Royal Snacks, Sindhi Muslim

Royal Ice and Spice is a restaurant located right opposite the Bundoo Khan and Roasters outlets on main Sindhi Muslim. 

It is situated right next to Hyder's. 

You can clearly see the windows of the dining area on the first floor of Royal in this shot.

This review is pretty late, because we have been eating here for a few years, mostly while parked in the car in front of the eatery, which made it difficult to photograph the food.

Royal offers a variety of popular food, including Chinese, at affordable rates.
The portion size is extremely good value for money.

For rolls, I would recommend you stick to the popular joints in Defence/Clifton. I had a kabab roll once at Royal, and did not find it up to the mark.

Besides Chinese, barbecue, shawarma, soup, fried chicken (known better locally as "broast"), chaat/pani puri and rolls, Royal also offers ice cream, fresh juices and shakes that are actually quite delicious.

I have tried their cold coffee too, and liked it.

We mostly go for the deals at Royal.

You can see that the prices are - especially for Karachi dwellers living in the so-called "posh" areas -  to die for. The taste and quality of food at Royal is so good.

Chicken Burger, Rs 120.

Deal 2: Chicken Crispy Burger, Crispy Chicken Piece and French Fries, for Rs 205.
A soft drink came with this too.

Deal 7: Chicken Reshmi Kababs, puri paratha's and a soft drink - for only Rs 150.
Whenever I order this, I have to get 2 leftover kababs packed to be taken home, since the portion size is so ample.

One more shot of the food, with camera flash. :)

Verdict: I really like eating at Royal Snacks, even if we have to usually do that in the car, like most other families that park themselves in their cars in front of the eatery to dine there at night. Royal Snacks has a sitting area for families on the upper floor, and a more cramped one on the ground floor. The service done by waiters to the diners seated outside in their cars is quick and efficient.

Waheed Kabab House, Burns Road

Waheed Kebab House located on a side lane just off main Burns Road needs no formal introduction. It is very famous for its "fry kebabs".

If you want to get to Waheed from main Burns Road, turn left into the lane that has this shop on its corner.

There it is - on the broken, uneven road, amid all the pedestrian crowds, traffic, smog, overflowing sewers and open-air vendors selling fried fish, amrati, and french fries. Can't miss it. :)

They do not have hand-held menus, just a rate list placed strategically on the wall. Here it is in Urdu. Topping the list: a variety of Nihari's.

 

Then come the kebabs and other meaty fare. 

 

The same rate list is printed prominently on another placard, this time in English.

The prices are fairly reasonable.

 The main dining hall downstairs.

 

The relatively more private and small "family hall" upstairs.

It was fairly clean, very similar to the upstairs portion at Cafe Chullu Subhani.

Chicken Kebab plate, Rs 130.

The Fry Kebabs that Waheed is very famous for, priced also at Rs 130 per plate.

Succulent puri paratha, served piping hot.

Complimentary green chutney and chopped red onions.

Roti or chapati is also available as the more healthy choice.

The Fry Kebabs are made of beef mince, fried in butter, not ghee, as the waiter confirmed.
They were out of this world! 

The owner confirmed that this is the item most ordered by diners at Waheed.

The regular Chicken Kebabs were also tender and mildly spiced.

Incidentally, on the main crossing on Burns Road where you turn left to reach Waheed Kebab House, lies Delhi Rabri House, a vintage dessert place very famous for its timeless Rabri.

For those who have a penchant for traditional Pakistani/Indian desserts, Delhi Rabri House is a heaven!

They offer timeless classic desi delights such as kulfi falooda, ras malai, gulab jaman's, doodh dulari (whatever that is), kheer, shahi tukray, gajar ka halwa, and even Rabri ice cream!

If you peer closely enough, perhaps you can read the Urdu menu printed on the placard pictured above. 

My significant other went in to get Rabri,  but decided to have a plate of Shahi Tukray topped with rabri instead. This plate cost Rs 60.

Sheer indulgence! This stuff is not just sweet, but also rich.

This cup-full of Rabri ice cream - a relatively newer offering - priced at Rs 50, was definitely one of the best ice creams I have ever had! There were bits of khoya in it that made the brownish delicacy even more enjoyable.

Burns Road seems to be attracting investors with the passage time. This building houses a Food Centre, smack in the middle of the main road, and has an air-conditioned, more elegant interior and ambiance, while most of the vintage restaurants retain their traditional flavor as well as look.

