- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Biryani House
Categories: Restaurants Indian Restaurants Pakistani Indian, Pakistani [Edit]
2011 Shattuck AveBerkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhoods: UC Campus Area, Downtown Berkeley
(510) 649-9389
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri 11 am - 10:30 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
John N. said: "As a neighborhood local, Cafe Raj is one of our favorites in the Solano avenue circus of restaurants. It's nothing fancy, but the food is consistently good and satisfying. The family that owns it works hard to provide a wide range of…" read more »
231 reviews for Biryani House
Review Highlights
"Oh the chicken tikka masala, the potato naan."
(in 41 reviews)
"They also have unlimited free chai tea."
(in 10 reviews)
"I'm also in love with their mango lassi x."
(in 11 reviews)
Loading...
231 reviews in English
-
Review from Sandra L.
Fullerton, CA
1/22/2012
I LOVE INDIAN FOOD!
I always get the paneer tikka masala with rice or naan. SO FREAKING GOOD. It's flavorful, creamy and doesn't have the "I think I shouldn't have eaten that because it feels like i consumed 1000 calories" at the end!
The service is great, too.
Fast
Easy to order
The lady always remembers me and knows what I want =) -
Review from Chat H.
Berkeley, CA
1/27/2012
Just a few short blocks west of campus, well within the prime lunching radius, lies Biryani House (BH). Occupying a space with elements of both a 70s-era convention hall and a Mammoth Lakes ski lodge, BH has little in the way of décor save mildly interesting murals, which at the time of this review were haphazardly covered with kitschy Christmas decorations. A trip to the (unpleasantly fragrant) bathroom confirmed the sad state of aesthetic affairs, as Chat narrowly avoided contracting tetanus amidst numerous dilapidated mountain bikes, several pieces of unhung art, excess wall paneling, and a box of floor tiles. At the end of the narrow hallway was a barred door with a "No Admittance" sign, suggesting that perhaps the obstacles had been placed specifically to prevent the errant restaurant reviewer from discovering the dark secrets that lie beyond the portal...
The meal began with bad (albeit free) chai, and tap water, served in glasses with a staggering amount of calcification. That was followed by a mango lassi ($2), which had clearly been mixed by an amateur: it was much too sweet, and was, shall we say, decidedly lacking in body. The veggie samosa appetizer ($3) was acceptable, though quite salty and oily. Two of the main dishes, however--the lamb vindaloo ($7.5) and the saag daal ($6)--were very tasty, and nicely cooked (although, needless to say, our "extra spicy" request was ignored completely). The chicken tikka masala ($7) was also decent, if a bit offputting, as its sauce appeared to contain the same food coloring used in the mango lassi...
The most confusing was the aloo ghobi ($6), our usual eigendish. Neither the potatoes nor the cauliflower were chopped adequately, which would lead one to believe that everything might be undercooked. But no: the monstrous cauliflower florets were in fact overcooked, while the potatoes were not even close to done. Clearly a lesson in thermal diffusion is warranted. And as for the sides, they were truly mediocre: the regular naan was undercooked (), the aloo naan was spiced so offensively with cilantro and coriander that we couldn't even finish it (!), and the rice was mixed with so much grease that Chat actually had to stop and rest half way through his (two-mile) bike ride home.
As a gnarly, disguised Jafar once said to Aladdin, "Things aren't always what they seem..." While true in the case of such "diamond[s] in the rough" as Udupi Palace, we were out of luck this time. If BH had been the dungeon Aladdin was locked in, he would have died an unsatisfying, greasy death, devoid of any hope of escape. BH does have a couple of saving graces, however, including instantaneous service, a few reasonably tasty staples such as the lamb vindaloo, and the perpetually entertaining Bollywood dance numbers that play on loop in the corner. While we wouldn't recommend BH even in dire circumstances, we have decided to confer a generous two-samosa rating, knowing full well that the worst may be yet to come. The rock-bottom prices warrant a designation, resulting in a surprising samosa-to-rupee ratio of 2.0, higher than the ratios of many other excellent restaurants. Needless to say, this highlights the degeneracy inherent in our arbitrary metric of choice, and we advise you to use caution when choosing where to dine based solely on the ratio of quality to price...
For more of Yogi & Chat's review of Indian restaurants in Berkeley, visit our blog at http://masalachaat.wor... -
Review from Briget P.
10/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I came here with a group and we ordered an array of dishes so I cannot pin point every name but I will say my fave out of everything was the Vegetable Korma. (flavorful, creamy, and satisfying) I recommend all of their naan bread selections, my fave being garlic.
