Best Biryani in Kolkata: Top Places to Eat Kolkata Biryani, With Prices, Must-Order Dishes and Locations
Five biryani restaurants bookable on EazyDiner, from Aminia's aloo-and-egg classic to Oudh 1590's Awadhi dum pukht, compared by price, offer and neighbourhood
28 Sep, 2026 by Shreem Nema
The best biryani in Kolkata is served at Aminia in Rajarhat New Town, Oudh 1590 in Salt Lake, Shiraz@56 on Park Street, Biryanishk in Kalighat and The Biryani Canteen in Topsia. All five are bookable on EazyDiner with a live booking or payment offer, at ₹900 to ₹1,200 for two.
In This Guide
- What Makes Kolkata Biryani Different From Every Other Biryani in India?
- Where Can You Find the Best Biryani in Kolkata With Booking Offers on EazyDiner?
- Where Can You Eat Biryani in Kolkata Near You?
- How Much Does Biryani Cost in Kolkata?
- How Do You Choose, Book or Order Kolkata Biryani Without Getting It Wrong?
- FAQ
What Makes Kolkata Biryani Different From Every Other Biryani in India?
Kolkata biryani is lighter on spice than most Indian biryanis. It is fragrant with meetha attar and kewra, and it always carries a whole potato and a boiled egg alongside the meat. It descends from the Awadhi biryani of Lucknow, but 170 years of cooking in Bengal have given it a gentler, slightly sweet character of its own.
How Did Nawab Wajid Ali Shah's Exile Create Kolkata Biryani?
Kolkata biryani took shape in the 1850s and 1860s, in the kitchen of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah during his exile in Calcutta. The British deposed the last Nawab of Awadh in 1856, and he settled at Metiabruz on the city's southern riverfront with his court and cooks from Lucknow. Those cooks adapted Lucknow's delicate dum pukht biryani to Bengal's ingredients, and the result became the city's signature dish, one that the Nawab's kitchen still shapes today.
Why Does Kolkata Biryani Have Aloo and Egg?
Kolkata biryani's potato is widely credited to Nawab Wajid Ali Shah's exiled kitchen in 19th-century Calcutta, and the boiled egg followed as a filling, affordable addition that restaurants made standard. There are two popular explanations for the potato:
- The popular story is economy. A court living on a reduced British pension stretched expensive meat with cheaper potatoes.
- Some food writers argue the reverse. Potatoes were still a novel, prized vegetable in 19th-century Bengal, so adding one was a mark of refinement rather than thrift.
Whichever story is true, restaurants made the potato permanent. Aminia, which opened in 1929, played a major part in commercialising the potato in Kolkata biryani, following the tradition that began with Wajid Ali Shah. Today the potato is slow-cooked in ghee and meat stock until it is soft enough to break with a spoon. Many diners rate it as the best bite on the plate. The boiled egg became a standard addition alongside it, and most Kolkata restaurants now serve both by default.
How Is Kolkata Biryani Different From Hyderabadi and Lucknowi Biryani?
Kolkata biryani is the mildest and most fragrant of the three. Hyderabadi biryani is the spiciest. Lucknowi biryani is the closest ancestor to Kolkata's but skips the potato and egg.
| Categories | Kolkata Biryani | Hyderabadi Biryani | Lucknowi (Awadhi) Biryani |
| Spice level | Mild, subtly sweet | Hot, with green chilli and mint | Mild and delicate |
| Rice | Long grain, tinted yellow and white | Long grain, often with saffron streaks | Long grain, cooked separately first |
| Meat method | Meat part-cooked, then layered and sealed on dum | Often kacchi (raw marinated meat layered with rice) | Pakki (meat and rice cooked separately, then sealed on dum) |
| Aroma | Meetha attar, kewra, rose water | Fried onion, mint, whole spices | Kewra, saffron, whole spices |
| Signature additions | Potato and boiled egg | Fried onions, mint leaves | None; the meat and rice stand alone |
- Aminia, Rajarhat New Town lists Mutton Hyderabadi Biryani, Chicken Lucknowi Biryani and Chicken Awadhi Biryani among its must-haves.
- The Biryani Canteen, Topsia serves a Special Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani next to its Kolkata Mutton Biryani.
How Do You Spot Authentic Kolkata-Style Biryani?
Authentic Kolkata biryani has five tell-tale signs:
- Rice grain: long, separate grains that don't stick together or turn mushy.
- Yellow tint: a mix of yellow-tinted and white grains, not uniformly coloured rice.
- Meetha attar: a sweet, floral aroma when the handi is opened, from meetha attar, kewra or rose water.
- Slow dum: meat that comes off the bone easily, which shows the pot was sealed and slow-cooked.
