Biryani Centre, 26th Street, Defence phase 5

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Biryani Centre is a vintage fixture on main 26th Street in DHA phase 5, just behind the prominent petrol pump, a location that is also known as Tauheed commercial.

It now has reasonably clean and spacious dining halls for dine-in. 

Different types of fried fish have been recently added to the menu. 

Like I said, clean and spacious, with prominent menus on the walls. 

There is no air conditioning. 

And stray cats might stealthily graze your legs during the meal (which we don't really mind). 

The whole menu at a glance. Economical is the word!

Click here to get a closer look at the menu.

The recently added seafood menu items. 

Single chicken biryani - Rs 140

Fish finger, single plate - Rs 180

Puri paratha's and chapati's

Regular/single serving of chicken haleem, with accompanying garnishes- Rs 90

As you can see, the prices are easy on the wallet. The sum total of this bill equals the cost of a single-person meal at one of the foreign food franchises. 

Verdict: The food is really good, especially the fish! This is dhaba-style, no-frills desi-food dining at its traditional best.

The Pakistani culinary experience can never be complete without our quintessential, old-school, timeless favorites: biryani and haleem. 

All I can say is that I'm glad Biryani Centre (and it's lesser known fraternal twin, Haleem Centre) is still thriving after all these years, at the same location, without having been upgraded to a "classier" (and hence more expensive) eatery.

Contact numbers: +92-21-35838582, +92-21-35865137

Nursery Fish Point, Nursery, off main Shahrah-e-Faisal

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ 

Someone recently informed us about one of Karachi's well-kept culinary secrets:

a small, make-shift kiosk off main Shahrah-e-Faisal called Nursery Fish Point, that does delicious, fresh fried fish at affordable rates.

It is located in the side lane off main Shahrah-e-Faisal just in front of the prominent HBL (Habib Bank Limited) building that is almost directly opposite Hotel Faran, which is located right across from it on the other side of the main double road. Hard to miss.

A few street lights illuminate three stalls that discreetly start doing business soon after sundown every day, five days a week. 

The chicken soup selling stall is visible in the picture above.

And this is the main fish-selling stall that does good business. 

The third, Haleem stall (titled "Tasty Haleem") is visible to its right. 

Ad-hoc, make-shift roadside seating arrangements are present around these three kiosks. 

Very few vehicles pass along these dimly-lit lanes at night.

The masala-marinated boneless fish fillets are visible in the large tray above.

You can avail these fillets without masala too, if you want them mild in taste, by specifying this to the seller before they are fried. We opted for masala-less fish for our children.

One-fourth (quarter) kilogram of Finger Fish (a single plate) costs Rs 150

Both White Pomfret and Black Pomfret are available, priced at around Rs 600-700 per kilogram. One kilo yields 2-3 fish. 

They also have Mushka. 

The kiosk is boldly titled "Nursery Fish Point" in Urdu.

Chicken Soup with boiled egg topping - Rs 25

It is hard to believe that such a satisfying bowl of chicken soup can cost so less. Alhamdulillah! I preferred it without the boiled egg.

Single plate of Finger Fish (sans masala) (1/4 kg, or quarter kilogram) - Rs 150

Double plate of Finger Fish - Rs 300

You can see the masala sprinkled on top of the fillets.
The fish was fresh, tasty and really tender. 

Chapati's -Rs 10 each

Chicken Haleem, Rs 35

This was the best haleem I have had in a long time! It had the sticky-strand texture that is reminiscent of haleem's prepared on slow fires in days of yore, without the help of any modern-day short-cuts, such as blenders and food processors. 

Verdict: This is quintessential Karachi street-food dining at its best! Need more be said? Its winter! Go grab that piping hot soup, fish and haleem during the current breezy, chilly Karachi winter nights, before the sweltering summer sets in. :)