Chicken. Mutton. Boneless. Egg. Vegetarian (stop it, be nice). You’ve tried them all, and you probably have a favourite. While you’ve been wiping off that last grain of saffron rice from your silverware, you sit on an unexplored treasure of Hyderabadi cuisine — which goes beyond the much loved biryani. We promise you are not alone to wonder what to eat in Hyderabad beyond the usual staple — biryani.
As the festive season ushers in nights of third helpings and undisclosed number of tipples, the coveted biryani promises to grace every other supper table. While you chow down this resident pièce de résistance like a ravenous college student, this season take a step further and make acquaintance with the lesser known but just as lip-smackin’ members of Hyderabadi cuisine. A blend of Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and South Indian palates, the fare of the Nizams is famed for its decadence and love for meat — making it your perfect supper soulmate for the coming celebratory months. In the article, we are answering the question of what to eat in Hyderabad with these five must-try dishes from the city of the Nizams that’ll put biryani on the back burner (we jest, don’t throw that claypot at us!).
Bagara Dalcha at Prince Hotel
Photo: Canva
“Eat your greens” — how many times has this maxim eaten into your share of meat on the plate? But what if we told you there’s a dish that promises balance between the two in a single serving? Say hello to Mutton Dalcha, the perfect harmony of meat, lentils, and vegetables — and of course, an ace palate pleaser. Bagara, a spiced rice delicacy, prepared in Hyderabad, is essentially a plain biryani recipe without any vegetables and masalas. Add to this your Dalcha, a curry dish prepared with chana dal (Bengal gram), brinjal, bottle gourd or pumpkin, and mutton, and is your perfect fix for ODing on ghosht yet sidestepping a meat-only diet. Indulge in this at Prince Hotel in Mehdipatnam, a modest-looking, unpretentious spot that serves Bagara Dalcha at just ₹80. After eating this don’t forget to carve out nap time post this indulgence!
Mutton Marag at Chicha’s
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A mutton stew, marag is a concoction of Indian spices (think cardamom, black pepper, carom seeds, bay leaf, etc.) with tender mutton pieces, meat falling off the bone. A popular dish in the southern city, marag has made it to the wedding menus as a recurring member – and as the gospel truth goes, once a dish makes it to weddings, you cannot not try it. Have this soup in all its glory, or pair it with the eternal favourites roomali roti or naan. Head to Chicha’s in Lakdikapul for their Marag Soup (₹249) or even opt for the Special Mutton Marag Soup with 2 Dill Naan (₹558). If you are wondering what to eat in Hyderabad, Chicha’s is your option as they explore authentic Hyderabadi cuisine.
Shahdood at Milan Juice Centre
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Also known as Shahdood Malai, it is made with mulberry, fresh cream, dry fruits, and nuts. Think like fruit cream but with just mulberries. Without any doubt, Milan Juice Centre in Charminar is sure to cure all your cravings. While writing, we can imagine this being the perfect end to a hot summer day as we eat the Shahdood Malai (₹100).
Khubani ka Meetha at Cafe Bahar
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When rounding off a Hyderabadi meal, how can the dessert not be decadence defined? Although we suggest you take these festive months as a prime opportunity to dig into khubani ka meetha as often – Hyderabadi main course or not. Prepped using dried apricots (khubani) and sugar syrup, and topped with almonds and fresh cream, this dessert is as quick-n-easy to make as it is delish. A puree, the sweet from apricots is offset by the tang from spices such as cardamom and saffron, making it the perfect fit for your sweet tooth yet avoiding that sugar overkill. Our recommendation to try this mithai would be at Cafe Bahar in Himayath Nagar, which is an Irani cafe turned restaurant.
Jouzi Halwa at Hameedi Confectioners
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Another popular sweet in Hyderabad is the Jouzi Halwa. It is bright red in colour and topped with cashew nuts and silver foil, Jouzi tastes like a richer variant of paalkova but sweeter and a lot heavier. Jouzi Halwa is now synonyms with 125+ year-old Hameedi Confectioners, a sweet shop set up by an 11-year-old Turkish boy who later became the favourite halwai of the last Nizam of Hyderabad. This is how the Turkish mithai came to India that takes around 16 hours to make one batch. Jouz in Urdu means oats and the key ingredients of this halwa include oat milk, mixed into a lot of sugar, dry fruits, ghee and saffron.
Haleem at Shah Ghouse
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Haleem is a type of stew which is is popular in South Asia, The Middle East, and Central Asia. The dish may vary from country to country but the basic ingredients include wheat or barley, meat and lentils. Have as is or dip any sort of flatbread in this rich gravy which is garnished with fried onion, lemon, chaat masala, ginger and cilantro. However, the origin of Haleem is from the popular Arabian dish called Harees. The best Haleem in Hyderabad is hands down at Shah Ghouse, a 50-year legacy of serving traditional Hyderabadi cuisine. Shah Ghouse has almost a cult-like following where across outlets you will always find a queue of people waiting to try their famous Haleem.
Hyderabadi Biryani at Paradise
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We know we said that this list will include dishes beyond biryani but we couldn’t not talk about Hyderabad and just skip biryani. Straight from the kitchens of Nizams, the biryani here combines Hyderabadi and Mughlai cuisines and includes basmati rice and a generous amount of meat — mostly mutton. We know there are multiple spots for biryani and we are not denying that they might be equally good but our recommendation has to be Paradise. A legendary place in Hyderabad since 1953, Paradise offers the authentic Hyderabadi Biryani and other local favourites such as haleem, kebabs, and more.
Bagara Baingan at Palamuru Grill
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We know we said seven dishes but we had to add one more because is Hyderabadi cuisine all meat and rice? No Sir. Though the common perception goes that Hyderabadi fare leans towards non-vegetarian, it also offers up an equal share of stunning vegetarian options. On the top of the charts being baghara baingan. Made using baby eggplants, tamarind, curry leaves, coconut, sesame, poppy seeds, peanuts, and more; this stuffed eggplant dish results in a rich creamy curry, with a tangy flavour laden with spices. Take note, this may be the most flavourful eggplant you’ve tried ever! Relish it with rice or breads, the baghara baingan vows to remain as delectable with both. With multiple outlets across Hyderabad, Palamuru Grill can be an easy stop for all vegetarian eaters when they are craving bagara baingain.
Go ahead, explore the cuisine beyond the rice delicacy, but fret not, you shall always have a hot clay pot of biryani to come home to!