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A tweet claimed Karachi's food is the best in Pakistan and Lahoris have a lot to say about this

A tweet claimed Karachi's food is the best in Pakistan and Lahoris have a lot to say about this

Will Twitter finally be able to settle the age-old debate on which city does biryani better?
08 Jul, 2021

Folks on Twitter are at it again. They've triggered the ancient and unsolvable debate of who does biryani better, Karachi or Lahore. When Twitter user Usama Khawar posted about his preference for Karachi food — specifically biryani — as a Lahori himself, quite a few people were left scandalised.

"As a Lahori I'm ashamed to admit Karachi is Mecca of food in Pakistan," he wrote. "Lahore doesn't have anything on Karachi. An ordinary biryani at [the] Sindh High Court cafeteria is better than [the] best biryanis of Lahore, except perhaps Waqas Biryani — some say Waqas's is not a biryani," he wrote on Twitter.

He acknowledged that the idea was hard to digest but Khawar stood his ground. "Difficult to accept that Lahori food is inferior! Please don't rub it in my face!" he pleaded.

It wasn't long before people poured in with their passionate points of view. There were quite a few who supported Khawar's assertions.

But not everyone agreed with Khawar's claims.

Then there was the party who took a more intellectual approach to the matter. "Biryani is better in Karachi", a participating debater replied. "Maybe a couple of other dishes. But overall Lahore has better food."

This was enough to open the floodgates and the debate spread to other food items as well. Enter Nihari. Karachi might do biryani better but there's no beating Lahore's nihari, in their opinion.

As the debate went on, other cities started to feel a little left out. Folks from Peshawar threw their hats in the ring as well.

Then there was one city that absolutely no one favoured when it comes to food. Even the city's own folks couldn't put up a fight. Our heart goes out to the food scene in Islamabad.

The conversion currently ongoing on Twitter has us pretty entertained but we've got to side with Khawar on this one. There is nothing like a steaming plate of biryani to make your day and that biryani can only be had in Karachi. In your opinion which city has the best food?

