The South Indian Showdown - Battle of Stockholm’s Top South Indian Restaurant Chains
South Indian food is incredible - rich in both flavour and culture, it provides a diverse selection for all tastes and preferences, and it’s definitely worth trying out. Here are how two South Indian chain restaurants around Stockholm compare.
Being both an exchange student from the UK and a second-generation immigrant from South India, I’ve spent more time in recent years missing home food than actually having it. In my quest to find good South Indian food in Stockholm, I've come across two restaurants with quite different interpretations of the matter.
Hotel Saravana Bhavan (HSB) is the largest South Indian restaurant chain in the world, with well over 100 locations across four continents. Though there is only one location in Stockholm, located quite close to St Eriksplan station, its magnitude is undeniable. Initially targeted at south asian expatriates (such as my family), it has since gained popularity amongst non-Indian customers. Both times I’ve visited, I’ve seen this restaurant act as a bustling hub for couples, friends, families and colleagues to connect and immerse themselves in something new.
On the other hand, the ‘South Indian Restaurant’ (aptly named) is a Scandinavian-only chain with two branches in Stockholm, one merely a street away from SSE campus on Rådmansgatan and the other in Södermalm. Though the restaurant specialises in cuisine from the Chettinad region, the food served is definitely accessible and the restaurant presents a wonderful place to dine from brunch to dinner.
Variety in Cuisine
In general, Indian food is extremely diverse - at any Indian restaurant, the range of options on the menu may even seem overwhelming to the novice diner. South Indian food in particular also tends to have more vegetarian options than other cuisines. Both restaurants offer many vegetarian dishes, with HSB specialising entirely in vegetarian and vegan food.
The South Indian offers a pretty accessible menu, and anyone with minimal experience with Indian food will see dishes they recognise. If you're feeling particularly reluctant, the kids menu even offers items like chicken nuggets and crackers to ease you in. Even if you’re feeling more adventurous, this restaurant has got you covered, with options becoming more varied as you go down the menu.
Substituting a meat base with paneer (a delicious Indian cheese), vegetables and various lentils, HSB makes the vegetarian menu work - in fact, one may not even notice that the food is vegetarian, as the food acts as more than just a mere substitute. Though there are less options for bases in HSB, it makes up for this in variety within the options. There's probably a version of each dish that aligns with your tastes, because going through the menu they make sure to include variations from several different regions from different states.
Taste
I've been to both restaurants quite a few times, and from my experience, dining in the restaurants always makes for a good dining experience. The food is very flavourful, and even the more generic options (like chicken wings in The South Indian) were not slacked on. If you're trying South Indian food for the first time, I would recommend the Thali - this is a big plate with rice in the middle, and small portions of around 10 different curries all around it. Also added are rotis/naans and poppadoms which you can also try with the curries. This will allow you to get a feel for what you like, so the next time you can order an individual portion of that.
The takeaways, on the other hand, are perhaps something to watch out for. I've had, and heard about, mixed experiences from both these restaurants.
I've had some experiences where The South Indian was sub-par. The first time I ordered biryani, I got a vacuum sealed box of some chopped up chicken breast and some not-very-flavoured rice, and I had a similar experience when I ordered curry. However, since then it seems their delivery packaging has evolved, and now it definitely feels like the food delivered has been made and packaged a lot more recently.
On the other hand, HSB wasn’t that disappointing to begin with, and the taste was largely similar to what you’d get in the restaurant. However, I would say be careful when heating up leftovers, as in the microwave, some of the bread dishes can get a little soggy. Instead, maybe toast them on the pan.
Vibe
The South Indian in Rådmansgatan presents a slightly classy vibe, with wood panelled walls, leather chairs and booths, a lot of open space around the front desk and lanterns hanging above each table. You can sit at a corner booth for a casual setting, or perhaps find a wide table for a work dinner.
On the other hand, HSB is a lot more cosy, with much dimmer lighting and a cutout by the front desk peeking into the kitchen. The top floor is small, and the walls are lined with pictures of HSB’s (controversial) history growing in, and expanding from, South India. The basement is a lot larger, with far more tables and a bar for larger parties to get together.
Price Range
Honestly, both restaurants are kind of similar with this - if you want a meal, you should be expecting to spend SEK150-200, but you should also expect to be VERY full (and probably have some to take home!) Alternatively, if you’re a fan of one specific item and only want to order that, you can probably get the cost down to SEK100.
Conclusion
Overall, both these restaurants are a great experience, for both first-timers and repeat customers looking for something comfortable. When I'm feeling homesick and don’t have time to cook, choosing between these restaurants, more often than not, comes down to which one is closest. My final verdict is thus:
If you just want to dip your toe into South Indian food, or you’re looking to impress someone, go for The South Indian! It's close to campus and super convenient. However, if you’re looking for something cosy, something to warm your heart a little, then the clear winner is HSB.
Let us know if this has convinced you to try either restaurant out, and what you ordered!