Jigarthanda, the famous milk-based drink from Madurai, has found a special place in the hearts of Chennaiites. The drink, which literally translates to 'cool heart,' is a perfect respite from the heat of Chennai. Jigarthanda is a refreshing and creamy drink made with a blend of milk, almond gum, Nannari syrup, and ice cream. Over the years, it has become a popular beverage in Chennai and a must-try for anyone visiting the city as well. Jigarthanda is widely available in the city, but there are a few places that stand out for their exceptional taste and quality.  

Read More: From Kanji To Jigarthanda: 10 Drinks From Around India

1.    Madurai Famous Jigarthanda

Madurai Vilakku is a small restaurant located in the heart of Chennai's bustling shopping district of T Nagar. It is famous for its authentic Madurai-style dishes, including the jigarthanda. The drink is thick and creamy, with just the right amount of sweetness. Madurai Vilakku's jigarthanda is made with fresh, high-quality ingredients and is sure to delight your taste buds. Due to heavy traffic, it may be difficult to reach the location, which is located behind the Saravana Selvarathinam store on Mothilal Street. Jigarthanda is served in an identical fashion in both Madurai and Chennai; the only difference is the type of cup used. If you're in Madurai, you'll get a glass, but in Chennai, you'll have to settle for a plastic one. 

Cuisine: South-Indian 

Types offered: Madurai and Chennai Jigarthanda 

Location: Shop 52, Mothilal Street, Opposite Ranganathan Street, T. Nagar, Chennai-600017 

Timing: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Monday to Sunday 

Cost for two: Rs 200 

2.    Namma Veedu Vasantha Bhavan

You can walk to the restaurant in less than a minute from Chennai's Egmore train station. Their jigarthanda has the perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess. With a thick consistency and a heaping scoop of ice cream on top, this drink looks and sounds like heaven. In the sweltering heat of Chennai, grabbing a cold one before boarding the train will set you up for the next several hours. 

Cuisine: South-Indian 

Types Offered: Special Jigarthanda 

Location: 33, Gandhi Irwin Rd., Egmore, Chennai 600008 

Timing: 5 a.m. to 12 a.m., Monday to Sunday 

Cost for two: Rs 150 

3.    Dindigul Thalappakatti

Established in 1957, Dindigul Thalappakatti is a restaurant chain known for its delicious biryanis and other South Indian delicacies. The restaurant's jigarthanda is unique in that it's not blended; all the ingredients are layered on top of each other. The drink has a perfect balance of flavors and textures, with the ice cream, almond gum, and nannari syrup coming together to create a truly delightful drink. The restaurant offers a variety of services, including indoor seating, takeaway, and delivery. They are known for their mouth-watering jigarthanda, basundi, and ice cream. 

Cuisine: South-Indian 

Types Offered: Jigarthanda 

Location: F-11, 2nd Main Rd., opp. Valliammal College, Block F, Annanagar East, Chennai 600102 

Timing: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Sunday 

Cost for two: Rs 400 

4.    Murugan Idli Shop

Murugan Idli Shop is a popular chain of restaurants in Chennai known for its traditional South Indian dishes. The restaurant's jigarthanda is made with their signature blend of milk, ice cream, almond gum, and nannari syrup. The drink has a unique taste and an excellent texture. Murugan Idli Shop is a must-visit for anyone looking for a quintessential South Indian food experience. 

Cuisine: South-Indian 

Types offered: Madurai Jigarthanda 

Location: 77-1/A, G.N. Chetty Road, T. Nagar, Chennai 600017 

Timing: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Sunday 

Cost for two: Rs 100 

5.    Madurai Vilakuthoon Hanifa Jigarthanda

You will find authentic jigarthanda, kulfi, and ice creams served cold in glasses; the servings are also quite generous. Choose from 3 varieties of jigarthanda and falooda: mini, regular, and special jigarthanda, and royal, malai, and nut falooda. While seating might be an issue, the taste of the beverages more than makes up for it. 

Cuisine: South-Indian 

Types Offered: Mini Jigarthanda and Nuts Falooda 

Location: 39, Near Joyalukkas, N Usman Rd., Chennai 600017 

Timing: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Sunday 

Cost for two: Rs 200 

6.    Jigarthanda Factory

The jigarthanda at Jigarthanda Factory is some of the best in Chennai, and it's well worth the trip just to try it there. It would be a shame to pass up on their jigarthanda, especially the nut-filled variety. There's enough room for two full tables of diners, or about 8. They also have home-made ice creams that are of high quality. Give their butterscotch flavors a try; you’ll love them. 

Cuisine: South-Indian 

Types Offered: Jigarthanda Normal, Special, and Special with Nuts 

Location: Chidambaram Nagar, Ramapuram, Chennai 600089 

Timing: 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday to Sunday 

Cost for two: Rs 200 

7.    Madurai City Palace Jigarthanda

If you are a foodie and visiting Chennai for the first time, you must try the local specialty, jigarthanda. The refreshing jigarthanda served here may even make you forget about the sweltering heat in Chennai for a while. The shop, located on a busy thoroughfare not far from Egmore station, has a few seats for customers. If ever you find yourself in Chennai, you must try the Jigarthanda here. 

Cuisine: South-Indian 

Types offered: Normal Jigarthanda, Special 

Location: 37H6+2QH, Egmore, Chennai 600008 

Timing: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Sunday 

Cost for two: Rs 200 

8.    Madurai Pandisamy Jigarthanda

The restaurant's jigarthanda has a unique flavor and deliciously creamy malaai and texture that set it apart from other places serving the drink. The drink is as close to authentic Madurai style as you can get and is loaded with ice cream. The nannari syrup adds a subtle flavor, and the almond gum at the bottom gives the drink a chewy texture that is delightful to the palate. 

Cuisine: South-Indian 

Types Offered: Jigarthanda Regular, Special, and Big Size 

Location: 960, 454, Thiruvottiyur High Rd., Korukkupet, Old Washermanpet, Chennai 600021 

Timing: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday to Sunday 

Cost for two: Rs 150 

9.    Jigarthanda

Simply named "Jigarthanda", this small shop in Triplicane serves one of the best jigarthandas in Chennai that is a must-try for anyone looking for an authentic and flavorful experience. The drink has a perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess, and the nannari syrup gives it a unique aroma. So, come here and enjoy these cool desserts to beat the hot summer in Chennai. 

Cuisine: South-Indian 

Types offered: Jigarthanda, Basundi, Ice Basundi 

Location: 257, Triplicane High Rd., Ellis Puram, Padupakkam, Triplicane, Chennai 600005 

Timing: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday to Sunday 

Cost for two: Rs 200 

10.    Vilakuthoon Hanifa Jigarthanda

This is a great spot to enjoy genuine Jigarthanda, kulfi, and ice cream served in a chilled glass. The portions are generous, and they offer mini and regular sizes at a fair price. The only downside is that there's no seating available, but otherwise everything is excellent. A must-try item is their special Jigarthanda. 

Cuisine: South-Indian 

Types Offered: Jigarthanda Mini, Regular, Special 

Location: 8, Indira Gandhi Rd., Pallavaram, Chennai 600044 

Timing: 10 a.m. to 11:15 p.m., Monday to Sunday 

Cost for Two: Rs 120 

Whether you're a local or a tourist, these restaurants offer an authentic and unforgettable experience that is hard to find anywhere else. With their unique taste and high-quality ingredients, these places are a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the food culture of Chennai. Sip on some refreshing jigarthanda and fall in love with the city's exquisite South Indian cuisine.