8 Best Biryanis in London That Are a Must-Try
It doesn’t matter where you are or what time of the day it is; the mere mention of the word ‘Biryani’ is enough to make your taste buds tingle and your mouth salivate. If you’re a biryani fan and you’re looking for the best biryanis in London, then we’ve got you covered.
We’ve curated a list of the best Indian restaurants in London, known for their classic one-pot dish — the biryani. So what are you waiting for? Keep reading, and we’ll let you in on our picks of the best biryanis in London. The best part? They’re also budget-friendly!
How we review:
All the Biryani restaurants in London that are a part of our list are reviewed based on three important criteria:
1. Value for money
2. Quality
3. Authenticity
8 Best Biryanis in London:
1. Dishoom King’s Cross
Location: 5 Stable St, London N1C 4AB, United Kingdom Website: https://www.dishoom.com/kings-cross
About the restaurant:
Dishoom King’s Cross is a multi-tiered restaurant situated within a restored Victorian-style building built in the early 1850s. What was once a warehouse where goods flowed through is now one of the finest Indian restaurants in London. The interiors of the place are inspired by retro and vintage decor, creating a nostalgic environment for the guests.
Dishoom’s Biryani:
Dishoom King’s Cross provides three different varieties of biryanis. They include:
- The Classic Biryani: With its origins in Iran, this pot of steaming hot biryani is prepared by slow-cooking layered meat and aromatic basmati rice.
- Chicken Berry Britannia: Inspired by the famous Britannia’s Chicken Berry Pulao, this biryani is a flavourful pot of rice, tender morsels of chicken, mint, ginger, garlic, cranberries, and coriander, cooked in the traditional Kacchi style.
- Jackfruit Biryani: If you’re a vegan on the lookout for biryani, then you must try this dish — savoury jackfruit cooked with saffron-infused rice, fresh herbs, Indian spices, sultanas, and barberries.
2. Brigadiers
Location: 1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, London EC4N 8AR, United Kingdom Website: https://brigadierslondon.com/
About the restaurant:
Brigadiers, known as one of the best biryani restaurants in London, draws inspiration from the messy army bars of India — a place where military regiments would go at the end of a long, hard day to drink, eat, and socialise.
Apart from offering an extensive range of Indian food such as barbeques, tandoors, rotisserie chicken, and classic desi sizzlers, the restaurant also has some of the best cocktails on tap. Encouraging camaraderie, the restaurant frequently conducts weekly programs, including live sports screenings, art, business, and cultural events.
Brigadiers’ Biryani:
Brigadiers offer three different kinds of biryanis:
- Vegetable Biryani: It is made using fresh seasonal vegetables, fragrant rice, and a traditional spice mix.
- Beef Shin Biyani: One of their bestsellers, this dish is prepared by slow-cooking beef pieces with aromatic basmati rice, herbs, and exotic spices.
- Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani: A classic version of the dish, it is made by slow-cooking meat, spices, and rice in a closed vessel to enhance the flavour.
3. Roti Chai
Location: 3 Portman Mews S, London W1H 6AY, United Kingdom Website: https://www.rotichai.com/
About the restaurant:
Roti Chai is a two-storied Indian restaurant in London, established by Chef Rohit Chugh. The eatery has two rooms — the Street Kitchen that’s open all day, every day of the week, and the Dining Room that serves dinner between Thursday and Saturday.
The menu at Roti Chai showcases traditional Indian ingredients and age-old cooking techniques with a contemporary twist that sets them apart.
Roti Chai’s Biryani:
Roti Chai serves two different varieties of biryanis in London. They include:
- Jackfruit Biryani: This vegan dish is prepared by cooking long-grain basmati rice with saffron, ginger, fennel, and cinnamon, layering it with a generous portion of savoury jackfruit.
- Old Delhi Chicken Biryani: The perfect combination of succulent chicken meat, basmati rice, and Indian spices like chillis, cardamom, saffron, and cloves.
4. Bangalore Express City
Location: 1, Corbet Court, 3-6 Gracechurch St, London EC3V 0AT, UK Website: https://www.bangaloreuk.com/
About the restaurant:
Bangalore Express City, one of the finest Biryani restaurants in London, uses local British ingredients and traditional Indian culinary techniques to create new and exciting dishes that are inherently desi. Despite using local seasonal produce and mixing different flavour profiles, they manage to beautifully retain the soul of Indian food — something that not many restaurants can achieve.
Bangalore Express City’s Biryani:
Bangalore Express City offers four varieties of biryanis. They include:
- Veggie Biryani: An amalgamation of fresh seasonal vegetables, spices, and fluffy basmati rice.
- Egg Biryani: Hard-boiled eggs are cooked with green peas, aromatic rice, spices, and fresh herbs to create this masterpiece.
