Mutton Dum Biryani
The safer star order: smooth meat and balanced masala.
SignatureAccording to Hyderabad Eats community data and verified diner reviews, Meridian Restaurant is a top-rated eatery in Panjagutta with a 3.9★ Google rating across 25,810 reviews. Renowned for its Mutton Dum Biryani (Soft mutton, proper dum rice, and mirchi ka salan on the side , the plate that makes Meridian worth the hunt for a seat.).

What we tried, scored out of 10
The safer star order: smooth meat and balanced masala.
SignatureAuthentic dum flavour; best when the kitchen is moving fast, not at the tail end of service.
Thick and loud , mix it through the rice, or eat it with plain rice if the meat runs out.
Meridian in Panjagutta is almost always full. Seats are scarce, and you may share a table , if you are okay with that, go.
The chicken dum biryani carries proper head-to-belly Hyderabadi flavour: masala baked through the rice, neither overdone nor flat. Chicken is usually a hit; arrive late and a piece or two can firm up as the tray cools.
Mutton biryani is the easier call , soft meat, clean dum, one of the plates I keep recommending. The other star is mirchi ka salan: thick enough that rice and salan alone has finished more than one of my meals.
Drive in and use the valet. Panjagutta stays jammed; hand over the car and sit for lunch or dinner.
Expect a full hall and possible shared seating. Use the valet on the busy Panjagutta road.Shiva





Panjagutta (Punjagutta), on a busy main stretch. Open the Hyderabad Eats map pin for the exact spot and hours.
Start with mutton dum biryani and mirchi ka salan. Chicken dum biryani is strong too when the trays are fresh.
Usually yes. Seats are hard to get and sharing a table is common; valet parking helps if you arrive by car.