Disclaimer: The author visited the restaurant multiple times at her own expense and once, as part of a paid collaboration. However, the article is completely unbiased and honestly written, to offer valuable travel & food information to our readers. Read about our editorial policies.
Every city boasts a few iconic restaurants that make their way to travelers’ bucket lists. For Hyderabad, Almond House is one such eatery with over a 30-year legacy. And, your Hyderabad trip is incomplete without a visit to this place.
Among the best sweet shop-cum-chaat restaurants in Hyderabad, this chain of eateries serves traditional Indian delicacies with a gourmet take. Moreover, the strong principles Almond House runs on have defined its humongous success across the city.
In this article, I’ll take you through the must-try dishes at Almond House, its story and the values behind its legacy. Let’s begin?
Contents
The Best Parts About Almond House, Hyderabad
# Excellent hygiene & quality standards
One of the biggest highlights of our visit to Almond House was learning that they actually allow every visitor a tour of their central kitchen (Kukatpally outlet). This was a clear display of confidence about their quality & hygiene.
The kitchen tour seemed especially impressive at this time, because several top Hyderabad restaurants were found to be breaching food safety norms during recent raids.
As expected, the friendly staff at Almond House first instructed us to wear disposable head caps before entering the kitchen (to avoid contamination). It was spread across three floors, with various sections dedicated to crafting sweets, snacks, gelatos and baked goodies.
As we entered each zone of the kitchen, a heavenly aroma lingered in the air. The sweet makers (all wearing disposable gloves, masks & body gowns) were busy rolling, cutting, churning or frying the ingredients.
Meanwhile, state-of-the-art machinery such as thermic fluid boilers and quality control labs automated a huge chunk of the production process. There was a UV sterilization system that actually filtered the air in the kitchen! This is apparently used while packing the sweets as well. Every corner was impeccably clean, including the floor.
# One-stop destination for sweets, chaats, ice creams, savories & gifts
When you walk into Almond House, you will find a complete snacking and souvenir solution — all under one roof. In one corner called Gappe Vappe, you can indulge in some mouthwatering and hygienic chaats.
In their ice cream parlor called Indulge, you can relish freshly-churned, natural gelatos created sans any artificial flavors. At the end, you can shop for some delectable confections, namkeens and gift hampers to take back home for your loved ones.
TWT Tip: You can also sample the ice cream flavors and sweet treats at Almond House before making your purchase. So, taste and then pick whatever you like.
# Values of responsible indulgence
I have been indulging in Almond House’s vegan sweets for several years now and always felt they were a class apart from the overly-sweet mithais found in most places. But while writing this article, I learnt that the brand consciously uses less sugar than the other sweet shops, which is clearly mentioned on their website.
This is part of their “responsible indulgence” policy, which is stated on the sweet boxes as well, with a small note that reminds consumers – “our products are meant to be enjoyed in moderation and as part of a balanced diet”. For the same reason, their food is also free from preservatives, artificial flavors and trans fat. They use a technique to remove excess oil from their fried foods. Almond House is also one of the first brands in Telangana to become ISO & HACCP certified.
# A variety of delicious vegan options
For me personally, Almond House has been one of my go-to eateries for the many vegan options they offer, besides the impressive quality. Their vegan range includes ice creams, nut-based sweets (made-on-order), chaats (with allergen information markings), and several packaged snacks — such as chips, murukku, and chagodi, whose ingredients are clearly listed on the labels.
TWT Sustainability Trivia: Almond House follows some heartwarming eco-conscious practices, such as having a parabolic solar-run kitchen, composting waste, and serving ice creams in ceramic mugs with steel or wooden spoons.
Top 10 Things To Eat At Almond House, Hyderabad
This one’s honestly hard to choose, because there are a lot of dishes I love here. However, these are 10 of my favorite and the best things to try at Almond House:
1. Pani Puri Bharnivala
Have you ever tried Pani Puri with pomegranate-flavored water? This is a unique twist this Hyderabad restaurant brings to the famous street food.
Their puris are as big as Gol Gappa, which are served with a chickpea filling and three types of flavored water — classic masala, mango & pomegranate. The latter is my favorite for its mild sweet-tangy-fruity combination.
2. Bellam Mithai (Kaju Pak)
I am not joking, but everyone in my group was least interested in this sweet snack, as they were busy relishing the chaats and ghee sweets. But when I made them taste a tiny bite from it, they couldn’t stop asking for more! 😂
A cashew brittle coated in thick layers of jaggery, it tastes incredibly delicious and is soft to bite into, unlike chikkis that are harder in texture.
3. Dhokla
Juicy, fluffy, and light, the Khaman Dhokla served at Almond House is another must-try, especially if you’re looking for a healthier snack option.
The traditional Gujarati dish has the perfect blend of tartness and sweetness. They are generously sprinkled with coriander leaves, offering a burst of freshness to the dish.
4. Chocolate-Almond Milk Ice Cream
Almond House actually offers vegan dark chocolate ice cream and almond milk ice cream separately, which are both delicious. But I took one scoop each in a cup and tasted them combined.
This elevated their flavors altogether and made for a heavenly pairing. You can also choose to try them on a cone.
5. Badam Barfi
This is hands down one of the best Indian sweets and I tried the vegan version of Almond House, which can be pre-ordered on their website or store. The chunky barfis are a tad bit less sweeter than your usual mithais, making them all the more palatable and irresistible. They carry a pure and dense flavor of almonds, with subtle hints of cardamom.
