Nominate: Best Pakistani Food Outside Pakistan

Posted on July 1, 2006
Filed Under >Adil Najam, Food, Pakistanis Abroad, Society
30 Comments
Total Views: 64869

Adil Najam

Note: Updated post, with reader suggestions for Pakistani Restaurants, here.

I will be in Chicago next week. As a Pakistani in America, the first thought that comes to my mind when I think of Chicago, is Devon Avenue; or ‘Dewan Street’ to us desi types. How can you not be intrigued by a street one part of which is called Mohammed Ali Jinnah Way, another is called Gandhi Marg, and yet another is known as Golda Meier Boulevard! Notwithstanding the sociological and political nuances of the multi-ethnic immigrant community that lives and works in and around Devon Avenue, for me the real significance of Devon Street is the food. Good food. Some would say great food.

My friends in Chicago insist that the very best Pakistani food to be found outside of Pakistan is to be found at ‘Dewan Street’. Some swear by Sabri Nihari, others prefer Usmania. Of course, my friends in Houston disagree; at least one of them believes that La Sani deserves the title. Those from New York will just laugh it off and rant out their own long list, and Shaheen Food and Sweets will nearly always be on that list. On the West Coast of the US, you have Shahnawaz both in Los Angeles and in the Bay Area. Another common favourite is the inconspicuously titled Food Factory in the Washington DC area which is Afghani-Pakistani and serves great freshly baked naans.

But this is just in USA. Tokyo is rich in Pakistani restaurants, including the Gandhara and Toronto has its own ‘little Pakistan’ with a street full of authentic Pakistani eateries. London, I would not even hazard a guess on because of its amazingly rich culinary offerings. I remember having some of the best seikh kabab’s I have ever had in Copenhagen, great nihari in Cardiff, rass malai in Cape Town kulfi in Vienna and, yes, pullao in Brasilia.

I am guessing I have already offended many readers by either mentioning what they consider the wrong choice, or not mentioning what they would consider the right choice. After all, the only thing that Pakistanis get more passionate about than politics, is food. Except, we tend never to compromise on the latter.

In that very spirit, lets hear from you about where you think we can get the BEST PAKISTANI FOOD OUTSIDE OF PAKISTAN?

Tell ATP your favourite Pakistani restaurants outside of Pakistan. If you live outside Pakistan, what are the best Pakistani restaurants in your area?

Do send us your favourites and nominations and we will start compiling a list and maybe put it up for permanent display somewhere on ATP.

Readers in Pakistan, we apologize; with you we cannot even compete!

30 responses to “Nominate: Best Pakistani Food Outside Pakistan”

  1. Suleman says:

    Oh for gulub jamun I agree Tahura is great, great decor and cleansiness highly recommend in Chicagon on DEVON. ONly thing I recommend from Devon rest is hype.

  2. Suleman says:

    I believe I’ll have to agree with Tahir all the way. I’ve eaten in all desi places in the Northeast and then tried West coast. Shalimar chicken tikka wins hands down in San Francisco.

    If you like grill food that is the place to go, not the best decor, but GREAT food.

    Boston blows in desi food, and NJ/NYC is hyped more then the food quality. Indeed Kebab king used to be good, but nothing compared to Shalimar, more lasted on Kebab King is their cook ran away so the quality is no longer there.

    As for Chicago, for Nihari Sabri is ok, but for grilled cooked I won’t recommend Sabri at all like I said most of these places have hype, but not great taste. I haven’t tried Usmania, as Altmatash said, but tried a few others on Devon and although they do a good job in using the same names back home, but their quality stinks. Sorry.

    As for DC food factory used to be good like 12 years ago now, it is just another joint. Ravi Kebab in VA had great chicken karahi , but it varies nowadays depending on the cook.

    In Summary, Shalimar in San Francisco wins hands down ! NJ sucks with no real desi food, (and NOOOOOOOO indian food is not Paki food ), Boston really sucks further with all paki community no Paki can put a good kebab joint, Maharaja won’t qualify for me. Sorry. NYC Kebab King is not up to par, there is one I haven’t tried in Jackson Heights I hear which has true desi machi (fish) which is Roti Boti in their new locaton not too far from Kebab King.

  3. Phil says:

    Anyone tried the ‘The Pakistani Cusine’ on 9th Ave. Manhattan? I think it comes second to Food Factory in DC.

  4. Franz says:

    Who needs Zagat when there’s the Najam Rating? I’ll be in the windy city as well…Tuesday I think. I’ll stop in at one of these on Devon. Madison has Chautara on State St (Nepali not Pakistani…but I probably wouldn’t know the difference..) Playing the strange social recluse in the corner of a pizza place during the lunch rush right now, chapters of Civic Entrepreneurship spread around. If you find yourself without sufficient means of amusement in chicago, I’ll be checking my email..

  5. Omsan says:

    There was a verz good Pakistani resturaunt in Singapore when I last visited…. I think it was called Shalimar, but not sure….

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*