Golden Dragon - Taj Coromandel

Golden Dragon is the long-standing Chinese restaurant of the Taj Coromandel, at 37 Mahatma Gandhi Road in Nungambakkam, Central Chennai. It serves Chinese regional cuisine, with Sichuan and Cantonese cooking as the two main styles, in the formal setting of a luxury hotel. In a city where much of the dining is South Indian, it offers a different tradition prepared to a hotel standard, and it is a regular choice for business dinners and family celebrations.

The signature dishes include Peking duck, Sichuan prawns and dim sum. The Sichuan dishes bring the heat and numbing spice associated with that province, while the Cantonese dishes, including dim sum, are lighter and more delicate. Visitors who want to compare styles can order across both, and portions are generally suited to sharing at a table.

The dining room is formal and quiet, with attentive service, a smart casual dress expectation and low noise compared with Chennai's casual restaurants. It suits business meals and celebrations more than quick dining. Service is approximately 12:30PM-2:45PM for lunch and 7:30PM-11:30PM for dinner. Reservations are recommended and can be made through the Taj Coromandel; booking a few days ahead is sensible, and further ahead for weekends and holidays. Ordering Peking duck may require advance notice, which should be checked when booking.

A meal costs about ₹3,000-5,500 per person (roughly $31-57 USD). Beverages follow the hotel's programme, including tea, wine and spirits, and specific pairings should be confirmed with the restaurant. The Nungambakkam location is central, close to the city's shopping and business districts and convenient for visitors staying at the hotel.