Going To Pakistan!

[aqeelPK]

Bump

Heading back to Pakistan tomorrow InSha’Allah

I’m really interested to see if restaurants are open and at full capacity following Covid.

Any suggestions? Even aside from food, I always wanted to visit museums and historical places so any information on that would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if there’s a cricket museum, can someone please fill me in on it? I would love to go check it out.

Less than a week before Ramzan starts. Perfect time to be in Pakistan for food & cricket lovers. Ask your friends to get you registered in any Ramzan tournament (in old city areas). I bet, that will be your best cricketing experience.

 

[Major]

Bump

Heading back to Pakistan tomorrow InSha’Allah

I’m really interested to see if restaurants are open and at full capacity following Covid.

Any suggestions? Even aside from food, I always wanted to visit museums and historical places so any information on that would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if there’s a cricket museum, can someone please fill me in on it? I would love to go check it out.

Plz tell us the city

 

[Da_Future_Knick]

Plz tell us the city

Islamabad/Pindi, Lahore and Okara

 

[Da_Future_Knick]

Less than a week before Ramzan starts. Perfect time to be in Pakistan for food & cricket lovers. Ask your friends to get you registered in any Ramzan tournament (in old city areas). I bet, that will be your best cricketing experience.

Excited about Ramadan, InSha’Allah all goes smoothly and I’m able to fast all days.
I definitely will check out some tape ball tournaments, should be a lot of fun

 

[Major]

Islamabad/Pindi, Lahore and Okara

Rawalpindi/Islamabad Desi Food
Pindi is known for the Pulao Kebab, just like how Karachi is known for its Biryani.

If you want to enjoy some good food, try savour pulao. The have branches located in College Road (RWP), Stadium road (RWP), Islamabad Blue Area.

The issue with the College road branch is that even though its the main branch, but the hygiene on the road is disguting that it can put you off. But still if you go the college road branch, do try Savour from there. After that, on college road, infront of Savour, there is Lahori Samosay. Try those too, they are very famous samosas of Rawalpindi.

If the hygiene puts you off, than no worries, go to RWP stadium food street for savour foods or the Blue Area branch in Islamabad.

After that, if you want to have something sweet, than on Murree road near committee chowk do buy some Grato Jellibi. The best jellibi you will ever eat. Its crunchy and tasty as hell.

Do search Jamil Sweets and Rasheed Sweets. From there buy some Kulfa Falooda. They made the best Kulfa falooda, damn tasty. Try their Kheer aswell.

If you want to buy Bakery Items, go to Tehzeeb Bakery. PLZ do not visit Rahat bakery. Tehzeeb bakery was Rahat, than there was some divorce, the original Rahat became Tehzeeb and they new bakery that started was called Rahat. Rahat's quality was terrible, Tehzeeb maintained that high standard.

From Tehzeeb bakery try chicken patties, Salad, and samosas etc. Infact, you are going to Pakistan during Ramazan, so better to buy your iftari from this place. They have many branches in Pakistan. They are clean and hygienic compared to the other sellers of savory and bakery items.

As you are visiting Pakistan in Ramazan, we make a very special delicacy called Chicken Kachori. Its a very delicious snack, you will again find this at Tehzeeb bakery or other samosa pakora shops during Ramadan. In Pindi/Isb this delicacy is only made available in Ramadan.

Also, do try a Sehri at Monal. It is over rated but it gives a good view. There is also highland but better to visit that place in day time.
Do try to have an out door sehri somewhere, you will enjoy it.

There are also other restaurants to visit. Haleem Ghar is a place I would recommend, they make mostly Urdu speaking food. As you are not going to Karachi, so the best way to enjoy Karachi food is by visiting Haleem Ghar.

There Biryani is the best, they make good qorma, haleem, channay and Achari chicken. Infact, they make good bar b q aswell.

Also do visit F10 markaz at night, the place is vibing with eateries. Do try Khabe ke Sajji and do get it with some sauces. Rs.400 you get a great single person meal of rice and chicken.


Rawalpindi/Islamabad Chinese
In Pakistan, we also have Pakistani Chinese food, for that you can try Asian Wok or Mein Kong.

