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!
I’m a bit late on this thread, but Chicago may very well have the bragging rights in the USA where it comes to Pakistani food. I live in New York, and it pains me to say that there’s no good Pakistani food to be had here at all.
The reason: there are no Pakistani cooks left in New York. No joke. Most cooks at desi restaurants in New York are either Bangladeshi or…gasp…Mexican. Nothing against either of these communities, of course, but their just not Pakistani.
As a result all Pakistani fare in New York is about how much more masala one can add to the mix. Seekh Kebabs here are massive, often fatter than bratwursts but hollow inside of course. They bear no resemblance to the variety you get anywhere in Pakistan.
Chicago, on the other hand, does have Pakistani chefs and hence you get a thinner, less heavily spiced, more authentic seekh kebab. I assume the same is true for Houston & Toronto but I haven’t been to either.
Not sure if they are still open, but I recall Ghaseetah Khan was a good choice for late, late dining on Devon Ave.
In the San Francisco Bay Area I nominate, Shalimar (www.shalimarsf.com) , Mirch Cafe (This is in fremont, California).
In Kuala Lumpur there is a small dhaaba called Pakeeza off Federal Highway in Petaling Jaya - worth a shot. The Lahori chef there will cook things “desi style” if you ask him to and will even do paaya and nehari on request in advance. In Singapore, several Pakistani-owned joints masquerade as Indian joints (sorry, but ‘Pakistani food’ just doesn’t have the brand value). One that I like in particular is called Saffron in Clark Quay owned by a wonderful lady of Pakistani origin. The food is a bit fusion so the traditionalists among us may not like it. Incidentally, there is another Saffron in Kuala Lumpur, which has the best “Lahori-style,” home-cooked style desi food I have ever eaten overseas (the tarka yellow daal is to die for, the bhindi is fresh and crispy and the chappati is fresh off the tawa). It is owned and operated by another wonderful lady - from the Indian side Punjab.
HJ
Have you tasted Masala Dose in Saravana Bhavan or udupi restaurant in Atlanta
or South Indian tali in Swagath in NJ
Yes Tahoora’s gulab jamun’s and Sabri’s Nihari on Devon in Chicago are pretty good..,,however having spent 10 years in Illinois..I recently moved to Texas and …..If you want great Nihari try the Brain Nihari from Bar B Q Tonite in Carrollton, Texas. You’ll want to actually go and kiss the hands of the person who made it. Its out of this world. Also gulab jamuns and any other sweets from Royal Sweets in Carrollton texas are amazing also. Carrollton is a suburb of Dallas Texas. I was a fan of Tahoora’s falooda for the longest time..however the falooda and Dhoraji style gola ’s at Agha’s Juice in Carrollton are better than the original golas from dhoraji in karachi..mmmmmmm!!!!
Greetings from Chicago…. sorry to have missed you, Altamash….. just went to Tahoora and tried their kulfi and also their barfi…. to die for….. really, really good…..it was all I had heard of and more…..
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.
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.