CUISINE

CLASSIC PLACES IN HYDERABAD CITY

Places and foods that are one of their kind only found in Hyderabad, I’ll once again remind you! The taste, the uniqueness and most importantly the ‘Hyderabadi’ touch makes it special and different from others, from Osmania biscuits to Irani Chai, from Butter Masala Dosa to Hyderabadi Handi Biryani, from Masala Thumbs Up to Paan. These are the specialities from around the city. It’s indeed, difficult to find a Hyderabadi who is not a foodie, with all these classics in the town. Let’s get nostalgic about the ones been to and make a list of those yet to be explored and discovered!

Let’s see, on a scale of 10, how Hyderabadi are you?

By Hoshika Agarwal

SUBHAN BAKERY

One of the finest bakeries in Hyderabad is famous for its Osmania biscuits. However, serving the best quality biscuits, slices of bread, rusk, toasts and cakes, has made a place in everyone’s hearts. A vast variety like fruit biscuits, Chand biscuits, fruit cake rusk, plum cake, double ka meetha bread, etc makes it a one-stop destination for someone who is looking for only the BEST.

Address: 11-6-467, Nampally Market Rd, Devi Bagh, Bazar Ghat, New Mallepally, Hyderabad, Telangana 500001

PARADISE BIRYANI

Spread all over Hyderabad, Paradise is famous for the ‘Hyderabadi Biryani,’ something that is world-famous. This place that began as a small cafe serving tea and snacks, now serves other Hyderabadi starters, Kebabs, Chinese cuisine, Tandoori cuisine, and Hyderabadi haleem during the month of Ramzan. It also won the First prize for Best Biryani 2012 Times Food Award.

Address: Himayatnagar, Masab Tank, Secunderabad, Begumpet, Hitec City, Sr Nagar, Gachibowli, Kothapet, Kukatpally, Jubilee Hills, Uppal, Shamshabad, etc

CAFÉ NILOUFER

This place serves the best Hyderabadi Tea in town, The Classic Irani Chai. The Irani Chai and Irani samosa can never be apart, just like a Hyderabadi and its Biryani. This place cherishes the samosa and chai’s ultimate love story and gives it a happy ending(happy and satisfied customers). Also, don’t forget to have the Malai Bun.

Address: V.P, 11-5-422/C/B, Red Hills Rd, Lakdikapul, Hyderabad, Telangana 500004

POPKING POPCORN

What did you do when the theatres were shut down, and the movie wasn’t a reason anymore to have popcorn! Pop king to the rescue, serving the best popcorn in town. With its vast variety, it gained popularity among all popcorn lovers. It’s everyone’s favourite snack, especially when it comes to tasty flavours only at PopKing, like Caramel, Cheese, Salted, Tomato, Peri Peri, Masala, Tomato. When it gets too salty and spicy, do try some amazing cotton candy at PopKing.

Address: S.No 5-9-1110/1/ A, Raja Reddy Marg, opp. Sher Gate, Gun Foundry, Abids, Hyderabad, Telangana 500001

FAMOUS ICE CREAM

Someone so truly said, ‘’Life is like ice cream, enjoy before it melts.’’ But I would say life is ice cream, especially at everyone’s favourite, the Famous Icecream in Hyderabad. From ice cream sticks to cones and bricks, every flavour has a long-lasting taste on the tongue. The Pista, Badam and the Matka Kulfi are the best to be found. And the place would never disappoint anyone, be it a chocolate lover, dry fruit lover or fruit lover

Address: Nampally Station Road, Inside Clock Tower, Mozzamjahi Market, 3-4-350, NH65, Abids, Hyderabad, Telangana 500001

RAM KI BANDI

First and the best late-night eatery in the town fulfilling one’s midnight cravings at their best. Cheese Dosa, Pizza Dosa and Paneer Dosa that taste exclusively different and fantastic were invented by Ram Ki Bandi. There’s also a twist when it comes to other South Indian dishes, like Pizza Idly, Paneer cheese corn Dosa, Cheese sweet corn Dosa, Schezwan Cream Dosa.

