For Bengalureans, biryani is bae! The city is a melting pot of different flavours of this aromatic rice dish - from the hyperlocal donne biryani to the spicy and tangy Andhra-style biryani, along with a host of authentic Muslim-style biryanis. Of course, biryani is an all-time favourite dish for most Indians, but its love affair with the people of Bengaluru is worth celebrating. Be it for lunch, dinner or even breakfast, they never shy away from digging into a huge portion of biryani.
Bengaluru’s legendary biryani places have a big role to play in nurturing this love for the dish. Whether you are a permanent resident of this ‘garden city’ or just visiting for a few days, your stay is boring without hopping on a biryani trail across town.
We have drawn up a list of Bengaluru’s 10 popular biryani spots where you will be spoilt for choice. Take a tour!
1. Nagarjuna Restaurant, Residency Road
Your trip to Bengaluru is considered incomplete if you haven’t paid a visit to Nagarjuna for a hearty lunch, even better for a full plate of biryani. Nestled at a central location, the restaurant was established by Krishna Reddy way back in 1984, with the aim to acquaint Bengalureans with Andhra cuisine. Cooked in a special Andhra style, their chicken, mutton and vegetarian biryanis come with a distinct taste and aroma.
They serve food in eco-friendly banana leaves. While enjoying your meal at the restaurant, don't miss the Kandi Podi, which is popularly known as ‘gunpowder’. This spicy Andhra-style chutney powder is prepared using powdered garlic and roasted lentils. Besides Residency Road, you’ll find their branches in Koramangala, Indiranagar, Bannerghatta and Marathahalli.
Other popular dishes: Andhra Bhojanam, Chicken/Mushroom Pepper, Chicken/Gobi/Baby Corn/Paneer/Mushroom Sholay Kebab, Guntur Chicken and Nattu Kodi Curry/Fry.
Google rating: 4.2 stars
Price for two: ₹800 (approx)
2. Meghana Foods, Indiranagar
Famous for its huge selection of biryanis - chicken, mutton, mutton keema, prawn, fish, egg, lollipop and Meghana Special Biryani under the non-vegetarian category and dum aloo, mushroom, paneer and Meghana Special Veg Biryani in the vegetarian section - Meghana is effortlessly your go-to destination when it comes to eating biryani in Bengaluru.
Their Andhra-style cuisine is quite a hit among the local people as well as those visiting the city. Apart from Indiranagar, you can trace their outlets at Koramangala, Resident Road, Jayanagar and Marathahalli.
Other popular dishes: Lemon Chicken, Chicken Maharaja, Chicken 65, Nati Chicken Fry, Mutton Pepper Fry and Paneer Tikka.
Google rating: 4.2 stars
Price for two: ₹700 (approx)
3. Sharief Bhai, Koramangala
Who wouldn’t slurp when someone mentions names like Har-Dil-Azeez Mutton Biryani, Murg Alfaham Biryani, Ande Ki Biryani, Paneer Dum Biryani and Subz Dum Aloo Biryani! With outlets in Indiranagar and Frazer Town apart from Koramangala, Sharief Bhai is one of the most popular authentic Muslim cuisine restaurant chains in Bengaluru.
They use the traditional short-grain Zeerak Samba rice for all their biryanis to retain the genuine taste. Known to use their own spice mixes in recipes that have been passed on through the generations, the food hub specialises in Mughlai, Arabian and Afghan cuisines.
Other popular dishes: Paya Soup, Kebabs, Sukhi Phaal, Patthar Gosht, Murg Shorba, Mutton Nalli, Gurda Fry, Halwa Puri and Phirni.
Google rating: 4.4 stars
Price for two: ₹600 (approx)
Gundappa Donne Biryani
