People in Islamabad have a knack of fancying things up. For instance, pakora chutney would be described as “Assorted pakoras with mint mango dip” for the added zing, in order to justify a higher price for a run-of-the-mill local delicacy.
Having said that, we decided to make Islamabad all the more affordable for those that splurge on all the things they don’t need but absolutely must have at the start of the month, or those who live off a budget in a hostel and have to foot the bill for all their basic necessities or those who’d rather spend on a new PS4 Star Wars game than on fancy food. Let’s have a look at some of the culinary adventures you can embark on with the least amount of moolah (in no particular order):
Chicken Palao: Savour Foods, Blue Area
Legend has it, the palao at Savour foods has secret ingredients: Fairy dust and pixie-tears, to name a few. This economy-driven fast-food chain preps in bulk and has the honor of feeding hundreds and hundreds of hungry men, women and children every single day. You can add on a kebab or a chicken piece or TWO of those with a side of salad and still stay within your budget.
Wallet woes: 160-235 rupees
Full-fat beef skewers: Kabul Restaurant, F-7
Undoubtedly the most authentic Afghani cuisine you can find under one roof, Kabul restaurant hosts chapali kebab, chicken and beef tikkah skewers with a douse of fat and the best kabuli palao you’ll get in Islamabad. Protip: Go with a party of four or eight or twelve or twenty, go dutch, stick out your share and get your money’s worth. End your meal with a hot cup of kaava. Highly recommended.
Wallet woes: 250 rupees. WORTH IT.
Roll Paratha: Pan shop, Jinnah market
Source: imusafir
Roll paratha connoisseurs have struggled since the beginning of time for the perfect roll paratha: an amalgamation of the crispy yet soft desi-ghee paratha, succulent boneless chicken tikkah chunks, veggies or no veggies and oozing with lots and lots of cheese. Order a regular roll paratha or the jumbo roll, wait for them to arrive to your (car)-doorstep and munch away while you slip the wait-staff a crisp fifty rupee note. Everybody’s happy.
Wallet woes: 130 rupees
Afghani Burger: Najeeb Spot in F-10
Source: Square Space
The quintessential gem of Afghani cuisine, Afghani burger at Najeeb Spot is your go-to place for a wholesome wrap with the works in a bite-sized price. Imagine biting into soft Afghani roti-wrap that holds within a healthy dose of sausages, a mountain of fries, vegetable condiments and squirts of chili-chutney, ketchup and dollops of mayo. Hello, is it me you’re looking for?
Wallet woes: 200 rupees with fries and drink. #score
Haleem: Haleem Ghar, Blue Area
Source: Dawn
Mesh of shredded beef or chicken, masoor ki daal maash ki daal channay ki daal and yet, you end up with kamaal ki daal, garnished with golden-brown onions, green chillis, ginger and a little squeeze of lemon… mamamia! Need I say more?
Wallet woes: 130 rupees per plate
Nageena Burger: F-10
Source: Metblogs
Doing justice to the age-old anda shaami, the Nageena Burger has been Islamabadis’ go-to spot for a desi burger fix over the years. Soft hot dog bun enveloping crisp lettuce, a few tomatoes, onions and a fluffy fried egg to top it off; you can easily devour more than one in a single sitting. As per tradition, the treat isn’t ready until they press against it while it simmers in oil and all the condiments really just hug it out. Add hunter beef and cheese to the mix and you’re good to go.
Wallet woes: 90 rupees
Afghani fries: Pan shop in Jinnah Market
This criss-crossed, half limp-half crispy, deep-fried potato indulgence is an absolute delight. Emerged as an Afghani specialty over the years, no trip to Jinnah market is complete without munching on these bad boys. You can go basic with just a pinch of salt, overdose on chaat masala or ask for the special chili chutney that would knock your acid influx right out of the park but hey, it’s totally worth it.
Wallet woes: 20-50 rupees
Aaloo/Qeemay wala naan: Madina Market
Many would agree that if you haven’t had the roghni naan from Madina Market, you haven’t lived. The place is flocked at lunch hours with men in loose office ties and students from the nearby law-schools or Bahria university and the like. An added bonus is the immaculate hygiene: The ‘naan-handlers’ are seen wearing plastic gloves and the tandoor-walas are at it with clean shalwar kamizes and beaming faces. Aaloo, qeema, chicken, cheese, vegetable stuffing or basic roghni naan with a dash of sesame seeds and oil smeared on top before wrapping it in high-quality plastic bags – guaranteed to do a little mambo in your mouth.
