Best Restaurants in Patna (2026)

TL;DR

• 🍚 Mughlai biryani anchors the city's dining scene, with arsalan biryani operating across multiple Patna locations including Kurji and Anisabad
• 🍛 South Indian cuisine has a serious presence through Basant Vihar, Udupi Veg - South Indian Restaurant, and the focused simplicity of Mr & Mrs Vada
• 🏙️ 7Stories in Kankarbagh delivers rooftop ambiance with multi-cuisine buffets, birthday dinners, and corporate event hosting
• 🍕 Pizza Singh and Bistro The Royal Bihar round out the map for those looking beyond biryani and thalis

Bihar's capital has a layered food culture that runs deeper than its reputation outside the state suggests. Mughlai cooking remains the backbone, but a long-running South Indian restaurant corridor, a growing multi-cuisine scene, and newer experiential venues make Patna worth exploring with a proper dining guide. The restaurants listed here are backed by real addresses and operating hours — nothing invented or assumed.

The Biryani Belt: Mughlai Classics

Biryani in Patna is not casual food — it's a serious commitment, and the city's top spots have built loyal followings over years of consistent output.

arsalan biryani is the name that comes up most often across the city. With multiple branches including locations in Kurji and Anisabad, arsalan biryani operates daily from 11AM to 11PM and serves Mughlai-style biryani as its centerpiece. The kitchen also handles banquet catering for large gatherings and celebrations, which sets it apart from purely dine-in competitors. The preparation here follows the slow-cooked, whole-spice Mughlai tradition that Patna's food culture has built around.

Biryani By Kilo takes a different approach. Located on the first floor of H B Complex on Gola Road beside the BPCL petrol pump, this spot focuses on Hyderabadi-style biryani, kebabs, and related Mughlai dishes. The hours run from 10AM to 1AM — the latest closing time among the major restaurants in this guide — which makes it the practical late-night choice. The Hyderabadi style differs from Mughlai in its use of layered dum cooking, and regulars at Biryani By Kilo tend to appreciate that distinction.

The Biryani cafe on 90 Feet Main Road in Bhabha Colony, Hanuman Nagar, Kankarbagh covers the same broad Mughlai and Chinese territory from 11AM to 11PM. For Kankarbagh residents, this is a nearby constant. Royal Bawarchi at Paswan Chowk Rajpoot Nagar Colony is another Mughlai option serving that part of the city.

Insider Tip: arsalan biryani handles banquet catering for large celebrations — call +91 620 158 0372 at least a week ahead for any event over twenty people. Last-minute bulk orders at popular Mughlai joints in Patna rarely go smoothly without prior coordination.

South Indian in the City

The South Indian restaurant scene in Patna is more competitive than most outside the state realize. Several establishments have been running for years and have built their own regulars.

Basant Vihar at Block-B, Maurya Lok Complex on New Dak Bunglow Road is one of the most established spots in this category. Operating from 8AM to 10PM every day, the menu covers South Indian, North Indian, and Chinese dishes — a combination that works for multi-preference groups. The early opening makes it a practical breakfast destination as well. The website basantvihar.com carries the current menu and additional information.

Bansi Vihar on Frazer Road near the petrol pump runs on nearly identical hours — 8AM to 10PM daily — and covers South Indian and Chinese cooking. For diners in the Frazer Road area, Bansi Vihar is the immediate local alternative, and the website bansivihar.com has further details.

Mr & Mrs Vada at Shop No. 8, Manprabha Apartment, East Boring Canal Road in Buddha Colony keeps things focused. Open Monday through Saturday from 11AM to 11PM, this South Indian kitchen does what the name suggests — it does South Indian food without detours into Chinese or North Indian. Reachable at +91 7209617753, it's the right address for vada, sambar, and straightforward South Indian plates.

Udupi Veg - South Indian Restaurant on Gola Road runs daily from 11:30AM to 11PM. The Udupi tradition is a specific one — coconut-forward, strictly vegetarian, built around dosas, idlis, and sambar — and this restaurant stays in that lane. For vegetarians who want South Indian without any confusion about whether something is truly veg, Gola Road is the address.

Shantilal Restaurant has multiple branches across Patna and covers South Indian cuisine. For the branch closest to your neighborhood, the website shantilalsfoods.org/restaurant.php lists current locations.

Rooftop, Multi-Cuisine, and Modern Venues

7Stories sits opposite the Indian oil petrol pump near Maa Kausalya Grand in Kankarbagh Colony and operates as Patna's clearest example of experiential dining. The multilevel rooftop setting hosts buffet meals, birthday celebrations, candlelight dinners, and corporate events. The menu spans Chinese, Indian, and multi-cuisine options, and the kitchen is open Monday through Thursday from 12PM to 10:30PM. If you're planning an event that requires both food and ambiance in a single venue, 7Stories is worth a direct conversation rather than just a walk-in.

Bistro The Royal Bihar on AIIMS Road takes a different direction entirely. The menu here covers coffee shop fare, regional dishes, and pizza — an unusual but functional combination for the area. The restaurant is accessible at theroyalbihar.com for menu details and reservations.

Pizza Singh at D-7, opposite Shivaji Park in Kankarbagh, addresses the pizza gap that most cities in the Gangetic plain have felt for years. The menu includes Italian preparations and Chinese dishes alongside pizza. For office groups ordering lunch or a younger crowd looking for something other than biryani, Pizza Singh at +91 6299 053 754 is a practical standalone option in a neighborhood that otherwise leans heavily Mughlai and South Indian.

FAQ

What is the biryani culture like in Patna? Mughlai-style biryani dominates. Slow cooking with whole spices and marinated meat is the standard method. arsalan biryani and Biryani By Kilo are among the most consistently mentioned spots. The Hyderabadi dum style at Biryani By Kilo is a variation worth trying if you want to compare approaches.

Are there good vegetarian restaurants in Patna? Yes. Udupi Veg - South Indian Restaurant is strictly vegetarian in the Udupi tradition. Mr & Mrs Vada focuses on South Indian vegetarian food. Basant Vihar and Bansi Vihar both carry strong vegetarian sections as part of their broader menus.

Which restaurant is best for a birthday or corporate event? 7Stories in Kankarbagh specializes in these occasions — the multilevel rooftop setup handles birthday celebrations, candlelight dinners, and corporate gatherings. arsalan biryani can also provide banquet catering for large groups.

What are the late-night dining options in Patna? Biryani By Kilo on Gola Road is open until 1AM. arsalan biryani and The Biryani cafe close at 11PM. Most South Indian restaurants in this guide close by 10PM or 11PM.

Is there reliable South Indian breakfast available? Basant Vihar and Bansi Vihar both open at 8AM and serve South Indian dishes from the start of the day, making them the most consistent breakfast destinations in this list.

Bottom Line

Patna's restaurant map in 2026 is more varied than it looks from the outside. The biryani tradition is deep — arsalan biryani, Biryani By Kilo, and The Biryani cafe each hold ground in their respective parts of the city. The South Indian corridor anchored by Basant Vihar, Udupi Veg - South Indian Restaurant, and Mr & Mrs Vada gives vegetarians and South Indian food fans real options at multiple price points. For event dining with atmosphere, 7Stories on the Kankarbagh rooftop handles both the food and the occasion. Bistro The Royal Bihar and Pizza Singh fill the modern-casual gap. Every restaurant here comes with real addresses and verified operating hours — enough to plan around before you head out.