Pakistani Foods are some of the most vibrant, colorful and flavorful food scene that incorporated influence from Persian, India, Afghan and Central Asian cuisines.
Pakistani foods are some of the most vibrant, colorful and flavorful dishes in the world! The food scene incorporates influence from Persian, India, Afghan and Central Asian cuisines. Below are our top 10 favorites!
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Food safety
Many travelers fear eating in Pakistan, however some provinces such as Punjab have some of the strictest food safety rules in the country. Less that 10 years ago in Lahore, there was donkey meat suspected to be served in place of mutton or beef. However today,food health and safety is not only commonplace, but enforced.
A friend told me her uncle was held in jail for 3 days as he was the manager of a restaurant. On the day inspectors came, the chef had left butter on the table and not inside the fridge, leading to his short detainment.
While this isn’t to say you won’t experience food sickness in Pakistan, there are a few ways to try to avoid getting very sick:
- Ensure you try the local yoghurt or raw onions to help build resistance on your first days.
- At first, try to stay away from street food, particularly meats or dishes that are already cooked and boiling in the sun.
- If you do not usually drink or eat dairy, ask for the contents of meals and drinks as most beverages contain dairy items – sometimes even multiple!
- Wash fruit and salad with bottled water before consuming
Vegetarian Meals
Pakistan does have a lot of vegetarian options as opposed to many other Central Asian countries. Pakistani cooking uses a lot of chickpeas, beans and lentils making vegetarian meals accessible in most restaurants.
Top 10 Pakistani Foods and Drinks:
10 Pakistani snacks
Pakistani supermarket snacks are often nostalgic for Pakistanis and Pakistanis living overseas. The highlights are Princes – basic biscuits with chocolate filling and Cocomo, thin circular biscuits filled with chocolate or cream filling. You can find these at many local markets and supermarkets.
9 Street corn
Street corn is a staple for many Asian countries. In Pakistan, you can get many flavours – lime chilli, bbq, spicy, etc. Some also come with a helping of cheese. The quality of corn in Pakistan is very good as corn farming makes up some of the agricultural sector.
8 Fruit Chaat
Fruit Chaat is essentially mixed fruits with cinnamon. It is a mix of sweet and spicy and usually includes apples, bananas, oranges and more with a chaat masala blend. It is sweet and tangy – slightly spicy and salty – it is a dish of contradictions that is very tasty and a must try dish!
7 Pani Puri
Pani puri is this addictive street snack you’ll find all over Pakistan. It is essentially tiny crispy shells stuffed with spicy water, mashed potato, and tangy chutneys. You pop the whole thing in your mouth, and it’s a full-on flavor explosion—spicy, sour, crunchy, messy in the best way. Once you start, it’s hard to stop at just one and again has so many different flavour profiles!
6 Pakistani BBQ
Pakistani BBQ is all about smoky, bold flavors—usually skewers of chicken, beef, or lamb marinated in spices like chili, garlic, and cumin, then grilled over open flames. Pakistani BBQ is usually enjoyed late at night with family, friends, any time of year. You can eat it with naan, chutney, maybe some onions, and honestly, it just tastes different!
5 Chicken Jeffrezi
Chicken Jalfrezi is a spicy, stir-fried curry with chunks of chicken, bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes all cooked together in a thick, tangy sauce. It’s got this nice spice level without being too heavy, and the vegetables still have a bit of crunch. It’s the kind of curry that goes perfectly with naan or rice and always feels a bit fancy! It is also a staple dish you can find at most Pakistani restaurants.
4 Lassi
Lassi is a cold, creamy yogurt drink that’s basically the desi answer to a milkshake—sometimes salty, sometimes sweet, always refreshing. On a hot day, nothing hits like a tall glass of sweet mango lassi or the classic salty one with a pinch of cumin. It’s simple, but somehow tastes like home.
While in the west we love mango lassi, good luck finding one in Pakistan. Pakistani lassi is usually just a plain flavor. In Lahore, there is a local lassi —rich, frothy, and topped with a spoonful or two of freshly churned makhan (butter) that melts right into the glass and some sugar for garnish. It’s thick enough to eat with a spoon, and honestly feels more like dessert than a drink. Be warned, you will likely need a siesta after drinking one of these!
3 Mangos
Pakistani Mangos are very sweet and delicious – in fact I personally believe they have the best mangos in the world! The humid summers in Punjab and Sindh make for a great environment for tropical fruits from May to August. Enjoy a mango smoothie, pickles, jams and sweets!
2 Daal
Daal is one of Pakistan’s most common dishes and good news – it is vegetarian! Made with lentils, onion, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and spices. The consistency is usually thick and is best eaten with naan or rice. You can have spicy Daal Tadka or mild Daal Chawal. This is also common to find with street vendors and in restaurants – ranging from budget meals to bougie main meals.
1 Chicken Biryani
Pakistani chicken biryani is a mix of juicy chicken and super fragrant rice, all cooked together with spices like cinnamon and cardamom that give it a warm flavor. The best part is how the rice soaks up all the spicy, tangy goodness from the chicken and onions. It wins the best dish and is one you eat when you want something comforting but exciting at the same time. The city with the best biryani is Karachi, so in other provinces you will see many stalls and shops named ‘Karachi Biryani’.
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