So close to but thus far. This summarises Chennai’s ongoing romance with Ambur Biryani. Positioned midway between Chennai and Bengaluru, Ambur was an vital city within the erstwhile Arcot area that was as soon as lorded over by the Nawabs of Arcot. The biryani from the Arcot area has now turn into synonymous with Ambur. No dish has in all probability travelled as far and touched completely different corners of the nation as biryani. This biryani path additionally arrived within the Arcot area or what was as soon as the Carnatic Sultanate. Locals will let you know that this model of biryani was first perfected within the kitchens of the Arcot Nawabs and now has caught the flamboyant highway trippers between Chennai and Bengaluru. There’s all the time time for a biryani cease.
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I used to be at The Ambur Canteen, considered one of Chennai’s latest biryani hotspots that has been arrange by 4 companions with a powerful Ambur connection. They inform me that it is not simple to seek out the right Ambur biryani in Chennai as a result of the most effective biryani cooks seldom go away Ambur. I can vouch for that, I’ve sampled Ambur biryani at weddings and houses the place the native cooks make all of the distinction. The opposite issue is scale. Restaurant kitchens can’t match the size of weddings the place biryani is cooked for giant numbers in giant handis over wooden fires. This fashion can be known as ‘badi degh’ biryani.
I’ve interacted with a number of biryani cooks who attribute the distinct flavour profile of Ambur biryani to the distinctive cooking fashion – the place the rice and meat are cooked individually earlier than bringing them collectively in a lined vessel within the conventional ‘dum’ fashion. Whereas basmati rice could be the favoured rice varietal for the Ambur biryani, there are fairly a couple of biryani cooks who use the small grain ‘seeraga samba’ rice that’s used within the state’s different iconic biryani from the southern city of Dindigul. Different fascinating Ambur biryani recipe tweaks embody curd and mint leaves.
Ambur Biryani could be spicier than its Lucknowi counterpart and but it is normally eaten with kathirikai pachadi (locals additionally name this khattay baingan), a spicy accompaniment made with aubergine. Fairly a couple of houses in Ambur additionally serve the biryani with dalcha, a flavourful dal preparation. The Ambur Canteen goals to recreate the genuine Ambur biryani expertise in Chennai and serves their biryani with dalcha. Should you’re searching for Ambur biryani in Chennai and are unlikely to be invited to a marriage the place cooks from Ambur take centre stage, then these are your greatest bets in Chennai.
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Right here’re 5 Of The Finest Ambur Biryani Locations In Chennai:
1. The Ambur Canteen:
It’s inarguably the most effective restaurant for Ambur biryani in Chennai. Their key USP is the culinary manufacturing workforce that’s all from Ambur and their rice: meat ratio that elevates the biryani. This informal diner has been one of the vital buzzed current restaurant launches in Chennai and has caught the eye of town’s biryani aficionados. The restaurant’s cosy interiors are embellished with ‘slice of life’ photographs from Ambur. The menu additionally has room for different signature dishes from Ambur and the Arcot area just like the bagare khana – a ghee rice that is sometimes served with rooster qorma.
The place: Habibullah Street
Picture Credit score: The Ambur Canteen
2. Yaa Mohaideen:
It is among the closest variations to the Ambur-style biryani, the Yaa Mohaideen journey started in a small, virtually nondescript eatery in Pallavaram not removed from the Chennai airport. It grew from a neighbourhood phenomenon to a well-liked model in Chennai and is now current throughout town.
The place: A number of Retailers
3. Buhari:
It’s considered one of Chennai’s most iconic eating places, Buhari was a trendsetter within the post-independence eating scene in Chennai (that was Madras) earlier than rising into a sequence with a Chennai-wide footprint. The restaurant claims to be the inventor of Hen 65 however is equally well-known for its biryani made with long-grain basmati rice. It is one of many closest variations of Ambur biryani and tastes greatest at its flagship outlet which pioneered the idea of late-night eating within the metropolis.
The place: Anna Salai
Picture Credit score: Buhari
4. Ambur Star Briyani:
Hasin Baig can take among the credit score for popularising Ambur biryani. Legend has it that he was a cook dinner within the kitchens of the Arcot Nawab earlier than setting store in his hometown Ambur. What began as a small institution has grown into a strong model a century later. Ambur’s Star Briyani (they wish to spell it as briyani) is run by direct descendants of Hasin Baig and continues to thrive on his repute.
The place: A number of Retailers
5. Cloud Kitchens:
These locations make among the greatest Ambur biryani in Chennai in opposition to orders. Hayat Caterers and Little Oven are among the many standard choices for genuine variations of this flavourful biryani. Most of those cloud kitchen choices sometimes require a minimal order measurement that serves about 6 to 10 individuals and works if you’re internet hosting friends or organising a biryani bash in your workplace.
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About Ashwin RajagopalanI’m the proverbial slashie – a content material architect, author, speaker and cultural intelligence coach. College lunch packing containers are normally the start of our culinary discoveries.That curiosity hasn’t waned. It’s solely acquired stronger as I’ve explored culinary cultures, avenue meals and high-quality eating eating places internationally. I’ve found cultures and locations by means of culinary motifs. I’m equally keen about writing on client tech and journey.
