Last Updated: January 2026
Hyderabad is not a city you visit just for sightseeing — you come here to eat.
From the moment the aroma of biryani hits the streets to the late-night Irani chai conversations, food in Hyderabad feels personal, emotional, and unforgettable.
Locals don’t just “eat” here — they debate flavors, stay loyal to their favorite food spots, and proudly tell visitors where the real taste lives.
In this guide, you’ll discover the most famous food dishes to try in Hyderabad, including what locals actually love eating, when to try each dish, and why these foods define the soul of the city.
What is the most famous food in Hyderabad?
Hyderabadi Biryani is the most famous food in Hyderabad, loved for its dum-style cooking, rich spices, and royal Nizami heritage. It represents the city’s food culture worldwide.
🍽️ 20 Famous Food Dishes to Try in Hyderabad
1. Hyderabadi Biryani
Ask any Hyderabadi, and they’ll tell you — choosing biryani is not about restaurants, it’s about loyalty.
If there’s one dish that defines Hyderabad, it’s biryani — and locals don’t take this lightly. In Hyderabad, biryani is not “rice and meat”; it’s an emotion passed down through generations.
Cooked using the traditional dum method, Hyderabadi biryani combines long-grain basmati rice, tender meat, saffron, and aromatic spices sealed together so every grain absorbs flavor.
Why locals love it: Everyone has “their” biryani place — loyalty runs deep.
Best time to eat: Lunch or dinner
Average price: ₹250–₹450
2. Hyderabadi Haleem
Haleem is slow food in the truest sense. Cooked for hours with meat, wheat, lentils, and spices, this dish becomes creamy, rich, and deeply satisfying.
For Hyderabadis, haleem is inseparable from Ramadan evenings, when families and friends gather around steaming bowls.
Why locals love it: Heavy, comforting, and full of nostalgia.
Best time to eat: Evening
Average price: ₹200–₹350
3. Irani Chai
For many locals, Irani chai isn’t a drink — it’s a daily ritual.
Irani chai is not just tea — it’s Hyderabad’s pause button. Thick, milky, and slightly sweet, it’s best enjoyed slowly with conversation.
Locals visit Irani cafés early morning or late night, often standing, sipping, and chatting.
Why locals love it: It’s a daily ritual, not a beverage.
Best time to eat: Morning or late evening
Average price: ₹30–₹60
4. Osmania Biscuit
No Irani chai is complete without Osmania biscuits. Lightly sweet, slightly salty, and crumbly — these biscuits are uniquely Hyderabadi.
They are baked fresh in local bakeries and rarely taste the same elsewhere.
Why locals love it: Perfect balance with chai.
Best time to eat: Anytime
Average price: ₹20–₹50
5. Double Ka Meetha
Hyderabaad ku aaye to Double ka Meetha nai Khaye, ayyo kya khayeji tuma
This royal dessert is Hyderabad’s answer to bread pudding. Slices of bread are fried, soaked in milk and sugar syrup, and finished with dry fruits and ghee.
Often served at weddings, it’s rich without being overwhelming.
Why locals love it: Tradition on a plate.
Best time to eat: After meals
Average price: ₹100–₹200
6. Qubani Ka Meetha
Made from dried apricots, Qubani Ka Meetha is subtle, fruity, and elegant. It’s usually served chilled and paired with fresh cream or custard.
This dessert reflects Hyderabad’s Persian influence.
Why locals love it: Light, refined, and timeless.
Best time to eat: Dessert
Average price: ₹120–₹220
7. Mirchi Ka Salan
This thick curry made with green chilies, peanuts, sesame seeds, and tamarind often accompanies biryani.
Despite the chilies, it’s more nutty and tangy than spicy.
Why locals love it: It completes biryani.
Best time to eat: Lunch or dinner
Average price: ₹120–₹200
8. Khubani Ka Meetha with Ice Cream
A modern twist on tradition — warm apricot dessert topped with cold vanilla ice cream.
Popular among younger food lovers.
Why locals love it: Sweet contrast of hot and cold.
