Swiggy’s Recent Report Tells How Much Indians Loves Their Biryani

As we step into another year of eating, ordering, and celebrating food, one thing is abundantly clear: the country’s relationship with biryani is no longer just about craving—it’s about ritual. According to Swiggy’s 10th annual How India Swiggy’d report, biryani has emerged as the most ordered dish on the platform in 2025, with a staggering 93 million plates delivered this year. This represents a 10 million jump from last year’s 83 million deliveries, translating to approximately 194 biryani orders every minute, or more than three plates every second, across the country.

Chicken biryani dominated, with 57.7 million orders and the most repeat customers, reinforcing its place as India’s top comfort food. Yet the report is clear: biryani may lead, but India’s tastes are varied. Burgers and pizzas followed, with 44.2 million and 40.1 million orders, respectively. The reliable vegetarian dosa showed that tradition rivals trend, notching 26.2 million orders nationwide.

The geography of biryani consumption reveals patterns that go beyond taste alone. In 2024, Hyderabad led with 9.7 million biryani orders. Bengaluru followed at 7.7 million, and Chennai at 4.6 million. This serves as a reminder of how deeply rooted the dish is in Southern urban food culture. Seasonal data also underline biryani’s cultural importance. During Ramadan 2024, nearly 6 million plates were ordered. This highlights the central role of biryani in shared meals, late-night feasts, and religious observances.

More broadly, the report highlights a shift in how Indians perceive food delivery itself. By 2025, ordering in had become instinctive. Food marked pauses between meetings, fueled late workdays, and acted as a small reward after long hours. Delivery became less about excess, more about rhythm.

While biryani may dominate full meals, snacking emerged as its own mood. The 3 pm to 7 pm window was identified as ‘peak snack time,’ reflecting how food now punctuates the workday rather than interrupts it.

Chicken burgers led this category with 6.3 million orders. Chicken rolls experienced significant growth, rising from 2.48 million orders in 2024 to 4.1 million orders in 2025, clarifying the timeframe for this increase.

The classic chai-samosa pairing remained steady, with 3.42 million samosas and 2.9 million ginger tea orders. This indicates that nostalgia—specifically, the tradition of sipping chai—still holds a firm place in India’s snacking habits.

To our surprise, health-conscious ordering also saw momentum! High-protein food orders surpassed 23 million. This was driven primarily by cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. Data suggests that convenience and wellness are no longer mutually exclusive in urban India.

When it came to desserts, most orders were as indulgent as they come. White chocolate cake topped the list with 6.9 million orders, followed by chocolate cake at 5.4 million and gulab jamun at 4.5 million. Traditional Indian sweets held their own ground, with kaju barfi and besan ladoo emerging as the most-ordered mithai.

On the global front, Indian diners demonstrated a desire for novelty without sacrificing comfort. Mexican cuisine led international orders at 16 million, followed by Tibetan cuisine, which crossed 12 million, and Korean cuisine, which reached 4.7 million. The word ‘Matcha’ emerged as the most searched global food term, reflecting how internet-driven food trends continue to influence dining choices.

At the same time, the strongest growth came from a place closer to home. Pahadi cuisine orders increased ninefold, while Malabari, Rajasthani, and Malvani cuisines nearly doubled year-on-year—evidence of a growing appetite for regional, ingredient-driven food that feels rooted in the local.

Beyond delivery, dining out also rebounded strongly. 23.7 million seated diners booked tables through the platform, with Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad leading the way. Daily bookings more than doubled compared to the previous year, and emerging markets such as Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Kochi also showed notable growth.

Premium dining saw a particularly sharp rise, with bookings surging 123.7% to 1.6 million. Meanwhile, buffet reservations jumped 78%, led primarily by Delhi. Group dining remained popular in larger metropolitan areas, reflecting how eating out continues to serve as a social anchor rather than just a financial experience.

Taken together, the data paints a picture of an India that eats with intention and not restraint, where biryani remains the emotional centre of the plate. However,  curiosity, convenience, and community shape everything around it.