This article was contributed by Prabalika Borah, Team Leader, Hyderabad.
The Nawabs once led the most extravagant lives. They chewed paan with a fine coating of real gold, imported tea directly from China, and enjoyed elaborate meals prepared from secret family recipes. As a custom, the girls in the family weren’t taught these recipes as they had to leave for their husband’s home after marriage. So it was the daughters-in-law who got to learn how to dum the best dishes.
The lavish lifestyle must have left the nawabs bankrupt and caused them to slowly fade away, but their love of fine food is a legacy that has continued. It’s not that in Hyderabad we only eat Hyderabadi biryani and mirchi ka salan, and wind up dinner or lunch with shahi tukda or a qubani ka meetha. Hyderabadis do eat biryani like nobody’s business but they also love to dig into continental foods and pure India vegetarian thalis. Let’s discuss at length as to what Hyderabad has to offer to a foodie.
For biryani, there are several destinations but the most famous is Paradise, a city landmark in itself. I don’t quite relish their biryani though; a better alternative is Bawarchi at RTC X road, which makes the most sumptuous biryani. Another personal favourite is Bahar, a typical Irani place where you’ll see waiters dip their fingers into glasses of water while serving. Yuck! This might leave you sick for days, so the best option is to get the food packed.
If you are the finicky sorts then Hyderabad House would be a much better option for you. They have several outlets in the city. And after the biryani, you definitely must eat a paan. The paan in Hyderabad is full of sweet surprises, with no supari inside. There’s a variety called the first-night paan supposed to be eaten by two people. Gross! But yeah we were all shocked when a paanwala next to Paradise explained the significance of the paan in chaste Urdu. And honestly I wouldn’t recommend the kebabs here to anyone unless they’re from Bademiyaan near the tank bund. He’s a-ok.
People often come here and ask what to carry back home. I suggest kaju biscuits from Karachi bakery. They’re yummy but I prefer to carry cheese cake from deli9 or the dark brown chocolate truffle from Ofen, the Swiss bakers. Talking of deli9, it’s a place to visit if you have loads of expendable cash or are carrying somebody else’s credit card. Every item here is yummy. The cinnamon muffin is a must-try as is the chocolate chip muffin.
In Hyderabad you can eat to your heart’s content. It’s a place for buffets and the best bargains are Indijoe, Moksh, Shanghai dice, Odyssey and Nakshatra. And if somebody is giving you a treat, ask for brunch at Fusion 9, Novotel or the Marriott.
Oh! hang on a minute, Hyderabad has good street food too. For Pani Puris, trust the vendor at Park lane. And how can I forget South Indian delicacies. Our choice for a sumptuous meal is the Southern Spice. For breakfast, try Minerva. Everything is good here. I don’t think I can write anymore. I am hungry.
