‘Where could I pick up some typically Chennai sweets & savouries from?’
You would think this question was a simple one, till I realised it was not.
‘Grand Sweets!’
‘Sri Krishna Sweets!’
Two voices. Two views. Two opinions. An eternal debate (which still hasn’t settled or concluded, btw)
Grand Sweets & Snacks is the big daddy of the sweets & savoury business in Chennai. Founded in 1982 by Mr G Natarajan, the original store still stands in Adyar. They started out really small, with Mr Natarajan using his wife’s recipes to get the Mysore Pak, Laddus and the famous mixture made.
One day one of their customers commented that their sweets tasted really ‘grand’ and that is now they got their name.
Regulars swear by their sweets and the famous savory ‘Madras Mixture’(namkeen) among others .
Sri Krishna Sweets was founded in 1948, in Coimbatore, so it is not a ‘Chennai Original’ as locals never fail to remind me. However, you’ll still see more Sri Krishna Stores all over Chennai than you would of Grand Sweets.
In my view, what gives Sri Krishna Sweets the edge is their version of Mysore Pak, or the ‘Mysurpa’ as they call it. While the original Mysore Pak is porous, light and dry, the Mysurpa by Sri Krishna is soft and decadent (loaded with ghee). It is my personal favourite too. A few weeks ago I was very pleasantly surprised to find a Sri Krishna outlet stocking Kombucha too! ( just between you and me they won major brownie points for that)
You have people who swear by Grand Sweets and you have people who only buy from Sri Krishna, and from what I know of them, their paths will never lead to the other. Yes, the loyalty is that high.
Me? I get the best of both. The crunchy Madras Mixture, sweetened with Jaggery Kuzi Paniyarams, Pulikachal Mix, Lemon Pickle and the Onion Thokku are my must buys at Grand Sweets.
Whereas for the Mysurpa, it is ONLY Sri Krishna Sweets. They even have a Collectable Tin holding a single Mysurpa, with the current Starsign on it. The Kombucha is now an added attraction.
Also , I no longer ask anyone ‘Where could I pick up some typically Chennai sweets & savouries from?’
Written for the theme
My A to Z of Chennai: The City Viewed Through An Outsiders Eye
This post made my mouth water and I was reminded of my being an unfortunate diabetic who can’t indulge in sweets too much. I have tasted the delicacies from both Sri Krishna and Grand and I am hard pressed to make up my mind which is better now that you have raised the question in my mind. But just like you, I also feel Sri Krishna has the edge.
I have had sweets from both the outlets, all thanks to my bestie who would always get sweets back to the hostel while returning from Chennai. I am not very fond of Mysore pak but Sri Krishna sweets seemed to have more variety compared to Grand. Lovely post again.
South Indian sweets! That was such a SWEET post, Mayuri. Especially Mysore Pak made in ghee is sinful. Even here in Vijayawada, we have die-hard loyal sweet stores. Tough competition but they thrive on it. I have couriered Mysore Pak to wherever my daughter moves as her colleagues ask for it.
I feel so ignorant as I’ve no clue about South Indian mithai. I’ve heard of Mysore Pak but I don’t think I’ve ever tried it. Both places have been added to my Chennai list 🙂
It’s quite interesting how food/ mithai can bring people together but also divide them majorly!
I hadn’t heard about these two famous shops but thanks to you, now I do.
I understand what you mean by the original porous and dry Mysore Pak. I’ve tried the one we get here and not enjoyed it. I’m drooling over your pics here though.
The Sri Krishna version does deserve tasting. Madras mixture sounds interesting too. Any idea if they have any stores in Mumbai?
I love the Mysorepak from Sri Krishna, I prefer the other sweets and savories from Grand Sweets as in my opinion they taste better. But on every krishnaastami, I prefer the Sri Krishna’s box.
Thanks fir this sweet sweet post! It is always great to know about speciality of other places. I love mysore pak, I could never find the amazing taste like I had in south once.
I was thinking of something else after reading your title. Nice sweet post. 🙂
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I made a flying visit to Chennai last Feb and I missed this.I can’t wait to try the Madras Mix and mysrupa .Both sound yumm
I love sweets and after reading this post craving for it badly. Drool-worthy pic of Mysurpa.
The Mysurupa frm SRIKRISHNA is sweeter, soft and decadent. I cant eat more than half a piece.
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Interesting Post…on Chennai. And loved the personalized star sign tins to hold the sweet and Kombucha… Adding both these in my To visit list in Chennai.
I think you have the right idea by getting the best of both worlds rather than choosing just one store
Debbie
Such a sweet delicious post . My husband is a Mysore pak lover and his colleagues get him a box from Srikrishna. He loves it but I find it too heavy . Glad you have the best of both worlds
I don’t have a sweet tooth and literally illiterate when it comes to names of Sweets except for a few usual ones. I learned something new from this post.
The moment I read Sri Krishna Sweets, I thought about the rich mysore paak. Oh Yum! How many I have had! For me it is Sri Krishna sweets, always and forever! 😀
I am cravingg for sweets now! loved the post
ohh I had missed few posts in this series..loved this one the sweet is looking so amazing and I had not tried this one, will surly keep this mind when visit Chennai.
It was really an interesting read specially for the history mentioned, there are few such renowned sweet makers in our state too…i like their products.
I am noting down both the names, when I visit Chennai I am going to use this post as a reference for what to pick from where. Lovely post, Mayuri!
This is a yummilicious post, M. I loved Mysore Pak during my stay at Bangalore. Don’t know what Kambucha is (sorry, have to google it)
Back at my hometown, we also had such tough competition between such two great sweet shops. And we kids would often take advantage of it, saying one shop-uncle to let us taste a cham-cham as the other shop’s taste too good. I am sure he caught our trick, because when I visited him one day to get my freebie, he told me to come back with your Papa.
I have had Mysurpa when a friend visiting from Chennai got it for us. Dont remember from which place it was, she did mention about a famous shop. Will look out for Mysurpa from Grand Sweets or Sri Krishna Sweets next time.
Mysore Pak is my weakness and my dad got me hooked to it. Anyone coming from Chennai must buy this for me I love it so much.
Last year while coming back from our Singapore trip, we had a halt at Chennai. I tried Mysore pak in a small tin similar to the picture you shared. I have to try Grand sweets next time I visit Chennai.
Totally drooling! I love both these outlets. We have Sri Krishna outlets in Mumbai too but sadly not Grand sweets. I think it is so unfair, especially considering they have scores of outlets outside India! I love their uppu seedais and tattais! And Mysurpa totally rules!