Seeking Best Biryani In Chennai? These 20 Places Do This Delectable Dish Right

With many locations across Chennai, this place has been serving the most authentic Hyderabadi biryani since 2009. The focus on flavours and preparation techniques remains traditional to this day, with the perfect meat-to-rice ratio. The whole menu is super diverse, with each dish brimming with tantalising aromas. 

Timings: 12 PM - 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM - 10 PM

Zomato Rating: 4.1/5

Price for two: INR 1,000

Must Try Dishes: Hyderabadi chicken biryani, Malabar parotta

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Cooking with coconut oil can never go wrong, and Ente Keralam knows that well. Apart from their fish fries and beef curry, their Thalassery biryani is one of a kind. Unlike the others, this biryani uses small grain, khaima rice. What's so different about it? The rice and the meat are cooked separately and then put together dum-style. If you haven't tried this Kerala favourite, this place is your chance. 

Timings: 12 PM - 3 PM and 7 PM - 11 PM

Zomato Rating: 4.3/5

Price For Two: INR 950

Must Try Dishes: Chicken Biriyani, Syrian Beef Fry, Tender Coconut Ice Cream, Kadala Curry

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Pro Tip: Know more about this place here. 

Aren't wedding biryanis one-of-a-kind? H.Akbar Mess in Vepery comes really close to them, serving mutton biryani in banana leaves. It's not overly spicy, and its homely appeal and flavour make it a comfort meal. Spoons off, dig in with your hands for some wholesome tuck-in. Don't judge this quaint, roadside eatery: you will be asking for seconds and recommending this place to everyone. 

Timing: 9 AM - 10:30 PM

Zomato Rating: 3.4/5

Price For Two: INR 200

Must Try Dishes: Brain Fry, Brinjal Curry, Mutton Biriyani

Whether you have been to Ambur or not, chances are you still know what it is famous for. Having set shop in the 1890s, Ambur Star Biryani serves plates with more meat than rice from more than ten outlets in the city; pick an Ambur Biryani closest to you and enjoy their quick service. Ooh, they've got the XL bucket biryani, too, in case you want to indulge at home with your family (it's takeaway only). 

Timing: 11:30 AM - 11 PM

Google Rating: 3.8/5

Price For Two: INR 550

Must Try Dishes: Bucket biriyani

Website: Ambur Star Biriyani

Anyone from Chennai is well familiar with the iconic Anjappar Chettinad restaurant, well-regarded for its awesome Chettinad cuisine and deliciously balanced flavours. Started in 1964, this diner has over 48 outlets all over India, with more than 30 foreign locations as well. Their signature Anjappar biryani has been their best seller, and still stands up to the fame of its name, with the robust spices mix, the most indulgent rice, and meat that breaks apart as soon as you eat. Everything on their menu is excellent.

Timing: 11:30 AM - 11:30 PM

Zomato Rating: 3.6/5

Price For Two: INR 1,000

Must Try Dishes: Chicken Biriyani, Mutton Biriyani

Website: Anjappar Restaurant

When you put iconic and biryani together, you get Yaa Mohideen. Always crowded, you can work up an appetite by joining the long queues, and when it is your turn at the front of the counter, snap up their superb Mutton Biryani. There is no fancy ambience and no great furniture, but it's the consistency in flavour that makes them a hot favourite. Pair their biryani with Chicken Pakoras and you’ve got yourself a memorable meal. They even sell biryani by the kilo. Did we just hear house party? 

Timing: 11 AM - 10 PM

Zomato Rating: 4.3/5

Price For Two: INR 700

Must Try Dishes: Bucket biriyani, Chicken biriyani, Mutton biriyani

Website: Yaa Mohaideen

If you are an ardent non-vegetarian, you will know that you can never go wrong with this one. Our favourite dish at Samco is easily the Chicken 65 Biryani, which gets everything right—spices, flavour, oil, and, oh, the Chicken 65 pieces! 

Timing: 11:30 AM - 12 AM

Zomato Rating: 3.8/5

Price For Two: INR 1,000

Must Try Dishes: Chicken Semmiya Biriyani, Mutton Roganjosh

Social Media Handle: Instagram

LBB Tip: If you want to order for home delivery directly from the restaurant, bookmark these contacts:

Alwarpet - 9551269944

Teynampet - 9884239944

Velachery - 9962366566

Anna Nagar - 8056249966

Mogappair - 9363387722

One of the city's most iconic possessions since 1951 and a pioneer for giving us Chicken 65, Buhari has grown across Chennai. Not to forget, their biryani remains among the best in town. Their juicy chicken biryani paired with chicken 65 is the perfect jodi; spicy and thick, just how we like it. Ask for a leg piece in your biryani—it tastes heavenly mixed with the spices.

Timing: 11 AM to 3 AM

Zomato Rating: 3.5/5

Price For Two: INR 950

Must Try Dishes: Chicken biriyani., Chicken 65

Website: Buhari

Pro Tip: Know more about this restaurant here!

How much spice is too much spice? Well, Chettinad cuisine will answer that. If you love Chettinad food, where else to try it than at Karaikudi Chettinadu Mess? Located across outlets in Chennai, it specialises in Chettinad biryani. Long grain and heavily spiced, the tears rolling down your eyes are worth it just for its taste. Apart from chicken and mutton biryani, their special fish and prawn dum biryani are worth trying too! 