- The potato: soft all the way through and coloured by the stock, not just boiled and added at the end.
Where Can You Find the Best Biryani in Kolkata With Booking Offers on EazyDiner?
The five biryani restaurants below each suit a different kind of meal, from a heritage Park Street dinner to a late-night plate in Topsia.
Why Is Aminia the Go-To for Classic Aloo-and-Egg Kolkata Biryani?
Aminia, Rajarhat New Town, Kolkata
Aminia started as a single outlet on Zakaria Street in 1929 and has grown into one of eastern India's best-known Mughlai chains. Its biryani is the city's classic version, with a ghee-soaked potato and a boiled egg alongside the meat. Its Rajarhat New Town outlet is the easiest way to get the classic plate in the city's newer eastern neighbourhoods. The Rajarhat outlet is on Rajarhat Main Road in Chinar Park, opposite the Karnataka Bank branch. It opens from 11 AM to 11:59 PM every day, does not serve alcohol and has no parking.
Must-haves: Mutton Handi Dum Biryani, Chicken Handi Dum Biryani, Paneer Tikka Handi Dum Biryani, Mutton Hyderabadi Biryani, Chicken Lucknowi Biryani, Chicken Awadhi Biryani
Cost for two: ₹1,000
Rating: 4.2★ (Good)
Offer on EazyDiner: 25% off when you pay via PayEazy
Bookable on EazyDiner: Yes
What Makes Oudh 1590's Awadhi Dum Pukht Biryani Different?
Oudh 1590, Sector 1, Salt Lake
Oudh 1590 cooks its biryanis dum pukht style, sealed and slow-cooked in the Awadhi tradition that Kolkata biryani came from. Its Moti Biryani comes with soft minced-meat balls lightly flavoured with kewra. Its Awadhi biryanis leave out the potato. For the classic city version, order from the Kolkata Style Special section of the menu instead. The Salt Lake outlet is one of more than 10 Oudh 1590 outlets listed on EazyDiner in Kolkata, and most carry a flat 10% booking offer.
Must-haves: Kolkata Style Special Murgh Biryani, Murgh Parda Biryani, Kolkata Style Special Gosht Biryani, Moti Biryani, Gosht Kacchi Biryani
Cost for two: ₹1,200
Rating: 4.2★ (Good)
Offer on EazyDiner: Flat 10% off when you book, plus up to 25% off with bank offers
Bookable on EazyDiner: Yes
Why Book Shiraz@56 on Park Street for Heritage Biryani?
Shiraz@56, Park Street Area, Kolkata
Shiraz@56 serves Mughlai food and biryani at 56 Park Street, and it is the most full-service dining room on this list. It opens from 12 PM to 10:30 PM every day, offers a buffet and has valet parking. That makes it the one to book for an anniversary, a family celebration or a Park Street evening out.
Must-haves: Chicken Special Biryani, Egg Biryani, Mutton Boti Extra, Chicken Biryani With Eggs, Aloo Biryani
Cost for two: ₹1,000
Rating: 4.5★ (Excellent)
Offer on EazyDiner: 15% off the entire bill when you book and pay on EazyDiner
Bookable on EazyDiner: Yes
Why Is Biryanishk in Kalighat Good for Family Biryani Thalis?
Biryanishk is the pick for a family biryani meal in South Kolkata, because its thalis turn a plate of biryani into a complete meal. The Mutton Biryani Thali is a generous portion of mutton biryani with raita, salad and a sweet. The Kalighat outlet is at 24 SR Das Road in Mudiali and opens from 12 PM to 10 PM daily.
Must-haves: Biryani Thalis, Chicken Biryani, Mutton Biryani, Veg/Egg Biryani
Cost for two: ₹1,000
Rating: 4.3★ (Good)
Offer on EazyDiner: 15% cashback on the paid amount when you book and pay on EazyDiner
Bookable on EazyDiner: Yes
Why Is The Biryani Canteen in Topsia Worth a Late-Night Visit?
The Biryani Canteen, Topsia, Kolkata
The Biryani Canteen is the best-value biryani on this list and the only one open past midnight. It costs ₹900 for two and stays open from 12 PM to 1 AM every day. The Potlam Mutton Keema Biryani and a Special Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani are must-tries for anyone who wants a spicier plate.
