Images: Bismillah Biryani Restaurant

Ditch the utensils and get your arms soiled at these biryani hotspots.

Whereas the true origin of this iconic ‘native’ dish is unsure, it’s mentioned that biryani hails from North India. The biryani rice is made with the aromatic basmati grain, which cooks to a splendidly mild and fluffy texture. A rooster or mutton gravy (often a giant heaping) is served together with it, and achar, a bitter but spicy vegetable pickle made with carrots, cucumbers and pineapples. Have we gotten your urge for food going but? Nice! From common institutions to humble hawker stalls, eat your means by way of one of the best biryani spots in Singapore!

The place to search out one of the best biryani in Singapore

1. Mr Biryani

Mr Biryani | best biryani in singapore
Images: Mr Biryani

If the title hasn’t clued you in already, it is a must-visit spot for flavourful biryani in Singapore. On the menu, you’ll discover aromatic rice topped with meats like rooster, mutton, or fish. Going meat-free? Fret not, as a result of there’s vegetable, brinjal, paneer, and even jack fruit biryanis accessible too. Take observe although that the flavours lean on the spicier facet, so have some water ready earlier than you head in.
Mr Biryania number of areas together with Chander Highway and Norris Highway

2. Bismillah Biryani Restaurant

Searching for one of the best dum biryani in Singapore? Bismillah Biryani Restaurant at Dunlop Road has been raved about by distinguished foodies. Suppose the likes of the late Anthony Bourdain and the prolific Michelin Information. Utilizing genuine basmati rice, the dum biryani right here is tasty because the basmati rice soaks up the flavours of the spices. It additionally exudes a aromatic aroma that makes it actually appetising. Plus, the meat is cooked to perfection – it’s tender and lacks the gamey flavour from being blanched in sizzling water earlier than marination.
Bismillah Biryani Restaurant, a number of areas together with Dunlop Road and Shenton Approach

3. The Banana Leaf Apollo

biryani the banana leaf apollo
Images: Venkat Gunasellan

Famed for its fiery fish curry, that is one place the place you shouldn’t skip out on for the biryani. Right here’s our little hack: As a substitute of selecting the set, go for biryani with greens and get completely different sides to go together with it. Our high picks are rooster masala, mutton mysore and fish cutlet. Oh, and if you might want to cool off from all of the spices, don’t overlook the salt lassi.
The Banana Leaf Apollo, a number of areas together with Race Course Highway and Serangoon Highway

4. Sakunthala’s

Should you’re craving delicious Indian fare, Sakunthala’s will allure you with each chew. The menu is full of North and South Indian (and Chinese language) dishes however our eyes are on the prawn biryani. Skip the standard rooster and mutton choices and dive proper into the crustacean variant. The prawns listed below are cooked with the basmati rice a la dum biryani – delish!
Sakunthala’s, a number of areas together with Race Course Highway and Syed Alwi

5. Singapore Zam Zam

Zam Zam Briyani (Credit: Li Tsin Soon via Flickr)
Images: Li Tsin Quickly

Whereas this title is synonymous with delish murtabak (Indian flatbread full of egg, minced meat and onion), Singapore Zam Zam can also be common for its mouthwatering nasi biryani. Having been round for over a century, this Kampong Glam establishment has devotees coming from all corners of the island to savour its mutton, beef or rooster biryani – excellent for late evening suppers after partying alongside Haji Lane. Nevertheless it’s no one-trick pony; additionally on the menu is a mind-boggling array of basic supper fare like mee goreng (fried noodles), murtabak, prata and lots of extra.
Singapore Zam Zam, 697 – 699 North Bridge Highway, Singapore 198675

indian sweets singapore

6. Yakader Muslim Meals

To your inexpensive biryani repair, Yakader Muslim Meals at Tekka Centre is the place to be. Its dum biryani, served together with pappadam, a bowl of dhal and a plate of cucumber drenched in tomato sauce, is virtually legendary. The recent vendor amongst locals is unquestionably its mutton dum biryani.
Yakader Muslim Meals, #01-259, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Highway, Singapore 210665

7. Gokul Raas Vegetarian Restaurant

Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant | Biryani | Briyani
Images: Venkat Gunasellan

We all know some biryani purists could take into account vegetarian biryani blasphemy, however hear us out! Recognized for doling out tasty meatless variations of basic native meals (suppose nasi lemak and rooster rice), Gokul has mastered the artwork of creating meat-free biryanis with 4 completely different variations, together with the claypot biryani cooked Hyderabadi type. Our fave needs to be the dum biryani, which sees delish soya chunks hidden in a mountain of saffron rice. As for the sceptics, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
Gokul Raas Vegetarian Restaurant, 19 Higher Dickson Highway, Singapore 207478

8. Samy’s Curry Restaurant

Once you consider the luscious inexperienced house of Dempsey, you’d most likely envision cool cafes and chic eating places. Effectively, that isn’t all the time the case. Enter Samy’s Curry, an age-old Indian curry home that doesn’t depend on its atmosphere and decor for enterprise. Suppose ceiling followers, boisterous open environment (a large number corridor and a verandah) and shuttered home windows. So why is it perpetually crowded? It’s the meals, after all! Our go-to combo is a mountain of biryani rice drenched within the resto’s well-known fish head curry with tasty morsels of rooster masala and fish cutlet on the facet. Because the place isn’t air-conditioned, your finest guess to cooling off is a mug of lime juice.
Samy’s Curry Restaurant, 25 Dempsey Highway, Singapore 249670

9. Islamic Restaurant

Islamic restaurant | Briyani | Biryani
Serving aromatic biryani since 1921. Images: Islamic Restaurant

With 96 years of heritage and expertise, Islamic Restaurant is certainly a family title once we speak about biryani in Singapore. Islamic Restaurant’s biryani has been a large hit for the reason that ’70s, with dignitaries, sultans, ministers, and businessmen testifying to its flavours. The perfect choose right here: mutton biryani. Good rice texture and succulent, tender meat – what’s to not like about it?
Islamic Restaurant, 735 North Bridge Highway, Singapore 198703

10. Allauddin’s Briyani Pte Ltd

One biryani paradise located in Tekka Centre is Allauddin’s Briyani. However be warned: be ready to queue and wait in your meals particularly throughout lunch hours! Order the rooster or mutton biryani and high all of it off with a candy glass of teh tarik for a ‘shiok’ native eating expertise!
Allauddin’s Briyani Pte Ltd, #01-232, Tekka Centre, 666 Buffalo Highway, Singapore 210666

11. Victory Restaurant

A well-liked Indian-Muslim restaurant reverse Sultan Mosque, Victory Restaurant affords timeless favourites reminiscent of murtabak and likewise biryani. Right here, not solely can you discover the standard rooster and mutton biryani, nevertheless it additionally serves a fish possibility.
Victory Restaurant, 701 North Bridge Highway, Singapore 198677

Make sure you make house for these biryani locations in Singapore!

[This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2023 by Ashe Liao.]

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