5 Indian Dishes You Didn't Know Originated From Different Regions

India is known for its incredible variety of food. From rich curries and fragrant rice dishes to smoky tandoori cooking and bold Indo-Chinese flavours, different parts of the country have developed their own ingredients, cooking techniques and food traditions.

Many dishes that are now enjoyed across India and around the world have strong connections to particular regions. Learning where these dishes come from makes Indian cuisine even more interesting because each recipe has its own story.

In this guide, we explore five popular dishes available at Raj by Sherri's and look at the regional food traditions connected with them.

 

1. Biryani - Hyderabad

Biryani is one of India's most widely enjoyed rice dishes, with different regions developing their own versions. Hyderabadi Biryani is particularly well known for its fragrant rice, aromatic spices and rich combination of meat and herbs.

Hyderabad's biryani tradition developed through the city's royal and culinary history. The dish became an important part of Hyderabadi cuisine, with cooking techniques that focus on combining rice, meat and spices to create layers of flavour.

One of the characteristics associated with Hyderabadi biryani is the use of fragrant basmati rice together with carefully selected spices. Depending on the preparation, the meat and rice may be layered and cooked together so that the flavours develop throughout the dish.

Biryani has since travelled far beyond Hyderabad and become a favourite throughout India and internationally.

At Raj by Sherri's in Slough, you can find Chicken Hyderabadi Dum Biryani as part of the restaurant's menu. It is a great option for anyone who wants to explore one of India's most recognised regional rice dishes.

 

2. Rogan Josh - Kashmir

Rogan Josh is closely associated with the cuisine of Kashmir and is recognised for its rich colour, aromatic spices and tender meat.

The dish is part of the wider culinary tradition of Kashmiri cuisine, which has been influenced by different communities and food cultures over many generations. Traditional versions use aromatic spices to create depth and warmth while allowing the flavour of the meat to remain important.

The name and preparation of Rogan Josh have been discussed by food historians, and recipes can vary depending on the region and cooking tradition. What remains consistent is its place as one of the best-known dishes associated with Kashmiri cuisine.

At Raj by Sherri's, Lamb Rogan Josh is included among the restaurant's Indian curries.

For diners exploring Indian food in Slough, it is a chance to try a dish connected with one of India's most distinctive regional cuisines.

 

3. Chicken Makhani - Delhi

Known internationally as Butter Chicken, Chicken Makhani is strongly associated with Delhi and the development of North Indian restaurant cuisine.

The dish is made using chicken combined with a rich tomato-based gravy, butter, cream and aromatic spices. In many traditional preparations, the chicken is first cooked in a tandoor before being added to the sauce. This helps create the smoky flavour that balances the creamy gravy.

Chicken Makhani is often associated with the Punjabi food traditions that became particularly prominent in Delhi. Its popularity eventually spread throughout India and then internationally, making it one of the most recognisable Indian dishes outside the country.

At Raj by Sherri's, Chicken Makhani is part of the Indian curry selection. The restaurant describes its menu as bringing together North Indian and Mughlai favourites, including Chicken Makhani.

Its combination of tender chicken, tomato, butter and aromatic spices makes it a familiar choice for anyone discovering Indian cuisine.

 

4. Dhaba Chicken - North India

The word dhaba is closely connected with roadside eateries across North India. Traditionally, dhabas developed as places where travellers and workers could enjoy hearty, freshly prepared meals.

Dhaba Chicken reflects this style of cooking. It is generally associated with robust flavours, onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and warming spices. Unlike some richer restaurant-style curries, dhaba-inspired cooking often focuses on hearty preparation and bold seasoning.

Dhabas have played an important role in North India's food culture, particularly along major roads and routes connecting towns and cities. Over time, the flavours associated with dhaba cooking have moved from roadside restaurants into homes and restaurants across India.

Raj by Sherri's includes Dhaba Chicken among its Indian curries.

