It’s that time of the month which several Hyderabadis wait for in anticipation, when the evening brings with it the whiff of many lip-smacking dishes. And of them, the Irani dish – Haleem, is one that has become the leitmotif of the word Ramzan. Though the debate of ‘which place is the best for authentic Haleem’ is always on, here is a list of some prominent places which food-lovers love to frequent every year:

Garden Restaurant, Secunderabad

This is one of those places which has turned into an icon of sorts for old timers living in Secunderabad. Situated across the Clock Tower, Haleem is sold at a side of the building adjacent to the part which is currently under construction. “Our Haleem has more ‘gosht’ (meat) and less wheat,” quips Mohammed Kazim, owner of Garden Restaurant.

While the ingredients are more or less the same, one can definitely notice the difference in texture from other Haleem joints at Garden. Open up to 12 at night, the dish is served from 4.30 p.m. every day. Mr. Kazim says that preparations to make the next day’s batch begin a little after midnight.

Price: Rs. 120 per plate
Nayab Hotel, Nayapul Road, Madina

Anyone going to Old City via the usual Madina signal route cannot miss this nearly 30-year old joint. Those who like their Haleem slightly spicy will love the dish here. What sets the dish apart at this place is the noticeable difference in its taste and form.

“We take a lot of care to prepare Haleem here. The wheat, meat and other ingredients are mixed in the right proportions to get the best taste,” says Aziz Zafar, the 63-year-old proprietor of the hotel. Also, Nayab is probably one of the few places where the Irani delicacy is being sold at Rs.100 a plate.

Price: Single plate: Rs.100, full plate: Rs.120
Hotel Shadab, Madina

Right across the road from Nayab is Shadab hotel, which has carved a niche for itself over the last 25 years when it began selling Haleem. Maintaining that their Haleem is ‘authentic’, Mohammed Shehriyar, one of the brothers running the joint, says care is taken to ensure that their customers get the ‘perfect’ version. And rightly, the Irani dish at Shadab is for those who like a balanced blend of spices and meat.

Price: Rs. 130 per plate
Sarvi Hotel, Banjara Hills

This is the kind of Haleem which can pander to the taste buds of most Haleem lovers, as it offers a richer taste than that of most other joints. In fact, the special Haleem here is topped with eggs and fresh cream to enhance the flavour, giving customers a different taste.

“My brother is the chef and he looks after the preparation. When a person breaks his fast, he can’t just eat something spicy, which is the reason our Haleem is less spicy and richer in taste,” explains Mirza Ali, one of the owners of the restaurant.

Price: Rs.130 per plate and Rs.160 for the special Haleem
Other places to check out for Haleem:

Café Bahar at Basheerbagh, Grand Hotel at Abids, Shah Ghouse at Shah Ali Banda and Bombay Hotel at Ranigunj.