best biryani in ahmedabad (2026)

tldr: top 3 biryani spots: bismillah hotel (bhatiyar gali, rs 200-250, best mutton biryani), star biryani (shahpur, rs 150-200, best chicken biryani on a budget), and al-bake (multiple locations, rs 180-250, most consistent quality across branches). full reviews of 10 spots with prices below.

i know what you’re thinking. “biryani in ahmedabad? the vegetarian capital of india?”

yeah. i had the same reaction. last time i was in ahmedabad, everyone kept telling me about the thalis and the street food. and they’re right — ahmedabad’s vegetarian food is genuinely world-class. but when i mentioned biryani, a friend who’s lived there for years said something that stuck with me: “bhatiyar gali exists, bro.”

so i went.

and he was right. ahmedabad has a non-veg food scene that’s been quietly thriving for decades, mostly in the old city. it’s not as visible as the vegetarian scene, it doesn’t get the marketing, and you won’t find it on most “best of ahmedabad” lists. but it’s there, and it’s good.

this is a mix of personal visits and research. i’ve eaten at some of these spots during my trips, and the rest are based on local recommendations, google reviews, and cross-referencing. i’ll be upfront about which is which.

no sponsorships. no fake reviews. just biryani.

the awards (my picks)

• best overall biryani: bismillah hotel, bhatiyar gali - the OG mutton biryani
• best chicken biryani: star biryani, shahpur - flavourful and budget-friendly
• best for the full non-veg experience: bhatiyar gali as a whole - 20+ shops, one lane
• best chain biryani: al-bake, multiple locations - consistent quality
• best premium biryani: ITC narmada, ashram road - hotel biryani done right
• best budget biryani: lucky restaurant, lal darwaja - under rs 150
• best kebabs with biryani: akbari hotel, bhatiyar gali - the kebab-biryani combo

the full list

bhatiyar gali: ahmedabad’s non-veg paradise

before the individual reviews, you need to understand bhatiyar gali. it’s a narrow lane near teen darwaja in the old city that’s been ahmedabad’s non-veg food street for generations. during the day it’s quiet. after 6-7 PM, the grills fire up, the smoke rises, and the lane transforms into a meat lover’s dream.

the shops here are tiny — most are open-front kitchen setups with a few chairs. you eat on metal plates, often standing. the food comes fast, it’s hot, it’s heavily spiced, and it’s cheap. this is not a fine dining experience. this is street-level non-veg food at its best.

getting there: auto-rickshaw to teen darwaja, then walk. don’t try to drive into the lanes. parking is a nightmare.

1. bismillah hotel

bhatiyar gali / biryani: rs 200-300 / 9/10

bismillah is the name that comes up first when you ask any ahmedabadi non-veg enthusiast about biryani. the mutton biryani is the star — slow-cooked, with rice that’s fragrant but not oily, and meat that falls off the bone.

this isn’t hyderabadi-style dum biryani. it’s a different style — the rice has more whole spices visible, the flavor profile leans towards the mughlai-gujarati crossover that’s unique to this part of western india. there’s a subtle sweetness in the rice that you won’t find in lucknow or hyderabad biryani.

what to order: mutton biryani (rs 250-300) is the hero. chicken biryani (rs 200-250) is solid too. pair with a plate of seekh kebab (rs 80-120).

the catch: the space is tiny. expect to wait for seating during dinner hours. the hygiene is street-level, not restaurant-level. if that bothers you, this isn’t your spot. but the food is worth the grit.

2. akbari hotel

bhatiyar gali / biryani: rs 200-300 / 8.5/10

akbari hotel is bismillah’s main competition in bhatiyar gali, and the locals are genuinely divided on which is better. some swear by akbari’s kebabs, others by bismillah’s biryani. both are right.

akbari’s strength is the kebab-biryani combo. their seekh kebab is juicy, well-spiced, and grilled on actual charcoal (you can see the grill right at the entrance). the biryani is slightly different from bismillah’s — a bit more spice, slightly oilier, which works if you like robust flavours.

what to order: seekh kebab plate (rs 100-150) + chicken biryani (rs 200-250). the kebabs are the main attraction here.

3. zamzam hotel

bhatiyar gali / biryani: rs 180-280 / 8/10

the third of the bhatiyar gali trinity. zamzam is slightly cheaper than the other two and has a slightly more accessible feel. the biryani is good, not great — it doesn’t have the depth of bismillah’s or the spice punch of akbari’s. but the mutton curry and the tandoori items are excellent.

what to order: mutton curry with naan (rs 200-250) or tandoori chicken (rs 180-220). the biryani is solid but if you’re only visiting one bhatiyar gali spot, go to bismillah.

outside bhatiyar gali

4. star biryani

shahpur / biryani: rs 150-200 / 8.5/10

star biryani near shahpur is where the locals who don’t want to deal with bhatiyar gali’s crowds go. the chicken biryani here is arguably the best value biryani in ahmedabad — flavourful, generous portions, and priced so low you wonder how they’re making money.

the rice has good flavour without being greasy. the chicken pieces are properly marinated. and at rs 150-180 for a full plate, you can eat biryani every day without feeling the pinch.

what to order: chicken biryani (rs 150-180). their mutton biryani (rs 200) is decent too but chicken is the sweet spot here.

the catch: small place. crowded during lunch and dinner. no frills whatsoever.

