Today, when we hear or say something in relevance to food, it doesn’t mean some normal, simple meal lying obscurely in one’s dining hall or kitchen. Food’s, over the course of the last decade and a half, risen tremendously to become a part of popular culture. In fact, it’s an emblem through which cities become famous, countries are popularised and a certain culinary style gets global legs.
There’s no dearth of quintessential food items when it comes to India. In itself, the Indian cuisine is a masterclass of taste and some fine indulgence where largely, the world’s opinion stands. While there’s the famous “Daal Baati” from Rajasthan, the “Khaman Dhokla” of Gujarat, the “Kadhi Pakoda” of Punjab, the “Goan curry” of Goa and many other delicacies that have captured the attention of the world, nothing can beat or overshadow the classic “Hyderabadi biryani.” It’s an evergreen and staple favourite- of both vegans and non-vegan lovers. There are few things that can even stand the chance to thwart the taste of the biryani.
But while this delicious item hails from the Nawabi land of Hyderabad, the love for savouring Biryani remains universal, both here in India as well as abroad. Interestingly, while there’s nothing too difficult in preparing the typical biryani- the delightful rice-based delicacy- it’s quite a different feeling altogether to be relishing some in a restaurant or an eatery. The love for biryani in Delhi is paramount, perhaps just as much as it is loved back in Hyderabad or a Lucknow.
So which are the places where one can relish some biryani in Delhi?
N. Iqbal Biryani- at NizamuddinÂ
A fantastic stoppage for those who’d love to gorge on some biryani in Delhi, the N. Iqbal Biryani is a joint in the heart of southern Delhi. And it serves the excellent Moradabadi-style dish. On typical Thursday evenings, the fun part of being at N. Iqbal Biryani is to listen to some wonderful enchanting sounds of the Qawalli at the backdrop here at Nizamuddin while one visits the dargah to offer some prayers. Top it up with a nice savouring of the biryani and you’ve relished a great evening.
Delhi 6- an evergreen place
For lovers of biryani in Delhi, few other places can be of such value as the Delhi 6, nestled in the heart of old-Delhi. One of the best reasons to eat here is that one can order one’s favourite style of biryani, a hot favourite being the Pakistani flavour and one can place an order 24 hours in advance. Such a hot step of tech, isn’t it?
Kolkata Biryani house- C.R. Park
A little Bengal in Delhi- the CR Park- is decorated with a plethora of eating options and among the most revered items here is the Kolkata Biryani House. It’s said, once you’ve sunk your teeth into some biryani here, you’ll keep coming back for more.
Try some typical Kolkata style biryani, that’s made with meat, potato and eggs served in mildly-flavoured rice. It’s a bonafide stop of hungry cravers whose life is about biryani! Wonder, if you are trickled already to stop by here.
The Tipu Sultan Biryani- at Batla House bus stand
An implicit part of New Delhi is the incredible number of eateries and joints that are tucked right next to a bus stop, a railway station, even corporate offices and, educational institutes. Food, in this sense, becomes an interesting sub-culture of a city’s cosmos. Among the favourite eating stalls of biryani lovers from different walks of life is the Tipu Sultan Biryani, located right next to the Batla House Bus stand, toward the northern belt of the capital.
You can relish some spicy, yummy and tender chicken chunks in a fantastic serving of biryani that’ll compel you to make repeat visits of the eatery.
Al Jawahar- at Jama Masjid
An unwavering spiritual compass of the city that never wavers but pays a constant homage to the blossoming, shiny capital city- you are greeted by a rare feeling when you visit the Jama Masjid. And that said, how could any visit go complete without tanking down some biryani at the Al Jawahar. The mutton biryani here is a delicacy and you’ve got to revel in the taste of some juicy fresh onions and curd, if you like, to give your taste buds a truly unforgettable experience.
Andhra Bhawan- at Connaught Place
Whosoever comes to the capital city has to visit the Connaught place. It’s an unsaid rule of sorts. It’s the main plank of the city. Consider it to be right among the Grand Place at Brussels, the Times Square at New York, the Venice Beach or the Hollywood sign at LA, the Marine Drive of Mumbai or the Victoria Terminus of Kolkata.
So when it comes to food, it’s only but a natural step to be present in the wide-eyed beauty and charm of the Connaught Place, a place like few others in Delhi. An interesting character of this ebullient hot-stop is that CP, as it’s called commonly, is full of as many restaurants as there are ripples in a beach-side resort.
Among them is the Andhra Bhawan, situated at a stone’s throw away from the famous linguistic centre Max Mueller Bhawan. Although, not technically a restaurant, the Andhra Bhawan is a major draw among the people for the sheer variety of food it caters to an ever-hungry audience. And once you are here, you can always park yourself to tug into a delicacy like the biryani- an ever favourite.
It’s suggested that an approximate, 600 plates sell every day of biryani here. And it also makes sense to land up here amid the serene greens of Andhra Bhawan on a Sunday- as the Hyderabadi Biryani is available on the most important day of the week.
So, when are you planning a culinary trip to enchanting taste?