I come from a city called Madurai in South India (Tamil Nadu). Madurai is the food capital of the state and is famous for its parottas, biryanis, dosas, idlis, Idiyappam and Indo-Chinese fried rice etc. When I moved to Edinburgh in 2020 during lockdown, I genuinely struggled to find good South Indian food. Many Indian restaurants did not match the flavours I grew up with. Seeing a bright red biryani on a menu was honestly a shock for me 🙁
Chennai’s Marina is run by a South Indian couple who clearly understood that Edinburgh was missing proper South Indian flavours. Located opposite Lidl in Dalry, the restaurant is small but very welcoming, and the food is absolutely worth the money.
For me, comfort food means Dosa and Idli. On days when I feel low, I go there with my friend to have their Mysore masala dosa and a plate of idlis because it reminds me of home. As an international student from the southern part of India, this place made me feel seen. The food tasted familiar and brought a sense of comfort at a time when I really needed it.
The prices are very reasonable, especially considering the generous portions and the authentic taste. The menu includes everything you would expect to find in a South Indian restaurant. You will find a wide variety of dosas, idlis, parottas, biryanis and different types of curries.
The only drawback is the limited seating. It can be difficult to find a place during busy hours, but the friendly atmosphere and delicious food make it worth the wait.
If you want to enjoy authentic South Indian flavours, I highly recommend Chennai’s Marina. They have three branches in Edinburgh. I chose to speak about the Dalry branch because it is the one I connected with instantly.
A place that tastes like home, even when home is far away.
Overall Rating:
Price – ★★★★ (Higher stars mean better value for money)
Aesthetics – ★★★
Service – ★★★★★
Taste – ★★★★★
Experience – ★★★★