Must-haves: Kolkata Mutton Biryani, Potlam Mutton Keema Biryani, Kolkata Vegetable Biryani, Chicken Biryani, Special Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani
Cost for two: ₹900
Rating: 4.5★ (Excellent)
Offer on EazyDiner: 15% off food and soft beverages when you pay on the EazyDiner app
Bookable on EazyDiner: Yes
How Do the Five Kolkata Biryani Places Compare?
| Restaurant | Area | Signature Dish | Cost for Two | Offer on EazyDiner | Rating |
| Aminia | Rajarhat New Town | Mutton Handi Dum Biryani | ₹1,000 | 25% off via PayEazy | 4.2★ (Good) |
| Oudh 1590 | Sector 1, Salt Lake | Kolkata Style Special Gosht Biryani | ₹1,200 | Flat 10% off, plus up to 25% with bank offers | 4.2★ (Good) |
| Shiraz@56 | Park Street | Chicken Special Biryani | ₹1,000 | 15% off the entire bill | 4.5★ (Excellent) |
| Biryanishk | Kalighat | Biryani Thalis | ₹1,000 | 15% cashback | 4.3★ (Good) |
| The Biryani Canteen | Topsia | Kolkata Mutton Biryani | ₹900 | 15% off food and soft beverages, pay on app | 4.5★ (Excellent) |
Where Can You Eat Biryani in Kolkata Near You?
Where Can You Eat Biryani Near Park Street and Topsia?
Shiraz@56 at 56 Park Street is the pick for a sit-down biryani dinner in central Kolkata. It has valet parking and 15% off the bill when booked on EazyDiner. Further east, The Biryani Canteen on Topsia Road serves Kolkata Mutton Biryani at ₹900 for two, with 15% off food and soft beverages when you pay on the app, until 1 AM.
Where Can You Eat Biryani in Salt Lake, New Town and Rajarhat?
Oudh 1590 in Sector 1, Salt Lake serves Awadhi dum pukht biryani and Kolkata Style Special biryanis at ₹1,200 for two, with a flat 10% booking offer. Aminia in Rajarhat New Town serves the classic aloo-and-egg biryani at ₹1,000 for two, with 25% off via PayEazy. Aminia's outlet is open until 11:59 PM.
Where Can You Eat Biryani in North Kolkata?
In North Kolkata, the two chains featured here have branches across Shyam Bazar, Paikpara and Jessore Road. Aminia has outlets in Shyam Bazar and on Jessore Road, and its main outlets there are listed with 25% off via PayEazy at ₹1,000 for two. Oudh 1590 has outlets in Paikpara and on Jessore Road, each listed with a flat 10% booking offer at ₹1,200 for two.
Where Can You Eat Biryani in South Kolkata?
Biryanishk in Kalighat is the South Kolkata pick for families, with biryani thalis and 15% cashback when you book and pay on EazyDiner. Nearby branches of the two chains:
- Aminia: Golpark (4.5★) and Behala, both with 25% off via PayEazy.
- Oudh 1590: Southern Avenue, Naktala, Kalighat and Behala, all with a flat 10% booking offer.
Where Can You Eat Biryani in Sodepur and Serampore?
In the northern suburbs, Aminia has outlets in Sodepur and Serampore. Both are rated 4.5★ on EazyDiner and listed with 25% off via PayEazy. Oudh 1590 also has a Sodepur outlet, rated 4.5★ with a flat 10% booking offer. Both chains charge the same cost for two as their city outlets.
How Do You Choose, Book or Order Kolkata Biryani Without Getting It Wrong?
What Should You Check Before Picking a Biryani Place?
Run five checks before you choose where to eat Kolkata biryani:
- Dum freshness: biryani is best from a freshly opened handi. Arriving at the start of lunch or dinner service improves your chances.
- Rice quality: look for long, separate grains in photos and reviews. Clumped or broken rice means the dum was rushed or the pot sat too long.
- Meat cut: bone-in mutton pieces should come away cleanly from the bone. Dry, stringy meat points to a short cook.
- Reviews: check the number of ratings as well as the score. A 4.5★ from 837 ratings, as at Shiraz@56, is more reliable than a high score from a handful.
- Peak hours: weekend dinners fill up fastest. Book ahead instead of walking in at 8:30 PM on a Saturday.
How Do You Book a Table for a Weekend or Family Biryani Dinner?
Booking a biryani table on EazyDiner takes under a minute, and the offer applies automatically:
- Open the EazyDiner app or visit the best biryani restaurants in Kolkata page
- Search for the restaurant by name, or filter Kolkata listings by neighbourhood
- Select your date, time and party size
- Check the live offer panel on the restaurant's page, since offers vary by outlet and can change
- Confirm your booking, then pay through PayEazy where available to add bank offers on top
For weekend family dinners, book a few days ahead. Check parking before you drive: of the five restaurants here, only Shiraz@56 lists parking, which is valet.
Written By
A storyteller at heart, Shreem is a writer who finds magic in life's smallest moments. She devours stories in every form, movies, shows, books, or comics; she loves diving into narratives that spark imagination. She often geeks out on space and food trivia, and loves travelling while learning about new cultures and languages.
