Sindhi Chicken Biryani in Chatham, NJ

Biryani isn't a rice dish with chicken added. It's a layering technique perfected over centuries, and it's the dish our Chatham-area guests drive the farthest for. Fragrant basmati is par-cooked, layered with marinated chicken, saffron, fried onions, and whole spices, then finished slowly so every grain steams in the meat's juices.

The test of a biryani is separation and aroma: each grain distinct, the saffron unmistakable, the chicken tender enough to fall apart under a spoon. Ours arrives with cooling raita on the side, the traditional companion. It's a complete meal in one container, which makes it the most-ordered takeout dish for solo dinners and the smartest thing to order for a crowd (our catering trays of biryani feed 10-12). Prefer plants? The Sindhi Vegetable Biryani ($16) uses the same technique with seasonal vegetables, and it's dairy-free.