Karachi biryani is a distinct thing — spicier, more fragrant, and generally more aggressively seasoned than its counterparts elsewhere in Pakistan — and Student Biryani is the chain that has done most to define what people mean when they say it. The original outlet opened in the 1970s and the brand has since expanded across the city and beyond, but the core product — rice cooked with heavily spiced meat, topped with fried onions and served with raita and salad — remains unchanged and consistently good.
There are multiple branches across Karachi and finding one is not difficult. The experience is unpretentious: queue, order, eat quickly, leave, because there will be someone waiting for your table. The biryani is available in chicken, mutton, and occasionally beef; the mutton is the one to order. A full plate costs a fraction of what a similar quantity of food would cost in any restaurant aimed at tourists or the upper-middle class. Student Biryani is not the most exciting meal in Karachi but it may be the most representative one.