Biryani Hub — Restaurant in Norfolk

I finally have decided to post my experience here which happened when I came here with my relatives.

On June 22, 2025 we were vacationing in Hampton Roads and decided to come to this restaurant before heading back home. Initially the experience was fine, typical of any restaurant, the red flags started coming in when the guy standing at the front counter, whose name I do not know but he has a very stereotypical South Indian face with a stubble for a beard, shortly upon learning we are Pakistanis, came over to us telling us in Hindi that we need to get up off our tables and we are taking up so much space and he’s going to sit other people in the space we are occupying. We were a large group of close to 10 individuals so they had already fixed some tables together for us to sit together but still 3 of us in our party sat at the adjacent table as that was what was most convenient and comfortable for them. This guy comes over to us and tells our three relatives they need to sit with the rest of us as they are taking space what could be for someone else like they weren’t paying customers themselves. Mind you, the entire restaurant was empty and we were the only patrons at the moment. My 16 month old son was in a baby seat with us and this guy actually had the audacity to tell us we need to get up off our seats and move him as well as “ he needs to seat people here” and my relatives did just that, they were forced to get up, move my son off his chair, bring that table that a few of us were sitting at and join it with our bigger table. Finally, when more customers came in they did not sit adjacent to us, because obviously, why would you sit within earshot of strangers in an empty restaurant? It was never about “making space for customers” this guy just wanted an outlet to let out his bigotry which was made even more obvious when I caught this guy giving our group very hateful glares not one, not two, but three times! Mind you, this is the times I caught him. He just kept on glaring at us as we were eating our food, making me uncomfortable, though no one else had the awareness in our party to know what was going on. I’m just glad this guy had no part in cooking the food as there is no telling what he would have done, seeing how bigoted and hateful he became just for learning we’re Pakistanis that he wanted to harass a family that simply wanted to come here to eat. The owner of this establishment cannot afford to have this guy working for them, he’s a danger and a liability to the business which this guy already has no stakes in nor care for seeing how harshly he harassed patrons, for something as mundane as...

Edit: tried this place again, only to be let down. It’s called Byriani Hub, so I thought maybe the biryani might be better than the curry I tried last time. The curry was just average. Both biryanis I ordered were actually below average. The vegetable biryani had just a few green beans, so hardly any vegetables in terms of quantity or variety. And what’s with the fried breading in the boneless chicken biryani? I’ve never received breaded, fried chicken in biryani at any other restaurant. I can only imagine this is to make it seem like there’s more chicken than there really is in the dish. Most of my “chicken” was breading, which had become bloated and mushy from the heat and moisture of the rice. This also presents a dietary issue for people who avoid gluten and would reasonably expect to be able to order this dish without issues.

“Not great, not terrible.”

In my opinion, the food here is buffet quality at cooked to order prices. It’s not bad, but why are people raving about it? Has Nawab lowered Norfolk’s expectations that much? I’d rather drive to Masala Bites of Virginia Beach or Aago of Newport News.

I can only speak to the quality of the chicken korma and naan. The korma gravy lacked that bright, aromatic quality I expect in a restaurant curry and felt sort of gritty instead of creamy—not enough nuts maybe? Canned ginger and garlic instead of fresh? The dry spices also had a flat taste. I don’t think they’re using whole spices and grinding them. It tasted like they used an old packaged spice mix from Shan or something. The naan looked and tasted like they buy it frozen and bake it at the restaurant. It’s very thick, dry, and uniform in shape. The chicken itself was good, though. Tender chunks of dark meat.

Again, it’s not bad. It’s just not worth the price of takeout. I could get this from the frozen section of the grocery store for less money. Maybe the lunch thali is a better deal than the dinner...

Biryani Hub is not just about biryani — it’s a full-on Desi food paradise! I recently visited with my husband and tried a variety of dishes (multiple trips in 1 week), and every single one was a hit.

As a true biryani lover, I can confidently say Biryani Hub lives up to its name and more! The Hyderabadi Dum Biryani here is nothing short of spectacular — perfectly cooked basmati rice layered with aromatic spices, juicy marinated meat, and that irresistible smoky dum flavor that hits all the right notes.

The butter chicken with naan was heavenly — creamy, rich, and full of flavor without being overly spicy. The naan was perfectly soft with a slight crisp at the edges. Easily one of the best combos I've had in a while!

We also ordered the chicken lollipop, which came out sizzling hot. Crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and coated with a spicy tangy sauce. A perfect appetizer to kick things off.

The masala dosa! Crisp, golden dosa stuffed with a flavorful potato filling and served with coconut chutney and sambar. Even though it’s known more for North Indian food, Biryani Hub nailed the South Indian flavors too.

Service was prompt, portions were generous, and everything was reasonably priced. Whether you're in the mood for classic curries or street-style starters, this place has something for every craving.

!And just when we thought we were done, we ended on a sweet note with their rasmalai — soft, spongy, and soaked in thick, cardamom-infused milk. It was light, perfectly sweet, and a refreshing way to close the meal.

Highly recommend for anyone who loves authentic,...