It is situated in the southern most part of Indian peninsula and is bordered by Karnataka and Kerala in the south-east. Andhra Pradesh is in the north-west and the entire eastern coastline of Bay of Bengal. Tamil Nadu is considered as the home of south India cuisine. The climate is similar to Kerala and Karnataka with mild winters, hot summers and plenty of rainfall.

This state was influenced by Buddhism and Jainism, as a result, majority of the population is strictly vegetarian, but the chettinads are non-vegetarians and relish on meat and fish. Paya shorba (a trotter soup) is the specialty. Rice is the staple food. The kavery delta is known as the rice bowl of India, along with bananas, sugarcane, and coconut, mangoes, til, groundnut, coffee and mustard.

Food is flavoured by coconut, tamarind, and asafoetida. Food is served on fresh banana leaves. Til oil, mustard oil and coconut oil are the basic medium of cooking. Whole mangoes in spicy brine, paper-thin poppadum (Papad), and coconut chutneys tempered with curry leaves, banana chips, mixed vegetables and dals are served with a variety of rice and payasams.

Tamil restaurants in India are known as Udipi. A Tamil breakfast starts with idly (steamed rice cakes) with sambhar (hot, spicy and sour lentils with vegetables), rasams (broth of lentil, spiced) and upma (cooked course wheat), lunch is generally dosai (thin crepes), vadas (deep fried nuggets of lentils), with sambhar. Pongal (seasoned rice and lentil cooked together).

Papads or poppadums are must served during every meal. A Tamil meal generally ends with coffee.