There is also complimentary tea similar to Chai Tea available. All the curries we ordered were satisfying, very spicy, and authentic. Affordable and authentic Indian cuisine. -
Review from Tony W.
Oakland, CA
2/7/2012
I really enjoy their lunch specials. They come with one entree, rice and naan (check out the images). Lamb is $8.50; chicken is $8; and vegetarian is $7. The portion is worth the price. The best part is, you can drink as much Masala Chai (spiced milk tea) as you like for free.
-
Review from jim w.
Oakland, CA
1/20/2012
The food is tasty! the price is right! the tea is self serve!
They sometimes don't have somosas, and the vindaloo is not great.... but if I could eat here once a day for the rest of my life, i would be a happy man.
The vegetarian options are *especially* tasty. Fairly spicy!
Best "asian" food i've had on the west coast. -
Review from Marvin K.
Oshkosh, WI
1/19/2012
The amount of food you get for the price you pay is amazing. The food is also good which is surprising when you pay so little. I would definitely go back.
-
Review from Julia F.
Long Beach, CA
11/1/2011
nice, clean, yummy. Free naan with lunch.
Both my friend and I ordered different kinds of chicken curries. Both were good, but had tiny pieces of chicken and I thought the actual curry portion was really small. No waiter service either. -
Review from Kenji M.
Reno, NV
1/21/2012
Cheap. I had the lamb curry. Not bad, but very forgettable. It's kind of like when you go to the market and you get that really generic brand of tabasco sauce and put it on your food. You can definitely taste the heat, but in terms of the spice or the flavor... it just wasn't there. Honestly it tasted like it was canned or it was sitting out way too long. Curry isn't about just heat, but about extracting subtle flavors, and that's just not what this was. It tasted old, and honestly I think Trader Joe's is probably better.
-
Review from Joel G.
Lincoln, NE
12/20/2011
This is a decent place. I love the prices and the bottomless chai.
-
Review from Andy C.
Beaverton, OR
12/16/2011
One word, three letters, "wow."
Biryani House is one of those you won't believe it till you've tried it types of places. I've had very limited experience with Indian/ Pakistaniai food, however the chicken tikka masala was absolutely fabulous. The dish/naan came out very hot and fresh.
The only downside to this place (and reason for the four star) was that there's a very strong smell (spices) present. It didn't bother me that much, but might for the more sensitive individuals out there.
If you can get past the smell you'd definitely be in for a superb meal! -
Review from Princess N.
Berkeley, CA
6/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
"Biryani House" is definitely my favourite Pakistani/Indian restaurant in Berkeley. My husband and I have been frequenting it since we moved to Berkeley almost a year ago and have had no complaints at all.
Coming from Pakistan, I find that the food stays true to it's Pakistani/Indian roots in terms of flavour and taste. It is fresh and comes piping hot :)
It is completely self serve from paying at the counter to getting plates and water, however, this suits us fine. The prices are reasonable and it is fairly spacious. It is close to campus which means its often buzzing with the hum of voices.
I would definitely recommend that you order:
chicken biryani
chicken tandoori
aloo gobi
achar gosht
naan
It is a must-have for your share of Pakistani food!! -
Review from Leme T.
Oakland, CA
8/1/2011
I came here a couple of times because it's pretty cheap and plentiful.
First time i came here i ordered the chicken breast tandoori, plain naan and rice.
The chicken is nice flavorful and juicy. They give big chunks of meat.
The naan is crispy on the bottom and soft on top. i usually like my naan chewy and soft though.
The rice is nice and soft and cooked evenly.
But half an hour later i had a tummy ache and everything came all out; and i wasn't able to eat anything till much later that night.
The second time i ordered chicken tikka masala, garlic naan and plain rice.
The chicken was once again very flavorful and juicy and the sauce was buttery, thick and flavorful. Great for dipping the naan.
The naan once again soft on the top and crispy on the bottom but i didn't feel it was enough garlic taste on the naan.
rice was cooked evenly and tasted very good with the masala.
But once again i ended up being sick. Everyone else i ate with was fine.
This place is really good for your buck's worth. They always have plenty of seating and serve very quickly. -
Review from Monica S.