5. al-bake

multiple locations / biryani: rs 180-280 / 8/10

al-bake is ahmedabad’s most popular biryani chain. multiple locations across the city, consistent quality, and prices that sit in the mid-range sweet spot. the biryani isn’t the best in the city, but it’s reliable — you know exactly what you’re getting at any branch.

the shawarma is actually their signature item (they started as a shawarma spot), but the biryani has become equally popular. the chicken biryani is well-seasoned, the rice is separate-grain, and the portions are decent.

what to order: chicken biryani (rs 180-220) + a shawarma roll (rs 100-130). the shawarma is genuinely good and worth adding.

6. lucky restaurant

lal darwaja / biryani: rs 120-180 / 7.5/10

lucky restaurant is the budget non-veg option near lal darwaja. the biryani is basic — not winning any awards, but filling, well-spiced, and priced so low that students and working-class folks eat here daily.

the egg biryani is actually the move here. at rs 120-130, it’s a full meal with decent flavour. the chicken biryani is fine but not as good as star biryani.

what to order: egg biryani (rs 120-130). the anda bhurji (rs 60-80) is also worth trying if you’re here for breakfast.

7. karim’s

navrangpura / biryani: rs 250-400 / 7.5/10

karim’s in ahmedabad is not the same as delhi’s legendary karim’s near jama masjid. it’s a franchise/inspired-by situation, and the food reflects that. the biryani is decent, the kebabs are okay, but it doesn’t have the soul of the original.

that said, if you’re in navrangpura and want a sit-down non-veg meal without going to the old city, it works. the interiors are cleaner than bhatiyar gali options, there’s proper seating, and the food is consistently above average.

what to order: mutton biryani (rs 350-400). not cheap by ahmedabad standards.

premium options

8. ITC narmada

ashram road / biryani: rs 500-700 / 8/10

this is where ahmedabad’s business crowd goes for biryani. ITC narmada’s restaurant serves a proper dum biryani — sealed pot, slow-cooked, the kind of biryani where they break the seal at your table. the presentation, the fragrance when the pot opens, the quality of the meat — it’s a different experience from bhatiyar gali.

is it worth rs 500-700? that depends on what you’re paying for. the biryani itself is excellent but not 3x better than bismillah’s. you’re paying for ambiance, service, and the experience of eating biryani with actual cutlery instead of standing in a narrow lane.

what to order: dum mutton biryani (rs 600-700). pair with a kebab platter if you’re splurging.

9. mirch masala

cg road / sg highway / biryani: rs 250-400 / 7.5/10

mirch masala is the family-friendly non-veg restaurant chain in ahmedabad. multiple locations, decent biryani, and the kind of place where you can take your family without worrying about the setting.

the biryani is standard restaurant-grade — not street-food soulful, not hotel-premium. it’s the safe middle option. the tandoori items and the butter chicken are actually better than the biryani here.

what to order: tandoori chicken (rs 350-400) + jeera rice or naan. the biryani is decent but not their strength.

10. food inn

lal darwaja / biryani: rs 130-180 / 7/10

food inn near lal darwaja is another budget non-veg spot. the chicken biryani is basic but well-priced. it’s the kind of place you eat at because it’s convenient and cheap, not because it’s exceptional.

what to order: chicken biryani (rs 130-160). nothing fancy, nothing wrong.

ahmedabad biryani vs other cities

let me be honest about this. ahmedabad biryani is not hyderabadi biryani. it’s not lucknow’s kakori-style refined biryani. it’s not kolkata’s potato-biryani. it’s its own thing — slightly sweeter rice, different spice profile, influenced by the mughlai-gujarati food traditions of the old city.

if you come expecting hyderabadi dum biryani, you’ll be disappointed. if you come expecting a unique biryani style that’s been evolving in bhatiyar gali for decades, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

the best way to appreciate ahmedabad biryani is to eat it in bhatiyar gali, standing in a narrow lane, with smoke from charcoal grills in your face. the setting is part of the flavour.

questions people ask about biryani in ahmedabad

which is the best biryani in ahmedabad?

bismillah hotel in bhatiyar gali for mutton biryani. star biryani in shahpur for budget chicken biryani. ITC narmada for the premium dum biryani experience.

where to eat non-veg in ahmedabad?

bhatiyar gali is the main non-veg food street. kalupur, shahpur, and juhapura also have good options. for sit-down restaurants, mirch masala and karim’s work.

is bhatiyar gali safe?

yes. busy, well-trafficked, families visit regularly. go by auto since parking is impossible.

how much does biryani cost?

rs 120-700 depending on where you eat. street-level: rs 120-250. restaurants: rs 250-400. hotels: rs 500-700.

is ahmedabad only vegetarian?

no. the vegetarian scene dominates the marketing, but the non-veg scene in the old city is strong and has been around for generations.

ahmedabad’s biryani scene doesn’t get the credit it deserves. bhatiyar gali alone is worth a visit if you’re a non-veg food enthusiast. the biryani, the kebabs, the atmosphere of that narrow lane at night — it’s an experience.

for the complete ahmedabad food picture, pair this with my restaurants guide, street food guide, and gujarati thali guide. and for the bigger picture of gujarati cuisine, the gujarati food guide covers everything from thali culture to the sweet-spicy philosophy.

if you’re exploring surat next, the street food scene there is a completely different experience — sweeter, more experimental, and famous for its own specialties.