4.2
Good
128 Reviews
3375 Iowa Ave std D, Riverside
Customers’ favorites
- Gongura Mutton Biryani
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“The Best Biryani I've Had in the US, but What a Strange Dining Experience! This was quite an interesting experience, to say the least. I walked in on a Monday evening around 7 PM to find the restaurant completely empty. Perhaps it was just a slow evening, but things got off to a rather disappointing start. I initially ordered Chicken Dum Biryani, only to be told it wasn't available. No problem, I went with the Goat Biryani and Pepper Chicken instead. I then asked for a Mango Lassi, which was also unavailable. Limca? Nope, that wasn't available either. At this point, slightly frustrated, I just settled for water. The service didn't help matters. Nobody offered or poured water, and even the plates weren't properly placed in front of us. Everything was left at one end of the table for us to help ourselves. It felt like the bare minimum of hospitality was missing. By this point, I was genuinely turned off and wasn't expecting much from the food. And then the food arrived. To my absolute surprise, this was hands down the best biryani I've had in the United States! The goat was cooked to perfection, incredibly tender and flavorful, and the biryani itself was outstanding. The Pepper Chicken was equally delicious, packed with flavor and beautifully prepared. Even the raita, something that's often an afterthought at many restaurants, was absolutely on point. It was such a bizarre contrast. The service and overall experience had me questioning why I'd walked in, but the food completely turned things around. My verdict: The kitchen is doing something truly special, but the front-of-house experience needs serious attention. With better service, basic hospitality, and a more consistent menu availability, this place could be exceptional. Would I return? Absolutely, for that biryani alone. But I really hope the service catches up to the quality of the food.”