11/11/2011
Biryani House isn't what I think of for "the best" of any northern Indian dish, but they are consistent, cheap, and authentic. This is the kind of food I am used to getting at the Indian cultural association picnics I went to growing up. I wouldn't make a special trip to come here, but when I've gone with friends, I've been satisfied with what I paid and what I ate. It's like the Indian equivalent of supermarket fried chicken - nothing special, but it goes down easy enough.
-
Review from Aditya K.
Berkeley, CA
6/24/2011
** I am a native of India who has eaten at every single Indian restaurant in Berkeley at least 3 times each, read the bottom of the review for my complete ranking list or look in my Yelp Lists **
** Begin Snobbery **
For higher rated restaurants, my reviews are very thorough with lots of explanation. For inferior Indian offerings such as this place, I don't bother with elaboration.
** End Snobbery **
-- Entree Taste: 2/5
Throwing in a ton of red pepper doesn't = flavor
-- Naan: 3/5
-- Price/Value: 3/5
-- Service: 2/5
Rude cashier, argumentative, snobby.
*CRITICSMS*: severely overpriced
*********** RANKING LIST ****************************** **************
-- I will keep updating this ranking list as I get time --
1) Flavors of India / Kabab and Karahi (tie)
2) Himalaya
3) Urbann Turbann ($5 Cholay wrap: best value for your money, period).
4) Punjabi By Nature
5) Chaat Cafe
6) Priya
7) Viks (yeah, I know I'm going to get a lot of flak for this one, but it's true folks, severely overrated due to bandwagoning)
8) Breads of India (OK, but overpriced)
9) Biryani House
10) Khana Peena (the one on Solano, a little better than the other one)
11) Pasand (OK, but severely overpriced)
12) House of Curries (College)
13) Kabana (Great food loses massive points for racially based treatment of customers)
14) Tandoor Kitchen
15) Khana Peena (the one on Shattuck, absolute trash, avoid)
16) Indus Valley Restaurant (literally serves frozen vegetable curries)
**Now if I called Khana Peena Shattuck trash, then you can imagine how the following are...yeah...these don't deserve to even be ranked**
House of Curries (Durant)
Naan N CurryListed in: Indian Restaurant Rankings
-
Review from Katie S.
5/19/2011
Why I like Biryani House more than Naan n Curry:
food is less greasy
certain meat items are a bit cheaper
Naan n Curry gave me and my cousin diarrhea
more spacious
more brightly lit
less crowded and noisy
you don't have scary people watching you eat from outside
you're not afraid to walk around with left overs in a plastic bag
I'm a huge fan of their naan, which is only $1. Its fluffy but crunchy at the same time. Whenever I make curry, I buy a couple naan from here to make wraps.
Btw, if you're ordering chicken tandoori, make sure to get at least 2 orders. You seriously only get ONE piece of chicken thigh. But that's why its only $2.99..
$5 minimum to use a credit card! -
Review from Issen A.
Los Angeles, CA
11/18/2011
This restaurant was great. The staff was super friendly from the moment we walked in. The food was fresh, tasty and delicious. I had the chicken tikka masala and would definitely recommend it. If you're a vegetarian there are lots of options. The decor isn't the best but the food makes up for the lack of atmosphere.
-
Review from Melissa A.
Sacramento, CA
9/6/2011
I love Indian food. I realize there is a good chance that there are better places out there. I have yet to encounter them. For now, this is my favorite place. (I will seek Aditya's recommendations.) I go to the bay area about 2 or more times a year and I can not stop going to this place.
It is very consistent
All of the dishes are different and have their own great qualities
It is inexpensive
Easy to order
Very fast
An abundance of vegetarian options
They have the best tandoori chicken!
...I will admit, I have had better naan. -
Review from Meena N.
4/30/2011
You order here like you would a fast food restaurant. You order/pay first and you get all your silverware, napkins and such at a different area. The place isn't sparkling clean but it isn't dirty either. There's always something interesting on the TV like bollywood stuff. Order at the cashier, grab a table, get your plates/cups/etc . Everything is self serve. Water (which is in the fridge), chai tea, utensils, everything.
The food is filling enough- Me and a friend ordered 2 curries, one nan and one rice but had to order another rice because that portion was kind of small. Their food is SPICY! Just the way I like it. I got the paneer tikka masala and although it was tasty, I'm not sure if you're normally given like..5 chunks of the cheese and then a mess of sauce. Chicken vindaloo was pretty good as well. Why not 4 stars? Well, the portions were kind of small.. or at least the rice was and given how spicy the curries were.. I think an extra order of rice would be great because by the end I was putting one grain of rice to two spoonfuls of curry. -
Review from David M.
