Where you should go for some good Kolkata biryani in Kolkata (in this exact order):
1. Oudh 1590
Outlets: 3 – Salt Lake, Southern Avenue, Deshapriyo Park
Website: http://www.oudh1590.com/
The outlet that I visited: CD 86, Sector 1, Salt Lake, Kolkata
What I had: Murgh Metiabruz Biryani, Chicken Awadhi Handi Biryani, Veg Galawati Kebab
Pocket pinch: A plate of chicken biryani costs INR 275/- and mutton biryani costs INR 300/-
2. India Restaurant
Outlets: 1 - Khidderpore
Website: http://india-restaurant-indian-restaurant.business.site/
The outlet that I visited: 34, Karl Marx Sarani, Khidderpore, Kolkata
What I had: Mutton Biryani, Chicken Reshmi Kebab, Chicken Malai Kebab
Pocket pinch: A plate of biryani, both mutton and chicken, costs INR 185/-
3. Arsalan
Outlets: 8 – Park Circus, Circus Avenue, Park Street, Ruby, Rajarhat, Hatibagan, Bangur, New Alipore
Website: http://arsalanrestaurants.com/#
The outlet that I visited: 119 A, Muzzafar Ahmad Strett/ Ripon Street, Mirza Ghalib Street Crossing, Park Street area, Kolkata
What I had: Special Chicken Biryani, Chicken Malai Kebab, Mutton Stew, Kulfi
Pocket pinch: A plate of biryani, both chicken and mutton, costs INR 224/-
4. Dada Boudi Hotel
Outlets: 1 - Barrackpore
Website: (relaxed, old school people/ phone number: +91-98313 18010)
The outlet that I visited: No. 1, Sukanta Sadan, Ghoshpara Road, Opp. Barrackpore Railway Station, North 24 Parganas
What I had: Mutton Biryani, Chicken Biryani, Mutton Kosha
Pocket pinch: A plate of mutton biryani costs INR 190/- while a plate of chicken biryani costs INR 160/-
5. Asma Hotel
Outlets: 1 - Baruipur
Website: (humble, old school people/ phone number: +91-9874185562)
The outlet that I visited: Baruipur Station Road, South 24 Parganas
What I had: Beef Biryani, Beef bhuna, Tandoori Roti
Pocket pinch: A plate of beef biryani costs INR 80/-
6. Shiraz Golden Restaurant
Outlets: 5 – Park Circus, Salt Lake, Beleghata, Park Street, Nagerbajar, Ajoy Nagar
Website: (heritage, old school place/ landline phone number of the main branch: 033-22866806
The outlet that I visited: 23/7/1, Nagerbajar, Opp. Ordnance Factory, Kolkata
What I had: Mutton Biryani, Paneer Roll, Coca-cola
Pocket pinch: A plate of mutton biryani costs INR 220/- and chicken biryani costs INR 215/-
7. Aminia
Outlets: 11 – Nagerbajar, Shyambajar, Rajarhat, New Market, Golpark, Behala, Barrackpore
Website: http://www.aminia.co.in/about.html
The outlet that I visited: 6A, SN Banerjee Road, New Market Area, Kolkata
What I had: Mutton Biryani, Mutton Barra Kebab, Firni
Pocket pinch: A plate of biryani, both chicken and mutton, costs INR 160/-
8. Zeeshan
Outlets: 10 – Park Circus, Esplanade, College Street, Ballygunge, Lake Market, Deshapriyo Park, Prince Anwar Shah Road, Khidderpore, Tollygunge, Garia
Website: (grand, old school people/ landline phone number of the main branch: 033-22806842)
The outlet that I visited: 2, Surya Sen Street, College Street Area, Kolkata
What I had: Mutton Biryani, Chicken Kasha, Lachcha Paratha, Paneer Roll
Pocket pinch: A plate of chicken biryani costs INR 100/- and a plate of mutton biryani is INR 120/-.
9. Rahmania
Outlets: 8 – Salt Lake sector 1, Salt Lake sector 3, Beliaghata, Bow Bazar, Park Street, Tollygunge, Barasat, Taratala
Website: http://notions.co.in/RAHMANIA/
The outlet that I visited: 10/2, Beliaghata Road, Kolkata
What I had: Mutton Biryani, Firni
Pocket pinch: A plate of mutton biryani costs INR 150/- and a plate of chicken biryani costs INR 140/-
10. *C/o. Bangali
Outlets: 1 - Hatibagan
Website: http://cobangali.com/
The outlet that I visited: 108, Aurobindo Sarani, 4 Point Crossing, Opp. Star Theatre, Hatibagan, Kolkata
What I had: Dhakai Murgi Biryani, Prawn Samudra Biryani, Chocolate Mousse
Pocket pinch: A plate of biryani, both mutton and chicken, costs INR 200/-
* C/o. Bangali serves what they call the Dhakai biryani. Originally, the Dhaka biryani is a kachchi biryani where the raw meat and the raw rice grains are cooked together. The C/o. Bangali version of the Dhakai biryani, like the Kolkata biryani, comes with an aloo and an egg.
11. **Royal Indian Hotel
Outlets: 2 – Bara Bazar, Park Circus
Website: http://www.royalindianhotel.in/
The outlet that I visited: 147, Rabindra Sarani, Bara Bazar, Kolkata
What I had: Chicken Biryani, Mutton Chaap, Chicken Chaap, Rumali Roti, Firni
Pocket pinch: A plate of mutton biryani costs INR 170/- while a plate of chicken biryani costs INR 165/-
** Royal Indian Hotel does not serve the Kolkata biryani. It only serves the Awadhi biryani (which does not come with an aloo) but it is so good that it was difficult to not mention this restaurant, established in 1905, in this list.
Special Mention:
Biryani shops are mushrooming these days in every locality and each hood can boast of at least one eatery such as a Haji Biryani or a Shimla Biryani or an Alishan, Afza, or Arfaat, serving a box-full of steaming hot Kolkata biryani. The price range is from INR 70/- to INR 90/- (and definitely not more than INR 100/-). The cost of production is cut down primarily by limiting the set-up expenditure; often the clarified butter (ghee) is replaced in parts by refined vegetable oil or hydrogenated vegetable oil; sometimes the rice grains might vary in consistency. However, the chunk of meat and aloo (and also the egg) are safely in place, making the box of biryani an affordable and accessible everyday reality for a diverse group of people.
