MOTOFOODIE

The urge to ride a motorcycle on an empty highway at dawn in search of a breakfast place is incredible, yet some mornings are meant to be spent in a warm blanket than in a riding jacket on-board a motorcycle!!

Well that’s when you outta go-back to the bed and wake up for biryani-lunch ride 😬

Presenting the best biryani ride getaways from my beloved Bengaluru. 😋

1. Chinnaswamy Naidu Biryani, Hosur:

Started in the 1920s in Dindigul, Chinnaswamy Naidu, originally a chicken-dealer moved to Hosur after independence perfected the Dindigul biryani.

• Location: Rajmahal Complex, Bypass Road (Opposite to the new Hosur Bus Stand) Google Maps Link
• Timings: 11:30 am to 3:30 pm (Open all days of the week)
• Mode of payment: Cash, UPI and cards are accepted
• Type of Biryani: Dindigul Biryani (Chicken, Mutton & Biryani Rice)

2. Hotel Hanumanthu, Mysore:

Easily the most famous and replicated biryani place in Mysore. The folks who run the original hotel on Akbar Road in Mandi Mohalla, Mysore call it ‘Pulav’ due to the nature of the preparation and not biryani. Hotel Hanumanthu has been serving gastronomical pulav and mutton chops since the 1930s.

Based on my friend’s recommendation – the mutton chops are extremely delicious and a must-eat.

• Location: Akbar Road Mandi Mohalla, Mysore Google Maps Link
• Timings: The timings vary on a day-basis – as provided below:
  • Monday Holiday
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday : 7 am to 10:30 am & 12 pm to 4:30 pm & 6 pm to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 2 pm to 4:30 pm & 6 pm to 10 pm
  • Saturday: 12 pm to 4 pm only
• Mode of payment: Cash only
• Type of Biryani: Pulav (Mutton & Biryani Rice)
• Chicken pulav is served only on Sundays

3. Jai Bhuvaneshwari Military Hotel near Srirangapatna on Blore-Mysore Highway:

If you are a fan of Donne Biryani, this place serves a similar one except the Donne – locally known as Gowdru-style biryani.

• Location: Baburayankoppal, Near Srirangaptna on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway
• Timings: 11:30 am to 4 pm (open all days) – Monday holiday
• Mode of payment: Cash only
• Type of Biryani: Gowdru-Naati style biryani (Chicken, Mutton and Biryani Rice)
• Chicken pulav is served only on Sundays
• The place usually packed with partially-drunk borderline-violent men 😀 – so visit this place with discretion 😛

4. Rahamaniya Hotel, Ambur:

The original hotel that kick-started the popularity of ‘Ambur Biryani’. In fact Star Biryani. Managed by one of the brothers is an offshoot of Rahamaniya Hotel.

• Location: O V Road Mootukollai, Ambur Google Maps Link
• Timings:
  • 11:30 am to 5 pm & 6 pm to 9 pm (open all days – except Saturday)
  • 11:30 am to 3 pm (on Saturdays only)
• Mode of payment: Cash only
• Type of Biryani: Ambur Biryani or Vanyambadi Biryani (Chicken, Egg & Kuska rice aka biryani rice)

5. Selvi Mess, Salem:

Started 35 years ago, Selvi Mess attracts locals and visitors with the promise of simple, delicious Chettinad cuisine of biryani, white rice based full-meals, chicken/mutton/fish/prawns-based side dishes that complement the biryani or meals along with great hospitality.

• Location: Selvi Mess, Salem Town (Google Maps Link)
• Selvi Mess has expanded to 4 more new locations in-and-around Salem town (all of them are marked on Google Maps)
• Timings: Open all the days of the week – 10:30 AM – 11 PM
• Mode of payment: Cash & UPI-only, no cards are accepted
• Type of Biryani: Chettinad Biryani
• Parking: Parking for motorcycles, no dedicated parking for cars
• Service: non-AC service in ground floor
• Must- try: biriyani (chicken, mutton), meals, chilli fish

6. Khaja Restaurant, Vaniyambadi:

Back in the 1800s, this style of biryani was introduced by the Nawabs of Arcot who ruled this region of Tamil Nadu.

• Location: Khaja Restaurant Vaniyambadi (Google Maps Link)
• Timings: Open all the days of the week – 8 am to 11 pm
• Mode of payment: cash only, no card, no UPI or wallet payment are accepted
• Type of Biryani: Vaniyambadi Biryani (made with long-grain basmati rice)
• Parking: No dedicated parking for cars – ample space to park motorcycles in front of the hotel
• Service: non-AC service in ground floor + separate AC section on 1st floor
• Must- try: chicken and mutton biryani + chicken 65

Interested to know more on Ambur & Vaniyambadi Biryani ?  Read my blogpost on Ambur & Vaniyambadi Biryani

7. Hotel Oyster, Hesaraghatta:

The ONLY pure vegetarian biryani on this list.

Hesaraghatta main road is referred as “the mushroom highway”, courtesy the plethora of mushroom farms and hotels, food stalls serving ‘full-menu mushroom’ delicacies.

From “mushroom kababs”, “mushroom biryani”, “pudina mushroom”, “mushroom burger”, “mushroom soup” and even “ragi mudde with mushroom curry” – they got’em all!!

• Location: Hotel Oyster, Hesaraghatta (Google Maps Link)
• Timings: Open all the days of the week – 7 am to 9 pm
• Mode of payment: cash and UPI only
• Type of Biryani: Naati-style Karnataka Biryani (pure-veg only)
• Parking: free car+motorcycle parking at the entrance of the hotel
• Service: non-AC service in ground floor
• Must- try: mushroom biryani, mushroom kabab