Best Biryani in Columbus (2026)

Butter chicken and saag paneer share the menu with a biryani built for a dining room that runs on low light and quiet service rather than volume. The kitchen's output has drawn some inconsistency on delivery orders, so dine-in is the safer bet for the biryani done right. Booth seating and a calmer pace set it apart from the lunch-buffet tier.

Garlic naan gets singled out often enough to order two, and the tikka platter anchors a menu where the biryani is only one strong option among several. The lunch special draws a steady crowd, and the room stays clean and unfussy. This is a straightforward run at Indian standards done with real care, not a biryani specialist, but a dependable one.

The tandoor is the reason to come, with tandoori shrimp and chicken pulling focus from the biryani on a menu built for groups. Gluten-free items are labeled clearly, a rarity worth noting. The room fills late even midweek. The buffet has drawn sharp complaints about cleanliness, so ordering off the tandoor menu is the safer path.

Chicken tikka and kebab share billing with a biryani on a menu wider than most Indian rooms in the city, including pan-Asian dishes not common elsewhere on Central Ohio menus. Spice levels run genuinely hot when requested. Seating is ample and the pace is unhurried, making it a solid stop for diners who want to range beyond the standard curry-and-naan set.

The name states the intent plainly, and the lamb korma and paneer tikka masala back up a biryani built into the restaurant's identity rather than an afterthought. Vegetarian and vegan options run deep. The buffet gets called out repeatedly as among the strongest in the city, and repeat visits are common among regulars who treat it as a family spot.

Onion bhaji and chicken curry lead a menu that clearly labels vegetarian and gluten-free items, useful for diners building a biryani order around dietary limits. Service is attentive and to-go orders run on time. The room deserves more traffic than it gets. Occasional unannounced closures are worth checking for before a special trip.

Dal tadka and navratan korma travel well, arriving warm and properly packed, a good sign for anyone ordering biryani for delivery rather than dine-in. The doi mahi mahi draws specific praise alongside the standard curry lineup. It reads as a newer addition to the city's Indian roster with a broader mix of dishes than the average storefront.

Tikka masala and dal anchor a menu with a biryani worth ordering alongside them, in a room kept clean and staffed with attentive service. The lunch buffet draws mixed opinions: the food is tasty, but the price runs higher than typical buffet math for the portion received. Dinner service gets steadier praise than the midday spread.

Tandoori chicken and saag paneer pair with a biryani that has turned takeout customers into regulars, with friendly service noted even when the visit skips the dining room. The lunch buffet draws interest from dinner guests who have not yet tried it. Catering is part of the operation, useful for anyone planning a larger order.

Paneer tikka masala and chicken tikka masala headline a buffet in a side strip near the Easton shopping district, with parking easy to find and a biryani worth returning for on its own. The paneer selection draws specific praise. Service is consistently strong, and longtime regulars treat it as one of the city's steadier lunch-buffet stops.

Masala dosa and mango lassi are the draw at a South Indian counter that sets itself apart from the north Indian biryani-and-curry rooms dominating this list. The dosa arrives crisp with flavorful accompanying sauces, and prices run fair. It fills a real gap in the city's Indian dining, worth seeking out specifically for the South Indian menu.

The lunch special is the move here, delivering a wide sampling of the kitchen's range including dosa and curry alongside the biryani, with portions large enough to justify arriving hungry. Service runs attentive and the room has a warm, low-key feel. Dishes arrive fresh and well spiced, and the kitchen's consistency stands out even against tougher critics.