San Ramon, CA
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic Indian food. But spicy as he**!! Be careful your taste buds can handle it. Way cheap, self service, but phenomenal!!! Get the Aloo Naan too!
-
Review from Julian K.
Oakland, CA
11/8/2011
Not a fan of all the food I've had here, but I really like their biryani. It's not only delicious and spicy, but quite innovative. They put plums in it that give it this nice tangy flavor. The helping is huge (almost enough for 2, I'd say), and it's really spicy. They offer free tea, as well, which is a plus.
-
Review from Cybill N.
Bay Area
5/15/2011
My first time eating here and I enjoyed the free chai tea with refills for dine in only, $1 for to-go. Also, liked the Garlic Naan which the portion was big for the price compared to other restaurants that serve half of it for the same price. Side of rice $1 was good as well.
Had the lamb and beef kebab. It's served like a long sausage and is not on a stick as I would think kebabs came. I preferred the lamb kebab, but both were dry and it was only good when dipped in the chicken tiki masala sauce and the green spicy sauce. The chicken in the tiki masala came in like cubes/chunks and the meat was dry. This dish came with 6-7 pieces. The sauce tasted bland to me and was not spicy.
Plenty of seating. Order at counter then take your number to your table. They then serve you your food at your table. Self-serve plates, utensils, water, and chai tea.
This place is ok. But, since there are other Indian restaurants in the area with just as good reviews, I will be trying others next time I'm in Berkeley. -
Review from Joanna M.
1/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mmm...biryani! Of course it's imperative to order the eponymous dish when coming to Biryani House. You don't go to IHOP for waffles, or Taco Bell for empanadas. Or if you're a self-respecting individual you probably don't go to either, but I digress.
When this sizzing hot Pakistani guy I was dating suggested Biryani House, I was excited, and not just because he was involved. But because I love biryani! The lamb biryani was delicious, and almost perfectly piquant. I prefer lamb to be more tender, but I appreciate the gentle beast in all of its forms.
The cafeteria style seating was fine with me and I liked the mural on the wall of a faraway Indian countryside. The service was simple, and the chai plentiful.
I imagine that the rest of their offerings are tasty too, so perhaps next time I'll break custom and try a less famous dish or two.Listed in: Subcontinental Specialties
-
Review from Patricia Q.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2011
Frankly, I don't care if I emerge from this restaurant with the smell of smoke in my clothing. The food is tasty and extremely spicy--the way I like it.
I'm a creature of habit, so I tend to just order the same item every time I'm here: palak chicken or palak ghosht. It's so spicy, it hurts sometimes. But I love it.
I used to hate eating indian food until I stumbled upon this place one late night. But at just 8-9 dollars for a very filling and satisfying meal that always hits the spot, Biryani House is one of my favorite haunts in Berkeley to get a quick meal. -
Review from Amy G.
Berkeley, CA
5/21/2011
Spicy! It's probably nothing for the Indian palate, but everything is at least at the "medium" spicyness level, and unlike other Indian restaurants they don't ask you for your preference. Good and filling though--I was famished so I gobbled down an entire naan and chicken palak (spinach with chicken curry,) which totaled to ~$8. They prefer that you pay in cash, so I did. First of all, I absolutely love their naan: it's thick, fluffy, not covered in grease, and I believe larger than at House of Curries, etc. The curry itself was definitely good but nothing fantastic. I also had a bite of the chicken biryani, which my friend got since it is the restaurant's namesake. Their biryanis are huge servings of rice, but it was a bit dry for my liking. I would stick to the typical naan and curries. Maybe I will try a stuffed naan in the future!
I felt a strange burning sensation in my stomach as I went to bed that night, and the strong smell of Indian spices definitely stays with you for a time period after eating. Could do without the bollywood channel in the background--I always think it's tacky for restaurants to have a tv. However, I like the self-serve, super-casual eating atmosphere and would come again if I find myself in the right place/time/mood. -
Review from Henry T.
11/24/2010 11 Check-ins Here
I always get the chicken vindaloo. Last time, I requested that they made it extra spicy because I looove spicy food! The difference was hardly noticeable, but it is still delicious! I've also tried the chicken tikka masala and chicken biryani, which are both pretty good. I order my chicken vindaloo with naan ($1) and dip that into the vindaloo sauce. It's great!
Of all its competition around campus, I think Biryani House is the tastiest and spiciest of them all. They also provide self serve tea, complimented with any dish you order.Listed in: Best of the Bay!
