Best Karahi in Islamabad: Shinwari, Butt Karahi and Kilo Prices

The best karahi in Islamabad comes in two styles. For Shinwari lamb or dumba karahi, cooked with little more than salt, tomato and fat, go to Khyber Shinwari in F-7 Markaz or Landikotal Shinwari in G-9/4 near Peshawar Mor. For a spicier Punjabi karahi, go to Butt Karahi in F-8 Markaz, or drive out to Desi Butt Karahi on the GT Road at Rawat. In 2026, mutton karahi costs roughly PKR 4,500 to 5,250 a kilo at these restaurants, and chicken about half that.

This guide covers the karahi houses of Islamabad and the roads out of the twin cities, how kilo pricing works, current rates and which place suits which kind of meal. For the styles themselves, see our karahi guide.

Which karahi style should you order?

• Shinwari karahi is the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa style: lamb, mutton or dumba (fat-tailed sheep) cooked in its own fat with salt, tomato and green chilli. It is plain, meaty and rich. Islamabad has many Shinwari houses because of its closeness to Peshawar; our guide to Shinwari karahi in Peshawar explains it at its source.
• Punjabi karahi is spicier and more tomato-heavy, cooked with ginger, garlic and chilli, often in butter or desi ghee. Chicken is the everyday order.
• Desi murgh karahi uses free-range chicken, tougher and more flavourful than broiler, and costs about twice as much.

Where is the best karahi in Islamabad?

Khyber Shinwari, F-7 Markaz

Khyber Shinwari, at Plot 1-B in F-7 Markaz near Hill View Hotel, is one of Islamabad's best-known Shinwari houses, open 11 am to midnight. Its 2026 menu lists Shinwari lamb karahi at PKR 5,150 for a full and PKR 2,750 for a half, and mutton karahi at PKR 5,250 and PKR 2,850. It also serves lamb rosh (boiled lamb) and BBQ. It is comfortable enough for a family dinner, and it takes reservations.

Landikotal Shinwari, G-9/4

Landikotal Shinwari, on Street 54 in G-9/4 near Peshawar Mor, is a more local Shinwari place known for its dumba karahi and lamb chops. The G-9 area is busy with Shinwari restaurants late into the night, and it is cheaper and plainer than F-7.

Butt Karahi, F-8 Markaz

Butt Karahi, in Ayub Market in F-8 Markaz, cooks Lahore-style karahi, and has a second branch on Main Koral Road in Gulberg Greens. Its 2026 menu lists:

It opens at 11 am and is busy in the evenings.

Zenose, Melody (G-6)

Zenose, at 25 Civic Centre in G-6 Markaz, opposite the National Savings Centre, is one of the older restaurants of the Melody area, known for chicken karahi, brain masala and daal mash. It suits a cheap, quick karahi in the middle of the city. Our Melody guide covers the rest of the market.

Kabul Restaurant and Charsi Tikka

Kabul Restaurant in Jinnah Super, F-7, serves Afghan-style karahi alongside its kebabs and pulao. Charsi Tikka in Saidpur Village does salt-only Peshawari karahi, good for an evening in the village. Our BBQ in Islamabad guide covers both places for grills.

Where can you eat karahi on the roads out of Islamabad?

The roads out of the twin cities have their own karahi stops, used by families driving to Lahore, Murree or the north.

• Desi Butt Karahi, Rawat. On the Main GT Road at T-Chowk in Rawat, opposite the Shell pump, on the way out towards Lahore by the GT Road. It is known for mutton karahi, and listings give its hours as about 10 am to 3 am, which makes it a useful late stop.
• The motorway and GT Road towards Lahore and Peshawar. The famous highway karahi stops on the longer drives are covered in our karahi guide.

How does kilo pricing work?

Karahi is priced by the weight of raw meat, usually per half kilo or kilo. As a rough guide, a kilo of karahi feeds three to four people with naan and a half kilo suits two, but ask the cook, who will know how generous the portions are. Naan, raita and salad are almost always extra.

1. Ask the per-kilo rate for the meat you want before you order.
2. Check whether tax is added, especially at sit-down restaurants.
3. Order naan in rounds so it stays hot.
4. Allow time. Chicken is the quickest; mutton and dumba take longer.

Meat prices in Pakistan rise often, and the rates above are from 2026 menus. Expect them to change.

Which karahi place should you choose?

• A family dinner with good lamb: Khyber Shinwari, F-7.
• The best dumba, in a plain setting: Landikotal Shinwari, G-9/4.
• Spicy Punjabi karahi: Butt Karahi, F-8 or Gulberg Greens.
• Cheap and central: Zenose, G-6.
• On the road, late at night: Desi Butt Karahi, Rawat.

Shinwari karahi is not for anyone who wants spice; it is about the meat. If your group is split, order one Shinwari and one chicken karahi. For more on eating in the capital, see our guide to food in Islamabad and our experiences page.

Frequently asked questions