Famous Food Outlets of Cities in Pakistan

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Karachi

Maraheb's winter menu will satisfy all your seafood cravings

SONIA ASHRAF

Here are our top five picks from the restaurant's seasonal menu.

With Karachi being ever so cold (seriously, it's really cold), the restaurant has a delicious winter menu that is all things seafood.

Maraheb won our hearts from the first time we entered its doors.

The place had opened up much after the trend of mandi restaurants had slowed down but it became one of our favourites for its flavourful rice and tender meat.

With Karachi being ever so cold (seriously, it's really cold), the restaurant has a delicious winter menu that is all things seafood.

We tried it out, these are our top picks:

1) Fried Fish and Batata

If we're being honest, when the fried fish came to our table, it looked pretty basic. However, the fish itself was so tender and perfectly cooked, it easily beat a number of cafes that serve up the simple fish & chips. Also, Maraheb's batata were a great substitute for fries!

2) Prawn Madhbi

Grilled prawns served on a bed of Maraheb's batata, this dish is one we went back for.

We were concerned that the seasoning on the prawns might resemble BBQ prawns but it had a distinct taste of its own and complimented the flavour of the protein well.

3) Fish Madhbi

The fish madhi had the same marinade as the prawn variety and we just want to say, we're highly impressed by the seafood quality at the eatery. The fish is just as tender grilled as it was fried and while the seasoning of the madhbi is strong, we could still taste the ocean-y freshness.

Maraheb served us their fragrant Yemini rice with the dish and while we liked it, we'd prefer this with batatas.

4) Prawn Fasah

Maraheb's dish Saltah Fahsa features melt in your mouth red meat. This is the seafood variant which substitutes the meat with prawn. The dish tastes very similar to the original with a slight change in texture since there is no meat blended in the curry.

The fahsa was served with muluawa bread like before and we thoroughly enjoyed our serving.

5) Yemeni Karahi Fish with Rice

If you want to enjoy Maraheb's winter treats but miss their fragrant rice, they got you covered. The Yemeni karahi fish has a slightly desi flavour which we don't mind and goes well with the rice you love getting extras of when enjoying their mandi.

 

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Lahore, Punjab

Lahore is located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, and it’s where my trip to Pakistan began.

Step outside and you’ll immediately realize it’s a vibrant, energetic, late-night, history packed city, where tasty Pakistani food is everywhere you look. If there’s one city to choose in this Pakistan travel guide, Lahore to me, had the most well rounded of everything – food, culture, history, and significance.

INGREDIENTS FOR CHANA CHAAT
Street food snacks

A few of the best areas in Lahore to find street food are Gawalmandi, Lakshmi Chowk, Shah Alami, and everywhere in the Walled City.

Chana chaat is a chickpea mixture snack, and as we drove past on a rickshaw, I knew it was a place we need to stop. In moments, he whipped up chickpeas and potatoes, masala powder, and about 4 different chutneys and yogurts. It was incredibly refreshing, the spices blending with the sourness of the yogurt and creaminess of the chickpeas.

Chana Chaat

Address: Located outside Thai Centre in Shah Alami, he’s been selling there for 40 years.
Open hours: daytime
Price: 120 PKR ($0.90) per plate

MUTTON KARAHI IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN
Butt Karahi

Butt Karahi Tikka is an institution of a restaurant in Lahore, known as it states in their name, for their karahi’s. Karahi is the name for the rounded metal pan, which is used to cook meat and curry spices, smothered in desi ghee, and brewed into a succulent curry.

Chicken was fresh and delicious, but everyone I was eating with (including myself) thought the mutton karahi was the best.

Address: 17 Temple Road, Safanwala Chowk, Mazang, Lahore, Punjab 54000، Mazang, Lahore, Punjab

Open hours: 11 am – 3 am daily
Prices: We paid 5,600 PKR ($41.86) for 2 large karahis and drinks for about 6 of us

SIDDIQUE FISH CORNER

Siddique Fish Corner

Specializing in only fish, Siddique Fish Corner gives each fillet a nice rub in spices, including plenty of coriander seed and turmeric, and then deep fries it in pure mustard oil. The freshwater fish is fragrant, greasy, and delightful.

