Mumbai’s Biryani King, Jaffer Bhai Mansuri Dies at 83

A blow towards Biryani Lovers, Jaffer Bhai of Delhi Darbar passes away.

The legendary King of Mumbai’s Biryani, Jaffer Bhai of Delhi Darbar died of cardiac arrest on Thursday.

2020 is just a gift that keeps on giving. In these days of bad news, here comes another one.

Originally from Ahmedabad, the Biryani King was not keeping well from the past one month and hence was kept on a ventilator at Breach Candy Hospital. He had Covid-19 symptoms. He was laid to rest in Bada Kabrastan in Marine Lines.

This news comes as a shock to Mumbaikars as Jaffer Bhai’s Delhi Darbar is a haven for Mughlai lovers and an important part of our cuisine.

From Chicken Tangdi Kebabs to Raan Sikandari. From mouthwatering Biryanis to his signature Daal Ghost, this place had it all.

Jaffer Bhai was a visionary and he brought with him the flavours of North Indian and Middle East. He curated them to the taste palate of Indians and succeeded in making them fall in love with it.

With its Branches reaching from Dongri to Dubai, Delhi Darbar has come a long way.

Started as a small outlet off the road from  Islampura, today it boasts of a range of branches and outlets. Separating from his brother and slogging for 20hrs a day, the man mastered Mughlai Science and reached where he is today.

But the show must go on and Biyani King Jaffer Bhai is survived by his children. When the children grew up and took over their father’s business, they helped take the business to new heights.

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Jaffer Bhai was one of the founding members of the AHAR.

Shivananad Shetty, president of Association of Hotel and Restaurant, said that Delhi Darbar was one of the earliest attempts at brand building.

“From a small restaurant in Grant Road, Jaffer Bhai managed to build an empire of restaurants and food delivery joints across the city all the way to Navi Mumbai,” said renowned food critic Kurush Dalal.

“He loved cooking and up until very recently, he would be fiddling in the kitchen and making magic happen. I wish the family all the luck in taking his legacy to greater heights”

Close Friend and well wisher, Qasim Imam said that in his death, Mumbai has lost one of its last repositories of adab and tehzeeb. 

His close friends remember Jaffer Bhai as a very humble man despite his success. He would always invite anyone to his table to eat and break bread with him.

A lover of music and poetry, he not only attended Ghazals and Mussiarahs but also hosted a number of international artists such as Ahmed Faraz from Pakistan.

A big hearted man, he would always help be ready to help someone out of a fix. Be it with money or food.