Anarkali food is cheap, quick and eaten standing up or at plastic tables. The heart of it is the Old Anarkali food street, opened in 2002 as Lahore's second food street after Gawalmandi, where you will find fruit shakes and pani puri at Hafiz Juice Corner, falooda at Riaz, broast and karahi at Yasir Broast, and chanay stalls for breakfast. Go in the morning for chanay or after sunset for snacks, and walk rather than drive.
This guide is about eating in Anarkali. For the shopping side, bargaining and getting there, see our Anarkali Bazaar guide.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Old Anarkali, off Mall Road near Neela Gumbad and the Lahore Museum |
| Food street opened | February 2002, Lahore's second after Gawalmandi |
| Best known for | Fruit shakes, pani puri, falooda, broast, chanay, karak chai |
| Best times | 7 am to 10 am for chanay; 6 pm onwards for snacks |
| Nearest metro | Orange Line, Anarkali station |
| Cost | Among the cheapest eating in central Lahore |
Where is the Anarkali food street?
Anarkali Bazaar runs off Mall Road between Neela Gumbad and the old city. Old Anarkali is the older, northern stretch, and its food street is lined with small restaurants, juice shops and stalls. New Anarkali is mostly shopping, with Bano Bazaar for clothes and jewellery.
The food street was inaugurated in February 2002 (Dawn), after Gawalmandi had become Lahore's first food street. It is less polished than Fort Road and less famous than Gawalmandi, but it is busy every evening with students from the nearby colleges, shoppers and families.
What should you eat in Anarkali?
Hafiz Juice Corner
Hafiz Fruit and Juice Corner, at the end of Old Anarkali, has been running since 1960 and is the stop most people make first. It is known for fruit shakes, pani puri with tamarind water, and chana chaat, and visitors also mention its pineapple and khoya milkshakes. The Friday Times (May 2025) suggests going around 6 pm, when the evening crowd starts.
Riaz Falooda
Riaz Falooda in Old Anarkali is one of the city's best-known falooda and kulfi names, and it is still trading and listed on delivery apps. Falooda here means vermicelli, rose syrup, basil seeds and kulfi or ice cream, served in a tall glass. It is the dessert to end an Anarkali evening on; our kulfi and falooda guide has the rest of the city's options.
Yasir Broast
Yasir Broast's Old Anarkali branch, at 40 Tourist Street on the food street, is a sit-down family restaurant serving its broast, karahi and desi dishes, and it also does breakfast. It is the most comfortable option here if you are with children or older parents.
Waris and the karahi houses
Locals point to Waris on the food street for nihari and desi food. For karahi, Lakshmi Chowk is a short rickshaw ride away; see our guide to karahi in Lahore.
Chanay for breakfast
Anarkali is also a breakfast stop. Ghulam Rasool Chanay Wala at Neela Gumbad, at the bazaar's Mall Road end, has served chicken and mutton chanay since 1948. Saleem Butt Mutton Chanay, a cart on Ganpat Road, runs only from about 7 to 10 am, and Goga Naqeebia has an Anarkali branch. Our guide to chanay in Lahore covers these and the walled city stalls.
Tea and biscuits
A few shops behind Hafiz Juice Corner, a takeaway tea stall serves strong karak chai, which The Friday Times describes as open round the clock. At the New Anarkali end, S. Mohkam-ud-Din and Sons is a bakery said to be about 145 years old, known for its biscuits. Our guide to chai in Lahore has more tea stops.
When should you go?
Anarkali has two food rushes. The first is breakfast, from about 7 to 10 am, when the chanay stalls and halwa puri shops are busiest. The second starts around sunset and runs late, when the snack stalls, juice shops and restaurants fill up.
Weekends and the days before Eid are the most crowded, because shoppers and diners compete for the same lanes. In summer, go after dark; in winter, the evenings are pleasant for walking, though smog can be heavy from November.
How do you get there?
Walk or take public transport. Parking around Anarkali is difficult, and the lanes are too narrow and crowded to drive in at peak times. The Orange Line's Anarkali station is a short walk away, and rickshaws and ride-hailing cars can drop you on Mall Road or at Neela Gumbad.
A good plan is to visit the Lahore Museum on Mall Road in the afternoon, walk into Old Anarkali for a shake and pani puri as the light goes, and finish with falooda.
Tips for eating in Anarkali
- Carry cash in small notes. Most stalls do not take cards.
- Choose busy stalls. High turnover means fresher food.
- Be careful with ice and cut fruit in summer if your stomach is sensitive. Our guide to street food safety explains what to watch.
- Mind your phone and wallet in the evening crowd, as in any busy bazaar.
- Ask the price first at stalls without a menu board.
Is Anarkali worth it for food?
Anarkali is worth it if you want cheap, informal Lahori street food in one walkable place, and especially if you are already shopping there. It suits students, groups of friends and families happy with simple seating.
It is not the place for a long sit-down dinner with a view: Fort Road does that better. Nor is it the best single stop for karahi or old-city specialities like hareesa, which are at Lakshmi Chowk and Gawalmandi. Our comparison of Lahore's food streets helps you choose, and our experiences page has more to do in the city.
Frequently asked questions
What is Anarkali famous for in food?
Fruit shakes and pani puri at Hafiz Juice Corner, falooda at Riaz, broast at Yasir, and chanay breakfasts at stalls such as Ghulam Rasool near Neela Gumbad.
When did the Old Anarkali food street open?
It was inaugurated in February 2002, as Lahore's second food street after Gawalmandi.
What time is best for Anarkali food street?
Early morning for chanay and halwa puri, or from about 6 pm for snacks, shakes and dinner. Evenings and weekends are the busiest.
Is Anarkali food street good for families?
Yes, at the sit-down restaurants such as Yasir Broast. The stalls are cheap and fun but crowded, with limited seating.
How do I get to Anarkali food street?
Take the Orange Line to Anarkali station or a rickshaw to Neela Gumbad, then walk in. Parking nearby is difficult.
