Charminar Indian Restaurant and Catering | Sunnyvale

Dum Biryani

Slow-cooked in a sealed pot until the saffron-tinged rice absorbs every drop of spiced meat juices — the defining dish here and the reason the restaurant fills by noon on weekends

Haleem

Hyderabadi slow-cooked wheat, lentil, and meat porridge with a molasses-thick consistency and deep, round spice — a dish that takes all day to make and tastes like it

Chicken 65

Fiery, crunchy deep-fried chicken bites with curry leaves and chilies — a reliable opener that primes you for the heavier dishes to come

Mirchi Ka Salan

The traditional Hyderabadi chili curry served alongside biryani — peanut-and-sesame-thickened with a pleasant slow burn that complements the rice perfectly

Naan

Properly charred with soft interior — good but secondary here; order it if you're also getting a curry, but don't skip biryani in its favor

Double Ka Meetha

Hyderabadi bread pudding soaked in condensed milk and topped with fried bread, nuts, and rose water — a regional dessert not found on most Indian menus