If you eat mutton and you’re visiting the Pink City of Jaipur, one thing you have to taste is Laal Maas. It is a Rajasthani delicacy, looks fiery red (also why it is named “laal”, which means red in Hindi), and is best paired with Indian bread options like naan, tandoori, or rice. The best places I’ve tried Laal Maas in Jaipur are Niros and Handi Restaurant. But in this comprehensive guide, I am going to give you many more options and tell you why they’re worth trying!
Stories around the origin of Laal Maas
Being a state that is 75% vegetarian, the highest in the country as per Registrar General of India (RGI) survey published in 2016, it is still not strange how dishes like Laal Maas, Junglee Maas, and Dungar Maas are popular dishes of Rajasthan.
There are stories that date back centuries, suggesting how hunting was a popular sport for the royals, and eating meat was no different. Some have spiritual significance as well.
If you visit Amer Fort and hire a guide, he will explain how Raja Man Singh I built the temple of Shila Devi inside the palace. It is believed that the king once had a dream that he would find a slab of stone that made its way from the sea.
When the incident (as depicted in the dream) became a reality, he had the idol of the Devi carved onto the stone and established it in his palace.
In the dream, the Devi had promised that if he so did, he would reign victorious against King Kedar from Jessore. As the rituals devoted to Goddess Kali require the sacrificial act of goat slaughter, the tradition of eating mutton came into being ever since.
An AI image depicting how game meat used to be sourced, prepared and preserved
Now, there is another story to this. Due to low vegetation, men at war during those days had to hunt, cook, and consume wild meat. Boar or deer meat preparations were considered camp food that sustained them amidst the ruggedness of the barren lands.
The royals also indulged in hunting expeditions that helped create dishes like Junglee Maas. Unlike Laal Maas, Junglee Maas is made with khare maasale (whole spices) that could be easily cooked outdoors without much preparation.
The two main ingredients in Laal Maas are Mathania chilies (grown on the outskirts of Jodhpur) and mutton. The chilies helped reduce the smell of game meat and preserved the quality of the dish at a time when there was no refrigeration. Yogurt was used for marination to make the meat tender and it was slow-cooked with ghee.
Places to try Laal Maas in Jaipur
Here is a guide to find the best laal maas in Jaipur and what makes each place special:
1. Niros
Niros is a classic serving the best of Rajasthan’s delicacies since 1949. From Dal Bati Churma to the spiciest Laal Maas in Jaipur, this is one place you can swear by.
The place retains an old-world charm blended with modern décor that resonates with Rajasthani architecture. Inside the menu and within the décor, you will find images of famous personalities who have dined at Niros over the years, elevating the legacy of this place.
While the restaurant is open between 12 pm and 11 pm, they do not serve Indian bread options if you visit between 4 pm and 6 pm. It is best to avoid coming here during this time as they are busy preparing for the second half of the day.
The cost of one plate of Laal Maas in Niros was 1600 INR, and I paired it with one plate of rice worth 300 INR. The quantity of rice wasn’t enough for two, but the mutton was delectable.
The spicy dish had Mathania chilies floating along roughly 3-4 pieces of mutton and tossed with the goodness of ghee. One more thing that Niros does best with ghee is Gulab Jamun, which costs 300 INR for two pieces.
Location: 319, Ml Road, Panch Batti, C Scheme, New Colony
Cost for two: INR 2,500
Timings: 12 pm to 4 pm, 6 pm to 11 pm
2. Spice Court
Spice Court, with its white interiors, pictures of erstwhile royals playing polo hanging on the walls, and tables with whole spices ingrained just for show, is a vibe in itself. From garlic to star anise, from chilies to coriander seeds, you find flavors on and inside the tables around!
Laal Maas in Spice Court costs INR 850 and is best paired with Butter Tandoori or Naan roti. If you like North Indian dishes mildly spicy, this is the best place to visit.
I saw a bunch of foreigners at another table and assumed that this restaurant might not predominantly add too much spice to Laal Maas to cater to them. Since most travelers from the West aren’t good with spicy food, this could be the case.
In their menu you will find an emojis of hot pepper🌶️that explain which item is mildly spicy and which is more. For instance, Junglee Maas had three of them explaining highly spicy while Laal Maas had one.
Tandoori chicken and Keema baati are two more recipes this place is known for.
Location: Inside Hari Mahal Palace at Jacob Road
Cost for two: INR 2,000
Timings: 11 am to 11 pm
3. Grand Uniara
Grand Uniara is a semi-luxury hotel with five different in-house eateries. Their restaurant Arogo serves both vegetarian and non-vegetarian multicuisine food, and here’s where you’d find Laal Maas.
The dish I tried here reminded me of Kosha Mangsho, a Bengali preparation of mutton seasoned with spices and served with Basanti Palao. We tried this one with Butter Tandoori and ended our meal with Gulab Jamun. You can also try Jhinga Khandari Masala at Arogo.
Location: Hotel Grand Uniara, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg
Cost for two: INR 2,100
Timings: 12 pm to 10:30 pm
4. 1135 AD
There are plenty of royal dining options in Jaipur but many of them are located far away in Kukas. 1135 AD finds you right when you’re trying to look for respite after exploring the gorgeous Amer Fort.
