Dahlia Restaurant

This old, old Japanese eatery, unpretentious as it may look, set the cornerstone for Chennai’s Japanese food scene as we know it today. Don’t be fooled by the decrepit location — Dahlia is a favourite among locals and Asian expats in Chennai, and many a wide-eyed culinary rookie have tasted their first sushi here. It’s a compact place, with both regular tables and floor seating, but the food is phenomenal and super-authentic. The seafood is the star of the menu, no doubt because the owner, Mr Yamauchi, was a seafood exporter back in the days.