which is the best restaurant in lucknow?

tunday kababi in aminabad for the iconic galouti kebab. oudhyana at taj mahal lucknow for luxury awadhi dining. dastarkhwan for the best everyday awadhi thali. if you want one meal that captures lucknow's food legacy, go to tunday kababi - the galouti kebab has been the city's signature dish since 1905.

best non-veg restaurant in lucknow?

tunday kababi for kebabs, idris biryani for biryani, raheem's for nihari, and dastarkhwan for the full awadhi spread. lucknow is arguably india's greatest non-veg city - every major restaurant here specializes in meat, and the competition keeps the quality extraordinarily high.

best restaurant in hazratganj lucknow?

royal cafe for the famous basket chaat and awadhi food. naushijaan for heritage dining. tunday kababi has a hazratganj branch too. hazratganj is lucknow's commercial center and has several iconic eateries within walking distance.

is lucknow food better than delhi food?

different strengths. lucknow's kebabs, biryani, and awadhi cuisine are arguably superior - the city invented dum pukht cooking and galouti kebabs. delhi has more variety and better butter chicken, chole bhature, and street chaat. for pure mughlai and awadhi food, lucknow wins. for overall food diversity, delhi wins.

best restaurants in lucknow (2026)

Q: best fine dining in lucknow?

oudhyana at the taj mahal lucknow is the most refined dining experience - awadhi food presented with five-star precision. falak numa at the clarks avadh offers rooftop dining with city views. the mughals at renaissance hotel for a modern take on mughlai cuisine.

tldr: out of 20 restaurants, the top 3 are tunday kababi (best kebabs, aminabad), oudhyana at taj (best fine dining), and dastarkhwan (best awadhi thali). lucknow’s food scene is built on centuries of awadhi culinary tradition - this guide covers the legends, the hidden gems, and the modern spots.

lucknow is not a city with good food. lucknow is a city that invented an entire cuisine.

awadhi cuisine - the royal food of the nawabs - was born here. dum pukht (slow cooking in sealed pots), galouti kebab (so soft it melts on the tongue), kakori kebab, lucknowi biryani, nihari, sheermal - all of these were created in lucknow’s royal kitchens. the city’s food culture runs deeper than any other indian city’s, including delhi, hyderabad, and kolkata.

from research and conversations with people who know lucknow’s food scene, this guide covers the full spectrum. the legendary icons that have been serving since before independence. the mid-range restaurants where lucknowites actually eat every day. and the fine dining spots that present awadhi cuisine with modern finesse.

for a deeper understanding of the cuisine itself - what dum pukht means, why galouti kebab was invented, and how lucknowi biryani differs from hyderabadi - read my awadhi cuisine guide. for the dedicated kebab trail, check best kebabs in lucknow. and for street food, here’s the chowk to aminabad trail.

the awards

best overall: tunday kababi, aminabad (the legend)
best fine dining: oudhyana, taj mahal lucknow
best everyday awadhi: dastarkhwan, multiple locations
best biryani: idris biryani, chowk
best nihari: raheem’s, chowk
best value: wahid’s, aminabad
best modern dining: the mughals, renaissance hotel
best for groups: dastarkhwan or lababdar
most underrated: chhappan bhog (vegetarian awadhi)

the full list

#	restaurant	area	type	cost for two	my rating
1	tunday kababi	aminabad	kebabs / awadhi	rs 400	9.5/10
2	oudhyana (taj)	taj mahal lucknow	fine dining awadhi	rs 3,500	9/10
3	dastarkhwan	multiple	awadhi	rs 600	9/10
4	idris biryani	chowk	biryani	rs 350	9/10
5	raheem’s	chowk	nihari / kebabs	rs 300	9/10
6	naushijaan	hazratganj	heritage awadhi	rs 1,200	8.5/10
7	wahid’s	aminabad	kebabs / biryani	rs 300	8.5/10
8	the mughals	renaissance hotel	modern mughlai	rs 2,500	8.5/10
9	falak numa	clarks avadh	rooftop awadhi	rs 2,000	8.5/10
10	royal cafe	hazratganj	awadhi / chaats	rs 500	8/10
11	lababdar	multiple	awadhi	rs 500	8/10
12	chhappan bhog	hazratganj	vegetarian awadhi	rs 400	8/10
13	falaknuma	gomti nagar	awadhi / mughlai	rs 800	8/10
14	moti mahal	hazratganj	north indian	rs 600	7.5/10
15	aryan restaurant	aminabad	awadhi	rs 350	7.5/10
16	toddy multisport	gomti nagar	modern casual	rs 1,200	7.5/10
17	the city bakery cafe	hazratganj	bakery / cafe	rs 300	7.5/10
18	zaika-e-lucknow	aliganj	awadhi	rs 500	7.5/10
19	oudhiana	kapoorthala	awadhi	rs 700	7/10
20	the sahara star restaurant	gomti nagar	multi-cuisine	rs 1,500	7/10

the legends (where lucknow’s food history lives)