The regal ambience of this restaurant has a rustic charm, thanks to its unkempt walls and dusty old décor. But you’re greeted like kings and queens, served food in silverware, and taken back to royalty of 1700s. The Laal Maas here tastes average and costs INR 1,375 but Tandoori Jheenga and Zaffrani Murg Korma are to swear by.
Location: Amer Fort
Cost for two: INR 3,700
Timings: 11 am to 11:30 pm
5. Magic Mile
Magic Mile is a famous Laal Maas place in Jaipur because it serves a variety of meat dishes. The owner, Madan Singh Pichyanot, is enthusiastic about his meat recipes and has been seen across countless videos promoting how they prepare their recipes.
The preparation of Laal Maas and Junglee Maas follow a slow cooking process and Magic Mile boasts of the care they take to cook these dishes, making people from all over Jaipur flock to Vaishali Nagar.
The cost of Laal Maas is INR 425 for half plate with four pieces of mutton, and INR 840 for full plate with eight pieces of mutton. Keema Kaleji and Mutton Korma are more dishes to try here, accompanied by fresh bread made on a chulha.
Location: 9, Queens Rd, Adj to Reliance Foot Print, Rathore Nagar, Vaishali Nagar
Cost for two: INR 1,000
Timings: 12:30 pm to 10:30 pm
6. Handi
Handi is one of the best North Indian restaurants in Jaipur with outlets across MI Road, Vaishali Nagar, and Malviya Nagar. They recommend you try Laal Maas with bajra roti to get the most authentic feel, but my personal favorite from this place is Dry Junglee Maas. It is the best mutton recipe I have ever tried and makes a perfect accompaniment for chilled beer.
Handi sells a combo meal for two pieces of Laal Maas and two Bajra Roti for INR 450. Laal Maas separately costs INR 380 for two pieces, INR 650 for four pieces, INR 990 for six pieces, and INR 1750 for twelve pieces. This place is also famous for biryani, butter chicken, kebabs, and chicken tikka masala.
Location: Mirza Ismail Rd, opp. GPO, C Scheme, Ashok Nagar
Cost for two: INR 1,600
Timings: 12 pm to 11 am
7. Muhammadi Palace
A North Indian eatery located at the heart of Pink City and built out of an old haveli is this Muhammadi Palace. From the outside, it doesn’t look like this place has three floors full of sitting areas royally designed for comfort.
Muhammadi Palace is an affordable place that looks like a residential area with rooms turned into dining spaces. Every corner is crafted with Mughal and Rajput décor in a bustling space filled with waiters constantly taking and delivering orders.
Laal Maas here is a regular dish you try with tandoori or naan bread options. They charge INR 400 for three pieces and INR 800 for six pieces of mutton. I personally loved fried chicken and tandoori chicken for starters, and biriyani for main course.
Location: Near Chandpole Gate
Cost for two: INR 1,000
Timings: 7:30 am to 1 am
8. M. M. Khan Hotel
M. M. Khan might not be the fanciest place to eat Laal Maas in Jaipur, but they have been serving meat preparations for decades. I came here once early in the morning to try Nalli Nihari and they didn’t disappoint.
Non-vegetarians swear by M. M. Khan for tandoori items like roasted chicken and mutton kebab. Mutton Korma and Roasted Chicken are the most sold-out items, so it is worth coming here when trying full-course meals.
It is important to note that there are many restaurants with the same name, so you must enquire if you’re at the authentic branches of M. M. Khan Hotel or not.
Location: Ramganj Bazar
Cost for two: INR 800
Timings: 12 pm to 11 pm
9. Zoya at Fairmont Jaipur
Luxury hotels in Jaipur have exquisite versions of Laal Maas curated by the chefs who are top-notch at what they do. One such place to try this dish is Zoya at the Fairmont Hotel.
Famous for their fiery curry served in an earthen pot, the Laal Maas here is succulent with the right portion of ingredients as recorded in age-old secret recipes.
The cost of Laal Maas here is INR 1,275, while bread options like Naan and Tandoori cost INR 250 each.
Location: Fairmont Hotel at Kukas near Jaipur
Cost for two: INR 4,000
Timings: 7 am to 11 pm
10. Suvarna Mahal at Rambagh Palace
Suvarna Mahal came as an Instagram recommendation, as someone dropped a comment on my reel associated to laal maas. The restaurant is a part of the most exquisite Rambagh Palace and reeks of opulence in every corner. Laas Maas here costs INR 1,900 while the bread options cost INR 350 each.
Location: Rambagh Palace at Bhawani Singh Road
Cost for two: INR 8,500
Timings: 7 am to 11 pm
Final thoughts
Every restaurant in Jaipur has its own rendition of Laal Maas, so picking one place is tricky. I personally loved Niros for Laal Maas and Handi for Dry Junglee Maas. These are the two best mutton recipes I have tried in Jaipur. Interestingly, both these restaurants are located on MI Road. So, the next time I am in Jaipur, I will go to Handi for starters and Niros for main course!
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