Modern Tailors (The Zone, Rosebank)

If you’re looking to dine at a contemporary Indian restaurant with a great ambience and biryani that will have you hankering for seconds, Modern Tailors is the place to go. Serving up a North Indian-style layered biryani in options of vegetarian biryani or chicken biryani on the bone, Modern Tailors’ menu also features an interesting Afghani lamb kabuli pulav. Every Wednesday, the restaurant offers a choice of lamb biryani on the bone or a reduced-price biryani lunch special from 11am to 4pm, which is when you can enjoy chicken biryani on the bone or vegetarian biryani. While the regular portion size of the biryani is 550 grams, the Wednesday lunch special biryanis are a smaller portion size of 350 grams. All biryanis are served with complimentary dhal and spiced buttermilk, while the Afghani lamb kabuli pulav is served with complimentary spiced buttermilk. While the chicken biryani on the bone is by far the most popular, Jain biryanis without onion and garlic can also be ordered a day in advance and cost the same as the vegetarian biryani. All biryanis are halaal and can be customised according to individual spice level preferences of mild, medium, hot or extra hot.

 

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Taste of India (Rivonia)

For a taste of traditional Indian Dum biryani that is available in multiple varieties, Taste of India is a dependable choice. Take your pick from the options of vegetarian biryani, chicken biryani on the bone or boneless chicken biryani, lamb biryani on the bone, boneless lamb biryani, goat biryani on the bone, prawn biryani or fish biryani. While the chicken biryani is the popular choice, game meat biryani can also be prepared on special request if ordered a week prior. All biryanis are halaal and served with a complimentary raita. Taste of India also offers a biryani lunch special from Monday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm for takeaway orders only, when you can get a smaller portion of vegetarian biryani at R50, chicken biryani at R55 or lamb biryani at R65.

The Raj (Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton)

Promising patrons a Punjabi-style biryani prepared with unique spices and ingredients, The Raj offers a choice of its bestselling vegetarian biryani, chicken biryani, lamb biryani or prawn biryani.

 

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Punjabi Tadka (Parkmore, Sandton)

With chefs hailing from Punjab, you can be sure that a plate of North Indian Dum biryani at Punjabi Tadka is the real deal. The restaurant offers a wide variety of biryani options to choose from, including vegetarian biryani, paneer biryani, egg biryani, chicken biryani on the bone, boneless chicken biryani, lamb biryani on the bone, boneless lamb biryani, goat biryani on the bone, fish biryani or prawn biryani. All biryanis served are halaal, come in a standard portion size that is generous enough for two and are served with complimentary cucumber raita. The biryanis can be customised according to individual spice level preferences of mild, medium, hot or extra hot. While the goat biryani is the most popular, from time to time, the restaurant also offers impala biryani and kudu biryani.

 

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The Royal India (Sandton)

True to its name, The Royal India serves up a traditional North Indian-style biryani prepared with special biryani spices that are made in-house by North Indian chefs. At the restaurant, you can enjoy a vegetarian biryani, chicken biryani, lamb biryani, prawn biryani or fish biryani. All biryanis served are halaal and the most popular choices are the lamb biryani and vegetarian biryani. Biryanis are served in a standard portion size and can be customised according to individual spice level preferences of mild, medium, hot or extra hot. The Royal India also offers a ‘Buy 1, Get 1 Free’ biryani lunch special on its vegetarian biryani or chicken biryani from Monday to Sunday on Uber Eats and Mr D Food.

Namak (Craighall and Blairgowrie)

One of the most loved Indian restaurants in Johannesburg, Namak offers a traditional North Indian-style biryani, as well as a Hyderabadi biryani. From the menu, you can select your choice of a vegetarian biryani, vegetarian Hyderabadi biryani, paneer biryani, lamb biryani, chicken tikka biryani, chicken Hyderabadi biryani, prawn tikka biryani or fish biryani. The chicken tikka biryani is currently the top seller. All biryanis served are halaal, come in a standard portion size and can be customised according to individual spice level preferences of mild, medium, hot or extra hot.

 

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Dosa Hut (Fordsburg and Fourways)

Dosa Hut is one of the few restaurants in Johannesburg that offers traditional Malabar-style Dum biryani, apart from the North Indian-style biryani that it also serves. Quality Basmati rice, in-house biryani masalas made with spices sourced from Kerala and no artificial additives are the top reasons why Dosa Hut’s biryani is a must-try. Biryani options include vegetarian biryani, paneer biryani, egg biryani, lamb biryani on the bone, Malabar chicken Dum biryani on the bone, tandoori chicken tikka biryani, prawn biryani and fish biryani. While the Malabar chicken Dum biryani is the most popular, goat biryani is also available on request for a minimum bulk order of one kilo and needs to be ordered one day in advance. On Fridays, Dosa Hut Fourways offers the Malabar chicken Dum biryani at a special price of R55 for lunch between 11am and 3pm. All biryanis served are halaal, come in a standard portion size and can be customised according to individual spice level preferences of mild, medium or hot.

 

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Thava (Norwood and Fourways)

A South Indian restaurant specialising in traditional Dum biryani, Thava offers options of a vegetarian biryani, chicken boneless biryani, lamb biryani on the bone, boneless lamb biryani, lamb chop masala biryani, lamb shank masala biryani, fish biryani and prawn biryani. The lamb biryani is a firm favourite with customers. All biryanis served are halaal, come in a standard portion size and can be customised according to individual spice level preferences of mild, medium, hot or extra hot.

 

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Ghazal (Melrose Arch)

A traditional North Indian Dum biryani prepared by a Punjabi chef from India is what patrons can look forward to while dining at Ghazal. The menu includes a vegetarian biryani, boneless chicken biryani, boneless lamb biryani, prawn biryani and fish biryani. The lamb biryani is a hot seller. All biryanis served are halaal, come in a standard portion size and can be customised according to individual spice level preferences of mild, medium or hot.

 

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Biryani Hut (Wendywood)

As the name suggests, Biryani Hut is known for its Dum biryani that is the top-selling item on its menu. Biryani Hut offers a choice of vegetarian biryani, chicken biryani on the bone, boneless chicken biryani, lamb biryani on the bone, boneless lamb biryani, fish biryani and prawn biryani. Smaller portion sizes are also available for the vegetarian biryani, chicken biryani and lamb biryani. The boneless chicken biryani and the lamb biryani are the most ordered biryanis by customers. Twice a month, Biryani Hut runs dine-in specials such as a ‘Buy 2, Get 1 Free’ offer on select biryanis or a ‘Buy 1, Get 1 Free’ offer on a biryani combo with a curry and naan. All biryanis served are halaal and can be customised according to individual spice level preferences of mild, medium or hot.