Pakistani food is, in our opinion, one of the most underrated cuisines in the world. Many people know about Indian cuisine and in fairness there are a lot of similarities, however there are some hidden gem dishes as well as being more meat-heavy that makes it a stand out for us. Pakistani food is a mix of south, central and west Asian influences with a huge legacy from the Mughal empire, heavy on spice, flatbreads and rice. Every region does its own thing, so here are the ten dishes we think you genuinely can't leave the country without trying.
1. Nihari
Pakistan's national dish and a proper institution. Beef shank slow-cooked with spices and ghee until it falls apart, served with slices of ginger, spicy green chillies and a squeeze of lime. It's traditionally a breakfast dish, which sounds odd until you've tried it — then it makes complete sense. Nihari is oily, spicy and definitely a great way to kick start your day!
2. Karahi
Named after the black metal pan it's cooked and served in, karahi is a fragrant, spiced curry built on tomatoes, onions and chilli, usually with goat or chicken (shrimp if you're near the coast). You'll find it everywhere from five-star restaurants to the smallest roadside stalls, and honestly the stalls are often better.
3. Biryani
No list of Pakistani food is complete without biryani — long-grain basmati rice layered with meat and a deep blend of spices, slow-cooked until every grain has taken on the flavour. Karachi has a strong claim to the best version in the country, but every region has its own take worth trying. This is found everywhere in the region, from Kabul to Dhaka and is a must try, especially for a quick meal on the go when you’re busy sightseeing.
4. Chapli Kebab
Also known as Peshawari kebab, this is a fried, fatty meat patty usually made from buffalo or beef mince, packed with cumin, chilli and coriander. It's crispy on the outside, juicy in the middle, and one of the best street foods you'll find anywhere in Pakistan.
5. Seekh Kebab
Seasoned minced meat moulded around a skewer and grilled over open charcoal until smoky and slightly charred on the outside. Simple, but done well it's one of those dishes that's hard to stop eating — order more than you think you'll need. You will know when a place is selling kebabs from the billowing smoke rising from outside the restaurant. This will have you meat eaters drooling for more!
6. Haleem
A warm, thick, almost porridge-like stew of wheat or barley slow-cooked with meat and lentils, topped with fresh or dried chillies and a squeeze of lime. It's hearty, comforting, and shows the influence of the wider Middle East on Pakistani cooking — especially popular during Ramadan.
7. Kabuli Pulao
Pakistan and Afghanistan's answer to Central Asian plov — slow-cooked meat mixed through oily rice with chickpeas, sometimes with raisins or carrots for sweetness. It's especially common in the west of the country and around Peshawar. There are different variations of this with different types of carrots and the addition of raisins. If you come with us to Afghanistan, then you will definitely be trying this more than once.
8. Chapshoro
A genuinely unique regional find from Gilgit-Baltistan in the north — think Pakistan's answer to a quesadilla, stuffed with spiced meat and, in the mountains, sometimes yak. If you're up in Hunza or Skardu, this is a must-try that most visitors to the south of the country never even hear about.
9. Gol Gappay (Pani Puri)
The street snack that gets people addicted fast: tiny crispy shells filled with spicy tamarind water, mashed potato and tangy chutney, eaten whole in one bite. It's messy, it's a genuine flavour explosion, and you'll find carts selling it on nearly every corner in the cities. The texture is great, the flavour is amazing, making this one of our favourite go to street snacks in Pakistan.
10. Doodh Pati Chai
No trip to Pakistan is complete without this — hot, strong black tea boiled directly with milk rather than added after, sold everywhere from roadside dhabas to five-star hotel lobbies. If you're not having a few cups of doodh pati a day while you're here, you're honestly doing Pakistan wrong.
A Few More Worth Squeezing In
Ten is a hard limit, so a handful of near-misses deserve an honourable mention. Chicken Handi — pieces of chicken cooked low and slow in yoghurt and cream in a clay pot — is milder than karahi but just as addictive. Lahori lassi, thick enough to eat with a spoon and topped with fresh makhan (churned butter), is closer to dessert than a drink. And if you're in Pakistan between June and August, Pakistani mangoes are genuinely some of the best in the world — sweet, fragrant, and worth planning a summer trip around on their own.
A Note on Eating Like a Local
A few practical tips from our own trips: most of this food is eaten with your right hand and fresh naan or roti rather than cutlery, so don't be shy about digging in the way everyone around you is. Street food stalls that have a constant queue of locals are almost always the safest and best bet — if nobody local is eating there, we wouldn't either. And go in hungry: portions in Pakistan are generous, and it's considered a little rude to leave food on the plate when someone's cooked for you.
How to Visit Pakistan with Saiga Tours
To see our Pakistan group tour departure dates check out our Pakistan group tours or email [email protected] and we'll make sure you eat properly while you're with us.
