| Sometimes it's greasy and sometimes it's dry. But it's | | | | first name that comes up is Fakhruddin's Biryani. The |
| always spicy. It's a dish full of long-grain rice that will | | | | dish is named after the famous chef late Mohammad |
| not stick together and holds a succulent piece of meat | | | | Farkhruddin, who was known more as 'Fakhruddin |
| inside it. It's pleasantly aromatic, but not too sharp. The | | | | Baburchi' (Baburchi is the Bangla synonym for chef). |
| lovely aroma of spice and the delightful sight of the | | | | He started serving snacks for the students of |
| dish bring water to your mouth. And when you taste it, | | | | Viqarunnisa Noon School (a renowned all-girls school in |
| the subtle flavor and taste of the spices mildly and | | | | Dhaka) students during the mid eighties and eventually |
| pleasantly come through. It's well-cooked, flavorsome, | | | | became famous for his great Biryani recipes. Soon his |
| succulent and delicious. And once you start eating, you | | | | recipes become a pinnacle and today it has become a |
| will end up cleaning your plate down to the last grain of | | | | symbol of upper crust to entertain the guests of any |
| rice. | | | | function with Fakhruddin's Biryani. The famous chef |
| That is a plate of delicious Biryani placed in front of | | | | died back in 1997 but his sons are still serving his recipe |
| you. Biryani is perhaps the most popular rice based | | | | with 3 exclusive outlets in Dhaka city, located |
| dish in the world that is available in many forms. | | | | respectively at Dhanmondi, Gulshan and Uttara. |
| Though, this dish is known as a traditional famous | | | | Although Fakhruddin's restaurants are famous for its |
| Indian cuisine to the world, Biryani from Dhaka means | | | | Kachhi Biryani, it serves top class Chicken Biryani and |
| something very special to the food lovers. Traditional | | | | Borhani (A kind of yogurt drink) as well. |
| Indian Biryani has a number of variants like Hyderabadi | | | | Haji's Biryani is another name that shines when you |
| Biryani, Afghani Biryani, Sindhi Biryani, Lucknowi Biryani | | | | think about Dhaka's Biryani. It was established by Haji |
| etc. which clearly represents the different preparation | | | | Ahmed Ali (Haji is not a part of their family title, it is use |
| for different states of India. But Biryani from Dhaka | | | | to show that he has performed the Hajj) way back in |
| has mostly two variations, Kachhi Biryani and Chicken | | | | 1939 at the Monir Hossain Lane in Narinda, Wari. |
| Biryani. Kachhi Biryani is cooked with mutton (and | | | | Today, the main restaurant is located at Kazi Alauddin |
| rarely with beef) while Chicken Biryani has chicken as | | | | Road, Nazira Bazar. The Biryani from Haji is very |
| its meat ingredient. In the Indian preparation, the long | | | | unique as it is served dry (most Biryani are cooked |
| grain Bashmati rice is used for Biryani. But most | | | | with a lot of oil). Another interesting fact about this |
| recipes of Biryani from Dhaka use the Bangladeshi | | | | restaurant is that it starts serving after Asr prayer and |
| 'Kali-Jira' rice, very fine polao rice which is produced | | | | mostly sold out by the Isha prayer. "The restaurant |
| only in the northern districts like Dinajpur. | | | | remains so crowded during the business hours that |
| Biryani is derived from a Persian word 'beryan' which | | | | most people have to wait for at least 15-20 minutes |
| means 'fried' or 'roasted'. It is believed that Biryani was | | | | before they get an emty seat," said by Haji Md. Sahed |
| brought to the Indian subcontinent by the Muslim | | | | Hossain, the current owner of Haji's Biryani and second |
| travelers and merchants from Arab. However, there is | | | | son of late Haji Ahmed Ali. He also added, "Due to |
| also another saying regarding the origin of Biryani. In the | | | | enormous public demand, we have recently opened |
| war time during the Mughal period, the soldiers were | | | | our first branch at Progoti Sharani." |
| provided one item meal. Rice and meat were cooked | | | | Another prominent name in the Biryani world of Dhaka |
| together and served. Later, such recipe was | | | | is "Nanna Miah's" Biryani. Situated in the Nazimuddin |
| introduced more formally in the royal dining and | | | | Road of Old Dhaka (beside the Dhaka Central Prison), |
| eventually become immensely popular throughout the | | | | "Nanna Miah's" Biryani is famous for the unique |
| rice-eater community in Indian subcontinent. | | | | 'Chicken Kachhi' preparation. Only chicken is used for |
| There are numerous fast food restaurants throughout | | | | Biryani here. They have two recipes- 'Chicken Kachhi' |
| the city of Dhaka these days and the number is just | | | | and 'Chicken Pakki'. "I come to old Dhaka at least once |
| growing up. Even international fast food chains like | | | | in a month for two things- Nanna's Biryani and Beauty's |