Wallet woes: 20 rupees/regular roghni naan
Red velvet cupcake – Funky Bake
Both these cupcakes deserve a Michelin star. Soft, gooey sponge whereby rests light and fluffy cream cheese, not suitable for the ones watching their waist but definitely a part of many cheat meals. Enjoy your personal favorite with a hot cup of coffee or chai because ab nehi tou kub?
Wallet woes:180 vs. 150 rupees
Kulfi: Jamil Sweets, F-10
A true Islamabadi would instantly think of Jamil Sweets on the slightest mention of kulfi (or gulab jamun, or ras malai et al). Starting off from a small roadside vendor in Blue Area, Jamil sweets has really kicked off business by opening another branch in F-10. This place is what dreams are made of, one sugar-overdose at a time. You can find homemade sweet-meats under one roof but the kulfi tastes like little drops of heaven. Perfect pick-me-up for days when amma makes you have aaloo gobi for dinner and you’d rather not let your night have such a morose ending.
Wallet woes: 80 rupees/single serving
Mama’s ice-cream: D Watson
Source: Dawn
Scoops of fresh, homemade creamy ice-cream, abundant with chunks of Kit Kat, Toblerone, Twix, Oreo or M n M’s in your choice of base flavor – chocolate or vanilla.
Wallet woes: 70 rupees/single scoop
Challi / Satta / Butta: Roadside reerhis, literally, everywhere
Source: Pinterest
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s gift to Islamabad, the pathan reerhi-walas are seen in every nook and corner of the city, with their wide range of challi, daanas, channas, moom phallis and whatnot. An after-school special for uniform clad kids and your very own favorite afternoon snack. Throw in bits and pieces of botched-up pashtu and you sometimes even get them for free, thanks to our incredibly generous pathan-bhais.
Wallet woes: 20-50 rupees
Chicken corn soup/lemon-soda: Gol Market
A foodie’s wet dream, Gol Market is the hub for gastronomic pleasures. Inexpensive prices coupled with a shopping experience that dates back to the very foundation years of the city. There used to be a time when the Gol Market attracted the crème de la crème for shopping, weekends were incomplete without a drive-through Jinnah market with your music blasting on full volume and windows rolled down. Whilst you can still travel back in time to the market’s glory days every chaand raat, the crowds have thinned marginally. Having said that, it’s almost a sin to not have lemon-soda on a warm summer night or a hot Styrofoam cup load of chicken corn soup.
Wallet woes: 60-120 rupees
Samosas: Rana Market F-7
Don’t you hate bin bulaye mehmaan gracing you with their unannounced presence every now and then? Especially on days when you’d rather just change from your night-pajamas to your day-pajamas, while marathoning FRIENDS for the umpteenth time. The only silver lining to these series of unfortunate events is that there will be samosas. And not just any samosas, the samosas from Siddique’s! The shaan of Rana Market, samosas, jalebis and namak paray from this fine establishment is a shaam ki chai ke saathi.
You can also fancy yourself a halva poori and channa breakfast, a Sunday staple for many.
Wallet woes: 20 rupees
Falsa juice: Qureshi’s meat shop, Kohsar market
Albeit seasonal, the iconic falsa juice at Kohsar market makes the cut for a damn good refreshing drink well within our budget. Qureshi meat shop might take the cake for some mean chargrilled beef steaks, tenderloin, filet mignon, T-bone, ribeye, the jewels of any self-respecting porterhouse but this falsa juice could just as well be the cake-topper. Go on, drink the blood of your enemies with some kaala namak, if you will.
Wallet woes: 170 rupees
Lemonade: Hotspot
Source: Photobucket
The love affair with Hotspot might just be one-sided but it’s been consistently booming for over a decade, now. You don’t know whether you love the quirky, quick-witted posters or the brownies that taste the same as they did ten years ago or just, sitting there and taking it all in. Bustling with teenagers and families alike, Hotspot is the perfect mix of the young and the old. Unfortunately, while most of dessert bar is a bit pricey, the lemonade, regular or assorted works quite well while you take a nice, long drag over interesting conversations or comfortable silences.
Wallet woes: 110 -160 rupees
Lassi: Punjab Milk Shop, F-10
Source: Dawn
Sweet or salty, yogurt-based drink passed down from generations; fresh, whole-milk produce, Punjab Milk Shop is definitely worth stopping by on your routine anday-doodh-dabalroti runs or sometimes, just because.
Wallet woes: 50 rupees
And if all else fails, you always have
Wallet woes: 200 Rupees
Health woes: Priceless