But for me, what’s most interesting is how its texture changes with time. When it’s freshly bought, the Badam Barfi is quite soft. By the third and fourth day, the outer layer gets slightly harder and crisp (almost like a fudge), yet it remains soft on the inside. This is when I enjoy biting into it the most, rather than the freshly-made softer barfi.
6. Sev Puri
Served on a quirky plate that looks like a cart, these can be called the Indian version of canape. Little fried flat breads (called Papdi) are topped with potatoes, onions, chaat masala and tangy-sweet tamarind and mint chutneys.
Sev (gram flour noodles) are sprinkled on top for additional crunch. When you pop it in your mouth all together, it causes an explosion of flavors and textures.
7. Chagodi, Namak Para & Karela Chips
These are some of the best takeaway fried snacks I found at Almond House. I actually enjoyed having the spicy Karela (bitter gourd) Chips with sambar rice and dal rice at home. And the crispy Chagodi (fried rice flour circles) and Namak Para (fried crackers) made for yummy evening snacks.
8. Walnut Barfi
Firstly, the walnut barfi at Almond House has a beautiful rose pink color (food grade), making these fudgy squares beautiful to look at. Inside, little pieces of walnuts add a crunchy element to the otherwise soft sweet meats. And thankfully, the usual bitterness of walnuts gets diluted by the sweetness.
9. Matar Kachori
Kachori is a popular fried snack found across the city and other Indian states too. However, Almond House is one of the very few restaurants in Hyderabad that offer Kachori with a green pea filling. And their version is absolutely delectable!
The outer shell of their Kachori is delightfully flaky and crisp, while the stuffed green peas mash oozes out a comforting flavor.
10. Ragi Nibbles
A packaged snack introduced under their sub-brand called Greater Gud, these tiny, bite-sized balls are perfect for gifting or simply to stock them at your place for healthy snacking.
Created with jaggery and ragi, they are sweetened just right and are light, airy to bite into.
The Ambience At Almond House, Hyderabad
I have been to Almond House’s Kukatpally, Banjara Hills, Gachibowli and Secunderabad outlets. And every store offers an inviting and premium feel when you walk in.
Most parts of the interiors are done in white and muted tones, with a few golden and silver accents. Yet, the bright play of lights adds a lively charm to their spaces, with neatly demarcated sections for each category.
Plus, especially in the evenings and on weekends, the restaurant gets quite chirpy and full, with youngsters and families coming together to enjoy their dose of hygienic street foods and confections.
The Interesting Story Of Almond House, Hyderabad
The first store of Almond House was launched in 1989 by Nagarjuna Muppala in the Himayat Nagar area. It was born because he found a gap in the market for high quality sweets after graduating from BITS Pilani.
Back then, it was a small sweet shop serving mithais made with premium ingredients. After his son Chaitanya Muppala (business grad from University of British Columbia) took over the family business, the journey of Almond House transformed completely.
With technological innovations, more streamlined processes and launch of sub-brands (Indulge Ice Creams & Gappe Vappe Chaatwala) while still maintaining quality, Almond House won the hearts of Hyderabadis.
Eventually, they spread their wings across various locations. Today, Almond House has become a household name in the culinary scene of Hyderabad, with 13 outlets (3 at airport).
TWT Experience Summary Of Almond House, Hyderabad
We have always enjoyed dining at Almond House amidst the lively chatter of people, who are most excited to dig into their gourmet chaats, low-sugar sweets and natural gelatos. It’s also very inspiring to see how Almond House has managed to maintain their splendid quality for more than 30 years, despite scaling into a large business.
Our favorite part is that they don’t restrict visitors from taking a tour of their central kitchen. We were mind-blown with their hygiene standards, which included a UV-sterlization system they use to purify even the air in the kitchen! Plus, they offer several vegan options, and trans fat-free namkeens, altogether making them the most trustworthy and best sweet shop-cum-chaat restaurant in Hyderabad.
Some of Almond House’s locations: Kukatpally (central kitchen), Banjara Hills Road No. 12, Begumpet, Kompally, AS Rao Nagar, Gachibowli, Jubilee Hills
Almond House Contact: +91-9100005444, +91-7207775402
Almond House Timings: 10:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions About Almond House, Hyderabad
1. Which are the best street foods at Almond House Hyderabad?
My top chaat picks from Almond House are Pani Puri Bharniwala and Sev Puri. However, their Pav Bhaji Fondue and Samosa Chaat are also quite popular.
2. What is Almond House Hyderabad famous for?
Almond House is famous in Hyderabad for their high quality and premium, preservative-free savories and confections made with lesser sugar. They are known to have maintained their quality for over 30 years now. Plus, their sub-brands such as Gappe Vappe and Indulge have also become popular for chaats and ice creams respectively.
3. Which are the best sweets at Almond House Hyderabad?
Some of the best sweets at Almond House are Badam Barfi, Walnut Barfi, Kaju Barfi, Kaju Pista Roll, Dry Fruit Barfi, Bellam Mithai and Motichoor Laddu.
4. What are the prices of food like at Almond House Hyderabad?
The prices of Almond House’s sweets, snacks and chaats are quite affordable, yet on the higher side compared to several other brands. This is because they create preservative-free food without the use of palm oil and only use high quality, premium ingredients.
Feature image credit: Sangeet Rao
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