Best biryanis in Qatar
Here’s the list I wished had existed when I came to Qatar years ago. After years on the biryani hunt - and always disappointed - I decided to ask a couple of my Indian colleagues to guide my biryani deprived heart in the right direction. In Canada, we had some GOOD biryani, and in Qatar I kept getting served curry on rice and being told that is was “biryani”. Sure, it might have been biryani, but it wasn’t what I was looking and craving for. Canada’s biryani set a super high standard.
Now, after trying out some of the recommended places… I can report (with GLEE!!) some of the best biryanis in Qatar. After 11 loooooooong years, I finally found what I was looking for.
The biryani here has been selling out since Ramadan started! Located in Al Nasr area the biryani here is amazing! The chicken was a bit on the dry side, but otherwise, it was perfect. The curry was cooked with the rice and chicken - which is what I had wanted. Not two separate dishes smacked together and served. On another note, I tried their mixed grill and these guys had mean shish kebabs. Very good.
Prices are super cheap too! That’s always good news! After blowing tons of money to eat in a mall - I have now discovered the much cheaper (and super delicious) options available in the non-mall restaurants/cafes. The biryani costs 16-20QR, depending on portion size… (oh yeah, I bet you’re smiling on the other side of this screen).
2. MRA
Hands down it is the best biryani in Qatar (to me, anyways). This was the most highly recommended place to satisfy my biryani craving. It didn’t disappoint. Everything was perfect, it was not burn-your-mouth-off spicy either. 5 stars for this one. I can confidently state that you will come out happy ordering this one.
The price? 19QR for a huge heaping amount of carb heaven! The man told me that the portion size was only good for one person… ha! Not true, unless you have the appetite of a lion. I honestly thought it was so much food, and it was so delicious, that I truly felt like I was stealing at 19QR.
3. Doha Rocks
Wow, full disclosure, I have not tried this one yet. But… for those who have eaten here - they all swear by it. There is apparently a mutton biryani offered on Fridays that tastes home cooked and is packed with flavour. (I always had an issue with these fancy creamy biryanis - not my type).
Watch this, casually bring up “Have you tried Doha Rocks’ Biryani?”, the folks that have tried it will start smiling right away. This is on my list, but considering the other recommendations absolutely rocked - I can’t wait! This will only set you back 24QR for the lamb biryani and 22QR for the chicken biryani.
I can’t say this enough, but the two biryanis I have tried were amazing and the prices seem unreal for Doha. I thought I left all of these great deals behind. Many thanks to the two lovely Indian grads who guided me on this biryani expedition. For a decade, google and other expats have totally let me down in this regard.
Stay tuned - next week we’ll have three must try’s from a Qatari on where to eat in Qatar :)
Do you have a biryani place in Qatar that you think rocks? Share it with us!
1- Chicken & Mutton - Al Jamal Restaurant - Bin Mahmoud
2- Chicken Biryani - Mr Broast - Najma & Old Airport
3- Chillman Biryani - Zauq - Ezdan & Salwa Road
4- Chicken & Mutton Biryani - Hyderabadi Spice House -
5- Chicken Biryani (Oily though) - Cuppa Tea
1- Chicken & Mutton - Al Jamal Restaurant - Bin Mahmoud
2- Chicken Biryani - Mr Broast - Najma & Old Airport
3- Chillman Biryani - Zauq - Ezdan & Salwa Road
4- Chicken & Mutton Biryani - Hyderabadi Spice House -
5- Chicken Biryani (Oily though) - Cuppa Tea
any good Biyani joints near Bin Omran area? possibly those who deliver?
Ya, Caution is necessary for her ............................
QL team: Well tell the writer to take it easy and go slow with the sampling; lest she over do it and come back with a listing of the best gastroenterologists in Qatar :-) oh and don't forget the Qatari recommendations for Qatari food you promised.... More important than part 2 of this...
Excited ......... waiting for her input ..........
EVERYONE get ready for Part 2, the writer will try your recommendations and come back with her verdict!
So nice of Umz ...........................
I have tried couple of places.. but I would give more preference to Mazza Restaurant. Amazing food and delicious both chicken and mutton biriyani and very friendly team.
Guys we have covered all the restaurants , i think its enough to discuss more. like achabacha said that is the right statement, i agree with him.
Thanks
Thank you for the reco Sanojmk2004. I will try Tamilnadu restaurant and hopefully they serve authentic malabari biryani. I'm not from kerala but do like some malabari dishes.
Accha: Oh come on now, it's just food we're talking about; no need to get all touchy and competitive; everyone can chime in with their recommendations; no need to put down others' suggestions or start handing out stars and ratings; oh and Hyderabad biryani is not biryani you say? Count the recommendations for the Hyderabadi places in this thread...end of... Like I said and like you too said; biryani is a diverse dish which no one can claim ownership of...i love the Sindhi biryani of Pakistan as much as if not more than Hyderabad'..so yeah we can leave the nationalities and ratings out of what is a great topic... Looks like I'm having biryani tonight :-)
Hi Shuaibh,
Biriyani is favorite dish for me too. If you are from kerala, I bet you will surely love the Biriyani from Tamilnadu Restaurant. Just try it. Home made biriyani is always good. As you said, MRA biriyani, I also felt not much tasty.