1. tunday kababi

aminabad / rs 400 for two / 9.5/10

every kebab ranking in india starts with tunday kababi. every food documentary about lucknow features it. every person who’s ever been to lucknow mentions it. and for once, the hype is completely justified.

the origin story: haji murad ali, a one-armed cook (tunday means “one-armed” in urdu), started selling kebabs in 1905 near chowk. his galouti kebabs were so impossibly soft that nawabs with no teeth could eat them. the recipe uses 160 spices - the exact blend remains a family secret over a century later.

the galouti kebab (rs 60-80 per plate) arrives on a bed of ulte tawa ka paratha (paratha cooked on an inverted griddle). the texture is unreal - the kebab doesn’t just melt in your mouth, it dissolves. there’s no chewing involved. the spice blend builds layers of flavor: first warmth, then smoke, then a lingering heat.

the aminabad outlet is the original. there are branches across lucknow and even in other cities, but food experts unanimously agree the aminabad original is different. maybe it’s the tawa that’s been seasoned for decades. maybe it’s the air. maybe it’s nostalgia. whatever it is, it’s real.

what to order: galouti kebab, ulte tawa ka paratha, biryani, roomali roti verdict: the single most iconic restaurant in uttar pradesh. possibly in all of north india. the galouti kebab is not just food, it’s history you can eat.

4. idris biryani

chowk / rs 350 for two / 9/10

idris is where lucknow goes for biryani. the chowk location is old, cramped, and permanently crowded. the biryani is worth every inconvenience.

lucknowi biryani is different from hyderabadi biryani. it’s lighter, more fragrant, and uses more saffron. the rice and meat are cooked separately and then layered (a technique called “pakki biryani”), which means the rice stays individual-grain separate while absorbing the meat’s flavors through steam. it’s more subtle than hyderabadi biryani’s aggressive spicing.

idris’s version is textbook perfect. the mutton biryani (rs 200 per plate) has fall-off-the-bone meat, perfectly cooked rice, and a saffron aroma that hits you before the plate arrives. pair it with raita and a side of their kebabs. total damage: under rs 400 for two.

for a full comparison of lucknowi vs hyderabadi biryani, read the awadhi cuisine guide.

what to order: mutton biryani, chicken biryani, seekh kebab, raita verdict: best biryani in lucknow. the mutton version is the benchmark for lucknowi biryani.

5. raheem’s

chowk / rs 300 for two / 9/10

raheem’s is the nihari king of lucknow. nihari is a slow-cooked bone marrow stew that originated in the old city. it’s traditionally a breakfast dish - “nahar” means early morning in arabic - cooked overnight and served at dawn. the bone marrow melts into the gravy, creating a richness that’s almost obscene.

raheem’s has been doing this since the 1890s. the nihari arrives in a thick, dark gravy with shreds of tender meat and a layer of fat that catches the light. you eat it with kulcha (a baked bread) or sheermal (saffron-tinged sweet bread). the combination of the fatty nihari with the slightly sweet sheermal is one of lucknow’s greatest culinary inventions.

the restaurant is basic. plastic chairs, shared tables, fluorescent lights. nobody goes to raheem’s for the ambiance. the nihari is the only thing that matters.

what to order: nihari with kulcha, biryani, sheermal, kebabs verdict: best nihari in india. a dish that’s been perfected over 130 years.