Best time to eat: Dessert
Average price: ₹150–₹250
9. Lukhmi
Lukhmi looks like a samosa but tastes very different. Filled with spiced minced meat and folded into square shapes, it’s crisp and flavorful.
Found mostly in Old City areas.
Why locals love it: Crunchy, meaty, satisfying.
Best time to eat: Evening snack
Average price: ₹50–₹100
10. Pathar Ka Gosht
A rare Hyderabadi specialty, Pathar Ka Gosht is cooked directly on a hot stone slab with minimal spices.
The result is smoky, tender meat with incredible flavor.
Why locals love it: Old-school and authentic.
Best time to eat: Dinner
Average price: ₹350–₹600
11. Keema Samosa
These samosas are smaller, crispier, and filled with perfectly spiced minced meat.
Often eaten with tea in the evening.
Why locals love it: Perfect chai companion.
Best time to eat: Evening
Average price: ₹40–₹80
12. Nihari
Nihari is a slow-cooked meat stew traditionally eaten early in the morning.
Rich, oily, and deeply flavorful, it’s not for light eaters.
Why locals love it: Comfort food for early risers.
Best time to eat: Early morning
Average price: ₹250–₹400
13. Malai Korma
Creamy, mildly sweet, and nut-based, Malai Korma showcases Hyderabad’s royal cooking style.
Often paired with naan or roti.
Why locals love it: Rich without heat.
Best time to eat: Lunch or dinner
Average price: ₹250–₹400
14. Dum Ka Murgh
Chicken marinated in spices and slow-cooked in sealed pots.
Every bite is infused with flavor.
Why locals love it: Aromatic and juicy.
Best time to eat: Dinner
Average price: ₹280–₹450
15. Hyderabadi Shawarma
Hyderabad’s shawarma is spicier and bolder than its Middle Eastern counterpart.
Found across the city, especially in the evenings.
Why locals love it: Fast, filling, and flavorful.
Best time to eat: Evening or late night
Average price: ₹120–₹200
16. Kebabs (Seekh, Shami, Boti)
Hyderabad is a kebab lover’s paradise. Juicy, smoky, and perfectly spiced.
Often eaten as starters.
Why locals love it: Meat done right.
Best time to eat: Dinner
Average price: ₹200–₹400
17. Poori with Kurma
A beloved breakfast dish served with a mildly spiced vegetable curry.
Simple, comforting, and filling.
Why locals love it: Nostalgic morning food.
Best time to eat: Morning
Average price: ₹60–₹120
18. Bagara Baingan
Small brinjals cooked in a nut-based gravy, often paired with biryani or roti.
Rich and slightly tangy.
Why locals love it: Perfect side dish.
Best time to eat: Lunch or dinner
Average price: ₹180–₹300
19. Falooda
A layered dessert drink made with milk, vermicelli, basil seeds, syrup, and ice cream.
Perfect for hot afternoons.
Why locals love it: Cooling and indulgent.
Best time to eat: Afternoon or evening
Average price: ₹120–₹200
20. Street-Style Chaat
Hyderabad’s chaat scene blends North Indian flavors with local spice.
From pani puri to dahi puri, evenings are incomplete without it.
Why locals love it: Affordable and addictive.
Best time to eat: Evening
Average price: ₹50–₹100
📊 Famous Food Dishes to try in Hyderabad – Quick Table
| Dish | Category | Avg Price | Best Time |
| Hyderabadi Biryani | Main Course | ₹250–₹450 | Lunch/Dinner |
| Haleem | Main Course | ₹200–₹350 | Evening |
| Irani Chai | Beverage | ₹30–₹60 | Morning |
| Double Ka Meetha | Dessert | ₹100–₹200 | Dessert |
| Lukhmi | Snack | ₹50–₹100 | Evening |
🌆 Why These Are the Most Famous Food Dishes to Try in Hyderabad
Let’s be honest—Hyderabad is not only biryani, which is very deservedly on the throne. It is a combination of regal Hyderabadi food, hot Andhra food, Irani samosas and buns, and creative street food. If you would like to have an experience of food culture, you must experience the famous food dishes to try in Hyderabad from sunrise to midnight.
