10 Best Biryani Places in India

Originating from the Awadhi cuisine, Lucknow prepares its biryani’s meat and rice separately. If you are visiting Lucknow, you have got to try this Awadhi biryani because it’s one of the most loved biryani in India! While every place in Lucknow serves lip-smacking biriyani, we have two of the best biryani places here.

1. Lalla’s Biryani - If you want the perfectly tenderised meat and fragrant rice cooked with absolute precision, you should head to Lalla’s Biryani, located at Chowpattian Chowk. You will taste the colourful bursts of flavours with every bite and be delighted by its taste, aroma and richness of flavours blending into your mouth.

2. Wahid’s Biryani - For an authentic Awadhi flavour, head straight towards Aminabad Market. Wahid’s Biryani is prepared from succulent and tender meat with perfectly seasoned rice. For some of the best accompaniments, you can have the tundey and seekh kebabs here. The complimentary raita and green chutney will only enhance the flavour in your taste buds.

Another gem of the biryanis is the famous Hyderabadi biryani originated from the kitchens of the Nizams of Hyderabad. If you want the perfect mixture of meat, rice, and godly spices, visit these places in Hyderabad and thank us later.

3. Hotel Shadab - Located near Charminar, this place has been serving authentic Hyderabadi biryani for aeons. And if you still have some space left in your stomach after the heavenly plate of biryani, you can try their popular haleem, paya, shirmal, bheja fry, gurda bhaji and kheema.

4. Bawarchi - This is another famous biryani eatery in Hyderabad. If you are a fan of chicken and mutton biryani alike, Bawarchi will give you the best of both. When you bite into the piece of chicken, you will get a roasted exterior that embraces a juicy and tender interior. What’s more? Some people like going to places that are affiliated with celebrities. In case you are one of them, you will be happy to know that Suneil Shetty inaugurated this eatery. So head out at this amazing restaurant and treat your taste buds with a plate of biryani.

In the rarest of situations, you may get bored of the North Indian biryani. Have you been wanting to try out the same delicacy, but with a twist? Look no further! Head down to Chennai to devour biryani, cooked with seeragasamba rice or, parakkum sittu, and a dozen other ingredients.

5. Dindigul Thalappakatti - If you are visiting Chennai, there’s no way you should miss this biryani. Started by Nagasamy Naidu decades ago, the essence of this place has reached far and wide now. Cooked with the tender pieces of lamb with aromatic rice, the biryani served here is top-notch!

6. Maplai - The concept of Veg biryani sounds blasphemous, right? The chefs at Maplai are bound to change your mind! They serve a decadent Thalassery Veg biryani made in perfect South-Indian style, filled with punching bags of flavour. On the meat side, you will get the heavenly boneless mutton biryani, with mutton fat at your every bite. Their aromatic plates will surely fill your heart’s content and don’t pinch your pocket as well!

Here is a fun factoid from history. In the Mughal era, biryani was looked upon as a healthy meal, especially for soldiers. And to think their successors would devour it to satisfy their palates! The rice used to be fried in ghee before cooking, a tradition that is still followed to this day, which brings a smile to our faces. Visit these best Mughlai biryani restaurants in Delhi to have a taste of the royal Mughalai cuisine.

7. Nasir Iqbal - For a hearty meal of scrumptious mutton biryani loaded with flavours, rice, meat and green chillies, Nasir Iqbal is the place to be. Located in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi, you will feel the age-old charm as you feast on your meal with raita and Mirchi ka salan in traditional steel brass pots. The luscious taste will leave your mouth-watering and asking for seconds!

8. Al- Jawahar - You probably have heard this name. If you are looking for some amazing complimentary dishes to go with an appetising plate of biryani, a visit to Al- Jawahar located near Jama Masjid is a must. Enjoy the delectable mutton korma and fresh raita with the biryani and end your meal with firni, a traditional Mughlai rice custard.

Most people have crowned Kolkata biryani as the best Biryani in India, and rightfully so! Contrary to popular belief, a side of spiced up potato with a boiled egg does add to the meal, and we speak from a tasteful experience. Check out these restaurants in Kolkata to get a taste of the most favoured biryani in India.

9. Arsalan - Popular among the locals and outsiders alike, Arsalan has conquered the hearts of people by making mouth-watering biryanis. Arsalan has multiple outlets across the city, so you will not have trouble finding one! Do try this famous Biryani in India during your stay in the City of Joy.

10. Oudh 1590 - If you want to get transported back to the times of the Nawabs, there’s no better place than Oudh. After simmering in the hearth for almost 6 hours, you would expect the dish to come on your table with a background of violins and angels. And it does (not literally)! As soon as you take the first bite, the tender meat just melts in your mouth.

So, there goes the list of the top 10 biryani in India. While all the cities and the different biryani places fight for the throne, we say, why choose one? Eat as many plates of biriyani as you can! Just look out for the wicked elaichi!