Biryani Kitchen El Nido

Best for authentic, homestyle Indian cuisine on the island

SETTING.

COLORFUL, ASIAN AND tribal art on the entrance wall, and similarly colorful art painted directly on the wall, one featuring the Taj Mahal, gives the open plan restaurant a laidback local art gallery vibe. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, so you’d be totally at ease in shorts and t-shirt or whatever your island beach style is.

FOOD.

Run by its Mumbai-born chef/owner Vaibhav Deshpande, Biryani Kitchen serves only authentic homestyle Indian cuisine. Must-try dishes include their delicious Mutton Biryani, a classic dish of aromatic Basmati rice with slow-cooked meat, gravy, and spices. Other crowd favorites include the flavorful mutton masala, shrimp biryani, chicken tikka masala and for vegans and healthy eaters, there’s the mixed vegetable masala . To finish your meal, make sure to order the hot chai masala, a creamy black tea that’s a delicious balance of spicy and sweet. A dish here costs from Php400-600.

SERVICE.

Efficient, with good old island-style hospitality.

VERDICT.

Biryani Kitchen offers a unique taste to your island experience. Next time you’re in El Nido, make sure to go off the beaten path (beachfront that is) and explore this gem of a restaurant. Delicious, authentic food paired with good service all the way, you’ll surely want to come back for more!