7. wahid’s

aminabad / rs 300 for two / 8.5/10

wahid’s sits a few minutes from tunday kababi in aminabad and offers a legitimate alternative. the galouti kebabs here compete with tunday’s - some lucknow locals actually prefer wahid’s, arguing the spice blend is more nuanced.

the biryani is also excellent. the handi gosht (mutton cooked in a sealed clay pot) is the dish tunday doesn’t do as well. wahid’s is slightly less crowded than tunday during peak hours, making it the practical choice when the queue at tunday wraps around the block.

what to order: galouti kebab, handi gosht, biryani, rumali roti verdict: tunday’s strongest competitor. the handi gosht tips the scale for variety.

fine dining (awadhi cuisine in luxury settings)

2. oudhyana

taj mahal lucknow / rs 3,500 for two / 9/10

oudhyana takes awadhi cuisine and presents it with five-star precision. the chefs here have trained under masters of dum pukht cooking. the galouti kebab is served on a bed of edible gold leaf. the biryani arrives in a sealed handi that the waiter breaks open at your table, releasing a cloud of saffron-scented steam.

the interiors are mughal-inspired. carved wooden screens, brass lampwork, silk upholstery. the service is taj-level impeccable. the cocktail menu includes drinks inspired by traditional lucknow sharbats - rose, kewra, saffron.

is the food better than tunday kababi? honestly, no. tunday’s galouti at rs 60 is at least as good as oudhyana’s at rs 500. but the experience is incomparable. oudhyana turns a meal into an event. for a special occasion in lucknow, there’s nothing better.

what to order: dum pukht biryani, galouti kebab, kakori kebab, shahi tukda verdict: best fine dining in lucknow. awadhi food presented at its most elegant.

8. the mughals

renaissance hotel / rs 2,500 for two / 8.5/10

the mughals offers a modern take on mughlai cuisine without losing the traditional soul. the kitchen experiments with presentation - deconstructed kebabs, biryani served in individual copper handis - while keeping the flavors authentic.

the dal gosht is outstanding. the tandoori preparations are precise. the dessert menu includes a modern take on shahi tukda that works beautifully.

slightly less formal than oudhyana, slightly more contemporary. good for business dinners where you want to show lucknow’s food culture without the full heritage restaurant experience.

what to order: dal gosht, tandoori prawns, galouti kebab, zarda verdict: best modern mughlai in lucknow. traditional flavors in a contemporary setting.

9. falak numa

clarks avadh / rs 2,000 for two / 8.5/10

rooftop dining with views of lucknow’s skyline. falak numa is open-air during winter (the best time to visit lucknow) and serves awadhi food with a view of the city’s minarets and domes below.

the food is solid - not oudhyana-level, but competent and honest. the seekh kebab is well-made. the biryani is aromatic. the real draw is the setting - dining under the stars in a city built on culinary poetry.

what to order: seekh kebab, biryani, dal makhani, firni verdict: best rooftop dining in lucknow. the views add a dimension that food alone can’t.

everyday awadhi (where lucknow actually eats)

3. dastarkhwan

multiple locations / rs 600 for two / 9/10

dastarkhwan is where lucknow eats when lucknow wants awadhi food. not tourists. not foodies on a trail. actual lucknow families celebrating birthdays, having weekend lunches, and feeding guests visiting from out of town.

the awadhi thali here is the best value in the city. kebabs (galouti, seekh, shami), biryani, nihari, roomali roti, dessert - all in one meal for rs 300-400 per person. the quality is remarkably consistent across locations. the gomti nagar and aliganj outlets are slightly better than the others.

every dish is good but the shami kebab deserves special mention. it’s the sleeper hit - a pan-fried kebab made with minced mutton and chana dal, smoother than most versions i’ve heard about from anywhere else.

what to order: awadhi thali, shami kebab, biryani, phirni verdict: best everyday awadhi restaurant. where lucknow takes its guests to show them the real thing.

10. royal cafe

hazratganj / rs 500 for two / 8/10

royal cafe in hazratganj is famous for two things: the basket chaat (tokri chaat) and the memories of every lucknow local who’s ever walked down hazratganj on a sunday evening.

the basket chaat is served in a crispy fried basket made from potato shavings, filled with yogurt, chutneys, sev, and spiced potatoes. it’s a lucknow invention covered in my street food guide. the rest of the menu is solid awadhi fare - kebabs, biryani, curries.

the location is prime hazratganj. after eating, you walk the boulevard. that’s the lucknow ritual.

what to order: basket chaat, galouti kebab, chicken biryani, kulfi verdict: best restaurant in hazratganj. the basket chaat alone is worth the visit.

