Burns Road Food Centre, Block 5, Clifton

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

With the increasing price hike, it is good to have an option for eating food that is great on the taste buds as well as kind on the wallet.
The variety of street food available on Burns Road has enjoyed decades of popularity.
However, till recently there was no option to enjoy this street food whilst seated in a clean and air-conditioned environment, on site.

Well, the good news is that it is now available at Burns Road Food Centre, which has two branches, one located in Clifton Block 5, and the other on main Burns Road.

In Clifton, Food Centre is located right opposite Arabian Nights restaurant, and behind the vintage Maxim's restaurant.

The building is multistory and has a limited outdoor seating option as well. The outlet is quite clean and cool (air-conditioned). It is good that they have invested in the interior decor, as you can see.

Food Centre at Clifton also has a back entrance, which is opposite the road (and across the wide car parking space) in front of Motta's store and Jeddah Food Centre.

There is no music on the premises, nor a distracting wall-mounted television blasting the latest 'breaking' news,-- which, in our book, are plus points.

On weeknights you'll find lower customer attendance. Not so much on weekends, when the place is literally bustling and bursting to the brim with families.
Another good thing about this outlet, is the availability of an elevator, allowing wheel-chair access to elderly customers.

The menu at both branches of Food Centre is the same.

As you can see, the prices are lower as compared to other places.
Thankfully, the quality of the food is not compromised despite the lower prices.

 

I was not expecting deals or combos, but there are some pretty good ones on offer, such as Meal 3 (above, right), which we almost always order.

Note: The prices sown on the menu are inclusive of tax.

Good ol' quintessential Chicken Biryani. Single serving: Rs 120.

Pakistanis know how to cook their Biryani, that's for sure.

Hot 'n Sour soup.

This is the typical 'Pakistani Chinese' variety, clearly infused with a hearty dose of bottled ketchup and chilli garlic sauce. Not 'Chinese'-tasting in the least, but wholesome nutrition nevertheless.

Meal 3, as I said, includes Singaporean Rice, Pasta Alfredo, and 3 Buffalo Wings with a dinner roll - Rs 330.

Our favorite! Finger Fish (with fries and tartar sauce) - Rs 250.

These are just too good! Flaky & tender on the inside, and they just melt in your mouth.

You have to have them, and why not, when they're priced at only Rs 250? 

Our kids love the finger fish at Food Centre.

Okay, vegetarians, heart/high blood pressure patients, and weight watchers, please turn away now. Heh!

This is Nalli Nihari with it's accompaniments, which though not found printed on the restaurant menu, we (rather, my husband) asked the waiter to serve to us.
You, too, can ask the waiter if nihari is available. Since they bring their food in from Burns Road, a daig might just be present on the premises.

I don't remember the price of this single plate of oil-and-cholesterol-rich, beef-and-marrow galore. Eek.
But it was probably between Rs 100 and Rs 200.

Both sheermal's and taftan's are available.

Pasta Alfredo - Rs 200

This was actually rather good, and the quantity left nothing to be desired.

I don't think the "Alfredo" sauce in it was made with cream, but with milk (that is, it was bechamel sauce).
That is actually a plus point for me, because I prefer the latter, since it is much lower in fat content.

This is the Food Centre outlet located on Burns Road.
As you can see, it has roof-top seating arrangement too.

Succulent, whole Chicken Sajji was being prepared right outside the entrance.

As were the large, paper-thin, fresh chapati's.

If you can read the fine print in this photo, you will see that the menu is exactly the same as that of the Food Centre at Clifton.

A closeup, cropped shot for you.

Meal 6: double Prawn Biryani, Chicken Qorma (boneless), 3 beef Shami Kababs, and one Naan - Rs 460
There were ample prawns in the (rather spicy) Prawn Biryani, and the Chicken Qorma was surprisingly mildly spiced and delicious. Although you'll need to leave the excess oil out while eating it. 

The Shami Kababs were too dry for our taste. So we probably wouldn't order them again.

The Chicken Qorma and Prawn Biryani in Meal 6, however, were worth ordering the deal.

Our kids wanted the 6 pieces of Finger Fish with tartar sauce again.

