Dhaka is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, a megacity of roughly 10 million people in the city and more than 20 million in the metro area on the Buriganga River. It combines Mughal and colonial monuments, the crowded lanes of Old Dhaka, Louis Kahn's parliament building and some of South Asia's best biryani and street food.
Dhaka's food is Bengali at its core, layered with Mughal influence in Old Dhaka. Rice and fish are the staples, with hilsa (ilish), bhuna beef, dal and mustard-oil bhorta at home-style eateries. Old Dhaka gave the city its Dhakai kacchi biryani, haji-style mutton biryani, bakarkhani bread, borhani (spiced yoghurt drink) and kababs. Street food such as fuchka, chotpoti and jhalmuri is eaten everywhere. Alcohol is restricted; it is available only in a few licensed hotel bars, so meals are accompanied by tea, lassi and borhani.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Dhaka.
Kacchi Biryani
Raw marinated mutton layered with basmati rice and slow-cooked together, Dhaka's signature dish
Where to try: Sultan's Dine / Kacchi Bhai / Hotel Al-Razzak
Price: Tk 235-300 (approx USD 1.9-2.4)
Haji Biryani
Dry, aromatic mutton biryani from Nazira Bazar, cooking since 1939
Where to try: Haji Biryani, Nazira Bazar
Price: Tk 200-300 (approx USD 1.6-2.4)
Mutton Glassi
Layered mutton curry in a rich sauce, an Old Dhaka speciality
Where to try: Hotel Al-Razzak, Bangshal
Price: Tk 250-400 (approx USD 2.0-3.3)
Hilsa (Ilish) Curry
Bangladesh's national fish in mustard or curry sauce, best in monsoon (June-October)
Where to try: Nirob Hotel / Bengali restaurants
Price: Tk 300-700 (approx USD 2.4-5.7)
Borhani
Spicy salted yoghurt drink served with biryani
Where to try: Any kacchi house
Price: Tk 40-80 (approx USD 0.3-0.7)
Reshmi and Tikka Kabab
Soft grilled chicken kababs served with tandoori roti
Where to try: Star Hotel / Jannat Hotel / Star Kabab
Price: Tk 120-250 (approx USD 1.0-2.0)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Bangladeshi
Dhakai Kacchi
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Fuchka
Crisp hollow shells filled with spiced chickpeas, potato and tamarind water
Find it at: Dhaka University / Doyel Chattar / roadside stalls
Chotpoti
Spiced chickpea and potato mix topped with egg, chilli and tamarind
Find it at: Dhaka University area / Old Dhaka
Jhalmuri
Puffed rice mixed with chilli, onion and mustard oil
Find it at: Parks and streets across Dhaka
Bakarkhani
Thick crisp Old Dhaka bread, eaten with tea
Find it at: Old Dhaka bakeries (Chawk Bazar area)
Cha (Tea)
Milk tea from roadside stalls
Find it at: Everywhere
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Karwan Bazar
Dhaka's main wholesale market for vegetables, fish and meat
Hours: Daily, early morning to afternoon; best 6AM-10AM
Chawk Bazar
Old Dhaka market famous for its Ramadan iftar street food, including haleem and jilapi
Hours: Daily; busiest in Ramadan from late afternoon
Banani Kacha Bazar
Neighbourhood market for fresh produce and fish in the Banani district
Hours: Daily, morning to evening
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch is roughly 12:30-3PM and dinner 8-10:30PM; kacchi houses often sell out by evening
Eat with the right hand; the left is considered unclean
Alcohol is not served in normal restaurants; only licensed bars in international hotels serve it
Drink only bottled or sealed water and avoid ice from street vendors
Tipping is small (5-10% or rounding up); many restaurants add a service charge
During Ramadan many local eateries close by day and open for iftar at sunset
- Vegetarian
- Limited but possible: dal, bhaji, bhorta and rice are everywhere; Jagannath Bhojonaloy in Tanti Bazar is fully vegetarian
- Halal
- Effectively universal; nearly all restaurants serve halal meat and no pork
- Gluten free
- Rice-based meals make this manageable but wheat is used in bread and fried snacks; gluten-free labelling is rare
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Tk 150-400 per meal (approx USD 1.2-3.3) | Biryani plates, street snacks and tea at local eateries |
| Mid-range | Tk 600-1,500 per meal (approx USD 4.9-12.2) | Sit-down restaurants in Dhanmondi, Banani and Gulshan |
| Upscale | Tk 2,500+ per meal (approx USD 20+) | International hotel restaurants in Gulshan and Banani |