Chatkharay Breakfast, Clifton Block 3

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Chatkharay needs no introduction for Karachi dwellers. 

A new branch of the eatery has opened it's doors in Clifton block 3, a stone's throw away from South City Hospital and located right next to Anjarwala's bakery and sweet shop.

Recently, the branch has undergone a much-advertised interior renovation. 

It serves breakfast all days of the week, starting 8 a.m.

You can see that it does look much better inside now. 

They advertise a daily brunch too, which is not a very elaborate affair, but when we arrived a few minutes after 8:00 a.m, there was no sign of the same. 

Better to call them ahead at 021-35874815-7 and ask.

Their menu at a glance. Take a look at the full menu here. 

When the weather gets really hot in Karachi, early morning breakfasts start gaining value over lunch outings (at least for our family), because we try to avoid the scorching midday heat.

Halwa puri standard fare. 

If you want to have halwa puri in an air-conditioned setting early on a weekday morning (and if you don't mind paying a bit extra for this), Chatkharay is a good option.

 The aaloo bhujia and cholay were very mildly spiced, with the puri's made and served fresh. None of us had any major complains.

Unlike that served every morning at Dera (Boat Basin), this aaloo bhujia had no scraps of potato peels in it.

Cheese paratha with cream cheese and chopped veggies inside. 

The red chilli chutney that came along with this paratha was awesome!

 As probably apparent, this was more than adequately filling....enough for 2 people! Leftovers were packed for later.

Pakistani omelet.

This was clearly prepared in haste, and we had to complain to the server that it was served last (even after the stuffed paratha - pictured below -and tea).

Nevertheless, the taste was pretty alright.

I forgot to photograph the mug of freshly blended sweet lassi, which was really good (we went for seconds).  

The doodh patti tea, however, could be easily given a pass (too many bits of cream floating on top of it.....meh).

Verdict: Worth it. Go enjoy an early-bird weekday breakfast before the midday heat sets in. The weather will be mild between 8 and 9 a.m. during the coming summer months.

Just beware: the beggars thronging this area rise early to start their job too. Sigh. :-/

Breakfast at Charming Snacks, Clifton

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

I have already blogged about how we enjoy dining at Charming Snacks at night; an eatery located on the main road outside the side lane leading into Delhi Colony, with the home store Habitt nearby.

Well, there is a small kiosk just behind Charming Snacks that serves lachchay-dar paratha's with omelets on weekend mornings (Saturdays and Sundays), which are very much like those available at the famous Quetta Alamgir Hotel on main Alamgir Road.

Since breakfast eating out is the rage of the day nowadays in Karachi, with many eateries now offering an early-bird menu for the hungry early risers, and also since the short winter daylight hours facilitate going out in the mornings on weekends, we decided to try out the anda paratha breakfast here.

2-egg omelet - Rs 40 (Rs 20 per egg)

This omelet was full of chopped onions and green chillies, just the way I like it. However, the generous topping of black pepper powder was something I could have easily done without.
Nevertheless, it was a good anda!

Lachcha (لچھےدار to be exact!) Paratha - Rs 15

Dotted with black kalonji (black cumin seeds), and slightly sweet, these paratha's are delivered to you so piping hot, that you need to really practice self-control otherwise your fingertips can get burned trying to break them apart before they have cooled down. Steam exudes as the crisp folds unleash their latent heat.

Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, these paratha's are made with white flour and tava-fried, so it is best to have them only once in a while.

And like all unhealthy foods, they taste absolutely divine with those omelets! :)

Ever since my other half has had a taste of these paratha's, he is the one who usually suggests we go to Alamgir Road or Charming Snacks for breakfasts on Sundays.

Called "pizza", this local dhaba "invention" comprises of the base of a lachcha paratha topped with an omelet - Rs 35 each.
Our children prefer these "pizzas" because they are less of a hassle than eating separate anda's with paratha's on hot plates balanced precariously on their laps in the car.

Doodhpatti Chai - Rs 20

I am not a big fan of our local dhaba-style doodhpatti chai, simply because it is almost always too sweet, and more often than not, it comes topped with a crust of thick "balai" (cream) on top, as you can see in the picture above.

However, I love how they serve it in ceramic cups! :) Strong (as you can see) and creamy (made with organic, "khula doodh" or un-packaged milk), it is best enjoyed by those who love a thick, slow and rich brew of tea.

Verdict: Easy on the pocket and a great option for chilly, wintery mornings, the lachchay-dar paratha's and "pizzas" available in this small kiosk behind Charming Snacks are a great option if you cannot go all the way to the crowded Alamgir Quetta Hotel on a weekend morning for breakfast.

The service is good and swift. Just do remember to take along hand sanitizers, tissues and a newspaper or two to place on your lap, as eating crisp and flaky paratha's in the car, on plates that are steaming hot at first, can get a tad messy!

This is desi naashta eating out at its best! :)

Halwa Puri Breakfast, Boat Basin, Clifton

Boat Basin has always been famous for the traditional halwa puri breakfast it offers on weekend mornings. Numerous eateries along the line that offer barbeque by night, open their doors early in the mornings on Saturdays and Sundays to offer rich but delicious delcacies to their customers.

Reportedly, the workers are up since 5 a.m to whisk up the breakfast items.

We arrived late, at 10:30 a.m, but breakfast was still going strong.

This is where we sat to dine; or rather, squatted.

School students and families were in abundance, especially groups of young teenaged lads.

Paratha, aloo bhaji and sooji (semolina) halwa. Obviously this kind of eating out is not for high-maintenance germophobes who can't 'get down and dirty' to rough it once in a while.:)

Omelette and puri's. Health-conscious salad-leaf nibblers, this breakfast is obviously not for you. ;)

Wash it down with hot doodh patti (strong, sweet tea brewed in milk).

Verdict: Dining alfresco in the cool morning breeze - a great option for an occasional family outing on weekend mornings! Try it some day.