-
Review from Amy L.
1/20/2011
One of my favorite Indian/Pakistani food places around Berkeley! Not only is it close to where I live, but the place is always warm, toasty, and smells like roasting meat and curry! The place is one open space and there are tons of tables. So don't worry about waiting or overcrowdedness.
I order the Lamb vindaloo! It's spicy, has a good portion of potatoes and lamb. The lamb comes in large chunks, so you usually stab it with a fork to break it up. It's not like other places where they give you tiny morsels of lamb.
Can't go wrong with Chicken Masala. Their tandoor chicken is also very delicious! Most people order that with rice and slater the light green sauce all over it. yum.
Ive also had their lamb curry, which is alright.
Their spinach dish is also good--lots of my friends usually order this and continue to make it their regular.
omg, i think im going to go get some Indian food for dinner tonight. -
Review from Jessica D.
Oakland, CA
1/7/2011
I found dining at this restaurant to be an interesting experience for a few reasons...
Basically, you go up to the cashier, place an order, take a number, make your way to a bar where you gather your own plates, silverware, napkins, water, and tea. No trays, so it could be a handful to carry to your table. Kind of strange, but I am assuming the reason being is that it gets crowded from the college students at certain times?
The food was alright. Don't get me wrong it wasn't bad. I found it to be rather tasty and filling. You get plenty of food for the price you pay. But I believe the self serve part made me feel like I was dining in a cafeteria.
I probably won't go back here again because of the atmosphere, but if you are looking for a casual meal with mediocre food, this might be your thing.
Cons: 1) Atmosphere 2) Self Service
Pros: 1) Cheap Eat 2) The Naan was satisfying! (nothing special though) -
Review from Suki B.
Oakland, CA
8/31/2011
Cheap and good! Me likey! Reminiscent of Naan n Curry/Shalimar.
-
Review from manas g.
Fremont, CA
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Biryani is a joke.. I'm from Hyderabad and have had actual Hyderabadi Biryani. I however, have never eaten something this bad which has been characterized as biryani. It was simply a bit of half cooked rice with some seasonings thrown together.
-
Review from Shafinaaz K.
Berkeley, CA
1/8/2011
I came here for the first time last week since I work about 5 minutes from it. Having tried almost everything on Shattuck I kept walking past everything and planned to turn on university... but then I saw Biryani House. I had driven by it before and always wondered how it is.
I got the chicken biryani and it was amazing. I believe I paid $6.99 for it and there was enough for me to eat for lunch AND save some for dinner. The place looked spacious and the setting was decent.
I did take-out so I don't know much about the service. The lady at the counter was nice and friendly. She took my order and gave me a number. I sat on the table across from the counter for literally 5 minutes before she brought out my order. Seemed like excellent service to me!
I will be sure to go back and try the other stuff on their menu. -
Review from mary b.
Berkeley, CA
11/28/2011
We love this place. The goat karahi (or lamb if they are out of goat) is amazing. All of their dishes are good. I may not be a specialist on Indian (Pakistani) food (although being born in India doesn't make one an expert as some on this list claim) but I think this food is consistently wonderful and a real bargain. The order at the counter routine may not be for everyone but the food is so good that it is worth it.
-
Review from Kevin L.
Berkeley, CA
11/21/2010
Really amazing food here! The Ghobi Ghosht is SOOOOO LEGITT! It has lamb slow cooked with cauliflower in a delightful sauce. They do charge $1 for rice and $1 for naan, but their prices are already $1-$2 cheaper than their competition that it doesn't matter. Highly recommend this place.
Recommended Dishes:
1) Ghobi Ghosht
2) Lamb Biryani
3) Lamb Curry
4) Chicken Curry -
Review from Meghana S.
Berkeley, CA
9/10/2011
I have been here just once. I admit the food was good- I ordered naan and chicken curry, and it tasted good. However, I developed food poisoning and was retching everything I ate for three days. Needless to say, I will not be returning.
Listed in: Places for students to eat/…
-
Review from AccioSoyMilk ..
Richland, MS
10/20/2010
Bland of blandness. I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon to check out another Indian place here in Berkeley. Wasn't too impressed, sadly. It's a hole in the wall sort of deal where you order, get a number, and get your own plates, serving ware, chai and water if you wish. Theoretically you could probably sneak lassi and/or sodas if you're so inclined, but I did not.
Sat down with my chai and decided to finish my book. I was hoping I could read and eat at the same time, but sadly enough I finished my book sooner than expected. I was sad. The chai was not great--made with water, sigh.
