Rasanai presents Thoonga Nagaram, a Madurai Street Food Festival inspired by the city’s legendary night markets and its status as Tamil Nadu’s culinary capital from January 14th till 25th 2026. The name, meaning “The City That Never Sleeps,” draws from Madurai’s vibrant after-dark food culture — from the buzzing lanes of Naalangadi and Allangadi to neighbourhoods like Simmakkal and Thallakulam — where cooking, eating, and gathering continue deep into the night.
Rooted in hyper-local Madurai flavours, the festival celebrates the city’s most loved street and kadai-style dishes, shaped by generations of small vendors, family kitchens, and ritual-driven cooking traditions. The menu has been curated to reflect this deeply specific food culture, positioning Thoonga Nagaram as a true Madurai Street Food Festival rather than a broad Tamil Nadu showcase.
Signature dishes include Saurashtra Mullu Murungai Vadai and Power Kadai Kaadi Chops, alongside Madurai’s iconic non-vegetarian heroes such as Ayirai Meen Kozhambu served with Mallipoo Idly and Konar Kadai Gola Urundai. These dishes highlight the robust, spice-forward, and ingredient-driven character that defines Madurai’s food identity.
Mallipoo Idly, named after the soft white jasmine flowers for which Madurai is famous, is known for its exceptional lightness and delicate texture, achieved through careful fermentation. Paired with Ayirai Meen Kozhambu — a traditional preparation using the tiny spiny loach fish from the Vaigai river system — the dish represents a rare and deeply regional combination, once considered a seasonal delicacy in Madurai households.
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The festival also features Madurai’s legendary snack traditions through Aadhikalathu Mittai Halwa served with Madurai Mixture and Urulai Pottalam, drawn from the 120-year-old Aadhikalathu Original Nei Mittai Kadai near the West Gopuram. This classic sweet-and-savoury trio reflects the city’s tea-time and take-away culture, carried across generations.
Adding to the line-up is Madurai Ennai Sukka paired with Virudhunagar Poricha Parotta in a street-style wrap — a meeting of neighbouring culinary traditions, where the sukka’s gingelly oil richness and bold spices are balanced by the parotta’s crisp, flaky layers.
Thoonga Nagaram brings together these distinctive Madurai flavours under one roof, celebrating a city where food never sleeps, recipes are fiercely local, and every dish carries the rhythm of its streets. Through this festival, Rasanai at Chennai, Coimbatore & Kochi invites diners to experience Madurai not just as a place, but as a living, breathing food culture that comes alive after dark.
For More Information
Address: Rasanai – Chennai, Besant Nagar, Chennai: 600090 | Rasanai – Coimbatore, Pappanaickenpalayam, Coimbatore: 641037 | Rasanai – Kochi, Ernakulum, Kerala: 682020
Price for Two (Approx): Rs.1400/-
Date: From 14th to 25th January 2026
Contact Number for Reservations: +91 8925915856 (Chennai) / +91 7540022333 (Coimbatore) / +91 7094911222 (Kochi)
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