Onashamsakal. The highlight of Onam, from August 20-31 this year, is undoubtedly the grand Malayali feast aka the Onasadya. The all-vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf is a true celebration of the harvest season and a showcase of seasonal ingredients. It also caters to all our senses and taste notes — sweet, sour, spicy and salty. Typically, a sadya consists of 23 to 30 items that include everything from curries and pickles to banana chips and payasam. It’s also very precise with designated spots for every dish on the leaf — the right side of the leaf holds the side dishes such as thoran, pachadi, elisheri, etc., while the left is reserved for pickles, chips, pappadam and banana.
Here’s a quick guide to restaurants, cloud kitchens and home cooks serving sadya in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. A few come with takeaway options as well:
MUMBAI
South Side Mumbai
You can never go wrong with a meal from South Side Story. The sadya here comes from passionate home chef Sarada Krishnan who’s curated a menu of vegetarian options with recipes passed down generations. On offer are rasakalan, olan, matan elisheri, mangakari, kootukari, mix-veg thoran, and many other delicacies. The meal comes neatly packed in a box with a banana leaf.
Price: Rs 1,200 plus delivery Date: August 29 (only lunch) To book, call: +91 9967090022
NairOnFire
The unsadya from this delivery kitchen has an array of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes that are finger-lickingly good. This year they have added some dishes made with super foods to the array of traditional dishes. Highlights include nellicka and cucumber pachadi, moringa ela pulisseri, drumsticks sambar, paveka theeyal, olan, payaru curry, black rice payasam, pazha nurukku, chicken perattu, etc. The meal comes boxed with a banana leaf.
Price: Rs 1,795 Dates: August 20, August 26, August 27, August 29 To book, call: + 91 93240 59522 /Online: thrivenow.in
Onam Sadhya Meal Box by The St. Regis Mumbai
Looking for a luxurious sadya at home? Dial Marriott Bonvoy On Wheels. The sadya meal box comes loaded with over 20 delicacies, each symbolising abundance and prosperity. Highlights include the coconut ghee rice, Malabar parotta and the payasams: ada pradaman and pal payasam.
Price: Rs 2,550 per box (suffices two people) Dates: August 28 & 29 To book, call: +91 2261628422
Grand Hyatt, Santacruz
Fine-dining meets traditional fare at this sadya curated by Mumbai-based home chef Marina Balakrishnan of Oottupura. Expect an array of traditional dishes from Marina’s hometown Thalassery in North Malabar. The 30 dishes, which includes vendakka kichadi, beetroot pacchadi, red rice, ada pradaman, olan, kaya varatha, will be served on a banana leaf in an authentic setting. There will also be a special Kathakali dance performance.
Price: Rs 3,700 all-inclusive per person, including red and white wine Date: August 27 To book, call: +91 7045950135
Onam Sadhya thali at Kebab Korner at Intercontinental Marine Drive
If the thought of eating from a banana leaf intimidates you, then head to the Kekab Korner. Here the sadya is served on a thali with unlimited repeats. There are 25 different items to relish and palada pradhaman to end the meal on a sweet note.
Price: Rs 1,600+ taxes Date: August 20-31 To book, call: 022 6639 9999
Just Kerala
This popular restaurant in Andheri will be serving 27 items, including a range of pachadis, rasam, thoran and payasam. You can add chicken, mutton or prawn dishes to your sadya at an additional cost. The setting is elegant and the food never fails.
Price: Rs 1,300 Dates: August 29 To book, call: 89289 87146
Vannu Tinnuka
This sadya from home chef Reshma holds 15 items. The star is the sambar made using a special spice mix from Calicut. The avial, pepper rasam and beetroot pachadi are other stellar dishes on the menu.
Price: Rs 1,199 per meal box (serves 2) Dates: August 27 and September 1 lunch. To book, call: 9819875010.
DELHI
Mahabelly
Everyone’s favourite Malayali restaurant in Delhi is all set to serve one of the most wholesome and delicious Onam sadyas ever. Expect the regular bestsellers and then some more - a delectable apple kichadi and ulli theeyal. Wash it all down with jaggery payasam and milk payasam. There is also a takeaway option.
Price: Rs 1,350 for dine in. Rs 1,150 for takeaway. Rs 1,550 for delivery Date: August 28 dinner, August 29-31st lunch, dinner Address: Delhi, Gurgaon, Sonipat To book, call: 090179 06907
Sanadige
Every year, Sanadige marks Onam with a special sadya. This year, too, there’s an elaborate feast with over 25 items and a range of payasams. Non-vegetarians can add some tantalising fish or chicken dishes to the leaf at an extra coast. It promises to be finger-licking good.