11. lababdar

multiple locations / rs 500 for two / 8/10

lababdar does awadhi food with consistency and generosity. the portions are enormous. the mutton korma is rich, the seekh kebab is juicy, and the roomali roti arrives tissue-thin. good for groups because the platters are designed for sharing.

think of lababdar as dastarkhwan’s slightly less refined cousin - the food is almost as good, the portions are bigger, and the prices are slightly lower.

what to order: mutton korma, seekh kebab platter, roomali roti, sheermal verdict: best value for groups. order platters and share everything.

6. naushijaan

hazratganj / rs 1,200 for two / 8.5/10

naushijaan occupies a heritage building in hazratganj and offers awadhi food in a setting that channels the nawabi era. the interiors feature vintage lucknow photographs, brass lanterns, and wooden furniture that feels like it belongs in a nawab’s study.

the food is excellent. the kakori kebab (a kebab so delicate it’s shaped around a skewer and barely holds together) is the best i’ve encountered outside the street stalls. the dum pukht biryani is ceremonial - sealed pot, broken at the table. the kulfi at the end is hand-churned.

the prices are moderate for the quality and setting. it’s the restaurant that bridges the gap between a chowk kebab stall and the taj.

what to order: kakori kebab, dum pukht biryani, galawati kebab, kulfi verdict: best heritage dining in lucknow. the setting matches the food.

the specialists

12. chhappan bhog

hazratganj / rs 400 for two / 8/10

lucknow is overwhelmingly non-vegetarian, so chhappan bhog stands out by specializing in vegetarian awadhi food. the paneer galouti (a vegetarian take on the galouti kebab) is genuinely impressive. the dal navratan and the veg biryani show that awadhi cooking techniques work beautifully with vegetables too.

if you’re vegetarian in lucknow, chhappan bhog is essential. the food proves that awadhi cuisine’s genius isn’t just about meat - it’s about technique, spice layering, and slow cooking.

what to order: paneer galouti, dal navratan, veg biryani, malpua verdict: best vegetarian restaurant in lucknow. proof that awadhi cuisine transcends meat.

15. aryan restaurant

aminabad / rs 350 for two / 7.5/10

aryan is the local’s local. hidden in aminabad’s lanes, this small restaurant does awadhi basics with zero pretension. the mutton curry is home-style. the paratha is flaky and fresh. the prices are aminabad-low, which means incredibly affordable.

not on any tourist trail, not on zomato’s front page. just honest food for people who live in the area. the kind of restaurant that makes aminabad feel like a neighborhood instead of a tourist attraction.

what to order: mutton curry, paratha, dal, kebab verdict: the hidden gem in aminabad. local food at local prices.

modern lucknow

16. toddy multisport

gomti nagar / rs 1,200 for two / 7.5/10

gomti nagar is lucknow’s new commercial center, and toddy represents its modern food scene. sports bar meets casual dining - multiple screens, craft cocktails, and a menu that does continental, indian, and bar snacks.

the food is fine. not memorable, not bad. the cocktails are decent. the crowd is young lucknow professionals. it’s where you go when you want something that isn’t awadhi for a change.

what to order: nachos, butter chicken pizza, cocktails verdict: best modern casual dining. for when lucknow wants to eat like any other indian city.

17. the city bakery cafe

hazratganj / rs 300 for two / 7.5/10

the city bakery has been in hazratganj since the 1950s. the bakery items - patties, pastries, bread - are old-school and excellent. the chicken patty is a lucknow classic. the cold coffee is thick and sweet.

it’s a bakery-cafe more than a restaurant, but generations of lucknow locals have grown up eating city bakery patties. the nostalgia is part of the flavor.

what to order: chicken patty, veg patty, cold coffee, pastries verdict: hazratganj institution. the chicken patty is lucknow’s casual snack champion.

quick pick: what are you looking for?

best kebab? tunday kababi (aminabad) - detailed in my kebab guide
best biryani? idris biryani (chowk)
best nihari? raheem’s (chowk)
fine dining? oudhyana (taj mahal lucknow)
best value? wahid’s (aminabad, rs 300 for two)
vegetarian? chhappan bhog (hazratganj)
full awadhi thali? dastarkhwan (multiple locations)
heritage setting? naushijaan (hazratganj)
rooftop? falak numa (clarks avadh)
street food? complete street food trail here

more on rahul.biz

more lucknow: best kebabs (the definitive trail), best cafes (the coffee upgrade), best street food (chowk to aminabad), and the awadhi cuisine deep dive.

related guides: bihari cuisine guide (from the neighboring state), and more UP food at varanasi restaurants and prayagraj food.