100 Favorite Dishes: Goat Biryani at Khyber Halal

This year we're marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email [email protected]. 96. Goat Biryani at Khyber...

By Lauren Saria

May 19, 2015

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

This year we're marking the hundred-day countdown to Best of Phoenix 2015 by sharing some of our favorite dishes at restaurants all over the Valley. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email [email protected].

96. Goat Biryani at Khyber Halal

Indian, Pakistani, and Afghan cuisines come together under one roof at Khyber Halal in Central Phoenix, though you wouldn't know the the restaurant's such a culinary powerhouse based on the exterior appearance. Easy to miss on the southwest corner of Indian School and 24th Street, the restaurant doesn't exactly inspire on looks alone.

But it's worth venturing inside. The eclectic menu means you can order rich, red tikka masala along with Afghani specialties such as bolanee, a giant pancake stuffed with potatoes and herbs. (Pro-tip: if you want to try that dish, get there early because they can and do sell out.) You may also want to start with an order of the restaurant's samosas, made with a fried, flaky dough and served with side of spicy cilantro sauce.

For an entree, one of my go-to dishes is the goat biryani, a heaping serving of basmati rice mixed with cilantro and served with chutney of cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and herbs. The tender pieces of goat meat make an already hearty dish all the more filling — just keep an eye out since the meat is bone-in.

The 100 Favorite Dishes so far...
100. Waffle at Matt's Big Breakfast
99. Pacific White Fish Taco at La Santisima
98. Beef Roll at Taiwan Food Express
97. Zinc Burger at Zinc Bistro

Follow Chow Bella on Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest.

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Phoenix New Times has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.