Rawalpindi/Islamabad Western

If you want to have burgers, the best simple beef burger (where you get a bun, a patty and cheese), visit Phoenix Snack Bar on murree road near Saddar in Rawalpindi. Its a classic beef burger the kind you wont find anywhere.

If you want to try some cold sandwiches like they make in subway, try visiting Bread and Butter. They make smoke chicken and tuna sandwiches infront of you (only at Sadder Branch and f7 branch)

If you are in Islamabad and want to enjoy fried chicken, than to try Rayyans in F8. Great fried chicken, their burger and chicken, much better than KFC.

If you want to try American Franchise, there are many franchises but all of them sell crap food. Only few sell good food.

If you want Beef Burgers, than go to Hardees (known as Carls jr. in USA). If you want to have Pizza, than go to Dominoes and tell them to add extra pizza sauce on your pizza. You cant find good pizza in Pakistan.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are not any museums in Rawalpindi, there is an army one near lalkurit CSD if you wanna visit. For art their is lok virsa in Islamabad.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------_------

Lahore

Do try Butt Karahi. Best Karahi in whole Pakistan. Also do try Jawa Karahi aswell.

If you are travelling from Rawalpindi to Lahore by road than do try Mian Jees daal at lalamusa. You will find this if you are travelling to Lahore on GT road from Rawalpindi or vice versa

 

[Kroll]

Too much choice in Lahore when it comes to food, from traditional desi to more western type outlets.

But do try Howdy burgers, I think they're the best burgers I've tried anywhere.

 

[Wiji]

I am hearing paranoid stories of Pakistani customs officers seizing personal items/belongings of international passengers upon arrival. Any truth to this or is it just fake news? In particular, I am asking about Islamabad Airport. It seems there's some confusion over the implementation of the new customs orders. If anyone can confirm or has any advice to share, I would be grateful.

 

[Major]

I am hearing paranoid stories of Pakistani customs officers seizing personal items/belongings of international passengers upon arrival. Any truth to this or is it just fake news? In particular, I am asking about Islamabad Airport. It seems there's some confusion over the implementation of the new customs orders. If anyone can confirm or has any advice to share, I would be grateful.

This happened at first, but this aint happening anymore. The govt had to come out and clear things that people bringing in items would be seized like that especially if it under a specific quantity i think.

Like every overseas you can also call up some source to clear customs though

 

[Wiji]

This happened at first, but this aint happening anymore. The govt had to come out and clear things that people bringing in items would be seized like that especially if it under a specific quantity i think.

Like every overseas you can also call up some source to clear customs though

Thank you. But I don't fully understand what you wrote.

So, since it is no longer the case, I shouldn't expect customs officers to open up my suitcases and try to seize my clothes and personal items?

 

[dildilpak]

Visiting Karachi next month with my family for a family wedding. This is my first visit in 7 years & we will be staying in DHA- phase 3. Any new restaurants i should absolutely be trying in the surrounding area?

 

[IAJ]

A question regarding covid-19 vaccines.

A child Under 18 in Norway will be considered fully vaccinated if he has got 1 shot and have been infected by Covid. Does same rule apply in Pakistan or he would need 2 shots?

I know they also accept a negative PCR for children under 18.

 

[Major]

Thank you. But I don't fully understand what you wrote.

So, since it is no longer the case, I shouldn't expect customs officers to open up my suitcases and try to seize my clothes and personal items?

The seizing of chocolates and imported stuff wont happen, which was an issue as you mentioned.

However, nothing can be said about custom officers opening up suitcases as they do try this sometimes...

Often people coming from overseas make sure they have a contact who would save them from this

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I am hearing paranoid stories of Pakistani customs officers seizing personal items/belongings of international passengers upon arrival. Any truth to this or is it just fake news? In particular, I am asking about Islamabad Airport. It seems there's some confusion over the implementation of the new customs orders. If anyone can confirm or has any advice to share, I would be grateful.

You will be fine. Many members of my family have just flown to Islamabad for a wedding.

