Popular underground chef to open Indian restaurant

He usually only takes orders through a special Facebook and WhatsApp group, but this chef who has become a star with the Indian expat community, is set to open his first restaurant.

KHALID Ahmed’s biryani rice dish has developed an underground cult following in Brisbane.

With orders taken only through a special Facebook and WhatsApp group, his traditional Indian food has become the stuff of legends among Indian expats, with groups of up to 250 hiring him to cater their events.

But now the keen chef’s secret business is to be secret no more, with plans to open his first restaurant in West End.

Taking over a tenancy along Browning St, Ahmed (along with business partners Haseeb Khan and Anwar Syed) will open Biryani Place – serving his signature Indian dish, as well as a handful of curries, naan and his take on the Arabic rice meal mandi.

One of chef Khalid Ahmed’s famous biryani dishes that will be available from Biryani Place, West End.

The biryani, which Ahmed has spent about 10 years perfecting, will be available in four varieties: lamb, chicken, goat and vegetarian and will be made using the best of local ingredients.

“The difference (between mine and other biryani) would be the quality of ingredients and the different ways to cook biryani,” he said. “We don’t want to compromise on the quality.”

That means sourcing the finest rice, meat and saffron for the dish, while still trying to keep it affordable.

Meanwhile, his wife Ameena will be in charge of cooking the restaurant’s curries: a butter chicken, chicken korma, lamb korma, vege korma, goat curry and dahl.

As for the venue, it will be an indoor and outdoor operation with seating for at least 40. The interior will be black, brightened up by paintings of Indian monuments created by Ahmed’s artist sister; as well as mirrors and lots of greenery.

Biryani Place is pushing for a December 10 opening.