Established 1939 (1939) Food type Mutton Biryani | Current owner(s) Haji Mohammad Shahed City Dhaka | |
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Previous owner(s) Haji Mohammad Hossain, Haji Mohammad Golam Hossain Street address 70 Kazi Alauddin Road, Nazira Bazar, Old Dhaka | ||
Haji Biriyani (also known as Hajir Biriyani) is one of the restaurants in the heart of ancient Dhaka city of Bangladesh selling Mutton Biryani (dish made with highly seasoned rice and mutton). The restaurant also sells Borhani (salted mint drink made of Yogurt) and soft drinks. In 1939 the restaurant was started as a roadside food corner by a person named Haji Mohammad Hossain. Later on the business took dramatic change and became part of the culture of Dhaka city. According to Sakhawat stated Haji Biriyani not to be only the best in Bangladesh but also among Bangladeshis living around the world. However, the environment of the restaurant is not standard enough so it has to face some unexpected issues and some of the websites have rated it to be average in the section of atmosphere.
Contents
History
The business was started on 1939 by a cook named Haji Mohammad Hossain. After Haji Mohammad Hossain died in 1992, his son, Haji Mohammad Golam Hossain took over and continued the family business without making any changes in style and tradition. By the passage of time Haji Mohammad Golam became tired by running the family business and finally handed over the business to his son, Haji Mohammad Shahed.
Location
The Haji Biriyani has three branches. One is in Old Dhaka, one is in Motijheel and another in the Bashundhara Residential Area. In old Dhaka city it is located at 70 Kazi Alauddin Road, Nazira Bazar, Old Dhaka. The restaurant in Motijheel is situated in 99, Motijheel, Beside Biman Office, Dhaka. The location of the new branch of this restaurant is in 11/6 A, Jagannathpur road, Bashundhara Residential Area, Baridhara, Dhaka and Bally Complex, Sector 3, Uttara, Dhaka 1230.
Recipe
The recipe includes highly seasoned Rice, Mutton, Mustard oil, Garlic, Onion, Black pepper, Saffron, Clove, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Salt, Lemon, Yogurt, Peanuts, Cream, Raisin and small amount of Cheese (either Cow or Buffalo). The recipe has been handed over the founder of the restaurant to his next generation. Haji Mohammad Shahed claimed that,“I have never changed anything, not even the amount of salt”.
Business
The Haji Biriyani is run only by the owner in order to maintain the taste. Haji Mohammad Hossain, Haji Mohammad Golam Hossain had the motto of keeping the business within the family. So, the restaurant is run by the grandson of the founder(Haji Mohammad Hossain) of the restaurant. The annual income of the restaurant is approximately $28.5 million and the annual profit tends to be about $15.7 million.
Food and delivery
During the delivery service the food is packed in a plate made of dried leaves. However, until the second generation of the restaurant the customers had to stand in a long queue to take away because the restaurant did not provide home delivery facility. From 2014 the restaurant updated their service by adding home delivery to it.
Criticism
The restaurant is too old fashioned and not well furnished. The serving process does not appear to be very decent or standard. The restaurant only makes limited amount of food for a day. The customers have to go back without food if the restaurant is done selling the biryani.