Pulao (a.k.a. Pilaf), is also a rice dish that can be found in similar regions of the world as Biryani. While there's some debate as to the difference between Biryani and Pulao, the latter tends to have less meat and veggies relative to the rice, which means it's usually served as a side rather than an entree. The second big difference is that Biryani is generally layered and steamed, which creates a wonderful variation in flavor, texture, and color when mixed together.