Masala

Near the T2 check-in counters, Masala covers the Indian basics

Masala sits in Terminal T2 of Chennai International Airport, on the departure side after check-in but before you head to security for most international flights out of MAA. It runs through the main flight banks, typically opening early morning and staying available until late-night departures, so you can grab something before a 02:00–04:00 long-haul. Expect standard airport seating facing the T2 concourse traffic and departure screens in sight.

The menu leans on South Indian staples. You’ll usually find dosas, idli, vada, and basic North Indian curries along with rice plates. Pricing runs higher than city restaurants: plan around ₹250–₹350 for tiffin items and ₹400–₹700 for fuller mains and combo plates. Spice levels skew moderate to suit transit passengers, so a sambar or masala dosa here stays milder than what you might get at a neighbourhood place in central Chennai.

Service works counter-style: you order, pay, and get a token, then food comes out in 5–15 minutes depending on how many T2 departures are banked around the same 30–60 minute window. Coffee and tea sit in the ₹80–₹150 range, with bottled water roughly double city pricing. Seating turns over quickly around evening flights to hubs like DXB and SIN, so factor in at least 20 minutes if you want a dosa and a hot drink without rushing.

Masala is useful if you reached MAA T2 early and want a familiar South Indian plate before immigration instead of gambling on smaller snack counters nearer the gates. It’s also a safer bet for vegetarian food than some mixed kiosks in other corners of the airport. One practical tip: check your gate on the T2 screens before you sit down here; walking from this side of T2 to the farther international gates can easily take 10–15 minutes once security and immigration queues build up.