Where to Eat in Dhaka

Dhaka's dining culture is a busy celebration of Bangladeshi culinary heritage, where the aromatic blend of mustard oil, panch phoron (five-spice blend), and freshwater fish defines the local palate. The city's food scene revolves around iconic dishes like biryani (particularly the distinctive Dhaka-style kacchi biryani with potatoes), hilsa fish curry (ilish bhapa steamed in banana leaves), and bhuna khichuri with beef, reflecting centuries of Mughal, Bengali, and British colonial influences. From bustling street food corners serving fuchka (crispy water balls) and chotpoti (spicy chickpea snacks) to air-conditioned restaurants in Gulshan and Banani, Dhaka offers an increasingly diverse dining landscape that balances traditional eateries with contemporary fusion concepts catering to the city's growing middle class and expatriate community.

• Prime Dining Districts: Gulshan, Banani, and Dhanmondi form Dhaka's upscale dining triangle with contemporary restaurants and cafes, while Old Dhaka neighborhoods like Puran Dhaka near Chawkbazar and Haji Biryani area on Kazi Alauddin Road serve the most authentic traditional Bangladeshi cuisine. Uttara in the north has emerged as a family-friendly dining zone, and the Bashundhara residential area offers newer establishments with parking facilities—a crucial consideration in traffic-congested Dhaka.
• Must-Try Local Specialties: Kacchi biryani (mutton cooked with fragrant rice), tehari (beef or mutton with turmeric-yellow rice), shorshe ilish (hilsa in mustard sauce), beef bhuna (slow-cooked spicy beef), panta bhat with fried hilsa (fermented rice eaten especially during Pohela Boishakh), shutki (dried fish preparations), and street favorites like jhalmuri (puffed rice snacks), singara (triangular samosas), and mishti doi (sweet yogurt). During winter months (November-February), pithe (traditional rice cakes) become widely available at street stalls and homes.
• Price Ranges and Expectations: Street food costs 20-100 BDT per item, local restaurants serve full meals for 150-400 BDT, mid-range establishments in Dhanmondi or Uttara charge 500-1,200 BDT per person, while upscale dining in Gulshan or Banani runs 1,500-3,500 BDT per person. A plate of biryani at traditional spots costs 180-350 BDT, while premium hotel versions reach 800-1,500 BDT. International cuisine restaurants typically charge 1,000-2,500 BDT per person.
• Seasonal Dining Highlights: Monsoon season (June-September) brings the prized ilish (hilsa) fish to peak flavor, commanding premium prices of 1,200-2,000 BDT per kilogram, and restaurants feature special ilish menus. Winter (December-February) is ideal for outdoor dining at rooftop restaurants and for enjoying pithe festivals. The Islamic month of Ramadan transforms dining culture entirely, with iftar buffets (breaking fast meals) available from 5:30-7:30 PM at nearly every restaurant,