In a nutshell: An eatery with no signboard, no proper entrance, tiny eating hall where one shares table with strangers …………. It is also the eatery that makes food with a passion for perfection leading to impeccable, unforgettable food with awesome taste & flavors – stuff that turn into legends & memories. Address & other details: Idris Meal for 2: Rs. 100 onwards Cuisine type : … Continue reading Idris Hotel (opposite Police Chowki, Patanala, Lucknow)
A ‘must not miss’ Dum Biryani experience in Lucknow
the wow ‘Idris ki Biryani’
Cuisine type: Nonvegetarian
Meal for 2:Rs. 100 onwards
The school besides which the biryani shop is located
Short Description – In case u r in a hurry:
My 5th visit to my in-laws’s place in Lucknow was very different than all the previous ones. Unlike in the past, I decided to go &savour the culinary surprises of Lucknow & I stumbled upon an unexpected partner – my father in law. His eyes lit as soon as I shared my plans & he offered to accompany me to a list of eateries I was carrying with me.
extra colored sheermal @ Idris ki Biryani
What surprised me wholly about eateries in lucknow was the fact that most of the places didn’t have even a rudimentary sign board. I mean one would expect those ‘lucknow ke mashhoor’ kind of stuff written but even that is not common here. But, yeah, everybody seems to know about these eateries, everybody loves them and so they authenticate/vouch for these as well.
mutton being cooked
We then headed to the chowk around 6.30 in the evening where our local kadardaan Mr Sayeed Khan was waiting for our company. He was a gentle soul with a ‘laheza’ tone so eminent in Lucknow . This man was Around 60’s & was one of my Father in law’s friend – he had a superb knowledge of the place and food since he has resided here for many many years.
The shop / shack of Idris ki Biryani is around 30-40 years old & can be termed as the latest hot-shot in the area of Top culinary excellence it Lucknow. The claim to fame is coverage in several electronic & print media.
The area at the entrance of the shop looked like an old shack with coal tandoor on one side and huge patilas with curry lying all around on the floor. It actually reminded me of makeshift kitchens that u see in Marriages.
near the entrance of Idris ki Biryani
The kebabs were being made literally on a huge griddle on an oven on the road –to be precise, on a coal pit dug out into the floor.
the kababs being made
The eating area had around 4-5 tables which were jam-packed with people sitting on‘tea stall’ style benches. I noticed the floor below the eating area – it was jet black & even after looking at it for some time, I could not understand whether it was kutcha or pukka.
the eating area – where u share a table with people whom u have perhaps never met.
Everybody including my companions were eating biryani with their hands. I raised my hand & habitually asked for a spoon. Soon I realized that to enjoy the mutton biryani in to the core, one has to better leave the spoon and dive in with one’s hand.
Needless to say that the Biryani was made in the Traditional Lucknowi Dum system – slow cooking over a long period of time.
Detailed description – In case u have the time to njoy reading:
