Serving a fabulous spread of over forty non – vegetarian dishes, the Jyothis Hotel in Markayin Kotai in Theni district can be a dream destination of any food enthusiast.
The chicken, mutton and the fish dishes are loaded with flavours and pay homage to the various cuisines of India.
Regular chicken curry, thandoori, chettinad, country chicken curry, guinea chicken, boneless chicken , pepper chicken, chicken lollipop, duck, quail, mutton chukka, mutton head curry, mutton intestines, rabbit, dove, prawns, mackerel, freshwater fish, sea crab and fresh crab are just some of the dishes that are served here.
An amazing sight of the all these dishes neatly arranged in vessels welcomes you into the hotel. However, you would be confused about what to try first as soon as you settle down. Usually, the lunch service is from 12 – 3 pm, with people often waiting in queues for a table.
The hotel that is now famous for its non – vegetarian dishes was started by Chinnaswamy and his wife Susheela, as a quaint idli shop, around two and a half decades ago. Now, the hotel has become a major landmark in Theni district. Interestingly, the hotel is named after the couple’s son, Jyothis.
The dishes are put together by 15 cooks, who are also the couple’s close relatives. The cooks begin their day at 4 in the morning. The breakfast menu consists of idli, dosa, porotta and pongal. Around the breakfast time, they begin preparing their iconic lunch dishes too. At least twenty curries are ready by 10 am. Jyothis Hotel is another example of Tamil Nadu’s great culinary heritage that hasn’t failed to impressed foodies.
Dindigul biryani, Madurai milk bun, Ambur biryani and Chettinad gravy are some of the notable dishes of Tamil Nadu. Markayin Kotai is a major food hub that serves dishes and flavours from around the state. Visitors could take the Thevaram route at Uthamapalayam in Kumily – Theni road to reach Markayin Kotai.
