Lahore is one of Pakistan’s most fascinating cities, and a World-Class Haven of Street Food.
This Ultimate Guide to Street Food in Lahore includes all the details on how to get the best and biggest tastes of this amazing city.
Right now, I’m going to give you a plan for an incredible day of all-out street-food eating in Lahore.
Scroll down to learn more.
First Impressions of Lahore
Even arriving on a 1AM flight from Bangkok, our own trip to Lahore is starting off just great.
Eyes and stomach rejoice at such a wonderful welcome as this – almost every street-side restaurant in town is absolutely out the door with lines of customers.
I hope your imagination is right there with me too, even a one o’clock in the morning, already dreaming yet hungry for such Ultimate amounts of street food action.
We’re staying at the Hospitality Inn (near the Lahore Zoo), which is a great central location for travel to all the market areas, and all the best food spots.
Experience Lahore Through Food
I recommend starting this street-food tour at around 7am, in a downtown market area of Lahore.
Beginning each morning on foot is always a nice way to get first impressions of new destination – a bonus of course, is doing it while on the way to your first (of many) meals.
We’re Starting in Gawalmandi
Take your pick of Anarkali, Shah-Alami Market, or even Gawalmandi, as you’ll enjoy simply amazing amounts of street food in all three of these areas.
We are starting with the Gawalmandi area, but if you have time, you should also visit the Walled City near the Fort. Truly one of the coolest and most interesting places in all of Pakistan, there’s so many food destinations on our list for today though, that I did not include it in this Ultimate Guide.
Let’s Go!
First Breakfast – Halwa Puri
Look no further for a traditional Lahore breakfast than a sizzling halwa puri with a bowl of yellow dal (curry of yellow lentils).
The puri at Sadiq’s restaurant are always hot, the chef’s cooking technique makes each one so puffy and crisp. Have these with your dal, and order a second bowl of aloo curry to go with it (potato stew with masala spices).
Puri, Dal, Aloo Curry, and Tea
Finishing breakfast with a cup dud pathi milk tea is a great choice anywhere in Pakistan, and definitely a must after each meal today in Lahore. An entire meal at Sadiq Halwa Puri should cost around 640PKR (US$5).
Our own first taste of Pakistan was this exact meal in fact, and it was a great way to get to know Lahore through its food – a big thank you to our friend Ali for showing us the way, we miss you man, can’t wait for the next one!
Second Breakfast – Gawalmandi Food Street
Moving on to Gawalmandi proper now, continue your morning with street cart snacks.
The famous food street of Gawalmandi is glorious, and it seems this place is always bursting with activity. Morning markets are a fun mix of people anywhere, and Lahore’s markets are no different.
I love just standing on one of the main junction street corners here, its one experience in Lahore that I won’t soon forget.
Note: This is on Railway Road, near Shah-Alami (which is stop number 3 for today’s street food).
Street Carts of Lahore
Shopping at a hand cart like this one is easy, and here’s a few tips for what I usually do – food is a language that brings us all together, so let me assure you that you don’t need to worry about smaller details (like knowing what the item is called in Urdu, the official language of Pakistan).
Watch first for a second to see what a specific vendor is selling, and what bills other customers are using to pay.
Smile confidently, wait patiently, and just do what you would normally do as a customer anywhere (although honestly, in Pakistan I never felt taken advantage of even a single time).
Finally, its your turn in line for Lahore’s best street snacks, so get ready for some properly authentic local flavors of Pakistan.
