Biriyani crowned undisputed king of India’s food choices in 2024: Swiggy

Biriyani retained its position as the most popular dish in India for the ninth consecutive year, as revealed by data from Swiggy, one of the nation’s leading food delivery platforms. With 83 million orders of the dish placed between January and November 2024, biriyani remained the preferred choice, averaging 158 plates per minute or nearly two plates every second. The second-most ordered item was dosa, with 23 million orders during the same period.

Dinner emerged as the most active meal time, accounting for 215 million orders, reflecting a 29% increase over lunch orders. Bengaluru showcased its penchant for unique food experiences, with a notable diner spending ₹49,900 on pasta and another racking up a ₹3 lakh bill at a single restaurant.

Snacks also saw significant demand, led by chicken rolls with 2.48 million orders. Midnight cravings were dominated by chicken burgers, with 1.84 million orders placed between midnight and 2 AM. Among extraordinary individual orders, a Delhi resident stood out by ordering 250 onion pizzas in a single transaction.

Swiggy's 10-minute delivery service, Bolt, emerged as a standout feature, with Bengaluru setting a record of 19,177 Bolt orders in a single day on October 20. The platform’s delivery partners travelled an impressive 1.96 billion kilometres in 2024, equivalent to traversing the length of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari over 533,000 times. Mumbai's Kapil Kumar Pandey led the delivery effort with 10,703 orders, while Coimbatore's Kaleeswari M topped among female partners with 6,658 orders.

In addition to food deliveries, Swiggy Dineout contributed to significant savings for diners, helping 22 million users save ₹533 crore in 2024. Delhi led the way in savings, while Bengaluru dominated in nightlife and romantic outings, recording nearly 2,89,000 alcohol transactions and 4,86,000 romantic bookings.

With its delivery partners clocking unparalleled distances and innovations like Bolt reshaping dining habits, 2024 marked a milestone year for Swiggy in redefining food delivery and dining experiences across India.