For anyone who enjoys hearty North Indian flavours, Dhaba Chicken offers an interesting example of how everyday regional food traditions have become popular far beyond their original setting.

 

5. Chicken Chilli - Kolkata and Indo-Chinese Cuisine

Not every dish on an Indian restaurant menu comes from a traditional Indian regional cuisine. Chicken Chilli is a great example of how different food cultures can come together to create something new.

Chicken Chilli is part of Indo-Chinese cuisine, which developed in India through the interaction between Chinese communities and local Indian food traditions. Kolkata played an important role in this development, particularly through the Chinese community and restaurants in the Tangra area.

Over time, Chinese cooking techniques were combined with Indian ingredients, spices and local preferences. The result was a distinctive style of food that is now familiar throughout India.

Chicken Chilli typically combines chicken with ingredients such as chillies, garlic, ginger, peppers and savoury sauces. It can be prepared in different ways, including dry and gravy versions.

Raj by Sherri's also serves Indo-Chinese dishes alongside its North Indian and Mughlai offerings. The restaurant's own food guide explains Kolkata's role in the development of Indo-Chinese cuisine and discusses dishes such as Chicken Chilli, Hakka Noodles and Manchurian.

This makes Chicken Chilli an interesting example of how migration and cultural exchange can influence the food we enjoy today.

 

Indian Dishes From Different Regions: One Cuisine, Many Traditions

Looking at Indian dishes from different regions makes it clear that Indian cuisine is not one single style of cooking.

The food of Kashmir has developed differently from the food of Hyderabad. North Indian cooking has its own traditions, while cities such as Kolkata have also played an important role in the development of Indo-Chinese cuisine.

Ingredients, climate, local agriculture, cultural influences and cooking techniques have all contributed to these differences.

Rice plays an important role in dishes such as biryani, while slow-cooked curries such as Rogan Josh and Chicken Makhani demonstrate the importance of spices and sauces. Dhaba-style cooking represents the hearty food traditions of North India, while Chicken Chilli shows how Indian food has continued to evolve through cultural exchange.

This variety is one of the reasons Indian cuisine has become so popular around the world.

 

Why Regional Origins Matter

Knowing where a dish comes from can change the way you experience it.

When you order biryani, for example, you are not simply ordering rice and meat. You are experiencing a dish that has developed through generations of cooking traditions in different parts of India.

Similarly, ordering Rogan Josh introduces you to Kashmiri culinary traditions, while Chicken Makhani gives you a taste of the North Indian food culture associated with Delhi.

Even dishes that have become popular across the country can retain connections to the communities and regions where their culinary traditions developed.

 

Discover Regional Indian Flavours in Slough

You don't have to travel across India to explore its diverse food traditions. An Indian restaurant with a varied menu can give you the opportunity to experience dishes influenced by different parts of the country.

At Raj by Sherri's in Slough, the menu brings together North Indian and Mughlai favourites, tandoori dishes, biryanis and Indo-Chinese specialities.

Whether you're looking for a fragrant biryani, a comforting curry or something from the Indo-Chinese section, there are different flavours and styles to explore.

You can view the full Raj by Sherri's menu to discover the dishes currently available.

For more ideas, you can also explore Top Indian Dishes You Must Try in Slough and discover more dishes to add to your next meal.

 

Indian Food Is More Than One Cuisine

Indian food is often described as one cuisine, but its regional diversity tells a much bigger story.

From Hyderabad's biryani traditions and Kashmir's Rogan Josh to North India's dhaba cooking and Delhi's famous Chicken Makhani, each dish reflects different culinary influences and traditions. Indo-Chinese food adds another layer, showing how migration and cultural exchange can create entirely new food traditions.

Exploring Indian dishes from different regions is therefore more than simply discovering new flavours. It is a way to understand the history, culture and cooking traditions behind the food.

Next time you visit an Indian restaurant in Slough, look beyond the familiar choices and try something connected to a different region. You may discover a new favourite while learning a little more about India's remarkable food heritage.