At the Hotel Siamton Inn Shiraz, Shiraz Golden Restaurant successfully hosted the Grand Finale of The Biryani Man 2026, Kolkata’s first-ever biryani eating competition, honoring the city’s enduring love for biryani while commemorating its legendary 85th anniversary. Twenty-five shortlisted finalists competed in the intense culinary finale for the ultimate test of stamina, speed, and appetite.

Along with the partners of Shiraz Golden Restaurant, Mr. Ishtiaque Ahmad, Mr. Akhtar Hasnain, Dr. Raghib Hasnain, and Mr. Shahhanshah Mirza, the great-great-grandson of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, judged the grand finale.

25 finalists were chosen through a LIVE Lucky Draw on Shiraz’s official Facebook page on July 22, 2026, following a nationwide registration drive from July 1 to July 21, 2026, across all Shiraz stores, digital platforms, and outdoor QR touchpoints. The contestants underwent a health examination by the medical professionals from Mediview Hospital before the competition started.

Participants had to pass a required benchmark of two full plates to be eligible for scoring. Every extra plate they ate after this point added to their final score. The high-stakes competition saw an unprecedented display of zeal and hunger under the close observation of official judges and supervisors.

The finalists who showcased remarkable spirit and speed were Ms. Swarnali Roy, Mr Somnath Nath, Mr. Srikanta Shaw, Md. Taukeer Quraishi, Mr. Suvendra Seal, Mr. Sk. Shadav, Mr. Sandip Basu Thakur, Mr. Pramit Kumar Das, Mr. Shirsajit Mukherjee, Md. Ghulam Yazdani, Mr. Sampad Basu Thakur, Mr. Subhankar Chowdhury, Mr. Sudip Kumar Das, Mr. Chiranjit Biswas, Mr. PV Jayshankar, Mr. Saddam, Mr. Soumitra Das, Mr. Debrit Goswami, Mr. Saikat Foujdar, Ms. Poulomi Ganguly, Mr. Rahul Modak, Md. Zubair, Mr. Parikshit Ray, Mr. Naveen Kumar and Mr. Atish Chakraborty.

Mr. Pramit Kumar Das emerged victorious at the end of the suspenseful timer, out-eating the competition with an astounding five plates of mutton biryani (approximately 3.5 kg). In addition to receiving the exclusive Lifetime Free Biryani Card, which grants him a complimentary plate of Shiraz’s famous Mutton Biryani at any Shiraz Golden Restaurant location once a week for life, the winner was formally crowned with the prestigious The Biryani Man 2026 Crown.

Each finalist received a participation certificate and a 3-year Shiraz Loyalty Card with exclusive dining discounts at all locations, in addition to the champion’s glory.

With the end of The Biryani Man 2026, Shiraz Golden Restaurant has raised the bar for experiential celebrations by combining delicious food, thrilling movies, and a sense of community.

Priyanka Dutta