Verdict: It is commendable that Burns Road Food Centre has opened up these 2 multistory, comfortable and spacious outlets for those who'd like to eat the amazing street food of Burns Road whilst seated in a family-friendly environment, instead of inside their cars or on rickety plastic tables.

A great option for those who'd like to eat out with their families on a budget, but without compromising on food quality or quantity. 

Note: The Clifton outlet is quieter and smaller, and the one at Burns Road, though much more spacious, is much more noisy and crowded.

Jeddah Food Centre, Clifton

Jeddah Food Centre is located next to the famous Motta's Supermarket in Clifton, near Schon Circle, right at the beginning of the Boat Basin strip.

Their main offerings are Chicken Biryani, Chicken Shawarma, Shami Kababs, Kheer and ice cream.

Jeddah Food Centre has been around since at least more than a decade, as far as I can remember.

A few meters down, a kiosk offers Jeddah ice cream. This outlet is operated by the brother of the owner of Jeddah Food Centre. They have some great flavors at very economical prices.

A single plate of Chicken Biryani, Rs 100

A teeny bit on the spicy side (just as we Pakistanis love it), Chicken Biryani doesn't get any better than this. The serving is huge and the price is lower than what you'd pay for a single plate of the dish anywhere else in the vicinity.

Plus, they always give a half-potato in the plate, unlike other eateries that think nothing of conveniently skipping the potato.

This plate of biryani also comes accompanied by a large sachet of green raita at no extra charge. Beat that?!

If you'd like to have a Beef Shami Kabab with your biryani, they are also available, priced at just Rs 10 each.

  

Chicken Shawarma, for Rs 90
Its always soft, fresh and oozing with juices from the chicken and vegetables inside. 

A cup of Peshawari ice cream, priced at Rs 55 (only).

Traditional ice cream at a great price, with the quantity enough for two - in my opinion!

Verdict: Jeddah Food Centre has been doing successful business for years. If you do not mind eating in your car, you'd love having their food. Their waiter-boys serve you eagerly.

Jeddah Food Centre also provides daigs (large pots) of their biryani for events.

Student Biryani, Badar Commercial Area, Phase 5, Defence

Cafe Student serving delicious Chicken Biryani started a long, long time ago, as any Karachiite knows, and eventually their biryani came to be known as Student Biryani. Today, it is a thriving business that has many outlets in the city. 

This outlet recently opened in Defence phase 5, on 13th street in Badar Commercial area, between Daily Dubai Restaurant and the KFC on main 26th street.

The outlet is double-storied and offers a play area for children. 

The style of the menus reminds one of KFC.

There are many deals on offer for different family sizes.

I must admit this new outlet is spacious and probably worth the investment in the long run.

This is the downstairs reception area.

As I said, this outlet is huge and very family-friendly. This is the spacious upper floor.

The prices are fairly economical.

Kids's meals come with the usual toys.

We ordered these two deals: Deal 1 and Deal 2.

Parents can dine in peace because of the presence of a play area on the upper floor that entertains the young ones.

Take a look at the a la carte menu to check out the variety of food on offer

Deal 1 was for Rs 180: quarter fried chicken (2 pieces), French fries, dinner roll and a Coke.

Finger Fish for Rs 110 for the children. I have tried this more than once, and I must say that for a Biryani outlet, they sure make superb finger fish!

Chicken nuggets (6 pieces) with some fries for the children - Rs 140.
As good in quality as those found at the franchise with the golden arches. ;)

Deal 2, priced at Rs 240, included one regular plate of Student Chicken Biryani, raita, and...

....One (beef) Shami Kabab, one piece of fried chicken, and a Coke.

Daal Gosht - Rs 50.
Yup, for a biryani outlet, they offer lots of other great-tasting stuff at very economical prices.

Beef Nihari - Rs 80, and a chapati/roti in the background.

Plain Zarda (sweetened rice) for Rs 40

Verdict: Do I even need to say it? The biryani is awesome! And this, coming from someone who is not a particular fan of biryani, despite it being one of the most popular items in our local cuisine (judging from how it is an imperative part of the menu at every wedding). 

Student Biryani was always here to stay, but now it is wearing its crown with a bit more dash and zing! :)