When discussing Chennai cuisine, the first foods that spring to mind are the traditional favourites "Thayir Sadam" and "Filter Coffee," which are served in the morning (curd rice). Aside from that, the city offers foodies a wide range of cuisine, from the traditional Idly-Sambhar to the fiery Chettinad cuisines. Even though the authentic multi-cuisine eateries are well-known for their unique specialities, many still prefer the street vendors selling hot Idly-Chutney-Sambhar to office workers, tiny stands offering Poli and Mini-Samosa at crosswalks, and the Sundal, Bajji, and Chat booths at the beaches.
Another great thing about Chennai food is that you can savour these famous delicious delicacies from the comfort of your home. Most restaurants and eateries in Chennai have partnered up with food delivery apps and offer food delivery in Chennai without stepping out of the home. Whether you throw a house party or a family function, you can order food online in Chennai and enjoy your party. Though ordering food online isn't exactly rocket science, you using some little tricks can help make the best of your order. To help you make the right order, here are five things you need to check before ordering food online in Chennai.
Restaurant location
The restaurant locations play a vital role in any online food order. Chennai is spread across 426 km², and thousands of restaurants, eateries, cafes and food joints offer home delivery. But, when choosing the restaurant to order your food, you need to check its location. The restaurant can be located across the city, which can take more time to deliver your food as the delivery persons need to cruise through the city traffic and reach your destination. Another twist is that most international food chains like Mcdonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut have multiple outlets in the city, and you need to choose the one closest to your location. That way, you can get your delivery early and enjoy the hot food at your home. So, when placing your order, remember to check the restaurant's address.
Discount offers
The internet has blessed the foodies through discount offers. Most online apps that offer food delivery in Chennai offer discount coupons on their apps. These discount offers slash your final bill order by 10% to 50%, depending on which promocode you use. Once you add the items to your cart, remember to enter the promocode before making the payment. You can also use discount campaigns during festivals like Diwali, Holi, etc. You can get more discounts on your food order during the celebrations.
Delivery time
Suppose you have hosted a house party, and it's almost time for dinner. You open the food delivery app, and even the nearest restaurant shows around an hour to deliver the food. The guest will keep asking when the food will arrive, and you just stand there with a poker face. To avoid that, check the delivery time while placing your order. It's a good idea to order your food earlier to avoid any delays. The city traffic and weather conditions can delay your order, so consider that as well.
One of the reasons why most deliveries get delayed is that users don't provide the necessary direction to rhea their addresses. If you live somewhere there's s narrow street or one-way lane; you need to put special delivery instructions with your order. That way, the delivery person can correctly navigate to your address and avoid delivery delays. The delivery time can also vary according to the content and quantity of your order. Ordering food for 10 to 20 people with multiple dishes can take more time than usual. So it's best to have some buffer time between your order time and the time you will eat your food so that you don't starve and get your food delivered on time.
Payment method
You have to be a little conscious while choosing the delivery method. If you are already paying for the order with your debit card, credit card or UPI, there is no need to worry about paying at the delivery time. But if you choose the cash-on-delivery payment method, you need to make sure you have cash available at your home to make the payment. Or else you might have to run to the nearest ATM, which defeats the whole purpose of ordering 24-hour food delivery in Chennai. So make sure you choose the suitable delivery method according to your preferences.
Restaurant reviews
Restaurant reviews tell you a lot about the food quality of the restaurants. Genuine users provide these reviews, and you can read them to make your decision. Most reviews also contain pictures and videos of the food so you can get a better idea about the food quality, quantity and packaging.
Ordering food online doesn't have to be complicated. Countless restaurants offer a plethora of delicious menus to choose from. Consider these things while placing your order, so you get the food delivered to your home, at the right time and within your budget.