I don’t know about you but whenever we are travelling to somewhere new, I always find myself Googling the must-try foods for that destination.
Albeit when you think of Pakistan the first thing that comes to mind is the incredible culture and history. But justly so, Pakistani food is right, right up there and deserving of Mughal-era worthy appreciation and seeking out to taste on your trip…
From the renowned Burns Road to the famous restaurants overlooking Badshahi Mosque and the mouth-watering street foods, there is Karahi, Biryani, Nihari and more.
We love the small Dhaba local eateries that come so highly recommended by locals and the beautifully presented classic Pakistani food dishes of restaurants in the big cities too.
Here are 20 delicious reasons to visit Pakistan, the most famous Pakistani foods to try and a very enthusiastic recommendation for where to find them.
About Pakistani food and cuisine
Pakistani food is rich, packed full of spice, generous with ghee, and unbelievably tasty.
The style of Pakistani cuisine can be characterized as a blend of regional cooking styles and flavours from across South, Central and West Asia.
Here are 20 famous Pakistani foods to try in Pakistan.
1. Paya
Paya literally translates to leg or feet in Urdu. It is essentially a soup-like stew made by simmering the trotters (hooves) of a cow, goat, buffalo, or sheep, cooked with various spices until they become tender.
Typically, Paya is a Pakistani food that is popular in the winter.
Though any walk through the old Walled City of Lahore or the food streets of Karachi and you can guarantee you’ll see huge pots of Paya bubbling at most times of year.
2. Chicken Karahi
Karahi is a tomato and ginger based, thick masala curry which is thought to originate from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.
Most Pakistani karahi recipes start with tomatoes, onions, and some type of animal fat. It’s that tomato broth that gives each Karahi its famous flavour.
Most of the time Karahi is made with chicken. It is known as Gosht Karahi when prepared with goat or lamb meat instead.
3. Chicken Handi
Chicken Handi is a popular Pakistani food on the menu in most restaurants around the country. It is usually made with tender, boneless chicken in a spicy gravy curry made with onions, tomato and yoghurt. Oh! And it is served topped with cream!
The term ‘Handi’ refers to the traditional vessel the curry is prepared in and is typically a cooking pot made of clay. Thus, Handi is the cooking style of the dish.
- Tip: Handi has more gravy than Karahi and is usually served in the clay pot it is cooked in.
4. Chicken Mandi
Just to complicate things even more, there is another similar sounding Pakistani food that you need to try on your travels.
Mandi is a Pakistani dish of spiced rice and meat. It is typically made with chicken that has been boiled with spices and cooked in a tandoor.
The meat is cooked separately from the rice (differing from Biryani where the meat is cooked along with the rice). We had the most delicious chicken Handi and Mandi at Spice Bazar in Lahore!
- Read about things to do in Lahore and where to eat.
4. Biryani
Biryani is a very popular and famous Pakistan food. It has many varieties, such as Lahori biryani and Sindhi biryani. There is somewhat of a rivalry between the cities for who produces the best Biryani in Pakistan!
It is thought to have developed in the royal kitchens of the 16th-19th century Mughal Empire as a traditional dish served on special occasions.
Biriyani can often look like a dish of Pulao (listed next), but the two are in fact quite different.
It can be made with lamb or beef, but chicken biryani is boasted as a famous Pakistani food dish.
- Read about taking the overnight train from Islamabad to Karachi.
5. Kabuli Pulao
Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, lies just a few hours from the KP Province on the North-Western border of Pakistan. So, it makes sense that some of the most famous Pakistani foods have influence from their neighbours.
The core ingredients of Kabuli Pulao in Pakistan are steamed rice mixed with marinated lamb meat, caramelized carrots and dry raisins.
- Tip: The best Kabuli Pulao (and a whole lot of other delicious Afghan specialities) is hands down at Kabul Restaurant in F-7 Islamabad.
6. Tikka Kebab – Pakistani food to try
Tikka is a type of kebab that is popular throughout South Asia. The main thing being that tikka uses larger chunks of marinated meat (as opposed to other kebab styles where the meat is minced before being cooked).
The term “Tikka” translates to a piece or chunk.
In Pakistan, Tikka meat for kebab is marinated first in spices and yoghurt.
- Tip: The best kebabs (all types) we have tried in Pakistan is at Kabul Restaurant in Islamabad and Haveli Restaurant overlooking Badshahi Mosque in Lahore.
7. Chapli Kebab
Chapli is the most served type of kebab in Pakistan. It is sometimes known as “Peshawari Kebab” originating from Peshawar in Pakistan.
