Old Dhaka Biryani
পুরান ঢাকার বিরিয়ানি
Rich, aromatic biryani from shops that have cooked the same recipe in Old Dhaka for generations.
At a glance
- Where
- Dhaka district, Dhaka division
- Price
- 200–450 BDT per plate
- Where to try
- Nazira Bazar, Bangshal and Chankharpul in Old Dhaka
- Best time
- winter (Dec–Jan), spring (Feb–Mar), summer (Apr–May), monsoon (Jun–Jul), autumn (Aug–Sep) and late autumn (Oct–Nov)
Old Dhaka is the heartland of Bangladeshi biryani, from mutton kacchi cooked with raw marinated meat and potato to the mustard-oil scented pakki style. Haji Biryani in Nazira Bazar has served its goat biryani since 1939 and sells out by afternoon. Other shops around Nazira Bazar, Bangshal and Chankharpul serve kacchi, tehari and morog polao. Eat it with borhani, a tangy spiced yoghurt drink.
Good to know
Go at lunchtime; popular shops run out early.
Where to stay in Dhaka
Common questions
Where can you eat Old Dhaka Biryani?
Nazira Bazar, Bangshal and Chankharpul in Old Dhaka.
How much does Old Dhaka Biryani cost?
200–450 BDT per plate.
When is the best time to try Old Dhaka Biryani?
Winter (Dec–Jan), spring (Feb–Mar), summer (Apr–May), monsoon (Jun–Jul), autumn (Aug–Sep) and late autumn (Oct–Nov).
Which district is Old Dhaka Biryani from?
Dhaka district, Dhaka division.
More from Dhaka
District guide →
Place Lalbagh Fort
লালবাগ কেল্লাAn unfinished 17th-century Mughal fort with lawns, a tomb and a mosque, a calm green pocket in Old Dhaka.
Place Ahsan Manzil
আহসান মঞ্জিলThe pink riverside palace of the Dhaka Nawabs, now a museum facing the busy Buriganga.
Place Star Mosque (Tara Masjid)
তারা মসজিদA small mosque in Armanitola covered in star-patterned mosaic made from broken china.
Place Sadarghat and the Buriganga
সদরঘাট ও বুড়িগঙ্গাDhaka's chaotic river port, where multi-deck launches leave for the south and wooden boats ferry people across.
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