Imperial and Empire : Vintage Restaurants of Bangalore

The two vintage restaurants of Bangalore since the 1960s, Imperial and Empire have a dominating presence in the city with multiple outlets in different parts of the town. Famous for their biriyani, ghee rice, kebab and tandoori preparations, they are some of the few restaurants which are open till 1 at night to satisfy our late night cravings.

Grilled Chicken at Empire

Definitely not some of the cleanest and most hygienic places in Bangalore, both Imperial and Empire have several issues which have been reasons for complaint from time to time. The staff too is not overly helpful and prefers to mind their business rather than making the customers feel comfortable. However, these restaurants are not aimed to be fine dine and operate like roadside eateries with the focus being more on serving quick and good food rather than enhancing customer experience.

Fried Chicken Kebab at Imperial

The most common order at the Imperial is that of the biryani with their famous Fried Chicken Kebabs. A satisfying meal for one, the combination is not only filling but is also pretty light on the pocket.

A pretty generic name, chicken kebab in Bangalore is quite different from that of North. The chicken kebabs available in Imperial and Empire have bones and are coated and deep fried pieces of chicken served with onions and lemon pieces as compared to the boneless tandoori ones which are available up north. At the behest of the customer, they also sprinkle chaat masala on top making it a lip-smacking starter with drinks.  However, the Chicken kebabs have a lot of added colours which might be unacceptable to some people.

Mutton Biriyani at Imperial

From the Empire’s wide menu, my favourite would definitely be their Grilled Chicken. Available in half and full quantity, the grilled chicken is available with the skin containing most of the spicy marination and is served with vinegared onions and a spicy chilli based dip. This is one of the best-selling items in Empire and is a must try for all non-vegetarians. For those who are a bit adventurous, they can also try the Al Faham Chicken which is the Arabian styled grilled chicken served with mayonnaise.

Al Faham Chicken being grilled at Empire

Ghee Rice with Butter Chicken is another dish which is very close to my heart. A simple yet tasty preparation, Ghee Rice is very easy to make with flavours of ghee and various spices like clove, cardamom and elaichi giving it a fragrant flavour. In Empire, they add a bit of sugar too to make it sweeter, best had with a rich or spicy gravy. The tomato rich Butter Chicken plays the perfect foil for the ghee rice and the combination of the two were surely made in the heavens.

Chicken Mughlai with Coin and Ceylon Porotta

Other than these, you can be treated to wonderful lamb/chicken gravies like Chicken Kolhapuri and Chicken Mughlai and with the Kerala, Coin and Ceylon Porotta, or the Brain Pepper Fry which is another hot-selling item in Imperial. If you are in mood for some quick bites, the shawarma at Imperial is highly recommended.

Shawarma at Imperial

While there is a huge debate about which restaurant is better among the two, I believe it matters a lot on personal taste too. On their best day, both the restaurants have the power to blow you mind away  with crunchy delights and delicious biryani, but it would be foolish to expect that to be everyday.

Location: Both Empire and Imperial have branches all over Bangalore.