Some of my friends have been nurturing dark thoughts about some of my favourite dishes – biryani and kababs. The problem, they say, is that all around town, small and big outlets have mushroomed which promised to give you the best biryanis ever. And the bigger problem is that they seldom do so. So you end up eating a lot of mediocre food.
There have been occasions when I have felt so, too. You just have to see a wizened old man with a degchi and you start to think you are going to get the most authentic plate of meat biryani that you’ve ever had. But like any other food – say kachoris – you’ll find some people who wield a wonderful karchi, and quite a few who, frankly, should have thought of other professions.
This long intro is to explain why I didn’t jump when I first heard about a place called Majeed’s. I was told that it sold excellent biryani and kababs. I didn’t jump, but I decided to follow the lead because of the person who told me about it. I respect Chishti Saab’s opinion, and thought he would know about good food (and he does).
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So I went to Majeed’s one afternoon at Vasant Kunj, and found the place shut. I came back and forgot all about it till some days ago, when I got a call from a young man called Majeed. Do try my food, he said. I hemmed and hawed, but he is a tenacious young man. When I expressed some concern about my weary bones, and Delhi’s mad traffic, he volunteered to bring the food to my place. I didn’t want him make such a long journey, but he wouldn’t listen. And one evening, he came all the day from Vasant Kunj to Mayur Vihar, battling the office-hour traffic, and carrying a sealed matka of chicken biryani, tikkas and kababs.
I think, before I go any further, I must tell that this was the best kababs that I have eaten in a very long time. He got some chicken tikkas (Rs.300 for 10), chicken Afghani (Rs.310 for 10) and kakori kababs (Rs.300 for 4). All three were excellent. The first was nice and spicy, the second creamy and soft. And the melt-in-the-mouth kakori was just perfect. I liked them so much that after I had them for dinner, I was seriously contemplating a midnight snack.
The biryani (Rs.300), too, was very, very good. The chicken pieces were tender, lightly spiced and cooked just right. The flavours of the meat had melted with the aroma of the long-grained rice. And the outcome was finger-licking good.
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Majeed, who is a management graduate, used to work for a bank before he decided to chuck it all up to follow a dream that his late father nurtured. He has already opened three outlets – in Dwarka, VK and GK. He tells me that within the next few years, he wants to open some 50 outlets in Delhi. And he will do it, too.
The eateries, all takeaways, are open through the day on weekends, and at night on weekdays. They deliver in the areas around right now, but are contemplating the logistics of delivering across the city.
These are the addresses — Aditya Complex, Plot 6, Sector 10 Main Market, Opp DDA Sports Complex, Dwarka (Ph: 33105782), Shop 8 & 9, B 7, LSP, Vasant Kunj (33105705) and M 71, M Block, Greater Kailash 1 (33106498).
I have to go to Majeed’s now – irrespective of how far I may have to travel. On the menu are some other favourites – including nihari and korma. I can see Majeed – the young man and the outlets – going places, literally and figuratively!