Hyderabadi Biryani returns to 'Best Rated Indian Food' list, Indians criticise 'Worst Rated' selections

Known for rating cuisines and dishes across the world, Taste Atlas (the experiential online guide) has recently released its list of “Best Rated Indian Dishes,” with Mango Lassi topping the list, which also led the “Top 16 Dairy Beverages in the World.”

Hyderabadi Biryani has made a comeback after a year, securing the 6th spot. The list, featuring both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and beverages, ranks Chai Masala as second best, while Butter Garlic Naan takes the 3rd spot.Most of the top-rated foods are globally loved and widely available in restaurants.


Following these, Amritsari Kulcha is rated 4th, Butter Chicken 5th, Shahi Paneer 7th, Chole Bhature 8th, Tandoori Chicken 9th, and Korma 10th.

However, it is the “Worst Rated Indian Food” that’s making everyone guess how do they rate these dishes. In this list, ‘Jal Jeera’ tops the list of “Worst rated Indian food” which is enjoyed in India during extreme summers and is one of the home remedies for treating acidity and heartburn.


On the second spot, the experiential travel guide has ranked ‘Gajak’, which we all love to consume during winters. In the same list, ‘Thengai Sadam’ is ranked at 3rd spot, Panta Bhat at 4th, Aloo Bainganat 5th, Thandai at 6th, Achappam at number 7, Mirchi Ka Salan at number 8, Malpua at 9th spot and Upma at 10th.

The list of “Worst Rated Indian Foods” is alarming for most of the Indians and many have questioned their credibility. Actor Ahsaas Channa, who is popular on social media as @ahsaassy commented on Taste Atlas’s social media post asking “And who’s rating this?” It’s not just her who is questioning this list, but several food bloggers have commented against the worst rated dishes.

A popular South Indian food blogger named Sabu (@foodhunter_sabu) commented saying “Justice for Achappam”. While a Zurich-based Tamil-Italian couple, who are influencers and are popularly known as @dads.of.meenakshi commented, “Thengai sadam, achappam, malpua in worst list? Who hurt you all?” Another popular food blogger, Anusha Rajagopal who is also a recipe developer said, “Unfortunately this list is negligence max. All of our heirloom recipes are on that worst list. Indian culture celebrates seasonal produce. Gajak, Panta Baat are all examples of this. And it fell into the worst list. This is what happens when the world wants to think they know everything about India.”

Here's a simple and the easiest recipe of Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani that you can try at home...
To make Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani, marinate 500 gms mutton with 1 cup yoghurt, 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste, 1 tsp each of turmeric, red chilli powder, and garam masala, and salt. Let it sit for 2 hours. Cook 2 cups basmati rice until 70 per cent done. Layer half the rice in a pot, add marinated mutton, top with remaining rice. Sprinkle with saffron milk, fried onions, and chopped mint leaves. Seal the pot with dough, cook on low heat for 40 minutes. Serve hot with Raita and Salan.
Hyderabadi Biryani stands out with its unique cooking method, using the "dum" style where marinated raw meat and partially cooked rice are layered and slow-cooked together, sealing in flavors. This creates a rich, aromatic dish with tender meat and perfectly cooked rice. The use of saffron, fried onions, and a blend of spices gives it a distinct taste, setting it apart from other biryanis.
What do you think about this list? Let us know in the comment box.