Just Missed – Vegetarian Haleem At Pista House

Updated Post: 25 September, 2008

Come the month of Ramzaan and the whole of Hyderabad is busy gorging on the favourite dish in this month—Haleem. But it is only people who eat meat who enjoy the delicacy. For people who do not eat meat they hardly have any alternative. But that was until a few years ago when Pista House started offering the vegetarian variety also. As far as I am informed it is the only place where you get Vegetarian Haleem.

My intial plan was to taste haleem (the regular non-veg variety) at the most popular places in Hyderabad. Then vegetarian haleem was not even on my agenda. However, my curiosity about what goes into a vegetarian haleem and how it tastes got the better of me and I decided to taste vegetarian haleem also this year. And yesterday was my chance to try it out.

We (Akhil, Prasanthi, Ram and I) went to the Old City to try out the haleem at Hotel Shah Ghouse, the surprise package of this year. My plan was to taste the haleem at Hotel Shah Ghouse and then proceed to Pista House’s main outlet near charminar to try vegetarian haleem. It was around 8 p.m by the time we reached the place. Unfortunately for us the vegetarian haleem was over by that time. Dejected, we ordered a plate of the regular haleem and started digging into it. The taste was almost similar to the one we had from its outlet in Babu Khan Mall, Somajiguda, the only difference being the amount of ghee served at the main outlet. We literally scooped out a few spoons of the ghee before we finished off the plate.

Filed under: Food, Hyderabad, Life, People, Restaurant, Reviews , Best Haleem, Haleem, Haleem Recipe, Haleem Restaurants, Haleem Review, Hyderabad, Hyderabadi Haleem, Old City, Pista House, Ramadaan, Ramzaan, Vegetarian Haleem

Haleem At Hy-Line – Not Worth It

Hy-Line is small restaurant located in King Koti. As part of my plan to visit all the good haleem joints in Hyderabad, I along with Akhil had been to the restaurant a few days ago to taste the haleem.

The haleem was not tasty, very light (Lot of ghee being the culprit according to Akhil) and the quantity served was less compared to the other places I visited. For me it scored poorly in terms of taste, value for money and the experience. With the regular haleem priced at Rs. 60, I feel it is not worth it.

Next on my list will be Hotel Shah Ghouse near Pista House in Charminar and Café Bahar in Hyderguda. I have got very good reviews from my colleagues about the taste of haleem being better than that of Pista House. That will be another trip to the Old City.

Recommendation: Not worth it.

Filed under: Food, Hyderabad, Life, Rants, Restaurant, Reviews , Best Haleem, Café Bahar, Charminar, Garden, Haleem, Haleem joint, Haleem Review, Hy-Line, Hyderabad Restaurant, Hyderabadi Haleem, King Koti, Shadab, Shah Ghouse

Best Haleem In Hyderabad

Vote for your favourite place for Haleem in Hyderabad.

Filed under: Food, Hyderabad, Life, People, Restaurant, Reviews , Best Haleem, Favourite Haleem, Haleem in Hyderabad, Haleem Restaurant, Hyderabad Hotel, Hyderabad Restaurant, Ramadaan, Ramzaan

Haleem At Shadab

This year all my visits to the restaurants in Hyderabad for haleem have been unexpected and planned at the last moment. It was Shadab this time. I was supposed to be at home by 9:00 p.m today. However, a last minute change in the schedule led me to Nampally and another last minute decision to Hotel Shadab. Situated near the High Court and Charminar, Hotel Shadab is famous for its biryani, chai and yes the haleem too.

The haleem at Shadab was the best in terms of taste even beating Sarvi. It was hot, spicy, thick and filling. All this for Rs. 60, a good value for money. It could be the setting of the Old City also that added to the experience.

For me, Shadab tops the list of the must visit places for haleem in Hyderabad.

Recommendation: Must try. Better to go the place after 7:30 p.m.

Filed under: Business, Food, Hyderabad, Life, Restaurant, Reviews , Best Haleem, Charminar, Haleem, Haleem Review, High Court, Hotel, Hyderabad Restaurant, Hyderabadi Haleem, Nampally, Old City, Sarvi, Shadab

Haleem At Garden

Had haleem at Garden today. A famous restaurant located near Clock Tower, a landmark in Secunderabad, Garden is one place where you can expect to find good food even after 12:00 PM in the night. The restuarant serves good biryani and Irani Chai (Tea).  We did get biryani and even curd rice which was prepared using basmati rice once.

We had the option of regular haleem and a special haleem, and we went for the special. Priced at Rs. 65 the haleem came with a boiled egg, extra roasted cashewnuts and some hot shorba served in a ceramic bowl. The haleem was hot, served directly from the haandi, and was a bit spicy. I did have haleem at Garden last year which was more spicier and had a good sprinkling of black pepper making it quite hot. This time there was no black pepper in it, maybe because it was a special one.

For me Sarvi still tops in terms of taste, followed by Paradise.

Recommendation: Try the regular haleem at Garden.

Filed under: Business, Food, Hyderabad, Restaurant, Reviews , Best Haleem, Biryani, Clock Tower, Egg, Garden Restaurant, Haleem, Haleem in Hyderabad, Haleem Review, Irani Chai, Paradise, Pepper, Secunderabad, Spicy

Haleem At Sarvi

You just get lucky sometimes. I got to taste haleem from a different place today. This was quite unexpected. The place was not even in my list of haleem joints that I wanted to visit.

Sarvi is a famous Irani cafe is located opposite to the Care Hospital on the Banjara Hills road stretch that goes to Masab Tank. Sarvi is famous for the Irani tea it serves and do try it whenever you happen to go that side.  The Pista House counter was closed today at Somajiguda becuase of rains in the Old City and  we headed strainght to Sarvi for haleem.

The regular haleem was priced Rs. 55 and the special one at Rs. 70. We opted for the regular one (again got a parcel). The haleem was better than what we had at Pista House or Paradise. The haleem at Pista House was a bit bland compared to Paradise and Sarvi. Also, the haleem from Sarvi had a good aroma and the flavour was much better. The extra garnishing also went well with the serving. I felt the portion was less than the ones that Paradise served and almost the same as Pista House’s haleem.

Recommendation: Worth trying. Suggest to have it at the place itself. Haleem tastes better when it is hot.

Filed under: Business, Food, Hyderabad, Restaurant, Reviews , Banjara Hills, Best Haleem, Care Hospital, Haleem, Haleem at Sarvi, Haleem Review, Hyderabadi Haleem, Irani Cafe, Lucky, Paradise Haleem, Pista House Haleem