T2 domestic side means Tastes of Tamil Nadu is actually useful
This place sits airside in Terminal T2, so you clear security first and then find it among the domestic gates rather than on the public concourse. That alone makes it one of the few sit-down Indian options you can reach without watching the clock at immigration. Signage in T2 is decent; look for the board that lists "Tastes of Tamil Nadu" by name rather than hunting by logo.
The menu leans local: think idli, dosa, vada, sambar, and basic rice meals with Tamil-style gravies instead of generic North Indian curries. Expect airport pricing, with breakfast plates usually landing in the ₹200–₹350 range and fuller thali-style meals a tier above that. Portions tend to be travel-sized, enough to fill you before a 2–3 hour domestic hop, but not a heavy pre-red-eye blowout.
Service speed in T2 varies by time of day, but most travelers can budget 20–30 minutes for a quick dosa or tiffin set here, including ordering and eating. That window still works if your IndiGo or Air India boarding time is 45–60 minutes out, especially if you’re at one of the nearby gates in the same pier. Food comes to the table reasonably fast because most items are griddled or ladled from hot stations.
Seating is standard molded chairs and small tables, packed a bit tighter than a city restaurant because floor space in T2 is limited. You’re paying mainly for hot regional food and a real plate rather than ambiance. Card payments and UPI are widely accepted, which helps if you’ve already spent most of your cash in Chennai before heading to the airport.
Tip: if you’re boarding from a far T2 gate, eat first and then walk; it’s easier to cover the 5–10 minute stroll on a full stomach than to gamble on finding decent food right at your gate.