Best Restaurants in Chittagong (2026)

TL;DR

• Chittagong (also called Chattogram) is Bangladesh's port city, and its food culture is built around fragrant biryani, charcoal-grilled kababs, and fresh Bay of Bengal seafood 🍛
• The city's biryani houses — from Haji Biriyani House to Hotel New Zaman and Biriyani House — serve a peppery, whole-spice Chittagong-style biryani that is distinct from anywhere else in Bangladesh
• Street-side kabab spots like Abul Kabab House, Kabab Bari, and Sub Kebab represent a parallel and equally beloved eating culture that runs from midday well into the night 🔥
• Beyond biryani and kabab, Chittagong has variety: Impala Chinese and South Indian Restaurant, Masala Twist, Sadia's Kitchen, and Bonjour Restaurant serve different cravings across the city
• This guide covers the restaurants and eateries worth knowing in Chittagong in 2026 — from old-city institutions to newer options across Chattogram's growing dining landscape ✨

The Biryani Culture of Chittagong

No account of eating in Chittagong begins anywhere other than biryani. Chittagong biryani is distinct from its Dhaka or Sylheti counterparts — characterized by whole spices, a slightly drier rice texture, and generous portions of slow-cooked meat. The culture of the biryani house runs deep in the city, and many of Chittagong's most visited restaurants have built their entire identity around this single dish.

Haji Biriyani House is one of the names that comes up most often in any discussion of Chittagong's food scene. Its reputation has been built over decades on the consistency of its biryani. Similarly, Hotel New Zaman and Biriyani House is a household name for Chittagong residents who want reliable biryani in a no-frills, canteen-style setting.

Bismillah Hotel and Biriyani House and Gausia Hotel and Biriyani House serve the old-city crowd, operating in the tradition of the classic Bangladeshi hotel — which in local usage means a canteen-style eatery, not an accommodation. These spots are busy at lunch, packed with office workers and traders who come for biryani and a glass of borhani (a spiced buttermilk drink).

For those exploring outside the city center, Haji biriyani Kumira Sonaichhari Chattogram is a destination worth the journey, popular with travelers passing through the Kumira stretch on the Dhaka–Chittagong highway. Bridge Hotel and Biriyani House is another well-regarded option that draws a consistent local crowd.

The Biriyani Factory brings a more contemporary approach to the classic dish. Alankar Hotel and Biriyani House, Rangdhonu Restaura & Biryani House, Khabar Mela Restora & Biryani House, Darbaran Restaurent & Biriyani House, and Hotel Samudra Bilash and Biriyani House each occupy their own neighborhood territory across the city, rounding out a dining culture where the biryani house is as common and essential as the corner tea stall.

Insider Tip: Chittagong biryani is best ordered at lunch rather than dinner at the traditional biryani houses — most places cook one large batch in the morning, and by early afternoon the freshest portions are gone. Arrive before 1 PM for the best quality at the old-city institutions.

Kabab, Curry, and the Street-Food Tradition

While biryani dominates, Chittagong's food culture is not a one-dish story. The city has a parallel universe of kabab joints that operate from midday well into the night, serving food that is fast, affordable, and deeply satisfying.

Abul Kabab House is a fixture of the Chittagong street-food scene — a place where seekh kababs and shami kababs are served hot off the skewer, wrapped in paratha or eaten straight with green chutney. Kabab Bari occupies a similar space: informal, fast, and centered entirely on the craft of the kabab. Sub Kebab offers yet another angle on the kabab tradition, popular with a younger crowd who want a quick, filling meal.

Darul kabab carries the tradition of wood-fired and charcoal preparations that define this style of eating in Chittagong, continuing a lineage of kabab craft that predates the modern restaurant format.

For those who want something beyond biryani or kabab, Chittagong has options in the curry and dhaba tradition. Handi and Dhaba lean into the north Indian dhaba aesthetic — slow-cooked curries, dal, and tandoor breads that appeal to those craving a heartier, gravy-forward meal. These spots attract diners who want something different from the rice-centric main current of Chittagong eating.

