Hyderabad: Haleem season in Hyderabad is in full swing, and if you have noticed the price of your favourite dish nudging upward this year, you are right. A combination of rising ingredient costs, higher labour expenses and increased spice prices has pushed rates up across the city.
At Sohail Hotel in Malakpet, the approach to haleem is straightforward. They serve only mutton haleem and no variations. A single plate is priced at Rs 300 this year, up from Rs 280 in 2024. Family packs are available at Rs 1,000.
Manager Syed Siraj Ahmed attributes the price increase squarely to the cost of ingredients. “Last year, a plate of haleem cost Rs 280. This year the price has increased due to the increased cost of spices and other ingredients,” he told Siasat.com.
To meet Ramzan demand, the hotel brings in 10 to 15 additional staff members during the month to maintain quality and scale up production. As for how customers are ordering, the shift is unmistakable. “Most people prefer parcels now, hence the sale via aggregator apps is higher,” Ahmed said, adding that online orders now outpace walk-in customers.
The innovation known as veg haleem
Pista House, one of Hyderabad’s most recognised names in haleem, is doing something a little different this year, offering both mutton and vegetarian versions of the dish.
Managing director Mohammed Mohsin describes the distinction between the two. “At Pista House, we have two types of haleem. One is mutton haleem made of pure meat and ghee along with dry fruits and spices. The veg haleem consists of dry fruits, millets and oats.”
A single plate of haleem is priced at Rs 320, with a range of formats available, such as mini pot, hot pot, and family pack priced between Rs 350 and Rs 1,150.
On staffing, Pista House has taken an unconventional route: bringing in part-time students from culinary schools and training them specifically in haleem preparation.
Unlike Sohail Hotel, Pista House sees the bulk of its business the traditional way. Mohsin said 30 per cent of sales come through food aggregator apps, with the majority of customers still preferring to visit the restaurant in person.
Chicken haleem and bulk orders
At 5ves Restaurant in Gachibowli, this is their first Ramzan in the haleem business. The restaurant is currently offering chicken haleem only, with prices ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 350. Bulk orders are available at Rs 80 per pack.
Partner Sohel Ahmed echoes what others in the business are saying about costs. Rising ingredient prices and higher labour expenses have pushed up overheads, and the restaurant has responded by hiring 15 per cent more staff for the season.
Being newer to the market and located in Gachibowli, a hub for young professionals, 5ves is seeing a very different sales pattern from its older counterparts. Sixty per cent of its haleem sales are coming through food aggregator apps, the highest proportion among the three restaurants.
Across all three restaurants, the direction of travel is consistent. Prices are up, delivery app sales are rising and extra hands are being brought in to meet demand. The key difference lies in what is being served and to whom. From Malakpet’s no-frills mutton plate to Pista House’s culinary school-trained staff and millet-based veg haleem, Hyderabad’s haleem landscape this Ramzan is as varied as the city itself.