Biryani is my favorite dish, and I was very disappointed when I couldn't find any restaurant in Doha that serves decent Biryani. I have tried almost all the restaurants here in Doha in my attempt to find the biryani that I like (or at least come close).
There are restaurants like Zaoq, Punjab, Mazza, that serve good food but fail when it comes to biryani.
The biryani at Deccan Dewan used to be OK but now their standards seem to be slipping which weren't that great to begin with (but better than others in Doha). Right now it's only home made biryani for me until I can find that elusive restaurant.
p.s - Biryani at MRA is not good.
True Hyderabadi Biryani is not the true Biryani. It is "khatti biryani."
I urge you to taste briyani in Aalishan TakeAway (Westbay Petrol Station), that would set the bar high. MRAs briyani is not at all briyani, its somewhere in between khuska rice and fried rice. Zaoq's kebabs are somethnig to die for. Looking at the reco for Deccan Deewan, I am certainly gonna try it!!
Hyderabadi biryani must be called as "Khatti Biryani" it's not a traditional biryani.
nothing better than clean house made biryani. hotel foods are ALWAYS unhygienic no matter how many ""stars"" it has.
Guys, try the "Malabar Chicken Dum Biriyani" at Tamilnadu Restaurant running by new malayali management near Badariya signal, Bin Mahamoud. You will surely love this with very less price of QAR 11/-. I have tried Biriyani in many restaurants which is mentioned in many of the above comments. But I couldn't go back to any of this restaurants after trying Biriyani from Tamilnadu Restaurant. Also other foods are amazing including chinese dishes.
If you are looking for Dum biryani yes Deccan Dewan as there are not many places where dum biryani is served.
I wish there was a Bangalore restaurant. I really miss this Bangalore biryani.
MRA it's mallu taste.
Off late I eat in Alkhor - Panoor a new restaurant. Not bad
Please try once ZAOQ Pakistani restaurant.
So far it is just the Indians especially the Hyderabadis talking of dishes from their part of their world. Tastes differ from region to region. Deccan Dewaan's biryani may taste good to S Indians or the Hyderabadis, but it does not satisfy the taste of people from north India or from W Bengal where Biryanis are cooked in totally a different manner and thus they carry a different taste and aroma. I did not like the biryani at Deccan Deewan. One famous dish from Hyderabad is Bagharay Baigan which I guess Deccan Deewan does not make. Almost adjacent to the above is the Zoaq restaurant where the food is much better. No one appears to have mentioned this restaurant so far.
I give just 3* to Deccan Deewan.
Star Kebab biryani is a must try.
Its behind al emadi hospital.
5* to Deccan Deewan Restaurant, The best in Qatar.
For me,
1. Sangeeth Restaurant
2. Deccan Dewan
3. Hyderabad Spices(Near Jaidha Bridge)
First off - Where do you usually have Biriyani in Canada - Nevermind answering that question if it ain't the GTA. I do agree MRA sells biriyani for a steal but to me, I think the Biriyani is just okay - Biriyani has to be made with Basmati rice and must be real dum cooked or it ain't true biriyani for me. This is why I asked you where in Canada you get your biriyani fix. Because MRA style BF is kind of unique to Malabar side and that is kind of rare in Canada. Since I did not see you mention it - Please try Deccan Diwan and Zaoq - Zaoq chilman biriyani (Sorry - Gravy on the top) is one hell of a kind and a life time experience
If you say canada has better biryani then, buddy you got the whole biryani game wrong!
I'd rather have curry and rice in qatar than the coloured fried rice they call biryani in canada that tastes so plain.
Jamal hotel and Mr broast
Biryani is a very diverse dish with many influences and flavours; but as others have said and being hyderabadi myself; the only decent commercially available biryani that actually tastes like Hyderabad' is deccan deewan... This is not to say the other places are bad; just that Deccan deewan is the real deal..qatar has some way to go before it can compete with the uae or Saudi Arabia for food though... The biryanis I've eaten there leave even Deccan deewan in the dust...
If you haven't tried bolloywood masala, you are missing something
Try Hyderabadi Spices old airport, Sangeet Mansoura,
Hey thanks for all of the suggestions! We WILL actually explore them and get back to you!
I will go with AdilHasan. Being a Hyderabadi, I strongly recommend visiting Deccan Deewan as it is the "actual" hyderabadi biryani. The hotel ambiance may not suit to few people - but if it is "Hyderabadi Biryani" then it is Deccan Deewan.. A+++++
I agree MRA is really good.
The best in Doha is Mr. Broast and Deccan Deewan!
Top rating
1.Deccan deewan
2.Hyderabdi Spices
3.Tamarind Indian
4.Aalishan
5.Caravan Bukhara
So many better places are missing, Aalishan, Caravan Bukhara, Tamarand Indian, Deccan Dewan.
Wow that's 2 for Deccan Deewan! Thanks @aswanika!
thanks @amshsc!
Try Hyderabad spices near Jaidha flyover, and also Deccan deewan, delicious biryani.
Why isn't Rizks' Emporium mentioned here .. He does a fish Biryani using fish specially imported from Kerala (so he says)
what is the location of MRA?
Try jamal hotel, near badraiya signal,
also try deccan dewan hotel
It's eating time again!