Karachi Hot N Spicy
Karachi Hot N Spicy
Drive-through food service isn’t a new phenomenon; it can be found in various forms all around the world. In Western nations it often takes the form of fast food chain restaurants with drive-thru lanes, while in Asian countries you can often park your car and get served right there.
Most of us know the reputation that spicy, aromatic Karachi biryani has in Pakistan – it’s supposed to be the best, the tastiest and the spiciest. But what if you have a hankering for it while driving home from the cinema late on a Tuesday night, in the Punjabi capital no less? (You can tell this has happened to me more than once before!)
Karachi Hot N Spicy is something of an institution for Lahoris in the newer part of the city. As we arrive at around midnight, it’s easy to see why. The public square directly opposite the restaurant (in the centre of DHA’s Block H) is buzzing with beautiful young things, and quite a few not-so-beautiful and not-so-young things too – the restaurant is in a favourite hangout hotspot. In the cars lined up at the restaurant are quite a few families too – this place obviously has a reputation.
Our car is swarmed with touts from competing restaurants, shoving menus up against the windows, but we speak only to the Karachi Hot N Spicy waiter. He hands us an extensive menu complete with Pakistani interpretations of Chinese, Italian and continental dishes – but we’re here for our biryani fix.
Karachi Hot N Spicy’s biryani. It’s not glamorous, but man it hits the spot.
Not long after we order the combo deal, steaming plates of biryani are delivered to the car, along with cold drinks for everyone. The rice is light and fluffy as it should be, the meat is cooked to perfection. It is accompanied by raita, salad and pickle – the perfect end to a great night out.
There’s also a dining hall inside should you feel the need to leave your car. It’s certainly no haute cuisine – it’s hot and tasty Karachi biyrani on the slab, served with a huge dollop of people watching pleasure. Karachi Hot N Spicy is open all through the night – it closes at 5am.
And if you’re after a sweet desi end to the meal, look no further than Jaidi Paan Shop next door, which has built a name over the years for its balanced portions of sweet, salty and spicy ingredients all wrapped up in betel leaf. If that doesn’t suit, there are a range of fresh juices and ice creams available too.
Details
Food: 7/10
Ambience: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Cost: Biyrani from Rs. 70 (rice only) – Rs. 690 (mutton biryani handi), depending on the type. Chicken, regular mutton, beef and prawn are also on offer.
Block H, Phase 1, DHA Lahore
Times: Open daily 10am – 5am
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