Akram Biryani

Akram Biryani is a biryani restaurant on the Service Road in Shaheen Abad, the northern restaurant strip of Gujranwala in Pakistan's Punjab province. It is popular with families and focuses on a short menu built around rice dishes, making it an easy, inexpensive stop for visitors who want a filling meal without ordering several separate courses.

The cuisine is Pakistani biryani. The signature dishes are chicken biryani, zarda and raita. Chicken biryani is spiced rice layered with marinated chicken and served with a cooling raita of yogurt, cucumber and onion. Zarda is a sweet rice dish coloured with saffron-style food colouring and flavoured with sugar, nuts and dried fruit, typically served as a dessert or celebratory side. The specialty is biryani, and the restaurant is oriented around it rather than around grills or curries.

The dining room is casual and family oriented. Expect simple tables, fast service and a lively crowd in the evening. Noise levels are moderate. There is no dress code beyond ordinary modest clothing. Alcohol is not served; tea, lassi and soft drinks are the usual drinks.

Prices are low, about PKR 350-800 per person, roughly US$1-$3. The restaurant is typically open from around midday to late evening, though hours should be confirmed locally. Public ratings are about 3.9 out of 5, consistent with a dependable casual restaurant rather than a destination venue.

Reservations are not needed. It is a walk-in restaurant, and only large groups need to plan seating ahead. The location on the Service Road in Shaheen Abad is reached by taxi or rideshare, and it is close to other restaurants including tikka and fish places, which makes the area practical for groups with mixed preferences. Visitors can order biryani to eat in or take away.