Last Updated on 25 September 2025 by Poorna & Brinda
Some of you may have savored Irani chai in Hyderabad or Bombay. As avid travelers, we’re also foodies — and our credo has always been: “Eat local when you travel.” From Pottu and Kadala curry in Kerala, to Akki rotti and vegetable kurma in Malnad, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Poha and Jalebi in Bhopal, or Khambir with butter in Ladakh — we love tasting the specialties of every place we visit. Sometimes, we even travel just to eat that one iconic dish!
For us, Irani chai always beckons us to Hyderabad. Whenever we’re in the City of Nizams, we never miss a visit to the iconic Garden Restaurant to try their famous Tie Biscuits washed down with cups of thick, aromatic Irani chai. Yes, cups, not just a single cup — one is never enough here!
Last December, we were in Hyderabad for the wedding of Poorna’s friend Venu’s daughter. A perfect excuse — or as we call it, a boon in disguise — to indulge in the city’s famed chai once again.
Our curiosity with Irani chai started even earlier. On a previous trip, Venu, Poorna’s army batch mate, took us to Garden Restaurant. Sipping the rich, creamy chai from the classic ceramic cups was pure delight.
Welcome to Garden Bakery and Restaurant, the original Irani chai shop in Hyderabad.
We stepped in and ordered their legendary Tie Biscuits along with Irani chai. If you haven’t heard of Tie Biscuits, here’s a treat: baked in the shape of a bow tie, they have the light, flaky texture reminiscent of the puffs we enjoy in Bangalore.
Join us as we take you through a tour of Garden Restaurant and its iconic Irani chai experience!
The frontage of the Iconic bakery and restaurant near the Clock tower. Parking is an issue here but we have found a space behind the bakery which is an open space of an erstwhile bungalow. Pay the Security guard ten rupees and he will allow you to park your car there!
The biscuits, cream rolls, tie biscuits, buns etc are stacked up at the counter where you pay the money. Being self-service joint, you pay first and then pick up your chai. The man at the counter recognises that we are from Bangalore and start talking to us in Kannada. He tells us that he is from Bidar which is two hours drive from Hyderabad and famous for its fort.
We now come to a pigeon-hole where the chai is served. We give the receipt and chai is delivered!
Here we are…. sipping the famous Irani chai with tie biscuit!
After we finish drinking, Poorna goes inside and speaks to the boy who is making the chai. Imtiaz, explains how the chai is made.
Take a look at the picture below. One litre of milk is boiled at low heat in a pan of water and reduced to 750 ml. The thick milk is then mixed with thick tea decoction – made in the boiler next to it – to make the tasty Irani chai!
The place is always crowded by office goers and people who come to down town for shopping
We order another cup and savour it. We bid good-bye with a wish to return as soon s possible!
Here is a nice video on Irani chai – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj43k9DH6UE
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