Chaaye Khana

I have been to Chaaye Khana at all possible times, after an early morning hike, for brunch, lunch, in the afternoon all the way to late evenings, and it’s always crowded, for good reason too! Few other places can match Chaaye Khana’s warm, welcoming ambiance, and food that has managed to maintain the same quality standard over the years. The generous use of dark wood, chocolate brown hues and brick facades makes the interior very cozy and comfortable.

I may have easily tried over half of the items on their menu simply because of how frequently I visit, and nothing really disappoints. From the very large selection of teas, the Chaaye Khana special is one of my favorites, served with condensed cardamom flavored milk. Clear teas and cold beverages are pretty good also. Breakfast is served all day (yay!) and is very satisfying, whether it’s the parathas, omelettes, the popular Garlic Mushroom on Toast, or the pancakes and crepes. 

Amongst the snacks, I absolutely love the assorted pakora basket that comes with a delicious chutney, the assorted samosas and the Buffalo wings. Quesadillas here, served with sour cream and salsa, are one of the better ones I’ve had anywhere in Islamabad. One of the most popular desserts at Chaaye Khana  is the French Toast, a delectable thick bread baked in-house that is crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside and sweet in a balanced way.

After a filling meal, the bill usually doesn’t give you a heart attack, which is terrific. Prices are reasonable and the overall experience will keep you coming back for more. I highly recommend a visit to anyone who hasn’t tried it yet.

Check out their full menu over here: https://www.chaayekhana.com/online-menu/

Kabul Restaurant

If you’re looking for great Afghani food in Islamabad, look no further. Kabul Restaurant in Jinnah Super Market F-7 has held thousands captive for years, with its mouth watering tikkas, kebabs and Kabuli Pulao. They’ve got everything going right for them, the food quality and taste, the location, the affordable prices. All of that keeps bringing customers back. Kabul in fact happens to be a favorite with tourists and visitors to the city as well, because of the food’s suitability for all kinds of palates.

I personally am quite a carnivore so whenever I’m in the mood to have meat, Kabul is my go-to place. My family has had a set menu for years, which comprises of beef tikkas and beef kababs, both of which are served on skewers, and Kabuli pulao, which is served with a beef and lentil gravy. These things have literally never let us down, the tikkas and kababs are always piping hot, tikka skewers with pieces of fat and kebabs with grilled tomatoes, all of which breakdown into an explosion of flavor in the mouth especially when you first dunk them into the mouthwatering green vinegar-based chutney that comes along with them. The Pulao, made using beef and garnished with caramelized carrots and raisins, is divine.

Kabul has both indoor and outdoor seating. The set up, furniture, interior etc are very rudimentary. Which is why though it may not be an ideal setting for an anniversary dinner, it is just perfect if you’re looking for a casual place to have a hearty, delicious meal at without paying a fortune. If you live in Islamabad you most likely have visited this gem of a place at least once, if you haven’t though, it’s a must try!

Check out their full menu over here: https://www.foodpanda.pk/restaurant/s9pf/kabul-restaurant

Burning Brownie

Burning Brownie is my favorite go-to hangout spot whether it is for a quick coffee, work, a meeting or a meal. This café has really got its stuff right, whether it’s their salads, sandwiches or desserts, everything on their limited menu is perfectly delicious.  The warehouse-ish interior of both their cafes, the one in F11 and that in Blue Area, is very chic and modern. The ambience is energetic, making it a favorite place for young people to work out of or just hang out.

My favorite item on their menu is the Green and Healthy salad, a delightful mix of greens, juicy Granny Smith apples, sundried tomatoes, grapes, chicken cubes, walnuts, pine nuts and grated parmesan. The tangy vinaigrette dressing, the composition of which is a mystery to me, is just perfect! The only other salad is the Noodles and Beef Salad, which is also great, and you can order a combination of both salads as another option. Since I go there so often I’ve tried almost every sandwich on their menu, the grilled cheese, the grilled vegetarian, the grilled chicken/beef, all are served with a portion of salad and air roasted potatoes, and all are delectable

Dessert at Burning Brownie does not disappoint either. The chocolate mint and chocolate orange pastries are silky and melt in one’s mouth, their sweetness level just right. BB is known for its cheesecakes, including their original Ras Malai cheese cake. A recent addition to the menu is the French Toast, loaded with chocolaty goodness and served with whipped cream on the side. Burning Brownie has fairly reasonable prices so is not heavy on the pocket. The overall experience there is always satisfactory.

Check out their full menu over here: https://www.hifood.pk/menu/burning-brownie_f-11

Asian Wok

The latest Asian restaurant that has taken the capital by is Asian Wok. Hidden in the basement of Beverly Centre in Islamabad, Asian Wok promises an experience from the moment you step in. The fact that the restaurant is owned and run by the Monal group raises one’s expectations, but they really live up to those expectations too.

For starters, the décor is stunning. You enter the space and it is inevitable to see the effort that went into planning the design, aesthetics, furniture, colour combinations, influence of Asian culture, cherry blossoms and the perfect lighting. Guests are served a complimentary mint margarita and crackers when they place their order to enjoy/pass the time until their food arrives. From the appetizer menu, we tried the Sesame Honey Chili Chicken and the Stuffed Chili Prawns. Both the dishes stood out in their taste and left us craving for more.

