Amma's Biryani — Restaurant in Ottawa

Been meaning to try this place inside Silk Road Foods for a while, and finally did. Prices are incredible for the portion size. You could comfortably feed two average people on a single order (I ate mine alone, but with minor regrets!) - but it's cheap enough to get one each and have leftovers. Service was friendly and helpful. Limited menu means that your order is ready promptly, which given the take-out only location was a positive.

Now, the food. I opted for the goat biryani and the other person in my party had the chicken. Very generous amount of delicious, bone-in meat in both. Enough chilli spice to be "spicy", without being overpowering - perfect really. Wakes up the rest of the well-balanced flavours, but some folks who aren't used to spicy food may find it a little challenging. BUT, the biryani comes with raita, a spiced yogurt condiment which, in addition to perfectly complimenting the meat and rice, also tempers the heat somewhat.

And, if you're not entirely sure about spicy food, you can get a lassi/ayran to drink, which will help. Note that this is a plain yogurt beverage with salt, not the mango lassi you might know.

If you're quite knowledgeable of South Asian food, you'll be suitably impressed - you're probably the target demographic here. But, if your experience is still limited to butter chicken or tikka masala from "western-accessible" Indian eateries, this might just be the perfect jumping off point to start exploring the wider world of...

If you love biryani as much as I do, you absolutely need to try it from this place! I've tried almost every biryani shop in Ottawa, and I can confidently say this is the best by far. The flavors are simply incredible—each bite is bursting with rich, aromatic spices that make for an unforgettable taste. You can tell they use the highest quality chicken and meat, making every mouthful a delicious experience that keeps you coming back for more. Honestly, it reminds me of the amazing biryani from the Gulf countries—if you know what I mean!

But what makes this place even more special are the wonderful people behind it, especially Farida, the cook. She always welcomes us with a warm smile and treats us like family. Her passion for cooking shines through in every dish, making every visit feel like you're enjoying a homemade meal prepared with love and care.

I highly recommend you give this hidden gem a try. Many people may not know about it because it's tucked away inside Silk Food, but trust me, it's the best biryani in town. I’m 100% sure that once you taste it, you won’t want to go anywhere else! Don’t miss out on this delicious and comforting meal—your taste buds will thank you!

God bless these amazing people; they truly deserve for their business to be known and appreciated...

I saw great google reviews of Amma's Biryani and thought I would try it. I was a little unsure where the restaurant was exactly, but I did figure it out. It is tucked away in the back of the Silk Roads Foods Grocer store.

I have to say this little adventure was worth it. To me, Amma's biryani makes the best tasting Binyani rice in Ottawa. The food is fresh, with lots of spices that make for a great meal. The raita with mint added great flavor too. They also sell non biryani food like chicken curry, which was good.

The food prices are reasonable and they sell festive family platters, even though it is not posted on the wall menu. Amma's offers online food delivery services, which can be a great option.

The Silk Roads Foods Grocer store that hosts Amma's Biryani restaurant is an interesting store that deserves to be a place to shop at as well. It carries lots of hard to find middle eastern food and fresh spices. Maybe you would like it too.

If you like my reviews, videos, or photos just hit the like button while you are on...