Pune’s Biggest Biryani Success Story

When it comes to affordable biryani in Pune, you can only think of Garva Biryani. What started as a local favourite has now grown into one of Maharashtra’s biggest biryani brands, spread across 18 cities.

Unlike premium biryani restaurants, Garva has always focused on one thing—serving a good biryani at a price almost anyone can afford. With a full plate priced at just ₹150 and a half plate at ₹100, the challenge isn’t just making biryani; it’s making a good biryani consistently at that price.

For Episode 6 of Ek Plate Biryani, I visited the Kothrud outlet near MIT Chowk to see if the hype is justified.

Hyderabadi Flavours That Surprise

Garva serves three styles of biryani—Hyderabadi, Lucknowi and Tandoori. I chose their signature Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani, priced at ₹150 for a full plate.

The biryani is served with a bowl of rassa. While it doesn’t complement the Biryani,  authentic Hyderabadi salan is absent. In my opinion, the rassa is avoidable and a traditional salan would have elevated the experience considerably.

That said, the biryani itself pleasantly surprised me.

Despite its modest price, it captures the essence of Hyderabadi flavours perfectly. The spices are balanced, the rice is aromatic, and the overall preparation avoids the excessive oil and greasiness often found in budget biryanis.

Excellent Rice and Well-Cooked Chicken

The rice is undoubtedly one of the biggest highlights.

Every grain is fluffy, well-cooked and infused with masala. So each morsel is flavourful without becoming overwhelming. It is light enough to enjoy regularly without feeling heavy afterwards.

Rice Verdict: 10/10

The chicken is tender, juicy and cooked beautifully. The masala is delicate rather than overpowering. It allows the natural flavours of the meat to shine. For a biryani at this price point, the quality of the chicken deserves special appreciation.

Meat & Masala Verdict: 10/10
The Only Drawback

The only aspect where Garva falls short is the quantity of meat.

The chicken pieces are very few compared to the quantity of rice. By the time you finish the meat, nearly half the rice remains, leaving you to eat the rest without chicken.

Meat : Rice Ratio Verdict: 5/10

If Garva ever introduces a double meat option for an additional charge, I’d happily pay the extra amount.

Final Verdict

There are undoubtedly more refined biryanis in Pune. But at ₹150, Garva Biryani delivers exceptional value for money. It offers authentic Hyderabadi-inspired flavours, fluffy rice, tender chicken and a meal that’s satisfying without burning a hole in your pocket.

If you’re looking for Pune’s best budget biryani, Garva is difficult to beat. It proves that good biryani doesn’t always have to be expensive—it just needs to be made well.

Address: Garva Biryani, MIT Chowk, 5, Paud Road, Tarangan Society, Rambaug Colony, Kothrud, Pune.

Contact: 90289 35009