Best Biryani in Bombay
Well, there are biryanis and there are biryanis. For Malabari biryani (Mallu Muslim stuff) nothing can beat Hotel Fountain Plaza, which is in a lane next to Handloom House, just off DN Road. (Not to be confused with Fountain Inn, which serves Mangalorean food and isn't far away).
Note: Purists may not find Malabari biryani palatable, because it tastes different. You get chicken, mutton, fish and vegetable versions, and they cost around 40 rupees each (or used to, at least). The vegetable biryani is a contradiction in terms and is avoidable.
If you'd like Kerala-style beef biryani, Public Restaurant is a stone's throw away. It's a bit cramped and the food's greasy — but at Rs 20 a pop, you don't stand to lose much even if the restaurant's having a bad day.
Lucky (at the junction of Hill Road and SV Road, Bandra) is still going strong, but old-timers say the biryani isn't as good as it used to be. I wouldn't know, but I find it pretty good. For Moghlai, there's Shalimar in Mohammed Ali Road and old stalwart Noorani in Haji Ali (with its unusual chicken tikka biryani). Not to forget Delhi Darbar in Grant Road (and also Colaba, I think). Go to the Grant Road branch for the ambience — or lack of it, whichever way you prefer to look at it. I don't like Baghdadi anymore, for some reason.
A new addition to the lineup is "Just Biryanis" at Oshiwara (Andheri West). On the expensive side (there's a unique Mangalorean fish biryani for Rs 150), but it's been written about in the papers lately. Not been there, hence can't vouch for the food. But if all it does are biryanis, the food had better be good!
If Hyderabadi is your thing, there's this joint called "Hyderabad House" next to Seven Bungalows garden (Andheri West, en route to Versova) which claims to serve the real McKid. They tend to skimp on the meat, unfortunately. Try the haleem if you drop in. Of course, this assumes you know there's a bit of Bombay that stretches beyond Haji Ali. ;)
Taken from a LiveJournal comment by Harikrishnan Menon.
