Alpha Hotel

Alpha Hotel is a station-area eatery on Sarojini Devi Road, near Secunderabad Junction, in Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad in Telangana, India. It has fed travellers for decades and is known for biryani and Irani-style snacks, which makes it a useful stop before or after a train journey. Secunderabad Junction is one of the busiest railway stations in southern India, and the surrounding streets are crowded with commuters, porters and long-distance passengers, so a dependable, quick meal close to the station has practical value. The cuisine is Hyderabadi and Irani. The Alpha biryani is the house dish, cooked in the dum style with rice and meat steamed together, and it is usually served with raita and salan. Chicken kebab is a common starter or side, Irani chai is the traditional drink, and egg puff, a flaky pastry filled with spiced egg, is a popular snack that travellers can eat on the platform. The dining atmosphere is busy and straightforward, with a ground-floor hall and an upstairs hall, quick service and a moderate to high noise level at peak times. There is no dress code and no formal beverage programme; tea, coffee and soft drinks are the usual drinks. Reservations are not accepted, and the restaurant works on a walk-in basis. Prices are modest, at about ₹250-600 per person, roughly $3-6, and the restaurant is open daily from about 7AM to 11:30PM, which covers most train times. Because visitors are often carrying luggage, they may find the restaurant useful for a quick sit-down before boarding. Rated more modestly than the top Hyderabad biryani houses, it is best regarded as a convenient, reliable stop rather than a destination in itself. Those with time can compare it with Paradise, which is also in Secunderabad, and sample another version of the city's biryani.