ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Pakistan
Five dishes to try in Pakistan, the most typical first.
Five dishes to try in Pakistan
Biryani بریانی
Layered spiced rice with chicken or mutton, potatoes and fried onions.
How to have it: Karachi's Sindhi biryani is the spiciest; order with raita and salad.
Nihari نہاری
Slow-cooked beef shank stew with a rich, spiced gravy.
How to have it: Traditionally a breakfast; eat with naan, ginger, green chillies and lemon in old Lahore or Karachi.
Chapli kebab چپلی کباب
Flat, crisp-edged minced beef patty with spices, tomato and pomegranate seeds.
How to have it: Peshawar is the home of it; fried in big pans and eaten with naan.
Karahi کڑاہی
Chicken or mutton cooked in a wok-like pan with tomatoes, ginger and chilli.
How to have it: Ordered by the kilo at roadside restaurants and cooked fresh; share with hot naan.
Haleem حلیم
Thick stew of wheat, lentils and shredded meat cooked for hours.
How to have it: Popular in winter and Ramadan; topped with fried onions, ginger, chilli and lemon.
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Questions
What food is Pakistan famous for?
Biryani (layered spiced rice with chicken or mutton, potatoes and fried onions) comes first on our list, followed by Nihari, Chapli kebab, Karahi and Haleem.
What is the national dish of Pakistan?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Pakistan is Biryani: layered spiced rice with chicken or mutton, potatoes and fried onions. Karachi's Sindhi biryani is the spiciest; order with raita and salad.
Which dishes in Pakistan are vegetarian?
None of the five dishes on this page is vegetarian as usually made. Ask locally: many places have meat-free versions.
What street food should I try in Pakistan?
Chapli kebab (flat, crisp-edged minced beef patty with spices, tomato and pomegranate seeds).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.