Timing: 10:30 AM - 10 PM

Zomato Rating: 3.3/5

Must Try Dishes: Bucket biriyani, Chicken lollipop, Parotta kurma

Price For Two: INR 400

Social Media Handle: Instagram

If you love beef biryani, head to Sukkubhai Biryani! The aromatic rice is subtly spiced, allowing the chunks of meat to shine through. Their hunky beef cutlets and beef fry prove to be worthy accompaniments to the stellar biryani. 

Timing: 11 AM - 11 PM

Zomato Rating: 4.2/5

Price For Two: INR 1,000

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Website: Sukkubhai Biriyani

Chennai is surrounded by biryani hubs. If you are heading towards Hosur, you’ll find the famed Dindigul biryani. But don’t worry, you don’t have to budge an inch to get your share of steaming hot Dindigul biryani. With branches across the city, head to a Dindigul Thalapakatti outlet closest to you and indulge in boneless mutton biryani or chicken versions or biryani in a bucket to feed your entire brood.

Timing: 11 AM - 11 PM

Zomato Rating: 4/5

Price For Two: INR 850

Must Try Dishes: Mutton biriyani, Prawn fry, Chicken 65 biriyani

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Specialising in Mughlai and North Indian flavours, Copper Chimney is where you head when you’ve got a calorie-loaded treat on your mind. Stuff your face with their excellent Dum Gosht Biryani sprinkled with saffron and chunks of beautifully cooked lamb. That said, it’s certainly a finer dining version of the meal. It is about feeding the Nawab in you.

Timings: 12 AM - 4 PM and 7 PM - 11 PM

Zomato Rating: 4.3/5

Price For Two: INR 1,600

Must Try Dishes: Gosht Dum Biryani, Dum Biryani Paneer

Social Media Handle: Instagram

A busy and budget biryani joint in Royapettah, Charminar is a favourite with the crowds. Don't expect fancy packaging and branding, but a tiny place specialising in home-style biryani mutton and chicken biryani that they prepare in large, blackened cauldrons. They also have a few tandoori dishes that you can chomp down with your biryani. Bucket versions for large crowds are available, too. 

Timing: 10 AM to 10 PM

Zomato Rating: 3.9/5

Price For Two: INR 300 

Social Media Handle: Instagram

AlMaza's extensive menu is a meat lover’s delight and features quite a variety of biryani. If you want to go the tried-and-tested way, there is the Mughlai mutton and chicken biryani. Fish, prawns, and egg versions make an appearance too. But if you are looking for sheer indulgence, pick the Mutton (also available in chicken) Zafrani Pulao sprinkled with the goodness of saffron. 

Timings: 12:30 PM - 3 PM and 7 PM - 10:30 PM

Zomato Rating: 4.6/5

Price For Two: INR 1,400

Must Try Dishes:  Chicken Kebab, Platters

Website: Al Maza

Rasavid translates to 'knowing good flavour,' and they stay true to that. Serving one of the best Hyderabad Dum Biryanis in Chennai, Rasavid strikes a perfect balance of spice and flavour. There are multiple locations in Chennai, so hit up the one closest to you next time you are craving biryani, and you will surely relish it. 

Timing: 10 AM to 4 AM

Rating: 3.5/5

Price For Two: INR 950

Must Try Dishes:  Tandoori Pepper Chicken, Masala Paneer, Carrot Halwa

Website: Rasavid

Best known for its mutton biryani, Paramount is also a crowd-favourite. They've got fish, egg, chicken and prawn biryani. Their paya and appam are supposed to be just as good. Come to this Kilpauk eatery to get a wholesome serving of your favourite biryani packed, as it's a delivery-only kitchen.

Timing: 7 AM - 11 PM

Zomato Rating: 4.1/5

Price For Two: INR 600

Must Try Dishes: Tangdi Kabab, Paya, Chicken Fry, Appam, Butter Chicken

With multiple branches in the city, SS Hyderabad Biryani has certainly made quite an impact on the Chennai food scene. They serve their biryani pakki-style (the meat is marinated for a lesser time and is almost cooked while the rice is semi-cooked, and both are then arranged in layers and steamed), with their chicken biryani being the most popular. 

Timing: 11:30 AM - 10:30 PM

Zomato Rating: 3.9/5

Price For Two: INR 400

Must Try Dishes: Shawarma, Hyderabad Biriyani

Social Media Handle: Instagram

Bismillah Beef Biryani is an absolutely underrated hidden gem that we believe should gain more traction. It is almost a decade old and offers the most delectable beef biryani at an unbelievable price. It's juicy, packed with delicious spices and flavour notes, and should be had at least once.

Timing: 11:30 AM - 10 PM

Zomato Rating: 4.3/5

Price For Two: INR 250

Must Try Dishes: Beef biriyani

If you are in Anna Nagar and you see a long queue of people, then there is a high chance that it is for the Kabali's Thai Ilai Biryani. It's fresh delicious, simple, and reminds of home-cooked biryani, with sizeable portions at a great price. Their meat-to-rice ratio is immaculate, plus they also take party and event orders. Oh, also, they are a biriyani place on wheels, a truck to be precise and are closed on Mondays. 

Timing: 9:30 PM to 12 AM (closed on Mondays)

Price For Two: INR 150 onwards 

Social Media Handle: Instagram

This cosy establishment serves lip smacking biriyani, faultless and worth every recommendation. They cook the meat with great care and their portion sizes are adequate. Their flavour profile is such that you will keep coming back for more! Yes, there will often be a queue here, but the food is super worth the wait. 

Timing: 11 AM - 10:45 PM

Zomato Rating: 4.2/5

Price For Two: INR 450

Must Try Dishes: Special mutton biriyani, Mutton chettinadu

Go on a budgeted biriyani eating spree with our guide here.