Karachi Dum Biryani

We are located in Pimpri Colony, right near Sai Chowk at Shop No 106. This isn't a big fancy restaurant with waiters in suits. It is just us and our big aluminum pots of biryani. We start the fire early every morning because the rice takes time to soak and the meat needs to get tender. The shop is small and the walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint, but we spend our money on spices instead. My cousin handles the packing for the take-away orders and I stay by the stove. It gets really hot in here, especially in the afternoons, but that is part of the job. We don't have a huge menu because it is easier to just cook one thing well every day. People from the neighborhood know when the batch is ready because they can smell the onions from down the street. Sometimes we run out of chicken by 2 PM and we have to tell people to come back tomorrow. It makes us feel bad, but we only make a certain amount each day to keep it fresh. The benches are a bit worn out and the floor is concrete. We keep it as clean as a busy shop can be. If you are looking for a place to sit and have a quiet conversation, this might not be it. But if you want a plate of hot food in Pimpri, we are here.