We bet that there's hardly anyone who will say no to a plate of flavourful Biryani! Biryani, an evergreen classic, really needs no introduction. Aromatic, heavenly and one of the most loved delicacies around the world, biryani is a complete meal in itself and aptly suits all occasions - whether a wholesome meal on a lazy Sunday afternoon or a grand delicious indulgence at the dinner table, there are varieties available to please everyone. Talking about the varieties, there are quite some interesting options that one can try from. They not only have a different style of cooking but also have a meaning behind their ingredients. Biryani in North India differed from the Southern states. Since a large part of North India was populated by vegetarian communities, North Indians successfully experimented with it to arrive at the vegetarian versions. On the other hand, South India boasts of a wide variety of biryanis. Hyderabad itself is said to cook up to 40 distinct versions. And if you are lucky to find a place as we did, you will get to savour all kinds of biryani at one place, which is Biryani by Kilo!
Biryani by Kilo: You will get to savour all kinds of biryani at one place.
Biryani by Kilo has aced the preparation of delectable biryanis and serves it right along with a leisurely casual-dining ambience. And not just biryani, the restaurant offers an array of other traditional kebabs, korma and curries - from galouti kebabs, Chicken 65, Paneer 65 and chicken seekh kebabs (for starters) to Chicken Haleem, Paneer Nawabi, Chicken Korma and their special Dum Nihari Gosht (for mains). Other than the food, what grabbed our attention was the mini angeethis that came along with dum biryanis. 'The Aanch', is what they call them, provide those extra 10 minutes of dum to biryanis right before serving.
Biryani by Kilo: A small angeethi gives dum to biryanis right before serving.
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Our Picks:
Chicken Kolkata Biryani: Their Kolkata Biryani is exceptionally light, low on essence and colour, and mildly spiced - using just the right amount of spices to enhance the taste. In a huge handi, rice is steamed with cooked chicken, spices and the much loved browned potatoes. It is served with accompaniments like raita.
Biryani by Kilo: Kolkata Biryani
Gosht Hyderabadi Biryani: Biryani by Kilo has done an amazing job while re-creating the authentic flavours of Hyderabadi Biryani in their kitchen. One of their most popular biryanis, this dish will surely win your heart. It's nothing but half-boiled rice layered with fried onions, mint, cooked meat and cooked dum style. It is served with salan. The masala of the biryani was very flavourful and had that perfect balance between being too hot and spicy and too mild.
Murg Lucknowi Biryani: What's a biryani not cooked in a royal style?! A classic from the royal kitchens of Lucknow. In this biryani, chicken (murg) pieces were slow-cooked in a melange of roasted spices to perfection amid fragrant rice.
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Biryani by Kilo: Lucknowi Biryani
Mutton Galouti Kebab: Galouti means 'soft', something that melts in the mouth, and that's exactly what happened when we sampled their mutton galouti kebabs. This is a must-try for all the mutton lovers.
We also tried their Paneer 65 from kebab section. The secret of the Paneer 65 lies in its masala. Usually, Paneer 65 looks or tastes less-appetising because either it is too spicy or too bland. This factor, in our opinion, makes or breaks the deal. Here, the ratio of masala wasn't perfect, and unfortunately, failed to impress us.
You can choose to conclude your meal at Biryani by Kilo with their dessert section that has some of the classics. We recommend their Matka Phirni; a creamy dessert is made with ground rice combined with milk, sugar with saffron and kewra flavour - perfect show stopper to an elaborated meal!
The portion sizes at Biryani by Kilos are good, and serve two people. You can pick a lot from the menu without burning a hole in your pocket. And above all, they offer some party packages too that you can enjoy with friends or family over a get-together.
Price for two: INR 700 (approximately)