Benjarong

Frommer's Review

Popular with Chennai's international diplomats and bankers, as well as visiting Bollywood stars, Benjarong (the name refers to the hand-painted gold porcelain used in Royal Thai households) is perhaps the city's only non-hotel fine-dining option; certainly it's Chennai's best Thai restaurant. You're welcomed with a ginger-flavored drink -- a delicately refreshing concoction to whet the appetite -- and with a selection of taste-size treats called mein kam, wrapped in pandanas leaves. The spicy tom yam soup is possibly the best you'll get outside Bangkok, made using goong (prawn brains) and tempered with ginger. Signature dishes include chargrilled duck (ped yang) done to perfection; also wonderful is spicy gai pahd bai graprou, ground chicken tossed with chilies and hot basil. If you're up for something simpler, green curry prawn is a standout favorite, as is the chicken wrapped in banana leaf; or go for fish delicately flavored with tamarind. Top off the evening with tub tim siam (water chestnut in chilled coconut milk), jackfruit custard (in summer), or sankaya fathong (coconut-pumpkin custard) and ice cream.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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