Pune has no shortage of biryani, but some places have been quietly perfecting their version for years. Located in Kalyani Nagar, Hamid’s Biryani proudly calls itself the “Biryani King of Pune” since 2007—and after tasting their Mutton Dum Biryani, you can understand why.
Hamid’s is a small, no-frills shop with just four to five tables. The menu is equally focused, with only around seven to eight dishes, all non-vegetarian. But what really catched my attention is the kitchen. It is spotless. The moment I walked in, I could smell the unmistakable aroma of rice, spices and meat slowly cooking together on dum.
Their Mutton Dum Biryani follows the one-pot dum cooking method. There is no separate white rice layered with the meat. Everything cooks together, allowing the flavours of the mutton, spices and rice to merge.
Rice Verdict: 10/10
The rice is easily one of the highlights. Each grain is perfectly cooked, fluffy and aromatic, with plenty of whole spices adding depth to every bite. Most importantly, the grains remain beautifully separate—not two grains sticking to each other.
Even more impressive, not a single grain was stuck to the pieces of meat. The rice carries the flavour of the dum cooking without becoming oily or heavy. It is the kind of rice that you can happily eat on its own. 10/10 for the rice.
Meat & Masala Verdict: 10/10
Hamid’s uses goat meat, with extremely clean cuts. They use different parts of the animal, including kidneys, and on our plate, we even found a chop. Each cut brings a slightly different flavour and texture to the biryani.
Despite being cooked for a long time, the meat is exceptionally well done while still holding its shape. The spices are aromatic without overpowering the natural flavour of the mutton.
A particularly interesting detail is the use of brista as a paste rather than simply adding fried onions. This helps distribute that sweet, caramelised onion flavour evenly throughout the biryani.
Meat-to-Rice Ratio: 8/10
A full plate comes with five large pieces of mutton, which is a good quantity. However, Hamid’s is generous with its rice, so the meat can feel slightly less in comparison.
Overall, Hamid’s Mutton Dum Biryani is a reminder that you don’t need an elaborate menu or a fancy restaurant to make an excellent biryani. Spot-on rice, beautifully cooked mutton and balanced spices make this a serious contender for Pune’s biryani lovers.
Hamid’s Biryani
Shop No. 1, Hermes Paras 3, opposite Wellness Chemist, Kalyani Nagar, Pune – 411006
Contact: 7770001990