No Issues mate don't worry about it. Customs have the right to check through your stuff wherever you fly into but some Pakistanis seem to have taken exception to this and spread some hyped up news on social media.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

This happened at first, but this aint happening anymore. The govt had to come out and clear things that people bringing in items would be seized like that especially if it under a specific quantity i think.

Like every overseas you can also call up some source to clear customs though

Growing up, we had a lot of access to these "sources" and "protocols" but my dad wouldn't let us use them.

This culture seems to have died down a bit in recent years too.

Most overseas don't have this luxury.

Most of the overseas stories about Pakistan are overexaggerated and clout chasing lies. Majority of people make up fake stories about their time in Pakistan just to big themselves up. They don't have the guts to try and pull fast ones in other countries but think they become big dogs in Pakistan.

 

[MenInG]

All Pakistanis depend on sources - the whole country works on that principle.

Nice try Major Mian.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Rawalpindi/Islamabad Desi Food
Pindi is known for the Pulao Kebab, just like how Karachi is known for its Biryani.

If you want to enjoy some good food, try savour pulao. The have branches located in College Road (RWP), Stadium road (RWP), Islamabad Blue Area.

The issue with the College road branch is that even though its the main branch, but the hygiene on the road is disguting that it can put you off. But still if you go the college road branch, do try Savour from there. After that, on college road, infront of Savour, there is Lahori Samosay. Try those too, they are very famous samosas of Rawalpindi.

If the hygiene puts you off, than no worries, go to RWP stadium food street for savour foods or the Blue Area branch in Islamabad.

After that, if you want to have something sweet, than on Murree road near committee chowk do buy some Grato Jellibi. The best jellibi you will ever eat. Its crunchy and tasty as hell.

Do search Jamil Sweets and Rasheed Sweets. From there buy some Kulfa Falooda. They made the best Kulfa falooda, damn tasty. Try their Kheer aswell.

If you want to buy Bakery Items, go to Tehzeeb Bakery. PLZ do not visit Rahat bakery. Tehzeeb bakery was Rahat, than there was some divorce, the original Rahat became Tehzeeb and they new bakery that started was called Rahat. Rahat's quality was terrible, Tehzeeb maintained that high standard.

From Tehzeeb bakery try chicken patties, Salad, and samosas etc. Infact, you are going to Pakistan during Ramazan, so better to buy your iftari from this place. They have many branches in Pakistan. They are clean and hygienic compared to the other sellers of savory and bakery items.

As you are visiting Pakistan in Ramazan, we make a very special delicacy called Chicken Kachori. Its a very delicious snack, you will again find this at Tehzeeb bakery or other samosa pakora shops during Ramadan. In Pindi/Isb this delicacy is only made available in Ramadan.

Also, do try a Sehri at Monal. It is over rated but it gives a good view. There is also highland but better to visit that place in day time.
Do try to have an out door sehri somewhere, you will enjoy it.

There are also other restaurants to visit. Haleem Ghar is a place I would recommend, they make mostly Urdu speaking food. As you are not going to Karachi, so the best way to enjoy Karachi food is by visiting Haleem Ghar.

There Biryani is the best, they make good qorma, haleem, channay and Achari chicken. Infact, they make good bar b q aswell.

Also do visit F10 markaz at night, the place is vibing with eateries. Do try Khabe ke Sajji and do get it with some sauces. Rs.400 you get a great single person meal of rice and chicken.


Rawalpindi/Islamabad Chinese
In Pakistan, we also have Pakistani Chinese food, for that you can try Asian Wok or Mein Kong.

Rawalpindi/Islamabad Western

If you want to have burgers, the best simple beef burger (where you get a bun, a patty and cheese), visit Phoenix Snack Bar on murree road near Saddar in Rawalpindi. Its a classic beef burger the kind you wont find anywhere.

If you want to try some cold sandwiches like they make in subway, try visiting Bread and Butter. They make smoke chicken and tuna sandwiches infront of you (only at Sadder Branch and f7 branch)

If you are in Islamabad and want to enjoy fried chicken, than to try Rayyans in F8. Great fried chicken, their burger and chicken, much better than KFC.

If you want to try American Franchise, there are many franchises but all of them sell crap food. Only few sell good food.

