The Eagle
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Mesh of shredded beef or chicken, masoor ki daal maash ki daal channay ki daal and yet, you end up with kamaal ki daal, garnished with golden-brown onions, green chillis, ginger and a little squeeze of lemon… mamamia! Need I say more?
Wallet woes: 130 rupees per plate
Nageena Burger: F-10
Doing justice to the age-old anda shaami, the Nageena Burger has been Islamabadis’ go-to spot for a desi burger fix over the years. Soft hot dog bun enveloping crisp lettuce, a few tomatoes, onions and a fluffy fried egg to top it off; you can easily devour more than one in a single sitting. As per tradition, the treat isn’t ready until they press against it while it simmers in oil and all the condiments really just hug it out. Add hunter beef and cheese to the mix and you’re good to go.
Wallet woes: 90 rupees
Afghani fries: Pan shop in Jinnah Market
Source: Karachista
This criss-crossed, half limp-half crispy, deep-fried potato indulgence is an absolute delight. Emerged as an Afghani specialty over the years, no trip to Jinnah market is complete without munching on these bad boys. You can go basic with just a pinch of salt, overdose on chaat masala or ask for the special chili chutney that would knock your acid influx right out of the park but hey, it’s totally worth it.
Wallet woes: 20-50 rupees
Aaloo/Qeemay wala naan: Madina Market
Many would agree that if you haven’t had the roghni naan from Madina Market, you haven’t lived. The place is flocked at lunch hours with men in loose office ties and students from the nearby law-schools or Bahria university and the like. An added bonus is the immaculate hygiene: The ‘naan-handlers’ are seen wearing plastic gloves and the tandoor-walas are at it with clean shalwar kamizes and beaming faces. Aaloo, qeema, chicken, cheese, vegetable stuffing or basic roghni naan with a dash of sesame seeds and oil smeared on top before wrapping it in high-quality plastic bags – guaranteed to do a little mambo in your mouth.
Wallet woes: 20 rupees/regular roghni naan
Red velvet cupcake – Funky Bake
Both these cupcakes deserve a Michelin star. Soft, gooey sponge whereby rests light and fluffy cream cheese, not suitable for the ones watching their waist but definitely a part of many cheat meals. Enjoy your personal favorite with a hot cup of coffee or chai because ab nehi tou kub?
Wallet woes:180 vs. 150 rupees
Kulfi: Jamil Sweets, F-10
A true Islamabadi would instantly think of Jamil Sweets on the slightest mention of kulfi (or gulab jamun, or ras malai et al). Starting off from a small roadside vendor in Blue Area, Jamil sweets has really kicked off business by opening another branch in F-10. This place is what dreams are made of, one sugar-overdose at a time. You can find homemade sweet-meats under one roof but the kulfi tastes like little drops of heaven. Perfect pick-me-up for days when amma makes you have aaloo gobi for dinner and you’d rather not let your night have such a morose ending.
Wallet woes: 80 rupees/single serving
Mama’s ice-cream: D Watson
Scoops of fresh, homemade creamy ice-cream, abundant with chunks of Kit Kat, Toblerone, Twix, Oreo or M n M’s in your choice of base flavor – chocolate or vanilla.
Wallet woes: 70 rupees/single scoop
Challi / Satta / Butta: Roadside reerhis, literally, everywhere
Source: Pinterest
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s gift to Islamabad, the pathan reerhi-walas are seen in every nook and corner of the city, with their wide range of challi, daanas, channas, moom phallis and whatnot. An after-school special for uniform clad kids and your very own favorite afternoon snack. Throw in bits and pieces of botched-up pashtu and you sometimes even get them for free, thanks to our incredibly generous pathan-bhais.
Wallet woes: 20-50 rupees
Chicken corn soup/lemon-soda: Gol Market
A foodie’s wet dream, Gol Market is the hub for gastronomic pleasures. Inexpensive prices coupled with a shopping experience that dates back to the very foundation years of the city. There used to be a time when the Gol Market attracted the crème de la crème for shopping, weekends were incomplete without a drive-through Jinnah market with your music blasting on full volume and windows rolled down. Whilst you can still travel back in time to the market’s glory days every chaand raat, the crowds have thinned marginally. Having said that, it’s almost a sin to not have lemon-soda on a warm summer night or a hot Styrofoam cup load of chicken corn soup.
Wallet woes: 60-120 rupees
Don’t you hate bin bulaye mehmaan gracing you with their unannounced presence every now and then? Especially on days when you’d rather just change from your night-pajamas to your day-pajamas, while marathoning FRIENDS for the umpteenth time. The only silver lining to these series of unfortunate events is that there will be samosas. And not just any samosas, the samosas from Siddique’s! The shaan of Rana Market, samosas, jalebis and namak paray from this fine establishment is a shaam ki chai ke saathi.
You can also fancy yourself a halva poori and channa breakfast, a Sunday staple for many.
Wallet woes: 20 rupees
Falsa juice: Qureshi’s meat shop, Kohsar market
Source: Tossdown
Albeit seasonal, the iconic falsa juice at Kohsar market makes the cut for a damn good refreshing drink well within our budget. Qureshi meat shop might take the cake for some mean chargrilled beef steaks, tenderloin, filet mignon, T-bone, ribeye, the jewels of any self-respecting porterhouse but this falsa juice could just as well be the cake-topper. Go on, drink the blood of your enemies with some kaala namak, if you will.
Wallet woes: 170 rupees
Lemonade: Hotspot
Lemonade: Hotspot
Source: Photobucket
The love affair with Hotspot might just be one-sided but it’s been consistently booming for over a decade, now. You don’t know whether you love the quirky, quick-witted posters or the brownies that taste the same as they did ten years ago or just, sitting there and taking it all in. Bustling with teenagers and families alike, Hotspot is the perfect mix of the young and the old. Unfortunately, while most of dessert bar is a bit pricey, the lemonade, regular or assorted works quite well while you take a nice, long drag over interesting conversations or comfortable silences.
Wallet woes: 110 -160 rupees
Lassi: Punjab Milk Shop, F-10
Source: Dawn
Sweet or salty, yogurt-based drink passed down from generations; fresh, whole-milk produce, Punjab Milk Shop is definitely worth stopping by on your routine anday-doodh-dabalroti runs or sometimes, just because.
Wallet woes: 50 rupees
And if all else fails, you always have
@Wallet woes: 180 rupees
Health woes: Priceless
http://www.mangobaaz.com/get-around-islamabad-250-rupees/
They forgot Muhammadi Nihari and Punjab Samosa centre G 9
@The Eagle @Moonlight @Jonah Arthur @User @Chauvinist @django @The Sandman
Fried fish from Melody,krahai from Muhammadi,shwarma from I 8 markaz,chaat from Karachi company,ice cream from F 10
During last tour, I have been to Savor and trust me when we paid, I was like we just lost our money somewhere. One the way while leaving, I met Manager/Admin/whosoever he was and told him that in Karachi, Polao on a Dhaba is better than this one.
Kulfi was great almost where I found I enjoyed it. Also had Pizza at Saddar which was I think Tehzeeb and their Ice Cream as well.
If you talk about BBQ & Daleem then you know how Karachi tastes.
