Where to Eat on Chennai–Trichy Highway: Tried and Tested Veg Stops

When travelling from Chennai towards South Tamil Nadu on the GST Road, I used to have a favourite stop for food. Till a few years ago, “Haritam Veg Restaurant” in Perumbairkandigai, about twelve kilometres after Melmaruvathur, was my go-to place. Sadly, it shut down and in its place came “Manoj Bhavan”. The few times I thought of stopping there, I found it unusually quiet. On a highway, a less crowded restaurant is not a good idea, so I gave it a pass.

That left me looking for alternatives. Coming from Chennai, one option is “Hotel Aaryas Garden”, a vegetarian restaurant at Thenpakkam, roughly 98 km from the city. Another is “Manoj Bhavan” at Mamandur, around 65 km from Chennai. I tried the Mamandur outlet last year—the food and service were fine, nothing to complain about.

My current favourite, though, is “99 km Coffee” at Perumbairkandigai, run by MJF Mr Mano Solomon. As the name suggests, it is 99 km from Chennai. There is an earlier outlet with the same name, but this one sits inside the same compound as “Ruchi Restaurant”, right next to the old “Haritam”/now “Manoj Bhavan” spot.

What makes “99 km Coffee” special is its traditional vegetarian millet-based dishes. You can watch many of them being prepared in an open kitchen, which gives confidence about the freshness. They also have clean restrooms, and unlike most highway restaurants, they allow you to eat your own home-cooked food at their tables. Their filter coffee feels authentic, and it has become a favourite pit stop.

Not everything is perfect, though. On my last visit, the place was packed in the evening. With just one billing counter and self-service, it took a frustratingly long time to place orders and get food—fifteen minutes per dish. Not the best start to a trip. Still, once the food arrived, the taste and reasonable pricing made me forget the delays.

Another option on the way to Trichy is “Only Coffee” at Ozhupakkam, about 85 km from Chennai. They also run a branch almost opposite, on the other side of the road, which is convenient for those returning towards Chennai.

If you are nearing Trichy, “Aswins Veg Restaurant” in Perambalur is a great stop. Located 273 km from Chennai and about 50 km before Trichy, it offers spacious air-conditioned seating, clean restrooms, and tasty food. The menu is broader than most highway restaurants, with North Indian, South Indian, and even some Chinese dishes, giving it the feel of a regular sit-down dining place. They also sell fresh bakery items and fried snacks, which are worth trying. The restaurant is on the first floor, but thoughtfully provides a (innovative) lift to make access easier for the elderly.

Trichy to Chennai

On the return leg, from Trichy towards Chennai, my top pick is “Cafe Udupi Ruchi” at Ulundurpet. It offers tasty vegetarian food, an air-conditioned ambience, clean restrooms, and friendly staff. It is pricier compared to “A2B” nearby, but for infrequent trips, I find it worth the extra spend. If you like “A2B”, their Ulundurpet outlet is also a safe choice.

Closer to Chennai, “Manoj Bhavan” at Maduranthakam (about 90 km away) used to be good, but my recent experience was disappointing—dull, cold food. I would suggest skipping this one.

Instead, try the newer “99 km Coffee” at Kadamalaiputhur, about 105 km from Chennai on the return side. I had a mini tiffin consisting of dosai, idli, upma, pongal and vadai. The food is just as good as at the Perumbairkandigai outlet, but the service was even better during my visit. They also serve fresh flower teas and green teas, which I enjoyed.

Another good option is “Only Coffee – Original” at Ozhupakkam, about 87 km from Chennai. Clean restrooms, tasty coffee, and hygienic meals. Their lunch set menu was excellent when I tried it.

Of course, the highway now has several other vegetarian restaurants, such as “Vasantha Bhavan,” and more “A2B” outlets, which I haven’t yet explored. If you have, do share your experience in the comments.

Karaikudi–Trichy

For those taking the Karaikudi–Pudukkottai–Trichy route to join the GST Road, I would like to mention “Bharani Bhavan” in Mathur. It is just before the Karaikudi–Trichy–Thanjavur highway intersection near the Trichy bypass. I had lunch there at 4 PM one evening, and still the dishes were served hot and tasty—a pleasant surprise.

So, whether you are heading south to Trichy, Rameswaram, or Madurai, or returning towards Chennai, these pit stops can make the long drive hunger-free and much more enjoyable.

Disclosure: I write reviews about products or restaurants that I have bought for my usage or visited and paid in full. There were no sponsorship, advertisement, or commission involved in this post.