Eid 2025: The top 12 biryanis to eat from all over India

As Eid ul-Adha has arrived, it's time to indulge in slow-cooked rich mutton dishes. Topping that list is Biryani, a fragrant layered dish of basmati rice and tender mutton slow-cooked with spices, saffron and caramelised onions; which is a must-have for Eid. When we speak about the melting pot of cultures of India, there isn't just one type of biryani that mutton lovers can relish. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, there are different variations of the favourite Eid dish that everyone can relish. These include Lucknowi biryani, which is characterised by its rich meat and mellow masalas, to Awadhi biryani served with a kiss of kewra. Biryani is a well-loved dish that is served across various spots of the country, from fine dining spots to street-style restaurants to hole-in-the-wall places. Scroll below to check out 12 spots across India that serve the best biryani which is a must-try during Eid.

SAVOUR THE 12 BEST BIRYANIS IN INDIA FOR EID 2025

1. Nksha, Mumbai 

Opposite Churchgate station resides an Art Deco-themed North Indian fine-dining restaurant that seamlessly blends vintage Bombay charm with contemporary culinary artistry. The restaurant serves Raan Biryani,  which has slow cooked whole mutton leg and whole basmati rice in its preparation. The dish is served alongside raita, egg, onion, tomato, and carved cucumbers. The dish is fit to share with family and friends. 

2. Oudh 1590, Kolkata

One of the most loved spots for biryani in Kolkata is Oudh 1590. Their biryani, served in handis, is characterised by their aromatics and gourmet ingredients. Since its inception, Oudh 1590 has revived the royal culinary traditions of the Awadh region and brought them to the city of Kolkata. Their Awadhi biryani is one such addition to the list, made by marinating mutton in a blend of spices and yoghurt, then cooking the rice separately in a flavourful broth, and finally layering the cooked rice and mutton in a vessel, often sealed with dough, and cooked slowly on low heat.

3.  Ambur Star Biryani, Chennai

What began as a small family business way back in the 1890s in Ambur, a small town in Tamil Nadu, is now a chain of restaurants across Chennai and the state of Tamil Nadu. The story traces back to 1890 when biryani legend Hussain Baig developed a secret recipe in his home and began selling it. Fame followed and peaked in 1920. In 1927, his son, Khurshid Baig, took the biryanis to the town bazaar to sell them and went on to open a hotel. It is a Tamil-Muslim-style biryani made with aromatic seeragasamba rice and a delicate blend of spices, yoghurt and succulent meat.

4. Hotel Shadab, Hyderabad 

Not mentioning the decadent Hyderabadi biryani in a list like this would be a criminal offence. Hyderabadi Biryani is famous around the globe and it has undoubtedly managed to capture the hearts of foodies in India. People travelling to the city often google the best spots to try biryani as their first stop. The city is known for its rich culture and portrays the same through its food. Hotel Shadab also happens to offer the quintessential experience, as you may witness people chattering in typical Hyderabadi accents when talking about the biryani. Their mutton biryani has a good rice-to-mutton ratio and is heavy on spices, making it delicious enough for you to clear out crates of the same. 

5. Dum Pukht, ITC Maurya, New Delhi

One of Delhi's greatest fine-dining establishments, Dum Pukht at ITC Maurya, is renowned for its traditional Awadhi cuisine. Imtiaz Qureshi, the celebrity chef of the restaurant, is credited with putting Nawabi Lucknow's ‘dum pukht’ style of cooking on the map. Dum pukht is a traditional slow-cooking technique that is associated with the Mughal Empire, where meat and vegetables are cooked over a low flame in dough-sealed containers with spices. The Dum Pukht biryani of the restaurant is a celebrated cuisine that has been served to several dignitaries from around the world, including APJ Abdul Kalam and Queen Elizabeth.

6. Dastarkhwan, Lucknow

Legendary restaurants like Dastarkhwan make Lucknow a top destination for its magical flavours. Established in 1989, the restaurant serves Mughlai and Awadhi cuisine that characterises Lucknow's culinary identity; the mutton biryani offered by the restaurant is sure to bewitch you with its aromas and delicate flavours. Eat more delicacies offered by the restaurant, such as Kakori Kebab, Nihari, Musallam Raan, Keema Kaleji, and desserts like Shahi Tukra and Kheer for a complete Lucknowi cuisine experience.

7. Nagarjuna, Bengaluru

While cities like Chennai, Hyderabad and Lucknow take the number one spot when it comes to serving biryani, people travel to Bengaluru seeking the taste of Andhra-style biryani characterised by its use of green chillies. Inspired by coastal Andhra, this style of biryani features basmati rice which is well-seasoned with melt-in-the-mouth meat, served alongside raita and sherva. The age-old, no-nonsense Nagarjuna serves the spectacular dish that is so good, it will have you licking your plate clean.

8. Fanooz Restaurant, Hyderabad 

Known to serve authentic Hyderabadi-style biryani among other Hyderabadi food, Fanooz restaurant's Hyderabadi biryani is a rich, aromatic, and flavourful blend of rice layered with meat that falls off the bone and a blend of spices that will hit just the right spot.

9. Taftoon, Mumbai 

Taftoon is a fine dining restaurant located in Mumbai's BKC. The restaurant masters different varieties of Indian food and elevates them by featuring in other cooking techniques from across India. One such creation of theirs is the Safed Ghost Biryani, which is essentially a lamb biryani. If you aren't a fan of lamb meat, other options offered by the restaurant include biryanis such as Makhmal Kathal Biryani made with jackfruit or Sofiyani Sabziyon ki Biryani, translating to biryani made of seasonal vegetables. Now whether vegetarian biryani can be considered biryani is another discussion altogether!

10. Kebabs & Kurries, ITC Grand Central, Mumbai 

For an experience fit for royalty, head to Kebabs & Kurries at ITC Grand Central for their mutton biryani and curries. The Gosht Dum Pukht Biryani is surely the crown dish served at the restaurant. This is biryani patiently elevated through age-old tradition by marinating the meat in a blend of yoghurt, saffron, and ground spices, then sealing it in a copper lagan with fragrant basmati rice. Lastly, it's cooked in a dum pukht, a cooking technique that originated in the Mughal courts, making the end result a luxurious affair. 

11. Aminia, Delhi 

With roots in the hustle and bustle of Zakaria Street and almost a century of tradition, Aminia's mutton biryani is a hearty, soulful dish. It was founded in 1929 and embodies the heritage of Awadhi food; which was modified for Kolkata, making it a milder, more aromatic biryani that is delicately flavoured with rosewater and kewra.

12. Dumbir by Kappa Chakka Kandhari, Chennai 

DumBir by KCK (Kappa Chakka Kandhari) is a biryani restaurant primarily known for its Thalassery biryani and Lucknowi biryani, offering a variety of options including chicken, mutton, fish, prawn, egg, and vegetable biryanis. They also offer bento meal boxes for a more comprehensive biryani experience. Said to be the best biryani spot in the city of Chennai, the place got its title after plenty of research from thousands of patros. The trio behind it –Chef Regi Mathew, John Paul and Augustine Kurian – sampled over 800 biryani recipes from home chefs across Kerala before finalising their biryani recipe.