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The best Ambur and Dindigul Style Biryani in Chennai

Also spelt biriyani, Ambur biryani, Dindigul biryani and star biryani. A curated shortlist, shaped by your votes.

Editorial picks

Selected from published food guides and local reporting. How the list works

  1. Number 1.Ambur Star Briyani (Vadapalani)

    Open
    11am to 11.30pm daily
    Where
    116/1 Arcot Road, Sarvamangala Colony, near Saravana Bhavan, Vadapalani, Chennai 600026

    The mutton biryani is the reason to come, mild and meat-forward, with brinjal gravy alongside. Copycat boards using the Ambur Star name are everywhere, so check the branded outlet before you order.

    What to orderMutton biryani with brinjal gravy and onion raita

    0 votes

  2. Number 2.Dindigul Ponram (Ashok Nagar)

    Open
    Opens 11am; Dindigul Nights menu is evenings only
    Where
    90/35, 1st Street, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600083

    Ponram cooks grass-grazed Dindigul lamb into a seeraga samba biryani served with green brinjal dalcha. Come at lunch for that; the evening card swings to parottas and paniyaaram instead.

    What to orderLamb biryani with brinjal dalcha

    0 votes

  3. Number 3.Dindigul Thalappakatti (Nungambakkam High Road)

    Open
    10.30am to 11pm daily
    Where
    142 Nungambakkam High Road (Uthamar Gandhi Salai), Nungambakkam, Chennai 600034

    Order the mutton biryani, short-grain seeraga samba with a heavy hit of pepper and fennel. Weekend lunch fills the room fast, so go early or expect a wait for a table.

    What to orderMutton biryani

    0 votes

  4. The Ambur Canteen (T Nagar)

    Open
    Noon to 11pm
    Where
    2 Habibullah Road, Satyamurthy Nagar, T Nagar, Chennai 600017

    Three cousins cook their Ambur family recipes here, so the biryani is milder than most Ambur boards in town. Pair it with chawal ki roti and korma. Lunch and dinner menus differ.

    What to orderAmbur mutton biryani with chawal ki roti

    0 votes

  5. Yaa Mohaideen (Pallavaram)

    Open
    11am to 10pm; queues build at lunch
    Where
    Periyar Nagar, Pallavaram, off GST Road, Chennai 600043

    Ambur style done plainly, mutton biryani with brinjal curry and a plate of chicken pakora. The room is basic and the queue at lunch is real, so send someone ahead to hold a table.

    What to orderMutton biryani with brinjal curry and chicken pakora

    0 votes

  6. Junior Kuppanna (Nungambakkam)

    Open
    Open 24 hours; some listings say from 8am
    Where
    35 Tirumurthy Nagar, Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600034

    The Kongunadu plate here is short-grain seeraga samba with stone flower, fennel and star anise, served on banana leaf. It is properly hot, so keep the onion pachidi close. Portions look small.

    What to orderKongunadu mutton biryani

    0 votes

  7. Buhari (Mount Road)

    Open
    11.30am to 11pm; packed on Sunday nights
    Where
    83 Anna Salai (Mount Road), Border Thottam, Triplicane, Chennai 600002

    Not an Ambur specialist, though its biryani comes close to that style, on long grain rice rather than seeraga samba. Order the mutton biryani with chicken 65 to start. Sunday nights are packed, so go midweek.

    What to orderMutton biryani

    0 votes

  8. Charminar (Royapettah)

    Open
    10.30am to 9pm
    Where
    92/232 Dr Besant Road, Mirsahibpet, Royapettah, Chennai 600014

    A budget counter rather than a restaurant, doing the Ambur register cheaply. Take the mutton biryani with the brinjal salan. Cash only, you eat standing in a small room, and it shuts by nine.

    What to orderMutton biryani

    0 votes

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