Best Biryani in Mumbai (2026): Where Diners Say It Is Worth Ordering
Almost every non-vegetarian menu in Mumbai lists a biryani, which is exactly why a list of places that serve one is no help. For this guide we went through diners’ reviews of every restaurant we cover and kept only the places where people single out the biryani itself, by name, as a reason to go. Each one links to its full page on Discover Mumbai, with opening hours, prices and directions.
Where reviewers disagree, we say so.
Quick picks
| If you want | Go to |
|---|---|
| The one to splurge on | Dum Pukht, Andheri East |
| Prawn biryani | Balwas, Marine Lines, or Mahesh Lunch Home, Fort |
| Late at night in the suburbs | Persian Darbar, Lokhandwala, open until 4 AM |
| Near CSMT on a budget | Farhang, Fort |
| Vegetarian | Raja Refreshments or Khana Khazana, both in Girgaon |
Slow-cooked dum biryani
Dum Pukht, Andheri East (₹₹₹₹)
The Awadhi restaurant at ITC Maratha, and the biryani diners mention most often in the reviews we read. It is cooked the slow, sealed-pot way and served mildly spiced, which is the point: reviewers describe the lamb biryani as the best they have eaten, and several were just as taken with the vegetable version. The kacche gosht and kheema biryani is the heavier choice. Not everyone is convinced: a couple of diners found it bland for a restaurant that costs around 3,000 rupees a head. Order it with the kakori kebab and sheermal.
Nksha, Churchgate (₹₹₹)
A North Indian restaurant opposite Churchgate station, and every reviewer we read who ordered the biryani rated it highly, the dum biryani and the lamb biryani alike. It is moderately spiced and the room is small, so book ahead. Halal options are available.
Mughlai classics
Persian Darbar, Lokhandwala (₹₹)
A Mughlai restaurant in Lokhandwala that stays open until 4 AM, which makes it the late-night answer in the western suburbs. Diners rate the chicken tikka biryani and the mutton biryani, and mention generous portions; one found the mutton biryani a little heavy on garam masala. There is a raan biryani on the menu too.
Balwas, Marine Lines (₹₹)
An old Mughlai restaurant on New Marine Lines, between Churchgate and CST. The king prawn biryani is the order reviewers rate highest, and the mutton biryani is praised too. One diner found far more potato than chicken in the chicken biryani, so choose the prawn or mutton.
Farhang, Fort (₹₹)
A budget Mughlai restaurant a short walk from CSMT, where reviewers say most orders are for the chicken biryani, and one portion feeds two. The gravies can be oily, but for the biryani and the price it is the practical choice near the station.
Modern North Indian kitchens
Tanatan, Juhu (₹₹₹)
A stylish Punjabi restaurant and bar with live music. Half the reviews we read mention a biryani, and all of them kindly: the chicken biryani, the chicken tikka biryani and, for vegetarians, the subz potli biryani. A good choice when the evening matters as much as the rice.
Punjab Grill, Lower Parel (₹₹₹)
At Palladium mall. Reviewers single out the lamb biryani, and one found the vegetable biryani unusually good. One regular has reported cockroaches inside the restaurant on more than one visit, which is worth knowing.
Seafood biryani
Mahesh Lunch Home, Fort (₹₹₹)
The Mangalorean seafood institution, open since 1977. Most people come for the butter garlic crab, but reviewers who ordered the prawn and squid biryanis rated them, and the seafood is consistently described as fresh. It is not cheap.
Old Girgaon, cheap and good
Voice Of India, Charni Road (₹)
A busy, old-style non-vegetarian restaurant near Charni Road station. Regulars name the chicken biryani as a favourite, followed by the caramel custard. Generous and very cheap; crowded and noisy.
Raja Refreshments, Girgaon (₹, vegetarian)
An old pure-vegetarian Udupi restaurant that now serves several biryanis. Reviewers recommend the Awadhi biryani in particular; one found the plain veg biryani disappointing, so order the Awadhi.
Khana Khazana, Girgaon (₹, vegetarian)
A small vegetarian family restaurant near Charni Road station. The veg handi biryani, a red masala biryani, gets real enthusiasm from the reviewers who ordered it, and it is very cheap.
Dadar
Pritam Da Dhaba, Dadar East (₹₹)
The Dadar dhaba is known for its tandoor, but reviewers who tried the Nazakat Marg biryani liked it, including on delivery.
Famous, but not for the biryani
Noor Mohammadi on Mohammed Ali Road is one of the most famous names in the city, but every review we read that mentions its biryani was disappointed, including the white biryani. Go for the nalli nihari and the chicken sanju baba instead. The Maharashtra FDA suspended its food licence on 14 July 2026, so check it has reopened before you go.
Zaffran in Lower Parel, whose biryani comes up often in reviews, is temporarily closed. Check its page before you go.
How we chose
We read recent public reviews of the restaurants we list and kept only those where diners name the biryani, and say it was good, often enough to count. Prices are per head for a normal meal: ₹ under 500 rupees, ₹₹ 500 to 1,500, ₹₹₹ 1,500 to 3,000, and ₹₹₹₹ above 3,000. We revisit this list as new reviews come in; if a place has slipped, or one is missing, tell us.
Header photo: Lucknowi mutton matka dum biryani by Kalesh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