It is made from ground beef, mutton or chicken with various spices in the shape of a patty and is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Delish!
8. Halwa Puri
Halwa is essentially a semolina pudding. It is a common sweet dessert in South Asia. But ‘Halwa Puri’ is a famous Pakistani food usually served for breakfast.
I admit, it is confusing hearing what is typically a dessert passed off as a breakfast dish. However, for breakfast, Halwa Puri is served as a platter that consists of puris (fried bread), chole masala (chickpeas), aloo ki bhujia (spicy potato curry) and Halwa. Altogether, it just makes sense!
It is particularly common in Lahore and Multan, though there are many varieties of Halwa Puri within Pakistan. We tried delicious Halwa at our hotel in Multan!
- Read about things to do in Multan.
9. Nihari – Pakistani food to try
Nihari is proudly touted as a national dish and claim-to-fame Pakistani food. (And rightly so!). It is a rich, slow-cooked meat stew flavoured with spices and thickened with atta (whole wheat flour).
It is typically made with beef, lamb, mutton or goat meat and served with the bone marrow. Though chicken is common too and likely to be the meat of choice if you are lucky enough to be served Nihari in someone’s home.
10. Haleem
Haleem is a type of stew. It is widely consumed in South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia. Though it is a Pakistani food that has become so famous in Pakistan it is canned and sold as an export!
It is served as a paste-like stew composing of meat (mutton, beef or chicken), pounded wheat, lentils, ghee and spices. In this way it differs from Nihari which isn’t particularly thick. Haleem has a thick, porridge-like stew consistency.
The word ‘Haleem’ translates to patient in Arabic and has a long-standing history as a South Asian and Pakistani food that can be traced back to the 10th century.
- Tip: Try Karachi Haleem in Burns Road, Karachi. This was the first business to tin and export Haleem from Pakistan to the world!
11. Roghni Naan
Roghni Naan is a traditional flatbread from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
It is softer, thicker, and richer than plain naan with a beautiful golden shine on it (thanks, Ghee). The extra oil added to the dough gives Roghni Naan a softer and more pillow-like texture. Though it is served covered with sesame seeds which add more texture again and further flavour to it.
- Tip: The best Roghni Naan (ever!) is from the famous generations-old Naan wala opposite Wazir Khan Mosque in the Walled City of Lahore.
12. Pakistani Paratha
Paratha is a flaky, layered flatbread made from whole wheat flour and ghee, often stuffed and pan-fried. Where Naan, on the other hand, is a soft, leavened bread traditionally baked in a tandoor oven, Paratha is like a deliciously fried version!
Sometimes paratha in Pakistan is served stuffed with a filling of vegetables, eggs or meat inside the layered dough.
- Tip: I still don’t understand exactly how traditional this (very) now-famous Pakistani food is; but be sure to try the Cheese Paratha at Quetta Chai in Islamabad!
13. Pakistani Chai
Pakistan is one of the world’s largest consumers of tea, consuming more than 200,000 tons of dried tea annually!
The Chai (tea) in Pakistan is similar to that of South Asia and especially India. Though there are several varieties of Chai in Pakistan.
In Karachi, Elaichi Chai (cardamom tea) is popular. While in Punjab, Pakistani’s drink Doodh Pati Chai which is a very thick and milky sweet tea.
- Read about a day trip from Karachi to Thatta and Makli.
14. Hareesa – Pakistani food to try
Hareesa is a cherished wintertime Pakistani food. (Although it is good to try at any time!).
It is a slow-cooked porridge-like stew made from a harmonious blend of meat, wheat, and spices and glazed with ghee.
It is often eaten for Iftar in Pakistan at the breaking of fast during Ramadan and very much like the Harissa in Morocco!
We found seriously tasty Hareesa from the Gawalmandi area of Lahore at a generations-old Hareesa shop established before the partition.
- Tip: Try the famous Amritsari/Lahori Hareesa in Nisbat Road in Lahore.
15. Nankhatai
These are shortbread-like biscuits that are a popular Pakistani tea accompaniment.
The name Nankhatai comes from the Persian words naan (bread) and khatai (biscuit).
These biscuits are sold everywhere in the markets, bakery chains and small vendor-bakeries so it is likely you won’t leave Pakistan without trying these at some stage.
16. Jalebi
Jalebi is somewhat like a jazzed-up and sweetened pretzel. It is a festive Pakistani food eaten and made during celebratory times, and especially during the month of Ramazan.
