Popularity of Chinese cuisine could be marked by the several thousands of restaurants across India, from the small roadside nooks churning out Indo-Chinese Chowmein in huge woks to swanky 5-star establishments helmed by expat Chinese chefs cooking with most exotic ingredients. This is one cuisine to follow close to Indian cuisine itself in fame, even in Chennai. There are hundreds of Chinese restaurants scattered across Chennai and counted as the coveted one is ‘Mainland China’. This famous chain of restaurants has numerous outlets in the city, each as good as the other. Families and office goers with a hankering for Chinese food are often seen dining here. Receiving most accolades is the outlet at Phoenix Market City, Velachery Main Road, Velachery in Chennai.

Meal times are their busiest when diners come down to sample the restaurant’s 5-star quality Chinese food. The chef cooks the food most authentically and offers high quality Chinese dishes for surprisingly reasonable prices, which seems to be the USP of Mainland China. To expand the menu, the restaurant chooses to include Japanese and Thai dishes as well. Begin your evening by selecting a drink from their bar menu, otherwise, ask for a pot of Chinese tea to enjoy your meal. Tuck into pillow-y dim sums as your first course or try, crackling spinach, smoked duck rolls, Malaysian curried prawns, pan fried Asian chilli fish, crispy lotus stem with curry leaves and teriyaki chicken. Follow it with an assortment of Chinese gravies for your main course. Their seafood dishes are mention-worthy.

Pick through Chinese staples like fried rice or noodles to help polish off the gravies. As a way of sweetening the palate, Mainland China offers few Asian-inspired desserts like, honey noodles with almond flakes, steamed coconut dumplings with honey butter sauce and brownie with hot chocolate sauce. If you would prefer a much more variety for economical price then opt for their buffet. They have a separate Jain menu. Inform your server about your preferred heat level. Upon entering Mainland China, you are silently greeted by a trio of golden terracotta warriors. Inside, the dining room is done up in shades of red against white walls and dark brown furniture. Subtle oriental elements are infused to give the Chinese touch.