5 joints to get your biryani fix

CHENNAI : Ambur, Mughlai, Hyderabadi, Afghani, Kashmiri, Lucknowi — no, we aren’t talking about people from different ethnicities but, about the ABCs of Biryani. ‘Namma’ city’s love affair with the dish goes way back in time and the multitude of options available here testify that Chennaiites are in a relationship with biryani.For most of us, ‘Biryani is not just a comfort food, it’s an emotion’ and that’s not an exaggeration. So, we decided to hunt down five places in the city where you can enjoy mouth-watering, delectable plates of the heavenly dish. 

Ya Mohideen, Pallavaram
Run by Abu Bakr, Ya Mohideen serves arguably the best biryani in the city. The meat for their famous mutton biryani is handpicked and sourced from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. If you are in a mood to devour more, try their chicken/mutton biryani, along with chicken pakoras, boiled egg, and the brinjal curry. From a push cart to a full fledged restaurant, the brand has grown over the years, thanks to its loyal customer base and of course the lip-smacking biryani flavours!

SS Hyderabad Biryani (Multiple locations)
Twenty years ago, when the first branch of SS Hyderabad Biryani opened in Perambur, little did they know that they will go on to establish 23 more outlets across the city. The traditional biryani chain is one of the largest in the city and is famous for its family bucket biryani that serves seven to eight people. “The customers have to order 30 minutes in advance and we’ll have it delivered to their doorstep, for free!” says Nawaz, manager. Try their signature bucket biryani served with onion raita and brinjal curry. Other must tries include the Tandoori chicken, chicken grill and chicken chettinad and Hyderabadi chicken tikka masala. 

Qurbani Biryani, Virugambakkam
A neat dining space, good customer service along with yummilicious chicken/mutton biryani, brinjal curry, bread halwa and chicken 65 is what one can expect at this Biryani place. The taste and authentic flavours have been their major USP and Dawood, its manager says that it has been vital in their expansion in four places across the city. Their bucket biryani is to kill for and can serve about seven people. Plan to visit this one soon to satisfy your biryani pangs. 

Ramaa’s The Hyderabadi food court, RSR plaza, Arcot road
For a biryani lover, a small-time eating joint or a five-star dining place, doesn’t matter. But, a good ambiance while you indulge in your biryani is certainly a bonus. This restaurant serves one of the best Hyderabadi biryani in town and will certainly make you shed some happy tears. The biryani is absolute heaven when had along with their Irani chicken and egg fry. Don’t forget to order some of their creamy curd to counter the spice! 

Charminar Biryani centre, Royapettah
The Triplicane-Royapettah area boasts several of the city’s most popular biryani stalls. Here is one of the most iconic — Charminar. Though situated in a congested area, has long queues, the succulent biryani makes it all worthwhile. This pocket-friendly restaurant serves biryani under `100, Kuska at `80 and has a wide range of sides. If you are in Royapettah don’t forget to check into this biryani house near Meesapet market.