Food & Drink
Pakistani Food & Street Food
Iconic Pakistani dishes from hearty mains to beloved street snacks and desserts. Perfect for 'this or that' matchups: Biryani vs Pulao, Nihari vs Haleem, Samosa vs Gol Gappay.
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Dish↕ | Type↕ | Region / Origin↕ | Spice Level↕ | Vegetarian↕ | Best City For It↕ | Description↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biryani | Main | Sindh / Hyderabad | Hot | No | Karachi | Layered spiced rice with marinated meat, saffron, and fried onions -- Pakistan's national dish debate starter |
| Nihari | Main | Mughal / Delhi-origin | Hot | No | Lahore | Slow-cooked beef or lamb stew in rich spiced gravy, served with naan at dawn |
| Haleem | Main | Hyderabad / Mughal | Medium | No | Karachi | Thick lentil and shredded meat stew, slow-cooked for hours, topped with ginger and fried onions |
| Pulao | Main | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa / Central Asia | Mild | No | Peshawar | Fragrant rice cooked in meat broth with whole spices, simpler and more aromatic than biryani |
| Sajji | Main | Balochistan | Mild | No | Quetta | Whole marinated lamb or chicken roasted on skewers over open fire, Balochi specialty |
| Chapli Kebab | Main | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Hot | No | Peshawar | Flat spiced minced meat patties with pomegranate seeds and tomatoes, fried crispy |
| Seekh Kebab | Main | Punjab / Mughal | Medium | No | Lahore | Minced meat shaped on skewers and grilled over charcoal, smoky and juicy |
| Paya | Main | Punjab / Mughal | Hot | No | Lahore | Slow-cooked trotters in thick spiced curry, traditional breakfast dish with naan |
| Karahi | Main | Punjab / KPK | Hot | No | Lahore | Meat cooked in a wok with tomatoes, green chilies, and ginger -- the ultimate desi stir-fry |
| Daal Chawal | Main | All Pakistan | Mild | Yes | Everywhere | Lentil curry over steamed rice with pickle and fried onions -- the everyday comfort food |
| Korma | Main | Mughal / Punjab | Medium | No | Lahore | Rich, creamy meat curry with yogurt and nut-based gravy, wedding feast staple |
| Chaat | Street | All Pakistan | Medium | Yes | Lahore | Tangy chickpea and potato mix with yogurt, tamarind chutney, and crunchy toppings |
| Gol Gappay | Street | Punjab / All Pakistan | Medium | Yes | Lahore | Crispy hollow puri balls filled with spiced water, chickpeas, and potato -- addictive street snack |
| Samosa | Street | Central Asia / All Pakistan | Medium | Yes | Lahore | Crispy triangular pastry stuffed with spiced potatoes and peas, the ultimate tea-time snack |
| Bun Kebab | Street | Karachi / Sindh | Medium | No | Karachi | Pakistan's original burger: spiced lentil or meat patty in a bun with chutney |
| Paratha | Main | Punjab | Mild | Yes | Lahore | Flaky layered flatbread fried in ghee, served with yogurt, pickle, and chai |
| Naan | Main | All Pakistan | Mild | Yes | Everywhere | Tandoor-baked leavened bread, the essential accompaniment to every Pakistani meal |
| Tikka Boti | Main | Punjab / KPK | Medium | No | Lahore | Marinated boneless meat cubes grilled on skewers over charcoal, tender and smoky |
| Chicken Tikka | Main | Punjab | Medium | No | Lahore | Yogurt-marinated chicken pieces grilled in tandoor, smoky and slightly charred |
| Lassi | Drink | Punjab | Mild | Yes | Lahore | Thick churned yogurt drink, sweet or salty, served in clay pots -- the ultimate summer cooler |
| Falooda | Dessert | Mughal / Punjab | Mild | Yes | Lahore | Rose milk dessert drink with vermicelli, basil seeds, ice cream, and jelly |
| Gulab Jamun | Dessert | Mughal / All Pakistan | Mild | Yes | Everywhere | Deep-fried milk dough balls soaked in rose-cardamom sugar syrup -- the ultimate desi dessert |
| Jalebi | Dessert | All Pakistan | Mild | Yes | Lahore | Crispy deep-fried batter spirals soaked in saffron sugar syrup, eaten hot for breakfast |
| Kulfi | Dessert | Mughal / Punjab | Mild | Yes | Lahore | Dense traditional ice cream flavored with pistachio, cardamom, and saffron, set in molds |
| Rabri | Dessert | Punjab / Sindh | Mild | Yes | Lahore | Thickened sweetened milk with layers of cream, cardamom, and nuts -- often paired with jalebi |
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