Indian spot nearby. I loved their masala dosa, uttappam, filter coffee, vada, chutneys, sambhar and pongal – everything was bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection in pure ghee. The owner is very nice. This will be my go-to place. I am already missing today’s food.
… moreChristopher
Indian Spice Bistro was a nice surprise. The shahi paneer was really good, and the mango lassi hit the spot. Service was good, no issues there.
The ambiance feels nostalgic, like the kind of Indian restaurant you might have gone to as a kid. Cozy booths, laminated menus, just straightforward and familiar. Nothing over the top, just solid food in a comfortable setting.
I would come back.
… moreThe ambiance feels nostalgic, like the kind of Indian restaurant you might have gone to as a kid. Cozy booths, laminated menus, just straightforward and familiar. Nothing over the top, just solid food in a comfortable setting.
I would come back.
C G (Castlewalls)
My daughter and I enjoyed the food, great flavor but I can’t say it’s the most pleasant environment.
For us when we walked in it was pretty cold and then shortly after we sat down a large propane heater kicked on which did warm the place up but is pretty noisy and it appears to be set up right in front of the emergency exit, which doesn’t seem wise. Also, I’m just not sure if I like the idea of a propane heater indoors. That slight smell bothers me too.
I might have just not seen it but it did not seem like lamb was much of an option.
… moreFor us when we walked in it was pretty cold and then shortly after we sat down a large propane heater kicked on which did warm the place up but is pretty noisy and it appears to be set up right in front of the emergency exit, which doesn’t seem wise. Also, I’m just not sure if I like the idea of a propane heater indoors. That slight smell bothers me too.
I might have just not seen it but it did not seem like lamb was much of an option.
govind r
My God, I have never seen such a confused service. We ordered vegetarian food, but they brought non-vegetarian items. We also ordered dosa, and it arrived without sambar. We had to call out multiple times just to get the staff’s attention and ask for it.
At first, I thought maybe I was just being overly sensitive about the food and service, but I noticed other customers were having similar experiences and looked just as frustrated.
We ordered dosa, roti, and veg molee. Rotis was very small and Molee was not that good. The food itself was okay but the service was very disorganized.
Highly recommend to avoid unless you don’t have any options
… moreAt first, I thought maybe I was just being overly sensitive about the food and service, but I noticed other customers were having similar experiences and looked just as frustrated.
We ordered dosa, roti, and veg molee. Rotis was very small and Molee was not that good. The food itself was okay but the service was very disorganized.
Highly recommend to avoid unless you don’t have any options
Pravin Kumar
Food was excellent! Best I’ve ever had in any South Indian restaurant.
Highly recommend chicken chukka and spring dosa. I’ll be coming back to try more dishes. Thank you Chennai cafe.
… moreHighly recommend chicken chukka and spring dosa. I’ll be coming back to try more dishes. Thank you Chennai cafe.
Amarnath Raju Vysyaraju
The Food: Exceptional Variety & Taste-
We absolutely loved the food here! The menu has a fantastic number of options to choose from. A standout for us was the Madurai Kara Dosa—it was incredibly yummy and definitely the highlight of our meal. We genuinely want to make this a regular spot because the kitchen clearly knows what they are doing.
Service & Weekend “Load Balancing”-
We visited during a weekend, and the place was quite crowded. It was clear that the service staff were overwhelmed by the volume of customers. As a suggestion to management: it would be great to see some better “load balancing” of staff based on the high demand during peak weekend hours to ensure a smoother experience for everyone.
Major Hygiene Concern-
We do have one significant concern that unfortunately killed our mood and appetite. We noticed our server was wearing the same pair of gloves to both clean the table before us and then immediately serve our food. Regardless of whether gloves are worn, using the same pair for cleaning and serving is a major red flag.
Final Thoughts-
We really hope the management takes this feedback seriously and implements stricter hygiene protocols. We want to feel safe eating here often, as the food is truly great, but the hygiene standards need to match the taste of the food.
… moreWe absolutely loved the food here! The menu has a fantastic number of options to choose from. A standout for us was the Madurai Kara Dosa—it was incredibly yummy and definitely the highlight of our meal. We genuinely want to make this a regular spot because the kitchen clearly knows what they are doing.
Service & Weekend “Load Balancing”-
We visited during a weekend, and the place was quite crowded. It was clear that the service staff were overwhelmed by the volume of customers. As a suggestion to management: it would be great to see some better “load balancing” of staff based on the high demand during peak weekend hours to ensure a smoother experience for everyone.
Major Hygiene Concern-
We do have one significant concern that unfortunately killed our mood and appetite. We noticed our server was wearing the same pair of gloves to both clean the table before us and then immediately serve our food. Regardless of whether gloves are worn, using the same pair for cleaning and serving is a major red flag.
Final Thoughts-
We really hope the management takes this feedback seriously and implements stricter hygiene protocols. We want to feel safe eating here often, as the food is truly great, but the hygiene standards need to match the taste of the food.
Simbu N
We stopped by this restaurant on our way back home, and to be honest, the taste, quantity, and service were all so good that I felt compelled to write this review. The food truly reminded me of Chennai—especially the Bhai-style chicken biryani and the chicken chukka. My family really enjoyed the meal, and we appreciated the well-balanced spice level, which made it easy for even the kids to enjoy. I hope they continue to maintain this quality!
… moreEmilija Dimic
What an experience. Delicious food, generous portions, and service that felt genuinely attentive and kind. Each dish was a burst of flavor, beautifully spiced and comforting.
We came hungry and left happy.
If you’re craving authentic South Indian cuisine with heart, this place is a must. We found a gem—and we’ll be back.
… moreWe came hungry and left happy.
If you’re craving authentic South Indian cuisine with heart, this place is a must. We found a gem—and we’ll be back.