Price: Rs 1,399 per person Date: August 28-31, lunch & dinner To book, call: 011-40507777
Dakshin, Sheraton New Delhi
Brace yourself for an elaborate feast in a beautiful traditional setting at Dakshin. The meal will have all the sadya superstars including a stellar sambar, peppery rasam with kuthari choru.
Date: August 20-31st lunch and dinner Price: Rs 2,400 plus taxes onwards per person To book, call: +91 9205909854
Padmanabham Restaurant
This south Indian vegetarian restaurant is popular for its sadya which is simply lip-smacking. It packs everything from sambar and avial to pachadi and kalan. When you're done eating your way through the numerous curries and accompaniments, there are delicious payasams to round up the meal.
Price: Rs 789, plus taxes Date: August 28-29 To book, call: 08882500500
Zambar
This popular south Indian restaurant is back with its annual Onam sadya. Expect a lavish spread of over 25 delicious dishes in an experiential setting. There is also a takeaway option.
Price: Rs 1,400 per person Date: August 28, 29, 30 To book, call: 01244665639
BANGALORE
Kappa Chakka Kandhari
This award-winning restaurant is known to serve the most sumptuous and authentic sadya in Bangalore and Chennai. This year the specially curated meal comprises 26 traditional vegetarian dishes prepared by cooks from Kerala. Highlights include the payasams: ada pradhaman, palada, chakka pradhaman and parippu payasam. For those who want to eat in the comfort of their homes, there is a Meal in A Box option, too. Each box serves five persons and comes in stainless containers and a hot case to keep your festive meal fresh and delicious.
Price: Rs 1,190 (Inc taxes) per head. Feast In a Box priced at Rs 5,750 (inclusive of taxes)
Dates: August 28-29 for lunch
To book, log on to www.kckonam.com
Also available in Chennai
Karavalli, Gateway Hotel
This is one sadya most Malayalis in the city look forward to. The outdoor seating lit-up at night with fairy lights, a beautiful flowing stream, and lush green plants add to the experience. The sadya this year will be a feast of 24 dishes all carved from ingredients sourced from Kerala. Non-vegetarians can add delectable Alappuzha Meen Curry, Neitha Kori and appam to the meal at an extra cost.
Price: Rs 2,400 plus taxes per person Date: August 29, lunch 11.30-3.30 pm To book, call: 080666 04545
Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel
Executive Chef Somasundaram has prepared a sumptuous buffet spread brimming with Onam delicacies such as Inji Puli, Parippu, Olan, Kalan, Erissery, Cabbage Thoran, Avial, Sambar, and Ela Ada and others. The setting will have pookalam (fresh floral arrangement) and servers in traditional attire.
Price: Rs 1,400 per person, plus taxes Date: August 29-31, lunch, 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm To book, call: +91 95139 44520
Hyatt Centric MG Road
Relish this meticulously curated sadya that brings together a medley of timeless dishes such as the delightful Sarkara Upperi and the tangy puliinji. Allow your taste buds to dance as you savour iconic dishes like Manga curry, Avial, Olan, Erissery, Kootu curry Thoran, Parippu, and Pachadi. For those with a preference for non-vegetarian can order the succulent Meen Pollichathu and the flavourful Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu. To conclude the feast, there is the delicately sweetened Palada, richly flavoured Parippu Pradhaman and fruity Pazham Pradaman.
Price: Veg meal for Rs 899 plus taxes, non-veg meal for Rs 1,099 plus taxes Date: August 29, 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm To book, call: 9591510193 or visit www.hyattrestaurants.com
Vembanad The Paul
The Onam sadya at Vembanad features a mouth-watering array of traditional dishes that capture the essence of this joyous festival. Apart from the sambar and the thorans, payasams are an all time favourite here. The sadya is also available for takeaway.
Price: Rs 1,749 plus taxes for dine in and takeaway. Payasam takeaway: Rs 999, plus taxes Date: August 29 To book, call: 080 404 777 77
No. 10 Fort Cochin
This seafood restaurant serves a homemade style Onam sadya with all the popular dishes served on a banana leaf. There are three types of payasams – parippu payasam, ada payasam, semiya payasam. Additionally you can order any of the non-vegetarian dishes at an extra cost.
Price: Rs 800 Dates: August 28-31 To book, call: 0777787600
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