Old Dhaka’s biryani: A food cherished by many

Old Dhaka - When you hear the name and if you are a food lover, you will think of various palatable foods. Among all the items, biryani is all the go here. In addition to various events and festivals, many people regularly flock to the biryani shops here. Further biryani is their daily food to the local people.

All the famous and traditional biryani shops of the capital are located in old Dhaka. Kazi Alauddin Road in Nazirabazar has the largest number of biryani shops. Haji Biryani, Nanna Biryani, Hanif Biryani, Khushboo Biryani House, Makka Biryani, Moti Biryani Ghar, Bokhari Biryani House and many traditional biryani shops are located on this road. Besides, Mamun Biryani of Nazimuddin Road, Kashmir Biryani House of Islampur, Royal Biryani of Urdu Road, Rahim Biryani of Suritola are also very famous.
 
Due to the reputation and demand of Biryani in old Dhaka, Biryani shops of different flavours have also sprung up in Bangshal, Siddiqbazar, Chawkbazar, Raisaheb Bazar, Nawabpur, Kotwali, Islampur, Wari and Malitola areas. Apart from this, Star Hotel on Johnson Road, Cafe Yusuf, Islamia Restaurant, Al-Islam Restaurant, Kitchen and Hotel Al-Razzaq on North-South Road are also appreciated. These shops are open from morning till dawn. 

Talking to the biryani shop owners here, it is known that many locals have taken breakfast, lunch and dinner with biryani. And people from different parts of the capital are mostly come to taste biryani during lunch and dinner.

Hajir Biryani staff said that even though the pressure of shoppers was less in the morning, the crowd of shoppers started increasing in the afternoon. Most of the buyers are residents of old Dhaka. Shoppers not only eat but also take home for the family.

Farabi Ahsan, who came from Dhanmondi to eat at Hanif Biryani House, said, “Biryani is at the top of my list of favourite foods. And I often come to old Dhaka for biryani. I have tried biryani from many shops here, but I like Hanif's biryani most. Besides, Borhani in here is also my favourite dessert.”

Meetara Chowdhury, one of the friends who came to eat biryani in groups, said, “I don't get the real taste of raw biryani anywhere except old Dhaka. That's why we often come here to eat with friends.”

On the spot, by visiting different areas of old Dhaka it has been seen that almost every biryani shop was crowded with shoppers. However, most biryani shops are small in size. Consuming dish and food are also being sold with 80 to 150 square feet shops. Many are standing in line waiting to eat. Further, some people are taking the biryani home in parcels.

Buyer Subrata, who was standing in line in front of Haji Biryani, said, “The food space here is too small, so I will take it home. Buying biryani while standing in line is also a bit of a hassle. But, the people of the house will not eat any biryani other than Haji.”

Ruhul Amin, president of the Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association, said, "There are about two to three thousand biryani shops in old Dhaka but Haji, Nanna, Hanif, Makka - these shops are strongly valued by the buyers. That is why these shops are more crowded. However, other stores are also doing good business. There is no recession in selling biryani shops here. About 8 to 10 crore of taka a month is transacted only in biryani shops in old Dhaka.” 

Haji Mohammad Abdullah, the current head of Nanna Biryani, said, "We serve food to about six to seven hundred people here every day. Moreover, every week there are orders for biryani on different occasions. 

Ibrahim Shams, the owner of Bokhari Biryani, said that Haji-Nanna's biryani has more buyers and more sales. However, the biryani in our shop also goes well. All the shops here have some regular customers. And if someone from outside comes and eats once, he doesn't hesitate to come a second time.

It can be seen that in these shops and hotels, a half plate of raw and chicken biryani is sold at 80 to 150. Full plate price in 180 to 360. Besides raw biryani, chicken-polao, khasir rezala and kebab will also be available at 80 to 180. Firni, yogurt and Borhani are also available as desserts. 

At present, multifarious biryani shops are being set up in different parts of Dhaka, but the biryani of old Dhaka is at the top of the list for the food lovers. Although there is no space, no one compromises with the taste of food. And it can be seen in this place that there are more biryani shops here than any other food shop. The local buyers and sellers of old Dhaka have kept this tradition of biryani.