- Chicken Biryani: Inspired by South Indian flavours, this biryani is prepared by cooking marinated chicken pieces with long-grain rice and whole spices.
- Mutton Biryani: Bone-in chunks of tender mutton is cooked on a low flame with whole spices like cloves and cardamom, herbs like mint and coriander, and saffron-infused basmati rice.
5. Punjabi Kitchen
Location: 47 Greenford Ave, London W7 1LP, United Kingdom Website: https://www.punjabikitchens.co.uk/
- Chicken Tikka Biryani: Juicy pieces of marinated chicken are cooked in the tandoor and served on a bed of aromatic rice.
- King Prawn Biryani: Fragrant basmati rice layered with marinated king prawns and cooked with whole spices.
6. Kadiri’s
Location: 26 High Rd, London NW10 2QD, United Kingdom Website: https://kadiris.com/
About Kadiri’s
Kadiri’s restaurant in Willesden, London, has been open for more than 40 years. Their ancestors’ roots, which are a blend of India and East Africa, are honoured in their distinctive curries and delicacies. The same restaurant survives today, but in a new style and with great quality of food. When you eat at Kadiri’s, they pride themselves on quality and taste, so you can be guaranteed to get a delectable freshly prepared food.
Kadiri’s Biryani:
Known for their exceptional quality and taste, they believe that you haven’t really eaten Biryani until you’ve tried at Kadiri’s! Biryani reigns supreme among other rice dishes in India. Their Biryani is made with great renowned rice, aromatic saffron, and the fillings of your choosing. Some of their best-sellers are:
- Signature Chicken Biryani: Juicy and tangy marinated chicken pieces are served hot over a bed of basmati rice.
- Signature Paneer Biryani: Fresh seasonal veggies, cottage cheese and fluffy basmati rice come together in this dish.
7. Nanna Biryani Restaurant
Location: 14 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1EW, United Kingdom Website: https://www.nannabiryani.co.uk/
About Nanna Biryani Restaurant
They were able to dazzle their customers with their magnificent ingredients and herbs gathered from the best of their type. Famous Chef Haji Nanna, who combined the greatest products with an organic approach, as well as his successful creative recipes, prompted him to create his own restaurant. The restaurant likes to delight their customers by using only the greatest ingredients and serving elegant cuisine.
Nanna Biryani Restaurant’s Biryani:
Nanna Biryani serves world-class Biryani in London. Along with their supreme mouth-watering taste, the aroma will exceed your expectations.Their best-seller is:
- Kachichi Biryani (Dhaka Style): Kachchi biryani made with Kalijeera pilau rice and bits of lamb grilled over charcoal. It is served with desi salad,curry sauce and boiled egg.
8. Hyderabadi Spice Restaurant
Location: 309 High St N, London E12 6SL, United Kingdom
Website: https://hyderabadispice.com/index.php
About Hyderabadi Spice Restaurant
London’s Hyderabadi Spice restaurant opened in 2008 in Eastham. Started with an aim to provide real Hyderabadi food to Asian, non-Asian, and other groups of people living in the UK, particularly Hyderabadi Biryani, which is identical to the taste of Nizam’s Kitchen. With a small dedicated team, the primary goal is to provide the best flavour and pleasure to the clients while giving them the impression of being at home away from home.
Hyderabadi Spice Restaurant’s Biryani:
Hyderabadi Spice Restaurant serves amazing Biryani in London. They have around eight varieties of Biryani. Some of the best-sellers are:
- Dum Special Hyderabadi Biryani: Boiled egg, raita, and salad are served with a larger portion of chicken pieces in biryani-flavored basmati rice.
- Jhinga Biryani: King prawns cooked perfectly with aromatic basmati rice and saffron.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Where can I get the best Vegetarian Biryani in London? Dishoom King’s Cross, Brigadiers, Roti Chai, Bangalore Express City and Kadiri’s are the best places to get Vegetarian Biryani in London. The average cost is between £10.00 and £13.50. The regular vegetarian biryani is cooked with fresh seasonal veggies, cottage cheese, and fluffy basmati rice. 2. Which stores in London offer mouth-watering Chicken Biryani? You can find mouth-watering Chicken Biryani in the following places- Dishoom King’s Cross, Roti Chai, Bangalore Express City, Punjabi Kitchen and Kadiri’s. Succulent chicken meat, basmati rice, and Indian spices like chilies, cardamom, saffron, and cloves combine to make tasty Chicken Biryani.The average cost is between £12.50 and £16.50. 3. Where can I get Biryani below £12 in London? Punjabi Kitchen, Roti Chai, Brigadiers and Nanna Biryani Restaurant are some of the places where you can get Biryani below £12 in London. This includes vegetarian biryani and chicken biryani.
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