The 5 Dishes That Completely Got Me in February, 2026

nenumeebakasura
Mar 29
3 min read

February was honestly a good month for eating. No grand plans, just showing up hungry and letting the city surprise me. Some of these places I'd been meaning to try forever. Some were complete accidents. All five made me do that thing where you stop mid-bite and just... sit with it for a second.

You know that feeling? Yeah. That's what this list is about.

TOP 5

Kova Bun

Cafe Reels, Madhapur

Best Value Pick · ₹60 · Snack · Bakery

Hand holding split bun with kova filling, over wooden table. Plate with food visible in background. Warm tones.

Sixty rupees. That's it. For a bun that's moist, fresh, and loaded with kova that they don't skimp on; they actually pile it in. The sweetness is mild, not cloying, and the kova itself tastes like the real deal.

I had zero expectations walking in. I walked out thinking about it for the rest of the day. At ₹60, it's the kind of thing you order twice just to make sure the first one wasn't a fluke. (It wasn't.)

Worth it? Absolutely. This is the kind of snack you bookmark and casually mention to every single person you meet in Madhapur.

📍 1-98/90/C, Ayyappa Society Main Rd, beside Durgamma Temple, Sri Sai Nagar, Madhapur, Hyderabad

TOP 4

Guthi Vankaya Pulao

Bhojanam Thali, Jubilee Hills

Must Try · Thali · Vegetarian

A bowl of guthi vonkaya biryani topped with brown sauce on a wooden table, surrounded by plates, a cloth, and sliced onions on a small plate.

I gave my friends an actual sales pitch about this pulao before they tried it. Not a casual "yeah, it's good," I mean a full, slightly embarrassing, hand-gesture-heavy speech. And then they ate it and completely understood.

The rice has this deep, layered flavor that carries the gutti vankaya (stuffed brinjal) beautifully. The masala is earthy, warm, and just complex enough to keep you going back for another spoonful.

Pro tip: If Bhojanam thali happens to be sold out when you visit, don't leave without at least ordering the guthi vankaya pulao. It's worth the trip on its own.

📍 1200, Rd Number 59, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

TOP 3

Chicken Fry Piece Pulao

Bhulakshmi Mess, Kukatpally

Spicy · ₹150 · Non-Veg

A pot filled with fried rice and chicken sits on a black speckled countertop. A person's arm rests in the background.

I ate this. Went home. Called two friends. Came back with them the same evening. That's the review.

Spicy pulao rice with small onions and properly fried chicken pieces, crispy outside, juicy inside. At ₹150, this is the kind of meal that makes you wonder why you ever spent more. The heat is real, so come prepared.

If you've already tried the mutton dum biryani here, that's great. Now try this. They're completely different vibes, and both deserve a spot in your regular rotation.

📍 L Flat No, LIG-2, 42/2, Kukatpally Housing Board Colony, Kukatpally, Hyderabad

TOP 2

Kodi Vepudu Donne Biryani

Maa Oori Biryani, Signix Space, Hyder Nagar, Kukatpally

Fan Favourite · Biryani · Non-Veg

Close-up of spicy rice with vegetables and curry in a leaf bowl on a wooden table. Red plate and cut onion slice beside. Rustic setting.

If you're the kind of person who likes their chicken on the slightly wet, gravy-forward side rather than bone-dry fry, this is your biryani. The kodi vepudu here carries this beautiful home-style quality, and eating it from the donne just adds to the whole experience.

There's something about biryani served in a leaf bowl that makes it taste better. I don't make the rules.

🔥 The move nobody talks about: Mix some gongura into the donne rice before you eat. It sounds simple. It is simple. But it takes the whole thing to a completely different level. Try it once, and you'll never go back.

📍 Signix Space, G4, Plot 30, High Tension Line Rd, Nizampet Rd, Hyder Nagar, Kukatpally, Hyderabad

⭐ TOP PICK OF FEBRUARY 2026

Megastar Joint Palav

Rajamahendravaram Palavu Centre, Kukatpally

5× Times I've gone back since my first visit in one month. I have no regrets.

Obsession Level · Palav

A dish with seasoned rice topped with spicy curry chicken on a colorful plate. Dark table, small cups of sauce and yogurt on the side.

When I first posted about this place, a few people said, "Doesn't look like much." Those same people DM'd me later saying they got it. That's the thing about Megastar: it doesn't need to impress you with presentation. The food does all the talking.

It's Rajamahendravaram-style palav, which means it's in a category of its own compared to the pulao and biryani you'd find everywhere else in Hyderabad. The flavor is distinct, deeply comforting, and somehow addictive in a way that makes total sense only after you've been back three or four times.

Five visits in February. Easily my number one pick of the month. I strongly recommend it, and I don't say that lightly.

📍 Main Gate Ln, opp. Ramya Ground Rd, KPHB Phase 3, Kukatpally Housing Board Colony, Kukatpally, Hyderabad

That's a wrap on February 🍽️

Five dishes, five different parts of the city, five completely different moods and somehow every single one delivered. Hyderabad keeps doing that. Just when you think you've covered enough ground, something new (or something you've been sleeping on) shows up and wrecks you in the best way.

Got something I should try next month? Drop it in the comments; I'm always looking for the next obsession.

All opinions are personal. All addresses were verified at the time of writing. Prices may vary.