Sadia's Kitchen offers a more home-style approach to Bangladeshi cooking, with the kind of fish curries and lentil preparations that speak to the everyday cuisine of the region. Chittagong's coastal location means fresh hilsa, pomfret, and shrimp feature prominently on menus at restaurants that lean into the local seafood tradition, and Sadia's Kitchen reflects that sensibility.

Jhal Bitan & Biryani House and Khabar Aayojon & Biryani House sit comfortably in the mid-range, offering biryani alongside broader menus of Bangladeshi standards — a practical choice for families who want variety at the table.

Diverse Cuisines and Formal Dining

Chittagong is not only a biryani city — it is a port city with a cosmopolitan history, and that diversity shows in its dining options as you move into the newer commercial areas.

Impala Chinese and South Indian Restaurant covers two cuisines under one roof, a combination common in Bangladeshi cities where demand for both Chinese preparations and South Indian dishes has driven multi-cuisine menus. The South Indian options — idli, dosa, and uttapam — find a loyal audience among residents who grew up eating them or developed a taste for them.

Masala Twist brings spice-forward cooking with a contemporary edge, appealing to younger diners and families who want familiar flavors with a slightly different presentation and atmosphere.

Bonjour Restaurant occupies the more formal end of the Chittagong dining spectrum, suited to business lunches and family celebrations. Its name reflects the city's appetite for dining spaces that step beyond the traditional biryani house format.

GEC Palace Hotel & Restaurant O.R. Nizam Rd Chattogram is located in the GEC Circle area — one of Chittagong's more developed commercial zones along O.R. Nizam Road. The concentration of restaurants in the GEC area reflects the foot traffic and commercial energy of that part of the city, and GEC Palace sits at the more established end of that cluster.

The range from street-level kabab counters to formal dining rooms captures the full spectrum of how Chittagong eats in 2026. The name Chattogram appears across signage, receipts, and listings across the city — both names refer to the same place, and both are correct. Locals use them interchangeably, and many restaurant names themselves carry the Chattogram spelling.

FAQ

What is the specialty dish of Chittagong restaurants? Biryani is the defining dish. Chittagong-style biryani features whole spices, a peppery profile, and slow-cooked meat, and is served at dozens of dedicated biryani houses across the city.

Are there restaurants for non-biryani food in Chittagong? Yes. Chittagong has a strong kabab culture (Abul Kabab House, Sub Kebab, Kabab Bari, Darul kabab), Chinese and South Indian options (Impala Chinese and South Indian Restaurant), home-style Bangladeshi cooking (Sadia's Kitchen), and dhaba-style curry (Handi, Dhaba).

Is Chittagong the same as Chattogram? Yes. Chittagong and Chattogram refer to the same city. Chattogram is the official Bengali name now formally adopted; Chittagong is the anglicized form still widely used internationally. Both names appear across menus, signage, and restaurant listings in the city itself.

What neighborhood has the highest concentration of good restaurants? The GEC Circle area around O.R. Nizam Road and the older commercial zones of the city center have dense concentrations of dining options, from street stalls to sit-down restaurants.

When is the best time to eat at a traditional biryani house? Lunchtime — roughly between 12 PM and 2 PM — when the biryani is freshest. Many traditional spots cook one large batch per day, and the quality drops noticeably by evening.

Is seafood available at Chittagong restaurants? Yes. As a coastal city on the Bay of Bengal, Chittagong has access to fresh hilsa, pomfret, prawns, and other seafood. Restaurants oriented toward home-style Bangladeshi cooking typically feature fish curries prominently.

Bottom Line: Chittagong's restaurant scene in 2026 is anchored by a biryani culture with no equal elsewhere in Bangladesh — built around institutions like Haji Biriyani House, Hotel New Zaman and Biriyani House, Gausia Hotel and Biriyani House, and Bismillah Hotel and Biriyani House — and complemented by a vibrant kabab tradition and a growing range of diverse cuisines. From the roadside kabab counters of Abul Kabab House to the formal settings of GEC Palace Hotel & Restaurant O.R. Nizam Rd Chattogram, this port city rewards those who explore with full plates, honest cooking, and flavors that are entirely its own.