If you want Beef Burgers, than go to Hardees (known as Carls jr. in USA). If you want to have Pizza, than go to Dominoes and tell them to add extra pizza sauce on your pizza. You cant find good pizza in Pakistan.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are not any museums in Rawalpindi, there is an army one near lalkurit CSD if you wanna visit. For art their is lok virsa in Islamabad.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------_------

Lahore

Do try Butt Karahi. Best Karahi in whole Pakistan. Also do try Jawa Karahi aswell.

If you are travelling from Rawalpindi to Lahore by road than do try Mian Jees daal at lalamusa. You will find this if you are travelling to Lahore on GT road from Rawalpindi or vice versa

Rayyan, Haleem Ghar, Dominoes? Are you sure it's not 2010?

There are tons of local restaurants that serve better food than Haleem Ghar.

New Yorker, Broadway, 14th Street even papasallis is better than Dominoes.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Food is probably the weakest part of Islamabad city. I have run out of places and I don't even go out that often. Burgers are too expansive now tbh costing RS 1000+. Steaks are rarely that good. Actually steaks from majority of the restaurants taste the same.
Savor pulao used to be great till 2015 maybe. Now their pulao is way too dry and overcooked. Have tried it from all its branches in Isb/Pindi.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Char Grill Central serves very good beef burgers IMO. A tiny outlet.
Cannoli have amazing big burgers but they are quite expansive around 1200-1500rs range.
Roasters and Ox and Grill are the two most reliable restaurants to just go to and decide what you want to eat regarding Steaks, Pastas, Chicken, SeaFood, Burgers, Lasagne etc

A lot of desi restaurants are good especially there are a lot of low profile ones.

I think something that tends to be forgotten most of the times is Sufi Restaurant's Chappal Kababs.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Going there in October. Haven't been to Pakistan since I was a baby, 20 years ago. Excited to see what it's like.

 

[Wiji]

The seizing of chocolates and imported stuff wont happen, which was an issue as you mentioned.

However, nothing can be said about custom officers opening up suitcases as they do try this sometimes...

Thanks for clarifying.

You will be fine. Many members of my family have just flown to Islamabad for a wedding.

No Issues mate don't worry about it. Customs have the right to check through your stuff wherever you fly into but some Pakistanis seem to have taken exception to this and spread some hyped up news on social media.

Thank you for clarifying. That's what I thought as well.

 

[Major]

Char Grill Central serves very good beef burgers IMO. A tiny outlet.
Cannoli have amazing big burgers but they are quite expansive around 1200-1500rs range.
Roasters and Ox and Grill are the two most reliable restaurants to just go to and decide what you want to eat regarding Steaks, Pastas, Chicken, SeaFood, Burgers, Lasagne etc

A lot of desi restaurants are good especially there are a lot of low profile ones.

I think something that tends to be forgotten most of the times is Sufi Restaurant's Chappal Kababs.

To be fair.. all the mentioned restaurants suck, and dont serve authentic food.

Avoid cannoli, as the owners are scums...

Ox and grill is over rated and roasters is okish, but nothing special

These places dont make authentic food. There lasagne would be of chicken and would lack cheese and made with white sauce instead of proper red sauce and cheeses with layering.

 

[Major]

Rayyan, Haleem Ghar, Dominoes? Are you sure it's not 2010?

There are tons of local restaurants that serve better food than Haleem Ghar.

New Yorker, Broadway, 14th Street even papasallis is better than Dominoes.

Na brother.

Rayyans chicken is still the best.

Haleem ghar makes authetic food. There korma and biryani are the best. Korma is not even sold by restaurants, especially achari chicken. There biryani is better than any other seller in pindi/isb.

Having tasted pizza in Canada, i can tell you that dominoes sells you authentic or close to the authentic stuff.

New yorker, broadway, 14th street or that papasallis what they sell is a local version of pizza.

Pixza isnt just toppings. The main ingrediant in pizza is the sauce that is made with basil. The cheese has to be used of good quality aswell.

Dominoes is the only pizza seller that uses the proper pizza sauce.