Address: Allama Iqbal Rd, Garhi Shahu, Lahore,

Open hours: 12 noon – 2 am daily
Prices: 400 PKR ($2.99) for a portion

 

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Yummy!

 

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Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Mardan, a city in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Mardan is the second largest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and kebabs – and we are talking about the King of all Pakistani kebabs.

MELT IN YOUR MOUTH DELICIOUSNESS

Chapli kebabs

Now of all the food within this Pakistan travel guide , probably the single food that made jaw drop, and made cry tears of meat-overjoy, is the chapli kebab.

Set aside all health concerns, close your eyes and imagine minced buffalo with a high ratio of fat, mixed with onions, tomatoes, chilies, ginger, citrus juice, slices of bone marrow, all mixed and formed into a patty and fried in its own liquid fat.

Pakistani chapli kebabs are one of the greatest forms of meat I’ve ever had.

Rambail Chapli Kabab House

Address: Peshawar-Rawalpindi Rd, Tarnab, Peshawar, Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Open hours: 10:30 am – 9 pm daily

 

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Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Peshawar, which is the largest city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and quite close to the border of Afghanistan.

A city of immense history, unique culture, and some of the most meaty delicious food you’ll find in Pakistan,

VIEW OF PESHAWAR,


Mahabat Khan Mosque

The white marble Mahabat Khan Mosque was built in the 17th century during the Mughal empire. It’s one of the most picturesque landmarks and sights of Peshawar, and it was very cool to visit.

PESHAWARI PAYE

Peshawari paye

Paye (or paya), a stew of trotters (this time cow feet), served along with actual meat, the stew, and a good spoon of red infused oil (or desi ghee)?

Cooked in a clay pot, and turned on its side to serve, this was one of the most oily meaty and delicious dishes of my trip to Pakistan. You actually need thick bread to eat it, so you can absorb as much greasy oil as possible.


Brains masala in Peshawar was also a highlight.

TEA CULTURE IN PESHAWAR

Green tea

Tea, and not the milky sweet tea you typically associate with the Indian subcontinent, but rather green tea, is a common drink on the streets of Peshawar. And in-fact, dating back to the ancient silk road, when traders would pass through Peshawar, they would drink tea to chat and discuss and trade.

You can’t miss green tea, brewed with cardamom, when you’re in Peshawar.

ONE OF THE BEST JUICES

Pomegranate juice

Another beverage that blew away is pomegranate juice, squeezed right there, with nothing added. One of the best single cups of fresh juice, perfectly sour, sweet, and fresh.

 

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Hunza Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan

Hunza Valley is one of the most, if not the most, spectacular natural destination.

Driving there you see incredibly scenery and you actually don’t think your eyes could possibly see anything more spectacular… and then you arrive to Hunza Valley.

Jagged snowy mountains, green and yellow lush valley’s, and contrast of landscapes are truly heavenly.

Hotel in Hunza Valley – Hunza Serena Inn. The views from the mountain lodge were spectacular, and cozy clean rooms.

HUNZA FOOD PAVILION, NEXT TO BALTIT FORT

Chapshurro

In Hunza Valley, and along the highway to get there, you’ll start to find chapshurro, which is a specialty of the region. It’s kind of basic, rounds of dough flattened out and stuffed with a minced meat spiced mixture, and either fried dry or with apricot and walnut oil.

You’ll find a variety of meat as well, and try yak, chicken, and beef.

TRADITIONAL FOOD IN HUNZA VALLEY

Long-life Hunza Valley food

In Hunza Valley, especially traditionally, people are known to have a high life expectancy – could be the mountain fresh air, a less stressful life, and definitely partly because of the food

 

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looks like author copy pasted from mark wiens video/blog