The best BBQ in Islamabad depends on the evening you want. For Afghan and Shinwari grills, go to F-7 Markaz: Kabul Restaurant in Jinnah Super and Khyber Shinwari near Hill View Hotel. For tikka with a village setting, go to Charsi Tikka or Des Pardes in Saidpur Village. For cheap, smoky street BBQ, cross into Rawalpindi, to the tikka houses of Murree Road, Committee Chowk and Kartarpura.
This guide covers the BBQ places worth knowing in the twin cities, what each is good for, timings, rough prices and how to choose. For the wider picture of where locals eat, see our guide to the best food in Islamabad.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Afghan grills | Kabul Restaurant, Jinnah Super, F-7 Markaz |
| Shinwari BBQ | Khyber Shinwari, F-7 Markaz; Shinwari places around G-9 |
| With a setting | Charsi Tikka and Des Pardes, Saidpur Village |
| Budget | Bismillah Tikka, Madina Market, F-8/2; Melody, G-6 |
| Street BBQ | Murree Road, Committee Chowk and Kartarpura, Rawalpindi |
| Best time | After sunset; Rawalpindi stalls run until about 1 am |
| Sample price | BBQ platter for 4 to 5 at Khyber Shinwari F-7: PKR 9,500 plus tax (2026) |
What is on an Islamabad BBQ menu?
Islamabad's BBQ draws on two traditions. The Punjabi side means chicken tikka, seekh kebab, malai boti and reshmi kebab, marinated and spiced. The Afghan and Shinwari side, strong in Islamabad because of its closeness to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, means lamb and mutton grilled with little more than salt: lamb chops, namkeen tikka and chapli kebab. Most restaurants offer both, and a mixed platter is the easiest way to try several things. Our Pakistani BBQ guide explains each dish.
Where is the best BBQ in Islamabad?
Kabul Restaurant, Jinnah Super, F-7
Kabul Restaurant is at Jinnah Super Market in F-7 Markaz, next to Hill View Hotel. It is Afghan-owned and known for its Afghani kebab, alongside Kabuli pulao, mantu and karahi, with floor cushions or ordinary tables. A 2023 profile gave its hours as noon to midnight. It is a reliable first BBQ dinner in the city.
Khyber Shinwari, F-7 Markaz
Khyber Shinwari, at Plot 1-B in F-7 Markaz near Hill View Hotel, is a Shinwari house for lamb, karahi and BBQ, open 11 am to midnight. Its 2026 menu lists chapli kebab at PKR 1,350 for two and BBQ platters for four to five people at PKR 9,500 plus tax. For Shinwari food in a more local setting, the restaurants around G-9 and Peshawar Mor are busy late into the night.
Charsi Tikka, Saidpur Village
Charsi Tikka, on the Saidpur Village road, brings the Peshawar style to Islamabad: its grilled meat and karahi are flavoured mainly with salt, as Dawn's Images noted in a 2016 review. It is open until about 11:30 pm. Combine it with an evening walk round the village; our Saidpur Village guide covers what to see.
Des Pardes, Saidpur Village
Des Pardes is the large restaurant in Saidpur Village, with Mughlai, Shinwari and BBQ dishes and seating set among the old buildings. Listings give its hours as about noon to 11 pm or midnight. It suits a family dinner or out-of-town guests better than a quick tikka stop.
Bar.B.Q Tonight, Blue Area
Bar.B.Q Tonight, the Karachi BBQ brand that opened in 1988, has an Islamabad branch at Sohrab Plaza on Fazl-e-Haq Road in the Blue Area. It is known for reshmi kebab, tikka and platters in a large, comfortable dining room. Book ahead at weekends.
Bismillah Tikka and Melody
For cheap and good, Bismillah Tikka & Chargha House is in Madina Market, F-8/2, listed as open from 11 am to midnight, with tikka, chargha and kebabs at street prices. Melody Food Park in G-6 has tikka and kebab stalls in an open-air food court; our Melody guide explains how it works.
Where is the best BBQ in Rawalpindi?
Rawalpindi's BBQ is cheaper, smokier and later than Islamabad's, and it is a short drive from most of the capital.
- Murree Road and Committee Chowk. Tariq Tikka House on Murree Road is known for beef and chicken tikka and kebabs, and Afzal Tikka Kabab, near Committee Chowk on Murree Road, has been grilling beef tikka and seekh kebab in desi ghee for some 15 to 20 years.
- Kartarpura. The old food street of inner Rawalpindi comes alive after dark. Muhammad Ali Tikka & Kebab House, known for its beef kebab karahi, opens after Maghrib and runs until about 1 am, and Bala Tikka House is another favourite on the same street.
These are roadside places with simple seating. Go with a group, order in rounds, and carry cash. Our Rawalpindi food guide covers the rest of the city.
What does BBQ cost in Islamabad?
Prices range widely. At street places in Rawalpindi and at Melody, a meal of tikka and naan costs a fraction of what it does at a sit-down restaurant. At Khyber Shinwari in F-7, a platter for four to five is PKR 9,500 plus tax (2026), and other sit-down restaurants charge in a similar range. Meat prices move often, so check the current menu and ask whether tax is added.
Which BBQ place should you choose?
- A first BBQ night in Islamabad: Kabul Restaurant or Khyber Shinwari in F-7.
- A family dinner with a setting: Des Pardes or Charsi Tikka in Saidpur.
- A cheap, late, smoky night: Murree Road, Committee Chowk or Kartarpura in Rawalpindi.
- Students and tight budgets: Bismillah Tikka in F-8 or Melody in G-6.
- Comfort and a big group: Bar.B.Q Tonight in the Blue Area.
The Rawalpindi stalls suit groups of friends and anyone who likes street food, but they are crowded and basic, and in summer the grills make them hot. With young children or older parents, the F-7 and Saidpur restaurants are easier. For karahi, see our karahi in Islamabad guide, and for other ideas, our experiences page.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best BBQ restaurant in Islamabad?
There is no single answer, but Kabul Restaurant and Khyber Shinwari in F-7 Markaz are the most consistently recommended for Afghan and Shinwari BBQ.
Where can I eat BBQ late at night in Islamabad?
The Shinwari places around G-9 stay busy late, and in Rawalpindi the Kartarpura tikka houses run until about 1 am.
Is there BBQ at Saidpur Village?
Yes. Charsi Tikka and Des Pardes both serve BBQ, and Charsi Tikka is known for salt-only Peshawari-style grills.
How much is a BBQ platter in Islamabad?
At Khyber Shinwari in F-7, a platter for four to five people is PKR 9,500 plus tax (2026). Street BBQ in Rawalpindi costs much less.
Is Monal still open for BBQ?
The old Monal at Pir Sohawa was demolished in 2024, and Monal now runs from a new rooftop site. Our Monal guide has the details.