These foods are special because of their cultural roots, local love, and regional flair. All recipes are potentially hundreds of years old, passed down and enjoyed, or innovations, bridging our cravings today without losing their heritage.
🧭 A Foodie’s Guide to Planning Your Day in Hyderabad
Start early with Irani Chai and Osmania Biscuits near Charminar. Follow it up with a crispy Butter Dosa at Ram Ki Bandi. For lunch, dig into spicy Andhra Meals at Rayalaseema Ruchulu or rich Mutton Biryani at Paradise.
By evening, munch on spicy Guntur Chicken or juicy Malai Kebabs at Banjara Hills. Wind down your day with Double Ka Meetha and Qubani Ka Meetha, two classic desserts you’ll dream about for days.
All these are among the top famous food dishes to try in Hyderabad, so plan wisely and arrive hungry.
💸 Famous food dishes to try in Hyderabad Expensive?
Absolutely not! Most of the famous food dishes to try in Hyderabad cost under ₹300 per person. You could cover 4–5 iconic food places in a day within ₹800. Even high-end kebab or barbecue joints offer set meals under ₹700. Hyderabad is the perfect city for budget foodies who want royal taste on a local budget.
🤔 People Also Ask (FAQ Section)
Q: What is the most famous food in Hyderabad?
A: Hyderabadi Biryani is the most famous food in Hyderabad, known worldwide for its unique dum cooking style and rich flavor.
Q: Why is Hyderabad famous for food?
A: Hyderabad is famous for food because of its unique blend of Mughlai, Persian, and South Indian flavors developed during the Nizam era.
Q: Is Hyderabadi food spicy?
A: Hyderabadi food focuses more on aroma and richness than extreme spice, making it enjoyable even for first-time visitors.
Q: Which sweet is famous in Hyderabad?
A: Qubani Ka Meetha and Double Ka Meetha are the most popular traditional sweets in Hyderabad.
Q: What street food is Hyderabad famous for?
A: Hyderabad is famous for shawarma, chaat, lukhmi, kebabs, and Irani chai with Osmania biscuits.
Q: Is Hyderabadi food very spicy?
A: Hyderabadi food is flavorful and aromatic. While some dishes are spicy, many are well-balanced with rich gravies and mild heat.
🧭 Tips for Exploring Hyderabad Food Like a Local
- Try biryani from different areas — each has a unique taste
- Visit Irani cafés early morning or late evening
- During Ramadan, explore Old City food streets
- Don’t skip desserts — they are as iconic as the main dishes
- Avoid peak hours at popular restaurants like Paradise and Café Bahar.
- Early morning food gems like Ram Ki Bandi sell out fast—reach by 5 AM.
- Don’t leave without trying Pathar Ka Gosht or Haleem—two of the most famous food dishes to try in Hyderabad.
- If you’re vegetarian, you’ll still enjoy dishes like Mirchi Bajji, Butter Dosa, and desserts like Double Ka Meetha.
🌍 Local Flavor + Global Appeal
It is no wonder that food bloggers, Instagrammers, and YouTubers from all over the world have been raving about the food scene in Hyderabad. The reason they are so excited is because they are finally tasting the iconic food dishes to try in Hyderabad that the locals or “Hyderabadi’s,” have enjoyed for many decades. From Nawabi kitchens to night stalls, there is always something delicious being cooked in Hyderabad.
🧳 Perfect for Every Type of Traveler
- Solo Backpackers: Try street food stalls and budget cafés under ₹200.
- Family Travelers: Enjoy traditional thalis, biryanis, and safe, hygienic options at known restaurants.
- Luxury Lovers: Places like Barbeque Nation and Rayalaseema Ruchulu offer top-quality service with regional authenticity.
No matter who you are, the famous food dishes to try in Hyderabad are designed to leave a lasting taste.
📣 Final Thoughts
Hyderabad’s food is emotional.
You don’t just remember what you ate — you remember where you ate it, who you were with, and how it made you feel.
Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, these famous food dishes will always give you a reason to return.
👉 Loved our guide on Famous food dishes to try in Hyderabad?
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