A Pakistan itinerary for foodies is best built around four cities: Karachi for nihari, kebabs and seafood, Multan for sohan halwa, Lahore for breakfast, street food and karahi, and Rawalpindi and Islamabad for seekh kebab and a calmer finish. Eight to ten days is enough, and October to March is the comfortable season. The route runs north, so you end near the capital and its airport.
This is an eating route, not a sightseeing one, so each stop names the dishes and the streets to find them in, and adds only enough history to help you plan.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Route | Karachi, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad |
| Best months | October to March |
| Suggested length | 8 to 10 days |
| Fort Road Food Street, Lahore | Reported open roughly 6 pm to 12:15 am |
| Waheed Kabab House, Karachi | Reported open about 6 am to 11 pm |
Karachi: nihari, kebabs and the sea (2 to 3 days)
Start on Burns Road, the old food street of the city, where migrants after Partition brought their recipes. Waheed Kabab House, open since 1961, is known for fried kebabs and nihari, and Fresco Sweets and Dilshad Kulfi are the usual places for jalebi and matka kulfi. Go in the evening, when the street is busiest. Our page on the Burns Road food street has more.
Then go west to the coast for fish, prawns and crab. Karachi's seafood spots are spread out, so read our guide to seafood in Karachi before deciding where to eat. If you want a slow morning, breakfast on halwa puri and paratha is a Karachi habit too.
Multan: sohan halwa and a shrine city (1 night)
Fly or drive to Multan, about 4.5 hours from Lahore by motorway if you are starting there. It is known for sohan halwa, a dense, sweet, nutty sweet sold in boxes across the old city, as well as its blue pottery. Buy halwa from a shop that lets you taste it first, and eat lunch in the old town near the shrines. See Multan's famous food.
Lahore: the centre of the route (3 days)
Lahore takes the most time, because there is the most to eat.
- Breakfast: siri paye or halwa puri, early. Lahoris eat paye for breakfast as well as dinner.
- Lunch: karahi or chana with kulcha, or a plate of fried fish at Gawalmandi.
- Dinner: Fort Road Food Street, reconstructed in 2012 and open in the evening, with rooftop views of Badshahi Mosque. Lakshmi Chowk is the late-night alternative, for chargha, hareesa and tawa chicken.
- Drinks and sweets: lassi, and nankhatai from Gawalmandi.
Our guides to Lahore's food streets, nashta in Lahore and Lahore desserts go deeper. Keep a walking afternoon between meals, so you are not eating all day.
Rawalpindi and Islamabad: kebabs and a lighter finish (2 days)
Take the motorway north, about 375 km from Lahore, and eat in Rawalpindi first. Seekh kebab, nihari, chapli kebab, karahi and biryani are found across both cities, and Melody Market and Commercial Market are the usual street-food areas. Islamabad has open-air food streets such as Basti in the E-11 sector, and more formal restaurants in the sectors near the hills. See our page on food in Rawalpindi and food in Islamabad.
What about Peshawar and the north?
Peshawar's chapli kebab and Namak Mandi tikka are famous, but Peshawar is on the UK government's list of places it advises against all travel to, and there have been attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2026. We would not build a food trip around it. Chapli kebab is easily found in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Eating safely
- Choose busy places with high turnover, where food is cooked fresh in front of you.
- Be careful with water and ice. Bottled water is widely sold.
- Start with milder dishes, since the food is rich and spicy.
- Carry oral rehydration salts and basic stomach medicine.
- Winter is a good season for eating, since summer heat spoils food faster.
Who is this itinerary for?
It suits people who want a pace of long meals and short sightseeing, and are happy with cities. It is not for anyone with strict dietary needs, since meat dishes dominate and vegetarian options are narrower, though lentils, chana, saag and vegetables are widely available. Use our trip planner to fit dates and cities.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best city for food in Pakistan?
Lahore is the usual answer, for breadth and the food streets. Karachi is close for kebabs, nihari and seafood.
What should I eat in Pakistan first?
Nihari or karahi, seekh kebab, and a breakfast of halwa puri. Then try biryani and sweets such as sohan halwa.
Is street food in Pakistan safe?
Choose busy, freshly cooked stalls and avoid raw salads and ice. Visitors do get stomach upsets, so build in a rest day.
Which month is best for a food trip?
October to March. It is cooler, and food is fresher. Lahore's smog is worst from around October to February, so check air quality.
