From Haleem to Qabani Ka Meetha: What Ramzan in Hyderabad Looks Like
As the sun sets and the call for iftar echoes, the city of Hyderabad can be seen dancing to its rhythm. But more than the dance, what fits more perfectly on Hyderabad’s rhythms this season is the rhythmic aroma of food. The streets light up, not just with lanterns and fairy lights, but with the glow of tandoors, sizzling grills, and steaming pots of haleem
Though the city glows all year in the reign of Haleem and Mutton Roasts loaded with ghee and love, this season is a bit more special as the city’s love for food and respect of religion are served in one yummy plateful.
The Morning Sehri
While iftar gets the spotlight, sehri—the pre-dawn meal during Ramzan—is its own quiet celebration of nourishment and tradition. People often opt for slow-digesting, hearty foods like khichdi-kheema, boiled eggs, rotis with mutton curry, or simple dal-chawal combinations to sustain energy throughout the day. Dairy-rich dishes like dahi, milk with dry fruits, and sheermal also make their way to the table, along with a strong cup of Irani chai—mildly sweet, deeply spiced, and absolutely essential in a Hyderabadi sehri spread.
Certain pockets of Hyderabad come alive just for sehri. In the lanes around Charminar, Shah Ali Banda, and Madina Building, small eateries open their shutters well before dawn, serving piping hot kheema rotis, nihari, paya, and even haleem to night owls and early risers. Places like Hotel Shadab, Pista House, and Nayaab Hotel see a steady stream of people tucking into sehri specials in the hush of the night. It’s quieter than iftar, yet somehow even more intimate.
Haleem, The Pride Of Hyderabad
As the nation digests sehri and gets ready for Ramzan, Hyderabadis welcome the most Ramzan-coded dish on the Hyderabadi platter? The Haleem! Haleem is a lentil and meat-infused dish born and brought up in the streets of the city. It is a royal dish that is still a feast at Irani Cafes originated around the 1940s.
Did you know Haleem used to be not only a rich delicacy but also extremely exclusive? Not everyone from the common person to the boy-next-door could take part in savouring it. It was priced highly, but traditional Irani restaurants have made it available at the nominal price of Rs 275-300. The go-to spots in the city for the best haleem include, Pista House, Shah Ghouse and Sarvi which for generations have been serving authentic and slow-cooked Haleem.
The Savoury And The Sweet
But Hyderabad’s culinary scene extends far beyond Haleem. This season's favourites are Pathar Ka Ghost, Keema Samosa, Nihari and Marag. These dishes are not typically found in restaurants but in roadside stalls and in the whole Old City during Ramzan. We always like to end with something sweet. Qubani ka Meetha is the most famed classic Hyderabadi sweet whose popularity soars in the season. It is an apricot-filled savoury delight and has been quoted as the ‘perfect way to end an Iftar meal.’ Traditional sweets like Qubani ka Meetha or its sweeter cousin, double ka meetha are best found at Nazeer in Old city of Hyderabad.
From sipping copious amounts of Irani Chai to losing yourself in the great flavours of Haleem and Biryani, Ramzan in Hyderabad is a diwali of foods, and we are all for it!
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