Comments

Adam Jul 08, 2021 03:53pm
Karachi needs to get its act together. From what I know, a lot of the "Karachites" are increasingly moving to lahore. Keep your biryani!
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Khalid Mehmood Jul 08, 2021 03:56pm
Silly to see Karachi and Lahore fight over Lucknow origin cuisine dishes. By this silly fight we give legitamacy to MQM that we still havent embraced those who came and brought their language, clothes, cuisine in 1947.
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M. Saeed Jul 08, 2021 04:07pm
Unfortunately, Karachiites are seriously envious of anything Lahori. They are even envious of the smiles on the faces of Lahoris.
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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan Jul 08, 2021 04:30pm
Every city has its own unique taste. I have tried food in almost all parts of Pakistan but there is no doubt I personally find the taste of food in Urban Sindh (Karachi and Hyderabad) is far superior then other parts of our beautiful country.
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Asad Jul 08, 2021 04:50pm
In a nut shell, Karachi is the Best.
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SM Zahid Ali Jul 08, 2021 04:56pm
Well, this a endless debate because it is hard to decide which city has edge. All cities of our beloved country has some Specialty e.g Karachi : Baryani , Nehari Lahore : Charga , Chane Peshawar : Mutton Karahi
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Fastrack Jul 08, 2021 04:59pm
Peshawar food is lovely. And just try Quetta's mutton. Sublime x2!
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Abdullah Jul 08, 2021 05:03pm
So sad to see that people of own country are fighting and giving comments on the food of the country.... If we all will fight like this than how can we win against others.... So sad to see this we should atleast feel a little guilty.
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Hassan Ilyas Jul 08, 2021 05:08pm
@Adam why would anyone live a thriving metropolitan city like Karachi for a small town. like city Lahore? Furthermore. Karachi is the financial and entertainment hub whats there in Lahore??? Why would anyone move there.lol anyways keep dreaming.
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Hassan Ilyas Jul 08, 2021 05:10pm
@M. Saeed go and get your eyes tested. The guy making this comment is from Lahore. We never claim jinne katachi nahi wekhiya o jamiya nai..it was always lahoris who are always under complex.
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Umair Jul 08, 2021 05:17pm
Following westerners and using word "Mecca" is not appropriate.He could have used another word.
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Ali Mehdi Jul 08, 2021 05:22pm
There’s no doubt the quality n variety one can get in karachi is superb. I’ve tried food not just in Pakustan but in many Indian restaurants in UAE plus plus plus. Karachi is the best place for foodies. Haleem biryani nihari kebabs parathe OMG. I better keep my age in mind.
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Baqir Hasnain Sayyed Jul 08, 2021 06:04pm
You need to see complete picture. Karachi culture and food scene is infant as compared to the rich history of lahore. لہور لہور اے
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Algoritmi Jul 08, 2021 06:09pm
I can see in comments, how people started a new conversation and rubbing mud on people who do not belong to their own city. Guys/Gals, positive rivalry is ok like PSL but please do not take this conversation to somewhere else. Ask us who live overseas, we only know a restaurant can only be Pakistani (not Lahori or Karachiite) and we find Biryani or Nihari taste the same in every food place here (courtesy of Shan masala)
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Ali Hassan Jul 08, 2021 06:18pm
@M. Saeed Haha. Ghalee is the part of your language.
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Hesus Oieway Jul 08, 2021 06:24pm
@Adam some statement, “a lot”. Anecdotal evidence isn’t fact.
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Rami Jul 08, 2021 07:12pm
Pakistani needs to build a culture of inclusion, foods bring peoples together, if certain dishes are better in one part of the country then that should be a reason to go there and build friendship and enjoy the food! Do not build exclusive clubs that divide humanity! All are Pakistani, should be point!
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well-wisher Jul 08, 2021 07:30pm
Every kitchen cooks differently. Food prepared with love always tastes better.
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Hasan Malik Jul 08, 2021 08:12pm
It is not about the food but the quality of food that matters The average height of both Karachites and Lahoris is decreasing. I have met many Karachi guys whose average is not more than 5 feet 6 inches. Same is the case with Lahoris, whereas in my family that is living in a remote village our average height is increasing with every generation. So the food of both cities is not good. You can get good quality and fresh food in villages only now a days.
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Javid abbas Jul 08, 2021 10:59pm
The only dish available in Lahore was Murgh chohle,. This was or is national dish of Lahore.
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Zulfiqar Jul 09, 2021 05:05am
@well-wisher quote of the day!
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Kiwi Jul 09, 2021 07:11am
I agree it is. Karachi offers the best cuisine in Pakistan. It has a wide variety of food from different regions of the land.
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Syed Jilani Jul 09, 2021 08:43am
Karachi is karachi, Lahore is Lahore... Lahore is all about Murgh chole ........ Karachi is all about Biryani, Nihari ,qorma, Shahi tukre, kheer ... and so on ........ period...
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Syed Jilani Jul 09, 2021 08:44am
I like pakistani food
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Syed Jilani Jul 09, 2021 08:46am
