Think of Arabian food in Hyderabad and one conjures up images of mutton mandi , mutton khabsa , chicken mandi and batair fry with mandi rice. From the food joints in Tolichowki and Barkas to Madhapur and Secunderabad… the city plays host to Arabian eateries where foodies can relish an Arabian experience. Arabian cuisine has been trending in Hyderabad for some time and this summer, there is more to look forward to. Two new food joints have opened in King Kothi and Siripuram Colony, near Moosarambagh where one can enjoy Arabian dishes. “The highlight of Arabian food is that it is mildy flavoured,” says Sona Reddy, creative head of Room Therapy, who’s travelled across the globe. She says Hyderabadis, thanks to their travel abroad enjoy when they get to eat authentic cuisine here.
In a big hall exuding hues of blue, a silver-toned chowki is at the centre stage inviting foodies to get a taste of the traditional eating style. Sit cross-legged on the floor and in the company of friends and family share an Arabian meal at Mataam Al Turki at Sripuram colony. Its owner Mohammed Iftekhar Mohinuddin Hussain has been in the restaurant business for two years. His Abu Faisal restaurant in Tolichowki was his first Arabian venture. “The response to the first restaurant encouraged me to open one in this area,” he smiles. Walk around the blue carpeted hall and vast space attracts the visitors. There are individual rooms, a kiddie zone and prayer room for the devouts. “Arabian food is healthy as it is less spicy. It is soft to eat and thanks to the dry fruits, the taste is royal,” observes Hussain. With a huge dining area, the staff says some times they find people relaxing and sleeping on the carpets after a meal.
It is probably the popularity of Arabian food in Hyderabad that Farooq Ali Vafna decided to plunge into business with an Arabian restaurant. “After coming from Dubai, I saw the craze for Arabian food here and decided to start my first business venture, an Arabian restaurant. People do not mind travelling to far areas to have an authentic experience. Arabian food is public choice,” he states. His new food joint Al Saud Bait Al Mandi is in the busy King Kothi area beside St. Joseph’s Public School is only a few days old. Surrounded by two-wheeler and used-goods shops, the place is small and can house up to 40 people. The chef Sameer Kurbi comes with a Saudi training with eight year experience. “Arabian food is light on stomach. Unlike biryani , where one feels like having a fizzy drink so that the food passes down the throat easily, Arabian food is light on the stomach. And, if friends are sharing a meal, the food will get digested with their conversation and laughter,” he laughs.
So, next time you are in Kothi or Malakpet and crave for enjoying an Arabian meal, you know where to go.