| KFC and Pizza Hut has a number of their outlets at | | | | Sharbat (a kind of drink). I'll miss them more than |
| different city points. Despite the dominance of fast | | | | anything once I settle myself abroad" said by Porag, a |
| food, particularly with the young generation, Biryani still | | | | 24 year old man who is migrating to Canada soon. |
| has its very special place in the heart of the citizens. | | | | Star Restaurant is another landmark for serving |
| "Almost each Friday morning we have a special | | | | delicious Biryani. The principal branch of the restaurant |
| cricket match with our college mates and the loosing | | | | is located at B.C.Roy Road in Alu Bajar, Sutrapur |
| team has to treat the winners a special meal with | | | | which was established almost 45 years back. But it |
| Biryani. We visit different restaurants each week to | | | | gained enormous fame when they launched their own |
| taste different Biryani. But we just never get enough | | | | five storied restaurant in Dhanmondi, the city's heart |
| of it!" said by Sabbir Iqbal, a 29 year old executive who | | | | place. "This is the biggest restaurant of the country |
| is working with Banglalink. | | | | that serves deshi food and we sell around 8,000 plates |
| Biryani is so popular at this part of the world that | | | | of Biryani each day," said by Sheikh Mizan, floor |
| wedding or any other ceremonies will almost certainly | | | | manager of the Star Restaurant. |
| have Biryani in its menu. "I got married almost 34 years | | | | Apart from the above mentioned there are several |
| back. By that time, Dhaka was not today's Dhaka. | | | | other restaurants which also serves various Biryani |
| Things have changed so much since then. But few | | | | dishes with their own special flavor. Dolma House of |
| things do remain same as it was decades before. | | | | Motijheel is famous for its 'Dolma Biryani', prepared |
| Menu of my wedding receptions had Biryani then and it | | | | with both meat and vegetable. Karai Gosto, a |
| still has today. My younger daughter is about to get | | | | restaurant in Dhanmondi serves its unique 'Motor |
| married in next January and surely Biryani is going to | | | | Biryani', that use beans along with their benchmark |
| be served as main course. We 'Dhakaiya' (residents of | | | | menu called 'Karai Gosto.' Besides, there are few |
| old Dhaka who lives there for many years) people | | | | restaurants in Dhaka who serves Indian Biryani with |
| cannot think of our any celebrations without dishes full | | | | the local flavor. Dhaaba, an Indian food shop, serves |
| of delicious Biryani," proudly said by Fazley Noman, a | | | | 'Hyderabadi Dum Biryani' that is cooked in a 'Kachhi' |
| 60 year old retired person who has been living in the | | | | style. Voot, another upscale restaurant in Dhaka has |
| Rankin Street, Wari ever since he was born. | | | | their special 'Maharani Biryani' that is cooked in South |
| Although, Biryani is counted as the heritage food of old | | | | Indian flavor and uses a lot of spice. There is also a |
| Dhaka, there are a number of food shops around the | | | | tiny restaurant in city's Lalmatia named as 'Swaad |
| new city as well which serve fine quality of Biryani. | | | | Tehari Ghar' which is very famous for its Tehari, a |
| "We like fast food menus like pizza, pasta or burgers | | | | variant of Biryani. Tehari is cooked with less oil and |
| while we hang out with friends but whenever there is | | | | thus more dry than Biryani and mostly use beef for |
| any special occasion to celebrate like birthday or | | | | meat. Interestingly, in India, Tehari is referred to |
| something, Biryani from Malancha or Khushbu | | | | vegetarian version of Biryani. |
| restaurant is our first preference," this is the statement | | | | There is a large selection of foods in Dhaka that are |
| of Nusrat Khandker, a 21 year old student from | | | | tasty, delicious and made with local flavor. But not |
| University of Dhaka. Dhaka's Biryani is not only | | | | many of them are famous worldwide. Biryani of |
| available in Dhaka. It has spread through hundreds of | | | | Dhaka is one of those few ones that have earned the |
| sub continental restaurants in many big cities of the | | | | love of food lovers across the world. According to |
| world. Nishat Afza, a 34 year old NRB living in London | | | | Google Insight (Google's Keyword tracking service), |
| and currently visiting her homeland mentioned, "Once in | | | | Biryani is the most searched recipe in regards of |
| a while, we go out for a meal and often we ended up | | | | Bangladeshi foods. If anyone visits Dhaka, one should |
| visiting the famous Dhaka Biryani House located at Mile | | | | be prepared to have at least one hearty meal of |
| End Road to get a taste from Bangladesh." | | | | Biryani with its sweet spicy aroma. |
| Whenever you talk about the Biryani from Dhaka, the | | | | |