For a classic samosa in Karachi, go to Fresco Sweets on Burns Road, which has been frying since 1952, or to well-known sweet and snack shops such as Delhi Sweets on Shahrah-e-Faisal and Khatri on Badar Commercial in DHA. For pakoras, Lallu Pakoray Wala in Shah Faisal Colony and Shams in Garden East draw queues. In Ramazan 2026, Karachi's official rate was PKR 40 for a samosa and PKR 640 for a kilo of pakoras at the better bakeries.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Old-city samosa | Fresco Sweets, Burns Road |
| Snack shops | Delhi Sweets, Khatri, United King |
| Pakoras | Lallu Pakoray Wala (Shah Faisal Colony), Shams (Garden East) |
| Ramazan 2026 rates | Samosa PKR 40, pakoras PKR 640 per kg at top bakeries |
| Busiest time | The hour before iftar in Ramazan; evenings the rest of the year |
| Carry | Cash, and a bag for hot oily boxes |
Where is the best samosa in Karachi?
Burns Road: Fresco Sweets
Fresco Sweets on Burns Road dates its shop to 1952 and is one of the old-city names most associated with a proper samosa, alongside its dahi baray, jalebi and halwa puri. It now has more branches, including Clifton, but the Burns Road shop is the one to visit if you are in the old city. Our Burns Road food street guide covers what else to eat on the street.
The big snack and sweet shops
- Delhi Sweets, Shahrah-e-Faisal. A large, busy sweet shop whose samosas and raita get frequent praise in reviews. Easy to reach on the main road.
- Khatri, Badar Commercial, DHA. Known for samosas served piping hot with a properly crisp shell.
- United King. The bakery chain is known for beef samosas and nimco, with branches across the city, including Clifton.
Small stalls and one-bite samosas
Every Karachi neighbourhood has a samosa stall, usually a wok of oil outside a bakery or a corner shop. The small "one-bite" samosa has become a Karachi favourite, sold for about PKR 10 each at some roadside stalls on Shahrah-e-Faisal and in places like the Karachi University canteens in 2026. Most stalls sell aloo (potato), qeema (mince) and chicken samosas.
The pastry often comes from the same place. In Ranchore Line in the old city, Arab News visited a manda pastry maker in 2024 whose shop runs round the clock in Ramazan, with 35 workers and more than 30 bags of flour a day. One large sheet, at PKR 40, makes about 12 samosas, which is why so many Karachi homes and stalls make their own.
Where can you get good pakoras in Karachi?
Pakoras, which many Karachi families also call bhajia, are gram-flour fritters with potato, onion, spinach, chilli or other vegetables.
- Lallu Pakoray Wala, Shah Faisal Colony No. 3. One of the most talked-about pakora stalls in the city, with long queues and dozens of kinds of pakora.
- Shams Chaat House, Garden East. Better known for chaat, but also famous for its bhajia, and it has opened in Clifton too. Our chaat guide covers Shams in more detail.
- Your local bakery. In Ramazan, almost every bakery and sweet shop sells mixed pakoras by weight before iftar.
Mirchi pakoras (whole green chillies in batter) and bread pakoras are the two to try if you have only had the mixed kind.
How much do samosas and pakoras cost in Karachi?
Before Ramazan 2026, the Karachi commissioner's office issued an official rate list for savoury items. At well-known bakeries, a potato samosa of 60 grams and a qeema samosa of 35 grams were fixed at PKR 40 each, and mixed pakoras at PKR 640 a kilo. At smaller "B-class" bakeries the rates were PKR 35 a samosa and PKR 540 a kilo for pakoras.
Outside Ramazan, prices are set by each shop. Treat PKR 40 as a fair guide for a standard samosa at a good shop, with chicken samosas and the bigger sweet shops charging more. You can check the current list on the Commissioner Karachi price list page.
How do you buy samosas for iftar in Karachi?
- Go early. The queues are longest in the last hour before the call to prayer, so aim to buy 45 minutes to an hour before iftar.
- Ask for a fresh batch. At busy shops the oil is turned over quickly, and a samosa that has just come out is worth a short wait.
- Order by weight for pakoras and by number for samosas. A quarter kilo of pakoras is a good amount for two people alongside other dishes.
- Take chutney separately so the samosas don't go soft on the way home.
- Know the official rate before you go, so you can tell if a shop is charging well above it.
Our Karachi in Ramadan guide covers iftar spots and timings for the rest of the city, and our guide to Ramadan food in Pakistan explains the full iftar table.
Are fried snacks a good idea every day?
They are a pleasure, but health experts in Pakistan regularly warn against filling the iftar table with fried food. The Express Tribune carried that advice again in 2024, recommending fruit and lighter dishes instead. A couple of samosas or a small plate of pakoras with dates and fruit is a more comfortable way to break a fast than a whole box.
Freshness matters for your stomach as much as your waistline. Choose shops where the oil looks clear rather than dark and thick, and where the samosas come out of the wok in front of you.
Which samosa or pakora stop suits you?
- For an old-city samosa with history: Fresco Sweets on Burns Road.
- For a reliable stop on the way across the city: Delhi Sweets on Shahrah-e-Faisal.
- For pakoras worth a detour: Lallu Pakoray Wala in Shah Faisal Colony.
- For snacks with chaat: Shams in Garden East.
Most people don't cross Karachi just for a samosa, but these shops are worth knowing for iftar, for guests, or as part of a street food evening. Our Karachi street food guide and our experiences page have more ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best samosa in Karachi?
Fresco Sweets on Burns Road is the best-known old-city name. Delhi Sweets on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Khatri in DHA and United King are popular across the city.
What is the price of a samosa in Karachi?
The official Ramazan 2026 rate was PKR 40 for a samosa at well-known bakeries and PKR 35 at smaller ones. Outside Ramazan, shops set their own prices, and PKR 40 is a fair guide for a standard samosa.
How much is 1 kg of pakoras in Karachi?
The official Ramazan 2026 rate was PKR 640 a kilo at well-known bakeries and PKR 540 at smaller ones.
Where can I find famous pakoras in Karachi?
Lallu Pakoray Wala in Shah Faisal Colony No. 3 is one of the most famous pakora stalls, and Shams Chaat House in Garden East is known for its bhajia.
When should I buy samosas for iftar?
About 45 minutes to an hour before iftar, before the last-minute queues build up.
