Biryani is among the most popular Indian dishes found in New York City. This North Indian origin is a mixture of rice, spices, meat, and vegetables. The rice is the most important ingredient. Any type of rice is acceptable but basmati makes the best biryani because of its long and flavorful grains. A number of spices can be used. This includes chilies, garlic, ginger, onions, mint, cardamom, coriander, cloves, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The meat component can be any of the following; fish, prawns, beef, goat, and chicken. Eating biryani has become a way of life for New Yorkers and visitors to the city. If you plan on visiting NYC and tasting the best of Indian cuisine, check out our list of the best spots for biryani in New York City.
1. Bawarchi Indian Cuisine
Posted by Bawarchi Indian Cuisine on Tuesday, 22 September 2015
If you are looking for Indian food served hot and fast, then this is the place to go to. You cannot go wrong with their biryani because of its luscious flavors and huge portions. They offer a wide array of traditional Indian dishes that come at reasonable prices. The taste is undeniably authentic as most Indians in East Harlem come to eat here.
Bawarchi Indian Cuisine
Address: 1546 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10029
Website: Bawarchi Indian Cuisine
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am – 9:45pm (closed on Sun)
2. Chote Nawab
@kiaeatsnewyorkcity ・・・ Its Curry Week in NYC and I realized it after I ordered this lamb biryani. It was delicious with...
Posted by Chote Nawab Fine Indian Cuisine on Monday, 17 December 2018
At Chote Nawab, biryani is done in the dum style. This is the Northern Indian style called Hyderabadi. Four variants are offered namely lamb, goat, vegetable, and chicken. All these are mixed with basmati rice, fresh spices, peanuts, and raita. The slow cooking method in the oven brings out the flavor of all ingredients resulting in a burst of flavor in each bite.
Chote Nawab
Address: 15 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016
Website: Chote Nawab
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11:30am - 3pm, 5pm - 11pm; Fri & Sat: 11:30am - 3pm, 5pm - 12am; Sun: 11:30am - 3pm, 5pm - 10:30pm
3. The MasalaWala
Here is a plate of Chicken biryani for you from Our Chef. As Nadeem M says on Yelp: I had the chicken biryani which had...
Posted by The MasalaWala on Wednesday, 22 July 2015
Since 2011, The MasalaWala has been tantalizing the taste buds of Indian food lovers all over the city. Known for serving Indian street food, their biryani is one of the best in the city. The one thing that makes this special is that their biryani masala is made in-house. This is combined with the freshest ingredients you can find.
The MasalaWala
Address: 179 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002
Website: The MasalaWala
Opening hours: 12pm - 12am (daily)
4. Biryani Spot & Curry
Posted by Biryani Spot & Curry on Saturday, 23 June 2018
It is hard to find better tasting Indian food in New York City than the ones they serve at Biryani Spot & Curry. The restaurant serves an impressive line-up of biryani dishes that locals and travelers love. The most ordered variants include goat and chicken. The slow-cooking process allows all the ingredients to blend together thoroughly into one delicious taste.
Biryani Spot & Curry
Address: 71 W 109th St, New York, NY 10025
Website: Biryani Spot & Curry
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 12pm - 11pm; Fri: 2pm - 11pm
5. Indikitch
Posted by indikitch on Thursday, 17 January 2019
This popular chain makes everything from scratch. Their biryani spice mix is pounded together with the use of a mortar and pestle. Every spice that goes into their mixes and sauces are fresh. This means you get the taste of biryani the way they serve it in India. That is as authentic as you can get.
Indikitch
Address: Multiple Locations
Website: Indikitch
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10:30am - 10pm; Sat & Sun: 11:30am - 9pm
6. Deccan Spice
Posted by Deccan Spice New York on Tuesday, 16 May 2017
This is one of the places where Indians residing in New York City get their fix of authentic biryani. Consistency is the name of the game when it comes to their biryani dishes. The restaurant’s highly trained chefs make the best biryani masala which flavors basmati rice, vegetables, and meats. Only fresh ingredients go into every dish in this vibrant restaurant.
Deccan Spice
Address: 120 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, 10016
Website: Deccan Spice
Opening hours: 11am - 12am (daily)
7. Haandi
Posted by Haandi NYC on Sunday, 19 December 2010
A menu that is meant to be shared with friends and family is what awaits you in this highly regarded eatery. Serving flavorful and appetizing Indian fare, all their dishes are made to order to honor the freshness of the ingredients. Offering you the food of the Indian subcontinent and parts of the Middle East, biryani is the restaurants’ specialty. So if you are craving for the best biryani in New York City, come to Haandi and have your fair share of it.
Haandi
Address: 113 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016, US
Website: Haandi
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 10pm; Sat & Sun: 11am - 10pm
8. Biryani Cart
United Airlines NYC Half needs a tank full of fuel, and #biryanicart is an excellent place to start!
Posted by John Fancy Pigeon Wagner on Friday, 15 March 2019
This has become one of New York’s most popular food carts. Standing at the corner of 46th and 6th, both Americans and Indians have been lining up since the day they opened for their biryani specialties. As the name states, it is the star of their menu. It’s simple, it’s affordable, and it is so good!
Biryani Cart
Address: 46th St and 6th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Website: Biryani Cart
Opening hours: Mon: 11am - 3pm, 6pm – 9pm; Tue: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm; Wed: 10am – 9pm; Thu - Sat: 11am - 1pm, 10pm – 11pm (closed on Sun)
9. Hyderabadi Biryani and Chat
Posted by Tusar Alom on Monday, 27 August 2018
Their high standards of preparing biryani and other authentic Indian dishes allow this restaurant to create the best food in the city. The name of the restaurant reflects the way they cook biryani–the low and slow way. This method allows the flavor of the dish to develop fully. The result of which are satisfied and happy diners who cannot wait to come back for more. .
Hyderabadi Biryani and Chat
Address: 44-27 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, New York 11355
Website: Hyderabadi Biryani and Chat
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 11am - 10pm; Wed - Sat: 11am – 10:30pm; Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Have the best biryani in the Big Apple

Looking for a place to satisfy your hunger for Indian cuisine? These places are known to serve the best biryani in New York City. If you plan to visit the Big Apple soon, do drop by at any of these to satisfy your craving for authentic biryani dishes.
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