Introduction
Hello, this is GOK from the Shinjuku local media site Daily Shinjuku.
This time, I focused on biryani, a popular rice dish served at Indian and Sri Lankan restaurants.
A well-spiced biryani can be especially satisfying in warmer seasons, and Shinjuku offers a surprisingly wide range of styles—from classic Indian and Sri Lankan versions to Myanmar-style and even creative Japanese interpretations.
In this article, I’ve excerpted some of the most memorable biryani spots introduced in the original roundup.
Recommended Biryani Spots in and around Shinjuku
Sansar Shinjuku (Higashi-Shinjuku) — Chicken Biryani
The first spot is Sansar Shinjuku, a Nepalese and Indian restaurant in Higashi-Shinjuku.
Its chicken biryani, served as a Friday lunch special in the original article, was described as authentically flavored with moist rice and excellent overall balance. The bone-in chicken is well seasoned and very tender, making it a satisfying plate.
Price in the original article: 1,150 yen
Cochin Nivas (Nishi-Shinjuku) — Chicken Biryani
Next is Cochin Nivas, a South Indian restaurant in Nishi-Shinjuku.
The article highlights its chicken biryani as something especially enjoyable when customized—such as adding other menu items like keema nargisi or prawn varuval, or topping it with papadum and masala peanuts. It also mentions that the restaurant’s lemon rice is another personal favorite.
Price in the original article: 1,400 yen
Bandara Lanka (Yotsuya area) — Sri Lankan Biryani
Bandara Lanka, a Sri Lankan restaurant near Yotsuya, is located on the first floor of the Art Complex Center, an arts facility set within a residential area.
Its takeaway biryani comes with a boiled egg and yogurt sauce (raita). According to the original article, a large bone-in chicken is hidden inside the rice, and this biryani was described as an unquestioned No.1 in flavor. The combination of coriander and whole spices gives it a deep and addictive complexity.
Price in the original article: 1,200 yen
Real Mad SPICE (Yotsuya) — Creative Biryani
Another distinctive option is Real Mad SPICE in Yotsuya-sanchome, a lunchtime operation inside the yakitori shop Gallo.
The original article describes it as a place serving highly original creative biryani. One example is “FISH 65” biryani, topped with bite-sized fried fish, fried onions, shiso, shishito peppers, eggplant achar, and mini tomato achar.
Another example is the Japanese-inspired “Sea Bream Kombu-Cured & Sansho Pepper” biryani, topped with kombu-cured sea bream, myoga, shiso, and simmered eggplant, and finished with broth poured over it like ochazuke.
Price in the original article: 1,500 yen
Apsara Restaurant & Bar (Waseda) — Sri Lankan Chicken Biryani
In Waseda, Apsara Restaurant & Bar serves a Sri Lankan chicken biryani presented over a banana leaf.
The original article notes that it contains generous whole spices and felt slightly softer in texture than some other versions. It was described as spicier and hotter than the restaurant’s Sri Lankan rice and curry, while the well-simmered chicken was tender enough to fall apart with a spoon.
Price in the original article: 1,320 yen
SPICE CURRY Alq Road Iidabashi — Biryani with Curry
At SPICE CURRY Alq Road Iidabashi, the biryani is served in a style meant to be enjoyed with curry poured over it.
The set in the original article came with rasam soup and raita, and the biryani itself was already well seasoned and filled with whole spices. The combination with lotus root achar and spiced chicken curry was also praised.
Price in the original article: 1,200 yen for one curry + biryani
TOKYO BHAVAN (Iidabashi) — South Indian Biryani
TOKYO BHAVAN in Iidabashi is introduced as a notable South Indian restaurant created by former chefs and staff from the well-known Yaesu restaurant Dhaba India.
The biryani here can be selected in four versions: chicken, mutton, shrimp, or vegetable. It comes with raita and a curry sauce called masala. The chicken version in the original article was described as juicy, bone-in, and deeply infused with spice, while the masala adds extra depth without being overly hot.
Price in the original article: 1,600 yen
AHILYA Yoyogi — Special Chicken Biryani
Near Yoyogi, within easy reach of Shinjuku South Exit, AHILYA Yoyogi offers a Special Chicken Biryani.
The article describes it as moist and rich with absorbed curry flavor. It features boiled egg, sliced almonds, and large pieces of chicken.
Price in the original article: 1,200 yen
Biryani Tokyo (Takadanobaba) — Specialty Biryani Shop
In Takadanobaba, Biryani Tokyo is a dedicated biryani specialty shop.
Its dum-style biryani is cooked with 13 spices, and customers can choose one or two from five varieties: vegetable, egg, chicken, lamb, and shrimp. Among the versions introduced in the original article, the personal recommendation was the chicken biryani, featuring tender chunks of domestic Daisen chicken with spice soaked deep into the meat. It was described as pleasantly oily without dryness, making it easy to finish quickly.
Price in the original article: 2,000 yen for the lunch set
MINGALABA (Takadanobaba) — Danpauk, Myanmar-Style Biryani
As a special entry, the original article also introduces danpauk at the Myanmar restaurant MINGALABA in Takadanobaba.
Danpauk is a Myanmar rice dish made with long-grain rice and spices—essentially a Myanmar-style biryani. Compared with standard biryani, it was described as milder in spice, with raisins, green peas, and cashew nuts cooked into the rice, creating a fresher and lighter impression. It is served with spiced braised chicken thigh, which pairs very well with the rice.
Price in the original article: 1,100 yen
Biryani Osawa — Mutton Biryani and Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani
Finally, the original article includes takeaway biryani from Biryani Osawa, purchased during ISETAN Curry Fes 2025 at Isetan Shinjuku.
The mutton biryani is described as using bone-in mutton gently pre-cooked confit-style to keep in its juices and collagen, resulting in tender meat with minimized gaminess. The basmati rice was noted as having none of the unpleasant dryness sometimes associated with biryani, instead offering a nicely balanced oiliness and a layered spice profile that changed from bite to bite.
The original article also mentions the Hyderabadi chicken biryani as part of the takeaway selection.
Price in the original article: Mutton biryani 2,780 yen
Summary
This article introduced a selection of recommended biryani spots in and around Shinjuku.
From classic Indian and Sri Lankan biryani to Myanmar-style danpauk and highly original creative versions made by Japanese chefs, the variety is remarkably wide.
The original article also highlights how accompaniments such as raita, masala, rasam, and achar can make each biryani even more layered and satisfying.
If you enjoy spiced rice dishes, Shinjuku is a great place to explore and compare biryani styles that can only be found at each individual restaurant.
Looking for the original article in Japanese?
Click here to view the Japanese version on Daily Shinjuku.
https://daily-shinjuku.tokyo/2025/06/14/shinjuku-biryani/