I love murgh chorley, but Karachi food is world famous
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Syed Jilani Jul 09, 2021 08:55am
Karachi is and will guide you always I food ,fashion, sense, education and culture... so please come out from the field and see the urban city and world...
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Stargazer Jul 09, 2021 10:20am
Just check how many Karachiites live in Lahore, and then check how many Lahoris live in Karachi, and you will know which place is better.
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M. Saeed Jul 09, 2021 12:00pm
@Khalid Mehmood, they only brought "Paan" when they came to Karachi after partition.
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Lar Jul 09, 2021 12:24pm
Sad to see people fighting over food taste. People need to grow up and focus on major problems impacting the nation.
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Sara Jul 09, 2021 12:57pm
@Kiwi Agree. Karachi offers variety of tasty food from different regions of our enemy neighbour country, unlike Lahore.
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Faisal Ahmad Jul 09, 2021 04:13pm
Iam a karachiite living in lahore, and i agree that lahori food is infact inferior, not only in regards to biryani, but food overall isnt great, if its great its overly expensive. Lahoris go for quantity rather than quality. Chicken prevails here, where as beef doesnt exist except for in posh restaurants. If its not in a posh restaurant , its not beef, lol. Mutton is very expensive, and servings are small. Lahoris love their chicken. Chicken all the way. There isnt any thing special about lahori food, sorry guys. They dont even have beef behari kababs here. Or bunkababs, or hunter beef, or beef sanwiches, or rabri, or biryani, or fresh prawns or a variety of marine food, and the list goes on and on.
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Faisal Ahmad Jul 09, 2021 04:18pm
@M. Saeed I see it the other way around here. Every modern civilised thing that lahoris have, they've copied from karachiites, you guys didnt have home delivery services before covid. Lol. Lahoris copy karachiite in every aspects of their lives.
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Danish Jul 09, 2021 04:57pm
Nothing can beat the Bihari kabab of Karachi. It is the best meat kabab, in my opinion.
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M. Saeed Jul 09, 2021 06:33pm
@Stargazer no need checking. At partition in 1947, Lahore Population was over 2 million, while Karachi's population was just 350,000. Then, Karachi was called jewel of Asia whose roads were washed every morning with water tankers and team of sweepers. Now Karachi is one of the world's most unlivable cities.
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SSA Jul 09, 2021 07:04pm
@Khalid Mehmood Refreshing thought; actually from what I have noticed the locals, be it Punjabis or Sindhis but not so much pashtoons and Baluchis have an inferiority complex against those who come in 1947, and manned all ministries and had a very honest culture, my father was Chairman enemy property board as a federal CSP secretary , he could have been a dollar billionaire if he was as dishonest as the current crop; The day he died we didn't have a roof over our head.
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Hanzala Jul 09, 2021 10:13pm
@Khalid Mehmood Yes and the people who can't even pronounce this dishes correctly fight over them
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Sahar Misbah Jul 10, 2021 02:06am
@M. Saeed Nobody's envious of anyone!!! Don't spread hate!!! Ever city has its own distinctive characteristics in numerous spheres... Therefore no need to entertain hate if that's what you did fathom achieving...
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Sameer Jul 10, 2021 08:38am
@Khalid Mehmood Yes its a fact Karachi people who migrated in 47 and after have superior culture to other ethnic groups in Pakistan dont blame it on name of MQM
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Alvi Jul 10, 2021 11:49am
No doubt Lahoris have no sense of taste they prefer just quantity not quality, karachi is multi cultural city no competition with any other city in any sense.
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Alvi Jul 10, 2021 11:50am
@Adam old theory bro nobody wants to move Lahore or any other city
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Alvi Jul 10, 2021 11:52am
@M. Saeed it's your opinion or any experience the truth is karachi walay don't bother
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AJ Jul 10, 2021 04:00pm
Karachi is the melting pot of Pakistan with all the ethnicities living and working together. Hence, it is the hub of all the famous cuisines.
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Jazz Jul 10, 2021 04:08pm
Why the outrage over this? A person from Lahore has made this claim based on this experience. Obviously, all kinds of people reside in Karachi and they bring their cultures and cuisines to the metropolitan city. It is a testament to the openness of the city without undermining other cities. However, the infrastructure and municipal services of Karachi are degrading. Very unfortunate to see governments extracting large revenues from the city, but not investing in it.
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Syed Mohsin Rizvi Jul 10, 2021 05:38pm
I live in Lahore and won't hesitate to admit that food in Karachi is by far superior in taste. In Lahore Chaney naan is available everywhere. Biryani no comparison, Nihari and Haleem no comparison. Lahore is way back in comparison to Karachi. Chinese food is by far tasty in Karachi. When ever I go to Karachi I find 5 to 10 new restaurants opened. Delicious food. I love Lahore but Karachi's food is incomparable.
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Yousuf Jul 12, 2021 06:53pm
@M. Saeed Man, you are obsessed with karachiites, just relax take a deep breath and njoy ur side of biryani. Love from Karachi.
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