Healthy and delicious, too
The pleasant aroma of haleem wafts thickly about the eateries serving the mouth-watering dish that people of all faiths dig into ardently. There doesn't seem to be even an iota of satiety with people vouching for its taste and nutritional qualities.
Thanks to the protein-rich lentils, meat and wheat, garnished pure ghee, haleem replenishes the devout after a day of fasting. It is variously described as a wholesome and healthy meal.
For many, one bowl is simply not enough. The Hans India team is visiting places across the city to feature well-established as well as new eateries serving haleem to their patrons. Here are some:
Cafe Bahar, LB Nagar
"It's been two years since we have started this restaurant. Customers love here to visit specially during Ramzan to taste our haleem. We have customers from Nagole, Uppal, Dilsukhnagar and Malakpet who come here with their friends and family to have haleem," said Karunakar, manager, Cafe Bahar. Shravan, a customer, gloated: "I love the haleem here and often visit here during Ramzan to have haleem with my family.
The taste and richness of the haleem is what brings us here." Sai, another customer, said: "The haleem here is so far the best I have tasted anywhere. I love the blend of meat and other ingredients making the dish more flavorsome and healthy."
New Best Bawarchi, Turkayamjal
"This is our first year of serving haleem during Ramzan and by far the response has been positive. Our customers loved our haleem and showed their immense love. With the love and support of our customers we serve around 100 to 200 plates every day. The number increases on weekends. This response as motivated us and we will bring some exciting upgrades next year to our haleem," said Mohd Jahangir, the proprietor of New Best Bawarchi.
A customer by name Mohd Irfan said, "This is a new restaurant opened around five months back. The food here is tasty but the special part is the haleem that they serve here. The haleem here is very tasty and i am glad that i came across this restaurant now onwards I will have haleem here only every Ramzan."
Agreed Kalyan, another customer, "Though this place opened recently, the food they serve is better than that at any other hotel nearby – especially their haleem. It is very rich in taste and has perfect spice and aroma."
New Royal Café, LB Nagar X Roads
"We have been serving delicious haleem past 12 years and our cafe has become a favourite spot for haleem lovers. Many customers from nearby areas like Malakpet, Moosaraambag, Nagole and Uppal come here to have our haleem during Ramzan. Haleem lovers from all faiths come and have haleem with their friends and family and it is the most beautiful thing to witness as a haleem center owner," said Mohd Pasha, who owns New Royal Café.
Mohd Meraj, a customer, said: "I have been visiting here for the past seven years. The haleem here is very tasty and has been my all-time favourite. I stay in Malakpet, so I come here every alternate day to have haleem with my friends or sometimes with my family."
Another customer Mohd Sameer said, "The haleem here is the most loved dish during Ramzan and all customers prefer coming here for haleem. I also come here from Uppal for the same reason. Their haleem is very tasty and filled with delicious ingredients one can't resist."
Bharath Haleem, Vanasthalipuram
"The response we got from our customers is overwhelming and we are thankful for that. We have always followed the rule of quality over quantity and have served our customers the same way. They liked the concept and gave us their love and support in return. Today, customers visit us from all parts of city to have haleem during Ramzan and we serve around 300 plates every day," said Bashir, owner, Bharath Haleem.
Vikram, a customer, nodding, said, "The haleem here is very delicious and I love to come here often during Ramzan with my friends or family to have haleem here. We all love the taste of their haleem and eagerly wait for Ramzan so that we can come here to have haleem." Vamshi shared his apprecation: "My friends and I are very fond of the haleem here and always visit here during Ramzan to have haleem.
The taste is very delicious. Moreover, it is digestive so you can have more than one plate and still feel hungry. It has a lot of benefits because of the ingredients used. I prefer chicken haleem as it is tastier and I just cannot resist it."