Brilliant biryani: Adelaide’s best biryanis, where to go revealed

Why settle for plain rice when you can indulge in biryani? With Eid feasts upon us this weekend, here are our top picks for the ultimate comfort food.

Five To Try: Best Biryani - The Logical Indian.

Why have boring old rice when you can have biryani? With Eid feasts upon us this weekend, here are our top picks for the comfort food.

Biryani Darbaar

Five To Try: Best Biryani - Biryani Darbaar.

On weekdays, you’ll often see a line-up of hungry people at this CBD store, ready to devour one of their specialist biryanis. Acclaimed for its rich and flavoursome dishes, this Adelaide favourite is best known for their showstopping Hyderabadi-style lamb or chicken biryani. Their chefs use a homespun, old-school recipe with secret spices, mixed with the freshest ingredients, to emphasise the juicy, tender meat. It’s an aromatic and authentic experience.

183 Hanson Rd, Athol Park, and 122 Hindley St, Adelaide

British Raj

Five to Try - Best biryani: British Raj. Pics: Instagram.

Indian superstar Virat Kohli caused a stir when he joined several teammates for a players bonding dinner at the Raj ahead of their T20 World Cup semi-final against England in 2020. Since opening in 2010, the subcontinent superstars have been regular visitors to the Henley Beach Rd establishment, and it’s easy to see why. Their chef’s special goat and chicken biryani are among the tastiest items on the menu, packed full of authentic flavours and importantly, terrifically tender meat. Regulars say the biryani is comparable to those in Hyderabad and Bangalore – which is high praise indeed.

170 Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville

The Royal Biryani

Five To Try: Best Biryani - The Royal Biryani.

The chicken tikka is the highlight among the four biryanis on offer at this restaurant which specialises in northern Indian dishes. Everything is made fresh daily, with the purest ingredients, including halal meat, and using the highest quality, aromatic basmati rice. Each bite is packed with flavour and there’s a delicate balance between the tender chicken and the hand-crushed spices. Other offerings on the simple, yet tasty menu include goat mutton biryani and egg biryani, while there’s also a vegetable option loaded with “cashews, sacred spices and secret ingredients”.

6/76 Muller Rd, Greenacres

The Logical Indian

Five To Try: Best Biryani - The Logical Indian.

There’s a focus on southeast Indian cuisine at this beloved eatery. Owner and chef Mervin Joshua has only two traditional biryanis on their menu – the chicken and goat options – but they usually fly out of the kitchen. The goat dish is the main event. A delicacy in his homeland, Joshua marinates the meat overnight, accentuating its flavours, and then serves it up with seeraga samba rice. A short-grain variety native to the Tamil Nadu state, it can be tricky to prepare but is the perfect complement to the tender goat. The Andhra chicken biryani is another winner, with the meat layered with the rice before it’s cooked further. Explosively delicious.

202 Hutt St, Adelaide, and 50 Rundle Mall, Adelaide

Afghan Cuisine & Charcoal Kebab House

Five to Try - Best biryani: Afghan Cuisine and Charcoal Kebab House. Pics: Instagram.

This northern suburbs favourite has been serving up Afghani and Indian-style dishes for more than eight years, garnering a strong following among locals and visitors alike. While their kebabs are a highlight, it’s their chicken biryani which keeps customers coming back for more. There’s something special about their version of the traditional Indian dish, made with marinated chicken cooked with aromatic, long-grain basmati rice and a nice blend of traditional spices. It’s spicy but not too spicy, and it comes with a side of salad and a creamy, tangy yoghurt dip which gives it an added kick.

327 Prospect Rd, Blair Athol