What 'best' means for biryani
Best biryani is not the spiciest, the cheapest, or the largest portion. It is the one that respects the dum technique — sealed pot, partially-cooked rice layered with marinated meat, finished together over low heat so the meat steam flavors the rice and the rice steam keeps the meat tender. Most restaurants in Chantilly and Fairfax serve a layered pulao reheated to order. A dum-cooked biryani is the standard the original Hyderabad street kitchens set, and it is the standard our list ranks against.