Among the mains, we tried the safe and simple Chicken Manchurian, Chicken in Hot Garlic Sauce, Mongolian Chicken and the Szechuan Fish. I was utterly disappointed by the Chicken Manchurian; it seemed bland and a little too orange, but the rest of the main courses made up for it. Chicken in Hot Garlic Sauce was a breath of fresh air, which had stir fried chicken with onions, green chilies, capsicum, red carrots flavoured in an interestingly spicy garlic sauce. Mongolian Chicken was a similar blend of ingredients with beet sprouts in an entirely different sauce and Mongolian spices.

We also tried the Molten Lava Cake and the Bread Pudding, and both looked so beautiful that touching them felt like destroying pieces of art. To ensure you have a great end to your experience, Asian Wok served a complimentary and delicious cup of green tea, which shows the effort they put into making your experience memorable. I’d suggest you try Asian Wok because If you haven’t yet, you’re missing out.

Check out their full menu over here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/asianwokpk/menu/?ref=page_internal

Doka Mocca

If someone asks me a place for good Panini, I recommend Doka Mocca without even a second thought. Without a doubt I can claim their Panini’s to be the best one’s across twin cities. This place and I go back to the high school days, when there were little or no go-to places for inexpensive breakfast and brunching in my school’s vicinity.

Four years later, they have managed to maintain the exact same taste, hygiene standards, servings, and more surprisingly: Prices! It isn’t a super fancy place, at a super fancy location with a super fancy menu. Nevertheless, they’ve managed to keep things exciting. Visited there a few days back and both the Crazy and Jalapeño panini were divine. Filled with a fine amount of chicken, mayo, cheese and dressings. Not only was the taste delightful but the quantity was also enough to satisfy one individual. The chocolate thick shake was sweet and appealing. The sweetness was accurate and had a fine blend of all the ingredients.

There are just 4-5 tables including the quaint and cozy bamboo huts in an all outdoor seating. It's a beautiful, small and cozy outdoor setting that adds to the tasty food. Service is friendly but remember everything is cooked, so the serving time could be long anywhere between 30-40 mins. Doka Mocca has been polishing and mastering its down-to-the-basics, quintessential drunk-food sort of menu over the years, offering better value for money than most of the competition. By the way, Total bill for Paninis, French fries and a Chocolate Shake came out to be slightly less than Rs.1000.

Check out their full menu over here: https://www.facebook.com/DOKAMOCCA/photos/a.191740477632182/197005530439010/?type=3&theater

BBQ Bazaar

Ramzan is here, searching for an amazing place to have iftar with your family? BBQ bazar, located in F-7 Markaz Islamabad, is the place to go!

This restaurant was suggested to me by my friend for iftar with my family. I decided to go and check this place out yesterday and I must say its a delightful place to visit with your family and friends. They have very simple furniture and a very plain look, which is quite refreshing. They also have a little area for outside sitting. 

Now the food part: in their iftar menu there were a lot of items you have like 9 items in their iftar menu, 4 items in salads, 3 in drinks, 9 items in dinner and 4 in desserts . The taste of the food was good overall, but their service was perfect because there can be a lot of haphazardness in iftar timing but they managed it very well and served their customers successfully. 

Our whole bill was about 6k which I must say is worth paying for having an amazing iftar with lots of variety. One more thing, if you do not have Ramzan buffet you can have 15% discount on your bill. So hurry up before it's too late.

Check out their full menu over here: https://www.foodpanda.pk/restaurant/t6qq/bbq-bazaar

Roasters

The only time to eat diet food is when you are waiting for your steak to cook. Roasters is known for its best steaks in town. This restaurant is located in F-7, Jinnah super market, Islamabad. They along with lunch and dinners, provide breakfasts too. Craving for pancakes in the morning? 

Roasters is on the go. You are going to get all types of waffles in the restaurant including Belgian waffles, Banana Fosters waffles, Chocolate Hazelnut waffle and many more. Also, in winters you can get best soups around here. One of their soups is Chicken Asparagus soup which is served in a bowl made out of bread, how unique is that. Now, not making you wait anymore and coming towards the best steaks in town. 

They provide you with eight different types of steaks including Moroccon steak, Wild Mushroom steak, Tarragon steak, Béarnaise steak, South-Western steak, Tenderloin Barbecue Sauce, Mediterranean steak, Grilled Teriyaki Beef Tenderloin. Every steak is served with sautéed vegetables and either baked potatoes, mashed potatoes or French fries. All of these steaks taste like heaven. I promise you won’t regret making a decision of eating at roasters. And if you are not a steak lover they also provide you with a wide range of burgers and chicken dishes, pastas, sandwiches, salads, seafood and beverages. It’s a must try.

Enough about food, what makes a restaurant perfect is good food accompanied with its good service. The restaurant has well trained staff who would guide you to your desired area of sitting, take your order and come back with your delicious food within 20 minutes maximum.

If you’ve chosen roasters they won’t disappoint you, neither with food nor with its prices. It cares for its customers and gives them 50% off on the second person. Which means if you buy 2 courses you will get the other one at 50%. Isn’t it worth going? And yes, you need not to worry anymore about celebrating birthdays of your loved ones. Because roasters will give you free décor also. I love to go to roasters, do you?

Check out their full menu over  here: https://www.facebook.com/RoastersCoffeeHouse/app/117784394919914/