The best Pakistani dishes
The top 3 according to 25 votes from people: Biryani · Nihari · Chapli kebab. (Updated Sep 9, 2026.)
Pakistan's most popular dishes, from Karachi biryani to Peshawar's chapli kebab, according to Very Hungry Nomads, Top Travel Sights and Pakistani food guides.
Top 12
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1
Biryani
Spiced rice layered with meat and potato; Sindhi and Karachi biryani are national obsessions.
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2
Nihari
Beef or mutton shank slow-cooked overnight, eaten for breakfast with naan in Lahore and Karachi.
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3
Chapli kebab
Flat spiced minced beef patties fried in fat, from Peshawar.
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4
Seekh kebab
Spiced minced meat grilled on skewers.
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5
Sajji
Whole lamb or chicken roasted on spits around a fire, from Balochistan.
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6
Paya
Slow-cooked trotters soup, a winter breakfast.
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7
Halwa puri
Fried puris with semolina halwa and chickpeas, the Sunday breakfast.
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8
Daal chawal
Lentils with rice, everyday comfort food.
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9
Saag with makki ki roti
Mustard greens with cornbread, from Punjab.
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10
Gol gappay
Crispy puris with tangy water, the street snack.
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11
Kheer
Rice pudding with cardamom and nuts.
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12
Chicken karahi
Chicken cooked fast in a wok-like karahi with tomatoes, chillies and ginger.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 12… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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13
Haleem
Wheat, lentils and meat pounded into a thick stew, popular in Ramadan.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (3)
Chicken karahi on the roadside dhaba, nothing beats it.
Nihari for breakfast in Lahore, old city style 🤤
Halwa puri on a Sunday morning, tradition.