Biryani Kitchen • El Nido — Restaurant in El Nido

I’m pretty picky when it comes to food. I’ve tried many curry dishes in the Philippines where the staff or advertisements claim they’re 'authentic,' but after those experiences, I developed a dislike for anything with even the slightest hint of curry flavor.

However, Biryani Kitchen completely exceeded my expectations. I can’t say enough about how delicious everything was. We ordered a variety of dishes, and there was so much food that we had to take the leftovers with us, which we ended up eating the next day. It was so good that we couldn’t get enough of it. I honestly hope they open a branch in Cebu because I’ll definitely be a regular!

The biryani was perfectly seasoned, aromatic, and just the right balance of flavors. The rice was fragrant and blended perfectly with the spices, nothing overpowering, just a warm and rich taste with every bite. We also tried their curries, which were creamy and packed with flavor, and the meat was tender and cooked to perfection.

The staff were also fantastic. She was very patient and accommodating while we took our time deciding what to order. She was friendly and attentive, making sure we were well taken care of without being intrusive.

Overall, it was an amazing dining experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy authentic, flavorful Indian food...

I ordered the non-veg thali and it was honestly shocking. Each curry was incredibly watery — more like flavored soup than a proper curry. One curry had absolutely nothing in it. Another had just two tiny pieces of chicken, both with bones. The third seemed to be a lentil and vegetable curry — not even non-veg, which completely defeats the purpose of ordering a non-vegetarian thali.

Let’s be clear: • Curries should not be watery — they should be rich, flavorful, and thick enough to coat rice or bread. • A curry with bones and barely any meat is lazy and poor-quality — especially when served in tiny portions. • Tandoori chicken should be tender and juicy, not dry and hard like a rock. Mine was completely overcooked and impossible to enjoy. • A thali should not contain an empty curry with nothing in it. That’s just unacceptable. • While a lentil dish (dal) can be included, it shouldn’t be used to replace actual non-veg dishes in a non-veg meal.

I rarely leave reviews like this, but the meal was such a disappointment that I felt people should be warned. For the price and the name of the dish, you expect quality, variety, and at least basic standards — this had none of that. I will not...

Absolute worst restaurant service in all of El Nido. After 3 weeks of eating in 23 restaurants in El Nido this one has the absolute worst service. There are only 3 other guests but we still had to wait over 20 minutes before we could order anything. Staff avoid eye contact at all cost and ignores calls for help. After ordering the food comes quickly and tastes great. But the service continues to be abysmal. We ordered 1 bottle of water to share and didn't get it. We had to ask 2 more times and then got only the bottle without glasses. We asked for 2 glasses. The waiters took the bottle and came back with one glass of beer. Another guest had to step in after we told her to please bring the bottle back plus two glasses. Next, she came back with 2 bottles. I kid you not. It was unbelievable. Again, we told her what we ordered and another guest stepped on to confirm. Only then, after we had eaten most of our meal we finally got the bottle of water plus 2 glasses. And then, literally after finishing my meal I got the bread that I asked for when I placed my initial order. I have no words to describe the absolute disinterest of the staff here and the inability to get even the simplest of...