Address: 5-3-933, Sabir building, New paradise lodge, next to Karachi Bakery, Begum Bazar, Afzal Gunj, Hyderabad, Telangana 500012

DIMMY PAN PALACE

MAYUR PAN HOUSE

In the mood for some chaat? This is a one-stop destination for Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav and Dabeli with some amazing Grill Sandwich. It also has pizzas and kinds of pasta. There’s a kid’s special menu for the tiny tots serving French fries, Onion rings and Nachos. To end your meal, it serves an amazing fruit salad with cream. Serving a great variety of mouth freshening pans in loads of flavours is an add on to this place.

Address: 1-8-57, PG Road, Innovation Colony, Jawahar Nagar Colony, Jogani, Ramgopalpet, Secunderabad, Telangana 500003

Famous for juice and chat, Abids is blessed with this place where food tastes like heaven. Ranging from Bhel Puri, Dahi puri, Pani Puri, Pav bhaji to fresh fruit juices, dry fruit punches, fruit punches with ice cream, etc. Khova and Kala Khatta being the two favourites amongst the Ice-Golas and Stick kulfis, Kulfi Faloodas and Dry-fruit Kulfi Faloodas are a must-try here!

Address: 4/1/898, Hanuman Tekdi Rd, Ramkoti, Hanuman Tekdi, Abids, Hyderabad, Telangana 500001

CHICHA COOL DRINKS

This tiny shop makes a blast on one’s taste buds. Serving the best masala thumbs-up in Hyderabad, this place has a special place in everyone’s hearts.

Address: Lakadikapool main road, Lakdi Ka Pool-Khairatabad, Hyderabad - 500004 (Hotel Fish land)

MILAN JUICE CENTER

Serving a variety of fresh fruit juices, smoothies and milkshakes, this place has got its special recognition for its quality and trust in customers for a long time. This place also serves Lebanese cuisine.

Address: Shop. No.15, Quili Qutub Shah Complex, Charminar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500002

RIDHI SRI JAIN

I personally love Pop king because it has more than 20 flavours and they come up with new flavours every few days. The cotton candy they serve is also super delicious and yummy. My personal favourite has to be cheese popcorn and pudina popcorn. They are my go-to orders. The staff there is very friendly and helpful. They try to understand our taste and suggest flavours accordingly. They have flavours for every taste type, from mild flavours to spicy ones. Pop king is a little expensive but totally worth it.

Occupation: Student

DHAIRYA KEDIA

I love Chicha’s cool drinks as if is filled with delicious fresh homemade Masala. Thumbs up. The Masala is essentially the product of a love affair between the passion for drinking and photography. Based in Hyderabad, the owner and the creator of this hidden culinary gem, are the Dorothy and Toto duo of this delicious cool drink. It’s my all-time favourite drink every time I want something cold.

Occupation: Student

SAKSHI KEDIA

Ram ki Bandi is a very popular and mouth-watering midnight food place where you will find 15+ exclusive varieties of dosas and idly which just melts in one’s mouth! I am personally an idly-dosa enthusiast and Ram ki Bandi never disappoints me with my cravings. It serves you hot and delicious food any time you order between 3:00 am to 7:00 am, which makes it even more fun! You can eat idly dosa even after you have attended a party or a concert or a movie or even a huge dinner, this food spot will always give you the most satisfactory burp of the night!

Occupation: Digital Marketing Executive

GUNJAN AGARWAL

Mayur pan house is my all-time favourite place to visit when I’m craving a chat. It has mouth-watering masala pav bhaji, vada pav, aloo toast and cheese bhel puri. It has some of the best fruit juices and shakes. My personal favourites are strawberry juice and custard apple juice which is seasonal. It also has a wide variety of pan which tastes amazing.

Occupation: Student

TANMAY AGARWAL

Dimmy Pan Palace is my favourite place to just enjoy different forms of Pan, from the humble meetha pan to the inventive Oreo Pan. The only con is the location, where it is extremely difficult to find car parking. I always tend to have my pan freshly made rather than the frozen one as the fresh ones always give you the real taste of the pan. All in all, I find it a great place to head over to after a meal at the restaurants located all around.

Occupation: Student

REENA JAIN

Being a chai lover, Niloufer’s Tea is the best pick amongst all the other teas around the corner. The best thing I like is they have two floors in which one floor is dedicated for a quick takeaway and another floor is completely for indoor dining. Another attractive quality that attracts me is that the menu consists of wide options priced economically without causing a dent in our pockets. If you haven’t tried the tea at Niloufer, then you have kept yourself away from the best tea in the city.

Occupation: Relay Operations Specialist