Hyderabadi dum biryani is the city's signature dish: basmati rice slow-cooked in a sealed pot (dum) with meat — usually mutton or chicken — saffron, yoghurt, and deeply caramelised onions. The rice and meat cook together in their own steam, so the flavours penetrate every grain. Paradise Restaurant (multiple branches, the original in Secunderabad) is the most famous name, a Hyderabad institution since the 1950s. Locals often prefer Hotel Shadab near Charminar or Bawarchi in RTC X Roads — both get packed at lunch for good reason.