I have heard stories of how some Pakistani's settled abroad since decades go directly to Burns Road for a bite to eat as soon as they set foot into their cars at the airport. Now I know why.

Waheed is a must-try, particularly if you like kebabs or nihari. 

Try to have a light breakfast and lunch on the day you plan on visiting it though, because you just might be really tempted to pop in for some traditional desserts at the inviting restaurants right across the road after you are done with dinner!

Jan's Broast, Clifton

I have memories of eating fried chicken during my childhood at the extremely crowded Jan's Broast outlet in main Saddar, Karachi.

Clifton now also has a big, brightly lit outlet of Jan's Broast near Hanging Gardens Apartments.

Lots of light bulbs adorn this eatery at night.
I think this extravagant usage of electricity is preposterous, considering the grave energy crisis in our city.

The restaurant has self-service like KFC/McDonald's.

The menu comprises of fast food and barbecue items, with chicken broast ruling the roost. If you peer closely at the above picture, you'll be able to read the items.
Their fried fish is actually quite good.

This outlet is airy and spacious.

This branch of Jan's also has a family-only room next to the staircase on one side. 

This is the outdoor seating area, situated under the canopy of light bulbs.

Club Sandwich for Rs 150

French Fries

This was a peculiar item. Called Grilled Chicken Vegi Steak, at first it looked mysteriously like half of a Chicken Tikka.
When I tore off the upper pieces of barbecued chicken, the inside unleashed steamed potatoes and peas. Interesting. If only the chicken had been grilled as stated, and not barbecued, it would have been quite perfect.
Its price was Rs 215.

Puri paratha's. 

Verdict: Jan's is a popular outlet that does thriving business. Broast is its prime offering. The rates are quite reasonable.

Noorani Kabab House, Shahrah-e-Quaideen, PECHS

Located on the crossing between main Shahrah-e-Quaideen and Khalid Bin Waleed Road in Block 2, PECHS, is a famous BBQ restaurant called Noorani Kabab House. 

As soon as you arrive, the rhythmic sound of kata-kat greets the ears. 

Noorani Kabab House is famous for its kata-kat.

The difference in prices here, from the eateries in the Defence/Clifton area of Karachi, is absolutely astounding!
We know that if you order 4 mutton chops at BBQ Tonite, they cost well over Rs 400! But here they cost just Rs 180.
Notice how they also serve you butter separately if you choose to order some. Yes, this place is definitely not recommended for those who are on a restricted diet, or those who have heart disease. Brain Masala, for example, costs just Rs 240, as shown below. :)

The menu includes many appetizing dishes for meat eaters. 

We decided to eat on the roof, under the open sky, as the weather was very pleasant.

Diners can eat alfresco in the area downstairs as well.

Beef Bihari Kabab for Rs 170. The quantity was more than enough for two adults.

Chicken Kabab (4 per plate), for Rs 150.
Can you believe the economical prices?!
Both kind of kababs tasted out of this world! The chicken kababs were really very tender and mildly spiced. 

My family cannot leave a restaurant after dinner if they spot kheer on the menu, without having it for dessert.
This was a small bowl of Zafrani Kheer, priced at only Rs 50.
It was very creamy and not too sweet; hence, even I had a spoonful or two, despite not being a big fan of kheer.

Our total bill, including two puri paratha's, two chapati's, two soft drinks, and one bowl of zafrani kheer, came to Rs 474. There was no tax. (!)
It is quite amazing how a whole full meal in this joint costs as much as a single main meat entree in the other expensive eateries of Karachi.

Brain Masala priced at Rs 240, photographed on a subsequent visit.
Heart patients and those who have high cholesterol or blood pressure, please avoid this yummy but fat-laden dish!

Mutton Champ Masala for Rs 180.
It is a bit unbelievable that a good mutton dish could cost less than Rs 200 anywhere in Karachi nowadays, what with the crazy price hike driving up meat prices every few weeks.

Puri paratha's, for Rs 25 each. Just the right combination of crispiness and softness.

Noorani Kabab House is definitely on my must-visit-again list of eateries. Wonder what took us so long to visit this place, considering the fact that raving reviews of both Al-Kabab and Al-Ghaffar Kabab House nearby made us visit them promptly, but even though we passed by Noorani Kabab House many times, we didn't consider eating here?

It offers really good value for money, unlike the overpriced meaty fare we usually eat otherwise. The meat is tender and tastes just great!