House Signature
Hakeem Dum Biryani
Aged basmati rice slow-cooked in a sealed deg with saffron, caramelised onions, and our 48-hour marinated protein. The recipe hasn't changed since 1971.
Serves 1 · Gluten-free · Dum-cooked 3 hrs
Learn this dish →Authentic Indian Restaurant
Three generations of kitchen wisdom. Heritage Mughlai recipes, slow-cooked biryanis, and tandoor classics — served in the heart of Bhopal since 1971.
Hakeem began in 1971 when Ustad Hakeem opened a small corner kitchen in Bhopal's Chowk Bazaar — a single clay oven, a handful of hand-ground masalas, and recipes passed down four generations from a royal kitchen in Lucknow.
Today, under Naveed Khan and NK Ventures, Hakeem carries that same spirit — the long slow cook, the respect for a single spice, the refusal to hurry what cannot be hurried. We still grind our own masalas. We still use the same dum method.
The Spice & Soul Academy was born from this kitchen — so every student can carry these techniques home.
Hakeem seats 60 guests across two intimate rooms — the open kitchen counter and the private dining hall. We do not rush tables. A meal here is meant to last, linger, and leave you with something to talk about on the drive home.
Our open tandoor runs from noon to close. Watch the kebabs char and the bread puff — it is as much a show as it is a kitchen.
Spices sourced from Khari Baoli, Delhi. Vegetables from Bhopal mandis, same-morning. Nothing from a packet. Nothing frozen.
Host family dinners, corporate lunches, or intimate celebrations in our private hall. Call us to arrange a bespoke menu.
Kitchen closes 30 min before listed time
Closed on national holidays. Check our social pages for special occasion hours.
Fill in your details and we'll confirm your reservation by phone or email. Or call us directly at +91 731 245 6789.
Call to reserve or walk in. We keep a few tables free every evening — but weekends fill fast.