The most famous karahi in Lahore is at Lakshmi Chowk, where Butt Karahi Tikka and Bhatti Karahi Tikka cook karahi to order late into the night. For BBQ with a view, eat on Fort Road Food Street facing Badshahi Mosque. Add Model Town’s kebabs, Lahori fried fish in Gawalmandi (a winter speciality) and Balochi sajji, and you have the Lahore BBQ trail for Basant nights.
لاہور کا باربی کیو اور کڑاہی
لاہور کی سب سے مشہور کڑاہی لکشمی چوک پر بٹ کڑاہی تکہ اور بھٹی کڑاہی تکہ کی ہے جو رات گئے تک کھلے رہتے ہیں۔ نظارے کے ساتھ باربی کیو کے لیے فورٹ روڈ فوڈ اسٹریٹ، ماڈل ٹاؤن کے کباب، گوالمنڈی کی لاہوری مچھلی اور بلوچی سجی بھی ضرور آزمائیں۔
BBQ and karahi spots at a glance
| Place | Area | Order | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butt Karahi Tikka | Lakshmi Chowk | Chicken and mutton karahi, makhni karahi | Late night |
| Bhatti Karahi Tikka | Lakshmi Chowk | Karahi tikka, a Lakshmi Chowk rival to Butt | Late night |
| Fort Road Food Street restaurants | Walled City | Tikka, seekh kebab, karahi with Badshahi Mosque views | Evening |
| Siddique Kebab Shop | D-Block Market, Model Town | Beef kebabs with tamarind chutney | Evening |
| Haji Sardar Fish | Gawalmandi | Lahori fried fish (best in winter) | Evening |
| Siddique Fish Corner | Near Railway Colony, not far from Gawalmandi | Fried river fish in mustard oil | Noon to late |
| Khalifa Balochi Sajji | Near Railway Colony | Charcoal-roasted chicken sajji | Dinner to late |
| Salt’n Pepper Village | MM Alam Road, Gulberg | Buffet with live BBQ and desi dishes | Lunch and dinner |
| Spice Bazaar | MM Alam Road and DHA Phase 6 | Regional Pakistani dishes and BBQ | Lunch and dinner |
Karahi: how Lahore does it
Lahori karahi is cooked in a heavy wok over high heat with tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green chillies, finished with butter or cream for makhni karahi. It is priced by weight: order half kg for two people or one kg for three to four, with naan or roti on the side.
| Order | What it means | اردو |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken karahi | The classic, usually by half or full kg | چکن کڑاہی |
| Mutton karahi | Richer and pricier; takes longer | مٹن کڑاہی |
| Makhni karahi | Finished with butter and cream | مکھنی کڑاہی |
| White karahi | Cooked with yoghurt and black pepper, no tomato | وائٹ کڑاہی |
| Namkeen karahi | Salt and pepper, Peshawari style | نمکین کڑاہی |
Lahori BBQ classics
- Chicken tikka and malai boti: everywhere from Fort Road to MM Alam Road.
- Seekh kebab and beef kebab: Model Town D-Block’s kebab shops serve them with tamarind chutney.
- Lahori chargha: whole spiced chicken, a Lakshmi Chowk speciality.
- Sajji: Balochi-style chicken roasted on skewers around coals.
- Fried fish: Lahore’s winter dish, in a gram flour and ajwain batter; Gawalmandi is the place.
کیا آرڈر کریں
کڑاہی وزن کے حساب سے ملتی ہے، دو افراد کے لیے آدھا کلو اور تین چار کے لیے ایک کلو منگوائیں۔ چکن تکہ، سیخ کباب، چرغہ، سجی اور سردیوں میں لاہوری مچھلی ضرور کھائیں۔
Tips for Basant nights
- After a day of kites, Lakshmi Chowk and Fort Road get packed from 9 PM. Go at 7 to 8 PM or book.
- For groups, call ahead to reserve a table and pre-order mutton karahi, which takes longer.
- Ask the price per kg before ordering; prices rise in festival weeks.
- Order fresh-off-the-grill items and avoid salads if you have a sensitive stomach.
- BBQ smoke and open fires on rooftops: keep them away from kite string and children.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best karahi in Lahore?
Lakshmi Chowk is the most famous, especially Butt Karahi Tikka and Bhatti Karahi Tikka.
سوال: لاہور کی بہترین کڑاہی کہاں ملتی ہے؟
لکشمی چوک پر، خاص طور پر بٹ کڑاہی تکہ اور بھٹی کڑاہی تکہ۔
How much karahi should I order?
Half a kg serves about two people and one kg about three to four, with naan.
Where can I eat Lahori fried fish?
Gawalmandi (Haji Sardar Fish) and the fish shops near Railway Colony. It is best in winter, so Basant season is perfect.
سوال: لاہوری مچھلی کہاں ملتی ہے؟
گوالمنڈی میں حاجی سردار فش اور ریلوے کالونی کے قریب۔ سردیوں میں اس کا مزہ دوگنا ہے۔
Is there BBQ with a view of Badshahi Mosque?
Yes. Fort Road Food Street restaurants serve tikka and karahi on rooftops facing the mosque.
Sources and updates
Last checked: 13 October 2026. Listings are based on long-running, widely reviewed Lahore food spots. Restaurants change hours, prices and branches, so confirm before you go. Have a favourite we missed? Tell us through the Contact page.