Biryani & Chaat - Authentic South Indian & north Indian food — Restaurant in Rocklin

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Biryani & Chaat, located at 4800 Granite Dr B-11 in Rocklin, CA, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted warmly by Alex and Gary, who are absolutely amazing managers and clearly passionate about their restaurant.

The first thing that struck me was the authenticity of this South Indian gem. As someone who loves Tamil Nadu cuisine, I was thrilled to see such a wide array of delicious dishes on the menu. I started my culinary journey with the onion pakoras, and let me tell you, they were divine! Crisp, flavorful, and reminiscent of my mom's homemade cooking, these pakoras melted in my mouth with each bite.

To complement the appetizers, I tried the Badam-geer, an almond drink that took me straight to drink heaven! The chunks of real almond were a delightful surprise, adding a unique touch to this already heavenly beverage.

For the main course, I indulged in the Paneer Kadai and 2 Bhature, and wow, what a treat it was! The kadai paneer was hands down the best I've ever tasted, perfectly spiced and made with fresh, authentic ingredients. The generous amount of ghee added a richness to the dish that elevated its flavors to another level. The crispy capsicum pieces were a delightful contrast, adding a burst of freshness to each bite. And the bhature? Fluffy, soft, and simply irresistible!

To round off this culinary adventure, I savored some authentic filter coffee that transported me back to the days of my mom's lovingly brewed coffee. The service throughout my meal was friendly and efficient, making the entire experience even more enjoyable.

One of the best parts about Biryani & Chaat is that all this deliciousness comes at very reasonable prices, making it a true gem in the Rocklin community. I cannot recommend this place enough and am so glad to see such a fantastic addition to our culinary landscape. Biryani & Chaat has definitely won me over as a loyal customer, and I can't wait to return for another taste of their...

Update: Food is still excellent! Chai is still served lukewarm but I'm willing to overlook it for the authentic flavor.

As someone who moved from England—where Indian food is arguably the best outside of India—I had been struggling to find good Indian cuisine locally. That all changed when Biriyani and Chaat opened its doors.

I recently visited with my family and my non-Indian in-laws, and even they were impressed. We ordered a variety of dishes including Chicken Tikka, Paneer Saag, Naan, Rice, and a Paneer Biryani. Each dish was exceptional: the curries were rich and creamy, and the rice was buttery and melted in your mouth. The complimentary chai was a delightful touch, and the staff were incredibly accommodating, especially with my toddler.

What makes this restaurant truly special is its unique blend of South Asian flavors. Curious about their diverse menu, I spoke with the owners and discovered that the husband is from Tamil Nadu and the wife is from Punjab. This fusion of backgrounds is clearly reflected in the delicious and varied flavors of their food.

Biriyani and Chaat is a gem, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for authentic and delicious...

Saturday, March 8 2025 - Dinner

Walked in around 6:45pm. We got seated around 7pm. Place was chaotic with single server and single cleaner running in circles to accommodate guests.

Order was taken by a rude server lady who was avoiding us after that. From here on, things got worse. Appetizers came one by one after 30-35 mins after placing order, and that too at room temperature. Forget main course, one curry (Chicken cashew something - tasted horrible) came after almost a hour (yes, 1 HOUR) - again at room temperature, no naan in sight yet. Another curry (Shrimp masala - again tasted like something a newbie cooked for the first time) was served by the cleaner with dirty fingers touching the curry and I saw she had just cleaned some tables. When we asked for naan, she replied very rudely saying "Did I take your order? Why are you asking me?"

After all this bs, I did the mistake of ordering "Madras coffee". Again, it took 10 mins and again came luke warm.

All in all, nothing went right for us, not the food, not the service and also wasted 2½...