There’s something inexplicably addictive about the aroma and taste of biryani. Especially adapted for Nepali palates, biryani today is served in every other restaurant in Kathmandu. For the same, reason picking the right biryani place is easier said than done. Here are five eateries in the valley that won’t let you down.

Tasneem’s Kings Kitchen

With a team of Indian chefs preparing your favorite cuisine, head chef Tasneem Shahani brings to you over 12 varieties of Bombay’s authentic biryanis. Located in Pulchowk, the restaurant offers you unaltered taste of biryani from India.

The cooking of dum biryani is slow, and thus the entire process takes three to four hours. Raw ghosht is tediously cooked in dum in order to bring out all its flavors. Special spices make the dish both aromatic and tasteful. Tasneem’s Kings Kitchen has plenty of options for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food lovers. The menu ranges from regular biryani like chicken, mutton and veg, to chicken tikka biryani, prawn biryani, fish biryani, boneless fish biryani, and egg biryani.

“I have been in this business for over 15 years,” shares Shahani, who’s also the restaurant owner. With her expertise and a strong team of Indian chefs, Tasneem’s King’s Kitchen is here to give you the experience of an authentic Indian biryani.

Service Hours: 11am-9:30pm
Contact: 9801121212
Location: Pulchowk

Bollywood Biryani

Established in 2017, Bollywood Biryani is an Indian restaurant serving biryani recipes from Lucknow. The restaurant’s head chef grew up on halal cuisines, one of which was a biryani, and he wanted to start something similar in Kathmandu. With its menu offering over 10 varieties of biryani—chicken dum, chicken tikka, egg biryani, veg biryani, veg keema biryani, among others—Bollywood Biryani is a popular eatery among Sinamangal locals.

“Our biryani is adapted from Lucknow’s most popular recipes,” shares Prakash Lwagul, the restaurant manager. “We wanted to bring genuine taste and aroma of halal into Nepal.” And with a true Lucknowi cast of characters, the joint has a maintained a regular flow of customers.

One of its most popular biryanis is Special biryani, which is which is topped with tandoori specifically prepared for the dish. The special raita enhances the taste of spices and bring out all the flavors.

Service Hours: 7am-10pm
Contact: 9865992634
Location: Singamangal

Biryani Ghar

Biryani Ghar might have flown under your radar but make no mistake, it’s a place to be reckoned with. The restaurant brings to you secret family recipes based on Awadhi culinary techniques. Most recipes have been prepared by Sasik Iraqi, owner and occasional chef born to an Indian mother and a Nepali father.

Established in December of 2018, Biryani Ghar specializes in Dum Pukht Biryani, also known as slow-cooked biryani. The process of cooking and serving this cuisine ranges from 90 minutes to two hours as raw rice is boiled in chicken broth, whole spices and ground onion. Subtle in spice-combo and sweet and salty in taste, the biryanis come in three different varieties: veg, chicken and mutton. If want more spice, you can easily request red or green chutney to go with the kebab.

So if you’re looking for a new taste in biryani—a blend of Lucknow, Awadhi and Nepalgunj—Biryani Ghar should be your next stop.

Service Hours: 11am-8:30pm
Contact: 9801915895
Location: Gairidhara

Biryani Moments

Bringing you one of the largest menus in the city is Biryani Moments with its 20 varieties of biryani, ranging from regular chicken and mutton versions to Chicken Sufiyani, Mutton Zafrani Shahi Biryani, Chicken Sufiyani Shahi, Premium Veg, and many more. Biryani Moments only does deliveries and takeaways and the amount of food you order depends on your order, which may be one of three kinds: one serving, two servings and family pack (four servings).

One serving is usually packed in aluminum foil while more than one comes in clay pots. Each serving comes with raita, chutney and green salad slices. The restaurant is one of the few that offer substantial biryani options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarian food lovers.

Service Hours: Open 24 hours
Contact: 01-5906111

Biryani Adda

Established right before the 2020 lockdown, the future of Biryani Adda seemed uncertain for a while. But owners Nabaraj Karki, Rajan Khanal and Rabin Pandey pushed through, offering home deliveries and takeaways from their restaurant. And today, Biryani Adda is already one of the established names.

True to its name, the restaurant offers six varieties of biryanis—veg, chicken, mutton, prawn, fish and its Special biryani. The Special is flavored with akbare and served with a unique mango chutney. All varieties come in a clay matka, with a bowl of raita and papads on the side. The restaurant’s rice is imported and it specializes in the Hyderabadi herbs. Most customers order chicken and mutton biryani but the Special one is the beloved of regular visitors.

“Our rice isn’t over-spiced or thoroughly dipped in oil; we believe in serving authentic food,” co-owner Nabaraj Karki tells ApEx. “We’ve also tweaked the original recipes to tailor the cuisine to Nepali taste.” The restaurant has branches in both Baneswor and Chandol.

Service Hours: 9am-8:45pm
Contact: 01-4425261
Location: Baneswor, Chandol