Gujarati Mandal - Broadway

Broadway is not an easy place to reach.

Traffic is heavy. Parking can be a challenge. The streets of George Town are almost always crowded.

And yet, food lovers continue to find their way to Gujarati Mandal at Gunavanti Bhavan.

Located on Broadway Road in the heart of old Madras, this is one of Chennai's long-standing places for traditional Gujarati food. There is nothing fancy about the setting.

You come here for the food.

A Gujarati Meal in Old Madras

The restaurant is known particularly for its Gujarati thali.

Roti, rice, dal, kadhi, vegetable dishes and small snacks arrive one after another. Depending on the day and season, you may also find favourites such as dhokla, kachori, fafda, thepla and sweets.

During the mango season, aamras has traditionally been one of the attractions.

The food is simple.

That is probably why it works.

This is not Gujarati cuisine redesigned for a fine-dining restaurant. The experience is closer to sitting down for a traditional meal and allowing the dishes to keep coming.

Gujarati Mandal in George Town

The location makes the place more interesting for me.

Gunavanti Bhavan stands in George Town, the old commercial heart of Madras. Gujarati merchants have been part of this neighbourhood and its trading history for generations.

Walk outside after the meal and you are immediately back in Broadway.

Shops everywhere.

Buses, autos and people competing for the same limited road space.

The Madras High Court is nearby, and some of the city's oldest commercial streets are only a short walk away.

So, getting to Gujarati Mandal may test your patience.

But a good Gujarati thali at the end of that journey makes the effort easier to forgive.

Sometimes, the restaurants worth remembering are not the ones with the grandest interiors.

They are the places you are willing to struggle through traffic to visit again.

Happy travelling.