Turban Legend

Thalapakatti means ‘the one who ties a turban’, and the restaurant takes its name from its founder

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Updated: 05 Feb 2022 7:13 pm

Dindigul Thalapakatti
142 Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai
Tel: 43090683/4
Meal for two: Rs 800

Thalapakatti means ‘the one who ties a turban’, and the restaurant takes its name from its founder, the dignified looking ‘Thalapakatti’ Nagasamy Naidu, who was known thus in Dindigul for the trademark turban that he wore. He founded the original restaurant circa 1955, and created his special ‘Dindigul thalapakatti biriyani’ from plump, small-grained jeeragasambha rice and high-quality meats and masalas. His family has preserved his patented recipes, brought his restaurant to Chennai, and created a successful brand (using his quaintly old-fashioned portrait as an icon).