"Mutton biryani cooked in a copper degh over charcoal since 1968 — a no-signboard Chowk institution that Lucknow lines up for daily."
About Idris Biryani
Idris Biryani — spelled Idrees on most lips — has been a fixture of Raja Bazar in old Chowk since 1968, when Mohammad Idrees opened it after twenty-five years cooking Awadhi food under master Haji Abdul Raheem. There is still no signboard over the door; the queue from noon is how you find it. His sons, Mohammad Abu Bakr and Mohammad Abu Hamza, run the deghs today.
This is Awadhi cooking stripped to its essentials: a copper degh, a charcoal bhatti, and a recipe handed down through one family for over half a century. Actors and chefs detour here, but the draw is the same for everyone — a plate of mutton biryani that tastes the way Lucknow remembers it.
The Kitchen
One dish carries the name. The mutton biryani is layered in a copper degh and cooked roughly three hours over a charcoal-fired bhatti, the rice taking on smoke and the meat falling off the bone. Around it sit mutton korma, mutton stew, sheermal, kulcha and rumali roti — the supporting cast to a single, perfected plate.
Prices stay street-level: a half plate of mutton biryani is around ₹160, a quarter near ₹90, and a full meal for two with korma and bread lands near ₹500. The kitchen opens for lunch from noon and again in the evening, and sells out — come early or come back.
The Room
There is no dining room to speak of. Idris Biryani is a small, well-worn shop on a tight Chowk lane, with a handful of basic seats and most custom done standing or taken away. The theatre is the degh being opened and the rice ladled out, not the decor.
Go for the food and the ritual, not for comfort. The lane is cramped, seating is minimal, and the heritage of the place — not its surroundings — is the reason to come. Cash is king, and the early lunch service is the safest bet before the day's degh runs out.
Best for Solo Dining
A no-frills counter and a single great dish make Idris Biryani a natural stop for solo dining on a food pilgrimage through old Lucknow. It also works as a fast, memorable business lunch for anyone who wants to show a visitor the real thing, or a birthday treat for a biryani devotee.
Not for
Not for diners who want a comfortable dining room, table service, or a long menu — Idris Biryani is a cramped, cash-only Chowk counter built around one charcoal-degh dish, often sold out by mid-afternoon.
Frequently Asked
What is Idris Biryani known for?
Its mutton biryani. Founded in 1968 by Mohammad Idrees in Raja Bazar, Chowk, the shop slow-cooks biryani in a copper degh over a charcoal bhatti for about three hours, and is famous for having no signboard yet a daily queue.
How much does the biryani cost at Idris Biryani?
It stays street-level. A half plate of mutton biryani is around ₹160 and a quarter near ₹90; a full meal for two with korma and bread lands near ₹500.
What should I order at Idris Biryani?
The mutton biryani above all, cooked in the copper degh. Round it out with mutton korma or stew and sheermal, kulcha or rumali roti to mop up the gravy.
Where is Idris Biryani in Lucknow?
In Raja Bazar, near Pata Nala and Kotwali, in the old city's Chowk quarter. There is no signboard — look for the lunchtime queue down the lane.
When should I visit Idris Biryani?
Come for the early lunch service from noon, when the day's degh is fresh. It also opens in the evening, but the biryani frequently sells out, so going early is wise. Carry cash.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Idris Biryani
No reservations and no signboard — follow the lunchtime queue in Raja Bazar, Chowk. Cash only; come early before the degh sells out.
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Practical Information
AddressRaja Bazar, near Pata Nala, Chowk, old Lucknow
NeighbourhoodRaja Bazar, Chowk, near Pata Nala and Kotwali
CuisineIndian
PriceA half plate of mutton biryani runs about ₹160; a full meal for two with korma and bread lands near ₹500
Dress CodeCasual
SeatingA few basic seats; mostly counter and takeaway
ReservationNot accepted — walk-in only
