In search of the most efficient biryani puts in Bengaluru? From iconic army inns like Shivaji Army Lodge and Ranganna Army Lodge to fashionable shops like Dum Durust and Meghana’s, listed here are some best suggestions from foodies.
With hints of saffron, tints of yellow, and a flavour that pleases the palates of royals and town folks alike, the biryani isn’t any stranger to repute. If it might chronicle its adventures via time, it will have a telling narrative of the entire puts it’s been — from the empires of West Asia and the royal kitchens of the Moghuls to the army inns that mushroomed around the nation. Nowadays, a large number of roadside motels put their spin at the dish.
As soon as a dish for kings, the biryani’s stance has developed and now displays native sensibilities in each model. And talking of variations, Bengaluru turns out to have various its personal. Right here, we discover them.
1. Shivaji Army Lodge
When in Bengaluru, your shuttle is incomplete with out a seek advice from to one of the most town’s iconic army inns. The tale in their creation strains again to the seventeenth century following the Maratha’s conquest of the town. Because the Maratha communities settled and expanded throughout Bengaluru, they offered protein-rich dishes to meet the starvation in their squaddies.
Up to now, those army inns — run by means of the Kannadigas of Maratha beginning — proceed this custom with their meaty affairs. Probably the most oldest army inns, ‘Shivaji Army Lodge’ in Jayanagar was once began in 1924 by means of a Maratha named S Mannaji Rao. It serves “impressive” donne biryani, consistent with meals journalist and creator Kunal Vijayakar.
As he notes, “Highly spiced, tangy, stuffed with masalas…however you’ll need to style it to consider it!”
2. Nagarjuna

Over 3 many years in the past in 1984, an agriculturist from Andhra Pradesh, N Krishna Reddy got here to the shores of Bengaluru with a dream and a love for cooking. Other people flocked to his eatery on Residency Highway to pattern meals that blended their favorite meats with the earthy flavours from the coastal the city of Andhra.
The biryanis listed here are claimed to be ‘powerful’ as a result of the robust spices that make their approach into every dish. Nowadays, those hit flavours will also be tasted around the many shops of Nagarjuna at Koramangala, Bannerghatta and Indiranagar. Whilst the unique recipe is a carefully guarded secret, consumers are recommended to check out the rooster biryani, the mutton meatballs, and the Chick 65 fry.
3. Ranganna Army Lodge
A family title, some of the town’s foodies, whose tale of inception is as attention-grabbing because the biryani served right here. The tale is going that the landlord R Munirangappa was once a well-known wrestler within the 70s. In an interview with The Instances of India, he recalled, “My grandmother Thayaramma who was once a expert in Kannada delicacies, began the eatery the use of her financial savings. It changed into a gentle good fortune, and my father shifted the trade to Yediyur in 1967 after she retired because of previous age.”
The mutton and rooster biryanis draw in nice fanfare with their seductive aromas and masalas that Munirangappa says are floor the use of conventional stone grinders.
4. SG Rao Army Lodge

An fragrant symphony is brewed at this mythical resort within the Cottonpet house of Bengaluru. The Sri Govinda Rao Army Lodge has controlled to acquire fairly a faithful set of consumers over the past century that it’s been round. And the astounding feat has been controlled with 0 exposure.
This actual army resort was once born when Govinda Rao from Ramanagara got here to the Petta house of Previous Bengaluru within the early 1900s on the lookout for jobs in eateries. His love for cooking quickly led him to start out one in every of his personal in 1908 in a thatched room the place the aromas of donne biryani lured the general public. You’ll be shocked to understand that the eatery opens at 4 am to serve piping scorching paya soup to all.
5. Ambur Megastar Biryani
One in all Deepika Padukone’s favourites, as she discussed in an interview with Curly Stories, the ambur biryani is steeped in historical past and is a one-pot meal the place succulent items of meat are cooked in jeera samba rice.
Because the challenge’s web page notes, it was once the mythical Hussian Baig, a prepare dinner within the Moghul kitchen, who got here up with the unique recipe in 1890 and started promoting biryani from his house. To hold this legacy forward, his son and their youngsters opened a couple of shops within the town all serving the famed ambur biryani.
6. Dum Durust

By contrast to the normal eateries with various histories, the ‘biryani in a field’ idea by means of Dum Durust is a contemporary take. If it is recent biryanis you’re yearning — Vintage Hyderabadi biryani, Nellore biryani, Awadhi biryani, and even more recent recipes and flavours, Dum Durust has your again.
Chef Manu Chandra recalled in an interview with Condé Nast how he’s keen on the Awadhi biryani. “The rice-to-meat share is superb, they usually don’t scrimp on high quality and amount both. Plus, Bengalis in Bangalore swear that the Calcutta biryani there’s the nearest you’ll get to the rest find it irresistible within the town.”
7. Meghana’s
Very similar to Dum Durust, Meghana’s caters to an target audience this is on the lookout for biryanis at the move by contrast to people who wish to enjoy a sit-down lunch. With shops all around the town, Meghana’s prides itself at the Andhra-style meals they serve and encourages their consumers to make a choice amongst 100 sorts. The must-haves, consistent with consumers are the prawns ghee roast and the nati rooster biryani.
8. Koshy’s
A undying landmark in Bengaluru, Koshy’s is not only a cafe, it’s nostalgia preserved amidst the once-colonial atmosphere. Koshy’s was once the brainchild of a financial institution government P Oommen Koshy. He misplaced his process right through International Conflict II and opened a bakery within the Cantonment house of Bengaluru the place he baked bread for the garrisons. In 1952 he leased a plot in the back of the cathedral at St Marks Highway nook, moved his bakery, and opened ‘Parade Café’ adjoining to it, which might sooner or later be referred to as Koshy’s.
A Condé Nast article claims that the overdue Gundu Rao, erstwhile leader minister of Karnataka, as soon as informed proprietor Prem Koshy, “I’ve met your father and grandfather and observed you as a child. I’ve travelled around the globe on the lookout for peace and quiet, and that is the one position I in finding it.” A vintage this is the fish biryani.
Edited by means of Pranita Bhat