Restaurants like broadway dont use proper pizza sauce. For them pizza sauce is just tomatoe paste. Alot of these restaurants what they do is they just put a very thin layer of tomato paste just for the sake of it, thry dont even know the pizza recipi.

New yorker ends up stuffing garlic sauce in pizza.

Dominoes makes the authetic stuff that you will find in the west. Not as good, but its sauce and cheese is much more like how you will get it there.

Maybe you and me have different taste i guess.

For example, for me a burger's taste should come from its patty and a restaurant should never try to put multiple sauces on it to bring out the taste as thats not how classic burgers are made.

 

[IAJ]

Going there in October. Haven't been to Pakistan since I was a baby, 20 years ago. Excited to see what it's like.

You should consider starting with probiotics?

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Na brother.

Rayyans chicken is still the best.

Haleem ghar makes authetic food. There korma and biryani are the best. Korma is not even sold by restaurants, especially achari chicken. There biryani is better than any other seller in pindi/isb.

Having tasted pizza in Canada, i can tell you that dominoes sells you authentic or close to the authentic stuff.

New yorker, broadway, 14th street or that papasallis what they sell is a local version of pizza.

Pixza isnt just toppings. The main ingrediant in pizza is the sauce that is made with basil. The cheese has to be used of good quality aswell.

Dominoes is the only pizza seller that uses the proper pizza sauce.

Restaurants like broadway dont use proper pizza sauce. For them pizza sauce is just tomatoe paste. Alot of these restaurants what they do is they just put a very thin layer of tomato paste just for the sake of it, thry dont even know the pizza recipi.

New yorker ends up stuffing garlic sauce in pizza.

Dominoes makes the authetic stuff that you will find in the west. Not as good, but its sauce and cheese is much more like how you will get it there.

Maybe you and me have different taste i guess.

For example, for me a burger's taste should come from its patty and a restaurant should never try to put multiple sauces on it to bring out the taste as thats not how classic burgers are made.

I don't know it's just about taste. Don't really care how authentic the food is. Like I would even have tehzeeb's pizza if i feel like eating it even though it's more like chicken tikka salan on naan.

The best thing about Pak is the food that is served is closer to Pakistani taste than actual authentic food you're talking about. I've had burgers and pizza's abroad as well but I always prefer food with a Pakistani touch.

 

[Sidilicious]

You should consider starting with probiotics?

Visiting india/Pakistan itself is probiotic when you haven’t been thEre for a while. Will have multiple motions everyday. What’s the need of prebiotics

 

[Varun]

Going there in October. Haven't been to Pakistan since I was a baby, 20 years ago. Excited to see what it's like.

Nice!

IMO you should open up a thread and talk about your experiences day-to-day.

 

[Major]

I don't know it's just about taste. Don't really care how authentic the food is. Like I would even have tehzeeb's pizza if i feel like eating it even though it's more like chicken tikka salan on naan.

The best thing about Pak is the food that is served is closer to Pakistani taste than actual authentic food you're talking about. I've had burgers and pizza's abroad as well but I always prefer food with a Pakistani touch.

Your opinion on rayyans?

I cant find better fried chicken than rayyans. Kfc chicken is dirty. Though they have taste.

Rayyans is very hygenic and i dont know, havnt had better fried chicken than theres in pakistan.

Abroad, popeyes is the king

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Your opinion on rayyans?

I cant find better fried chicken than rayyans. Kfc chicken is dirty. Though they have taste.

Rayyans is very hygenic and i dont know, havnt had better fried chicken than theres in pakistan.

Abroad, popeyes is the king

I am not a chicken guy. Prefer Beef/seafood. Or Lamb/Mutton too. Howdy used to serve lamb burger which i thought was good. Don't know if they still do.
For chicken I usually just eat k&n's or sabroso's frozen nuggets at home.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Nice!

IMO you should open up a thread and talk about your experiences day-to-day.

Thanks, that sounds like a good idea. I'll do that!

 

[Free Hit]

I am visiting my home village in Pakistan after 17 years.

Honestly It’s the best rehab I could ever ask for.

Plenty garmi, mangoes, tube well baths.
Very happy days