Nominate: Best Pakistani Food Outside Pakistan

Posted on July 1, 2006
Filed Under >Adil Najam, Food, Pakistanis Abroad, Society
30 Comments
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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. AR Rafiq says:

    In the San Francisco Bay Area I nominate, Shalimar (www.shalimarsf.com) , Mirch Cafe (This is in fremont, California).

  2. HJ says:

    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

  3. ದೀರೇಂದೠsays:

    Have you tasted Masala Dose in Saravana Bhavan or udupi restaurant in Atlanta
    or South Indian tali in Swagath in NJ

  4. Nighat Loya says:

    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!!!!

  5. Adil Najam says:

    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…..

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