Had a standard chicken curry, which I just love. It was bland. It had 5 pieces of meat. The rice was decent, but when the curry is not spicy, it just upsets me. It seems to be REALLY hard to find good Indian food places here, or else I'm just stuck looking in the wrong places. Spicy is okay, people! Don't panic!
On the upside, you can do your own to-go if you find you have to leave as they put out the take out containers right with the serving ware. And they were also good on checking on the chai, as someone came out and replaced the machine with more hot chai. It was still watery (I had hoped that perhaps I just got the crappy last drops, but no. It's just watery)
Didn't go to the bathroom, but I'm afraid to after eating here and seeing the reviews here.Listed in: For the hungry Berkeley…, UC Berkeley Extension eats
-
Review from Eric C.
1/27/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This is a nice place to come, especially if you have a large group. Order at the counter, take a number, and seat yourself. They'll bring food right up to the table.
Favorites: biryani & tikka masala.
Great for takeout too! -
Review from Augusto T.
Berkeley, CA
1/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fast, casual service and enjoyable Indian food.
Biryani house specializes on (*surprise*) Biryani, which is essentially Indian-style fried rice. They also offer appetizers, naan, and curry dishes. You order and pay for food at a counter and then food is brought to your table. The restaurant is quite large, so you should always be able to find an empty table. You can also serve yourself milk tea.
I really enjoy spicy food and have a pretty high tolerance for spiciness. Restaurants tend to be afraid of making food too spicy, so with that in mind, I ordered the Biryani extra spicy. It ended up being pretty darn spicy. I could eat it, but it was so spicy I could barely taste anything.
During my second visit, I just ordered it medium spiciness. If you have never had Biryani, definitelt try it here. The portions are plentiful and the food flavorful. Be warned that they do take their spiciness ratings seriously! -
Review from Ranjit M.
Pleasanton, CA
8/9/2010
Went for what else but...biryani of course. You don't even need to taste biryani to know if it's good, you should just be able to smell the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and other fragrant spices that make this dish so delightful. This biryani had almost no scent... And the taste was simply salt and chili.
I have not made it back to try anything else. -
Review from Jessica L.
Palo Alto, CA
3/28/2011
I've been to Biryani House three times.
My first experience was good enough that my boyfriend and I went again, which did not fair so well.
The second time we went we ordered chicken vindaloo and chicken masala. The vindaloo was so greasy that my boyfriend couldn't even finish it. The masala was tolerable, but I mostly finished it because I had rice.
The third time (which is probably our last) was even more unsatisfactory than the second with similar issues IE: greasy vindaloo, and the masala left me disappointed due to the lack of flavor.
The place is big and open and great for large groups, especially if you're looking for food within your budget. Beware, things make look a little beaten up, some times the floor can get sticky (movie theater status) but it has a really local and casual feel. The eating area is surrounded by large windows that light up the restaurant and is a great place to go even if by yourself for people watching.
*NOTE
They do have TVs there but they play Bollywood vids. -
Review from Ruby G.
Berkeley, CA
10/15/2010
Biryani House is one of my go to spots for Pakistani and Indian cuisine. Located conveniently in Downtown Berkeley, it's easy to get to and never disappointing in terms of taste. Cheap, delicious, and local, can't beat that.
My favorite items to order are prawn masala, chicken tandoori breast, and lamb biryani with raita. They also have a nice selection of naans (plain, garlic, onion, potato etc.). My relatives from Bombay have enjoyed eating here many a time and compliment it's authenticity.
The restaurant itself is not exactly enchanting or rich with ambience due to the blaring bollywood tunes playing from open until close but it's the quality of the food that keeps me coming back. Not to mention, there is also the possibility of take out and delivery as well. The service is efficient and the staff are clearly working hard to keep the place a tight ship. It's evident that the food is fresh and the customers are satisfied. -
Review from pgm j.
Woodside, CA
3/5/2011
Four stars for the biryani,but watch out for the kabobs.
Pretty dried out,but it is nice you can order them a la cart if you want.
As for the atmosphere,grungy is an apt description.
Food is spicy hot and seems to be made to order as my chicken biryani came out piping hot and fresh.
Worth a look if you've got a taste for cheap Indian.
Addendum:
The entertainment consists of some really strange HD Bollywood videos that seem surreal because they are so bad.
I would choose carefully which mind altering substance to have imbibed in before visiting this place (Delysid users beware)..