The dough of Jalebi is made from a flour paste and deep fried in a large pot of hot oil in spiral shapes before being soaked in sugar syrup.
17. Sugarcane Juice
The chances are you might have already tried sugarcane juice on your travels. However, most often it is served in Pakistan with a bit of a salty twist…
The common way to drink refresing sugarcane juice – especially in the summer in Pakistan – is with salt. It is meant to aid electrolyte balance in the body. But (sorry, Paksitan) it is not my fave!
We reckon the best sugarcane juice in Pakistan is with a squeeze of fresh lime.
- Tip: There is a permanent sugarcane juice stall in Kotwali Chowk in the Walled City of Lahore.
18. Lassi
Lassi is yogurt-based drink and can come in a variety of flavours. But because Pakistan is famous for its mangoes, the chances are you will try mango lassi in the summer season.
There’s nothing quite as refreshing as a cold mango lassi on a hot day!
Somewhat of an ode to Pakistani food?
It’s fair to say we are huge fans of the incredibly diverse and delicious Pakistani cuisine.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about these famous Pakistani foods as much as we have enjoyed discovering, and then devouring, each and every one of them!
- Read our complete guide to travel in Pakistan.
Restaurants and cafes in Lahore to try Pakistani food
Here are our recommendations for where to eat in Lahore.
- Spice Bazaar: Our favourite Pakistani restaurant in Lahore with beautiful ambience, great service, delicious dishes and top-notch desserts.
- Haveli Restaurant: Directly opposite Badshahi Mosque, this is the most famous restaurant in Lahore and serves delicious Pakistani BBQ and traditional cuisine.
- Savour Foods: This is Pakistan’s most popular fast food style chain restaurant with the largest and original store in Lahore. We love the crunchy chicken burgers though locals will be mad offended if you don’t go for the famous rice!
- Amritsari Hareesa: This is a regional food of Pakistan most famous in Hareesa street of Lahore.
- Chaman’s Ice-Cream: Debatably the most famous ice cream in Lahore’s historic Mall Road.
Restaurants and cafes to try Pakistani food in Islamabad
These are our favourite places to eat Pakistan food (and Afghani) in Islamabad.
- Kabul Restaurant: A great lunch choice in Islamabad with BBQ meats and delicious Afghani style rice dishes and salad. Highly recommend!
- Quetta Chai: This is a bustling and lively simple outdoor restaurant in the evening. Be sure to try the cheese paratha and say hi to Freddy at Freddy’s Book Stall!
- Savour Foods: This is a popular fast-food chain of restaurants in Pakistan. Our favourite is in Lahore, but Savour Foods Islamabad is reliably consistent.
- Quetta Tea & Taste: A great place for chai in F-10 district that despite humble appearances during the daytime comes vibrantly alive in the evening.
Restaurants and cafes to try Pakistani food in Karachi
Burns Road and Do Darya are two of the most famous eat-streets and districts to find the tastiest food in Karachi. But within each of those spots are some renowned restaurants and cafes in Karachi you will need to add to your itinerary for Pakistan!
- Café Bogie: A converted train café with particularly delicious chai.
- New Delhi Javed Restaurant: In Gulberg town, this is an amazing stop for Nihari in Karachi.
- Fresco Bakers: Delicious Arabian paratha and halwa puri on Burns Road.
- Charcoal: Delicious food on the Do Darya waterfront.
- Sabir Nihari: This is the most famous (and one of the oldest) Nihari restaurant in Karachi.
Tips for Pakistani food customs as a traveller
- Eat with your right hand. It is considered polite to eat only with the right hand, as per Islamic traditions.
- Sit on the floor to eat. Many Pakistani families, particularly when guests are too many to fit at a table, will eat sitting at a cloth known as Dastarkhan, which is spread out on the floor.
- Take care with food hygiene. Eat at places with high turnover (eat where the locals do). Make sure to practice good hygiene and carry sanitiser with you.
- Carry cash. Pakistan operates as largely cash-based society away from the modern malls and larger restaurants. It is worth carrying small change and street food and Dhaba eateries.
Read more about travel in Pakistan
- 15 Things to do in Multan.
- 10 Things to do in Islamabad.
- Day Trip from Islamabad to Murree.
- 8 Things to do in Islamabad with kids.
- Day Trip from Islamabad to Taxila.
- Crossing the border from Pakistan to India.
- 7-, 10- or 12-day Pakistan Itinerary.
- 10 Day Punjab India and Pakistan Itinerary.
More about travel planning for Pakistan and beyond
These are the companies we use and can recommend for planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before visiting Pakistan!
