Pista House Shahalibanda — Restaurant in Hyderabad

We had lunch at Pista house last week as part of our Hyderabad trip. We were a family of 10members and arrived as two groups. When the first group arrived We had mentioned beforehand the number of people there would be and a black suit staff had informed us to be seated in a 6seater and he would make arrangements for the rest. After which he was nowhere to be seen! We had to wait for atleast 10minutes until we got a menu card itself. When the remaining members of our group reached they weren't able to accommodate us together as was told and they had to be seated at a table on the opposite end behind a screen. That wouldn't have been a problem if the waiters and staff were doing their job well. WE had to walk across the room with each curry dish and platters to the other table and serve our group by ourselves! NEVER have I seen such kind of attitude from staff at such a well known hotel.Then we asked them to provide Plates for the remaining members and she came with one plate in her hand for 5people! Then we asked clearly to another waiter and he also brought one by one plate! Finally another lady staff brought the fruit champagne and while serving she spilled lots of juice on the table and on one of our members clothes!! She didn't even have the courtesy to say a simple sorry or bring a tissue and wipe the table! I think only the waiter guy who took our order was the only normal person we saw among staff that day. I understand the pressure of the staff on busy days but this is NOT the way how you behave when you work at such a reputed hotel! People like us who visit Hyderabad once and come to have food at such hotels because of its good reputation don't deserve this kind of treatment from staff! When we asked to meet the manager they told us he was busy...for obvious reasons!

To mention something positive, the food was good. We ordered Chinese and 2x Tandooori platters, Mutton Rogan Josh, Dum ka Chicken, butter Naan, Double ka Meetha and fruit champagnes. We had also had Mutton marag and zafrani chicken 65 biriyani from here. ALL except fruit champagne were excellent.

Such staff will be a reason why pista house shahlibanda will have any negative name. Otherwise the...

Pista House at Shahalibanda, right in the heart of old Hyderabad, offers an experience that’s as flavorful as it is chaotic. Known across the city for its signature haleem and Hyderabadi biryani, it attracts food lovers from all walks of life — especially during Ramadan, when the aroma of slow-cooked meat and wheat fills the air and queues stretch down the street.

The biryani here is rich, spicy, and satisfying, with well-cooked meat and generous portions. It has the kind of depth in flavor that reminds you why Hyderabad is world-famous for it. Their haleem, though iconic, has mixed reviews — some call it unbeatable, others find it a bit greasy or too bony, especially during peak rush hours. But it still holds its place as a go-to for traditional flavor.

On the ground floor, the bakery section is a pleasant surprise. It’s packed with affordable sweets, sandwiches, and layered pastries — perfect if you're in the mood for something light or want to take a box of treats home. The pricing throughout the place is reasonable, and portion sizes are more than satisfying.

The experience, however, comes with its imperfections. The place is always crowded, and the seating is basic — plastic chairs, shared tables, and a bustling, noisy environment that might feel overwhelming to someone expecting a calm meal. Cleanliness is average at best, and the service can range from friendly to indifferent depending on the crowd and time.

Despite all that, there's something authentic and charming about the place. It’s not polished, but it’s real. The energy is raw, the food is bold, and the atmosphere is pure old-city Hyderabad. You don’t come here for elegance — you come here for a plate full of tradition and a taste of something timeless.

If you're open to a little chaos in exchange for true Hyderabadi flavor, Pista House in Shahalibanda is definitely...

Living in Kolkata we enjoy the Ramzan delicacies from the food outlets in Zakaria Street. This year we wanted to taste the Ramzan food from the Nizam's city, Hyderabad. We went to this outlet of Pista House, which is one of the oldest. Walked from the Charminar area across the crowd, sounds, smells and colors of Ramzan festivities. Outside Pista House a separate counter was catering for their legendary Haleem. We already did some homework and ordered Haleem and Zafrani Chicken Biryani and brought back to our hotel. The consistency of the Haleem was entirely different than what we have in Kolkata. In Kolkata the Haleem is more of Dal Gosht with mutton pieces in a rich broth of lentils and spices. But Pista House Haleem is royal; it's pure mutton paste with wheat, lentils and other ingredients (said to have 29 ingredients) supporting the mutton paste with smell and taste of ghee hitting all senses. We could even discover small chunks of mutton bones. It's absolutely princely and shall keep you craving for more. The Zafrani Chicken Biryani was again different from the Biryani that we have in Kolkata. Biryani in Kolkata is more flavorful, but this Biryani hits all your senses and shall leave an aftertaste of spices. The rice is excellent and could be as long as a rice morsel could be. The smell of zafran will keep you engaged and the chicken pieces melt in mouth. Finally the price is very reasonable and quantity served will make you more than happy. We came back another day for their Baklava, which they have in so many varieties! And we brought a boxful back to Kolkata. In short what we had is hard to forget and we felt that our visit to...