“How much should I order?” is the question we get asked most on WhatsApp, right after someone tells us how many guests they're expecting. Order too little and it's an embarrassing scramble; order too much and you're eating biryani for three days straight. Here's the simple math we actually use when we help people plan.
As a general rule: if biryani is the main dish and the only real food on the table, plan for roughly 350–450 grams per adult. If it's one of several dishes — say alongside kebabs, a salan, or other sides — you can plan closer to 250–300 grams per person, since people naturally take less when there's more on the table.
In terms of our portions specifically: a 500 gram nalli portion comfortably covers one hearty eater or two light eaters as part of a bigger spread. A 750 gram portion suits two people generously. Our one kilo nalli portion — the best value size — works well for three to four people when it's not the only dish, or two to three if it is. Regular beef biryani follows similar math since portion sizes are comparable.
Putting that together: for 10 guests where biryani is the main event, you're looking at roughly 3.5–4.5 kg total — about four to five one-kilo portions. For the same 10 guests with a fuller table of dishes, 2.5–3 kg often does the job. For 25–30 guests, that scales to roughly 9–12 kg depending on the rest of the menu.
One habit worth borrowing from how we plan weddings and aqeeqahs (see our catering guide for the full picture): round up slightly rather than down. Biryani tends to be the dish people go back for seconds on, and leftover biryani reheats far better than an empty pot looks at your own event.
For bigger orders, it's also worth mixing nalli and regular beef biryani rather than ordering all nalli — it balances cost without anyone feeling shortchanged, since not every guest will want the bone-in cut anyway. And don't forget the sides; our guide to what pairs best covers raita, salad, zarda and kheer if you're building out the rest of the table.
The most reliable way to get this right, though, is just to tell us your headcount. Message us on WhatsApp with your guest count and what else is on the table, and we'll tell you exactly how much to order — no guesswork needed.
