Lahori Restaurant

A bite of history

Lahore is one of the major cities of Pakistan and steeped in history going back hundreds of years. Lahore was founded during the Mughal dynasty ( 1526-1857 ) in India. It quickly gained fame as the City of Gardens. Lahore also lays claim to be the culinary center of the sub-continent. Over the decades it developed a rich tradition in spicy and flavorful food. This preamble sets the scene for what’s below.

Things to know

Its located in Surrey’s booming Payal Shopping Center. The place is clean with a simplistic decor which is fine as I am more interested in the quality and taste of what they have on the menu. They take reservations except for the Sunday brunch.

Note: This establishment does not serve alcoholic beverages.

Now let’s eat!

Beware that the food is spicy and some dishes are more oily than others!

This is a regular haunt for my family and we always enjoy the experience. The menu is extensive and I have not tried every item on it. However, my all time favorites are :

• Appetizers reflect the authentic Lahore street food.
  • Pakoras (fried fritters) veggie, chicken or fish. Everyone’s favorite.
  • Dahi baras (fried lentil dumplings served in a cold tangy yogurt sauce). A must on a warm day.
• Entrees
  • The chicken tikka, beef kebab and lamb chops platter (see picture above)
  • Butter chicken. The chicken is grilled first and then added to the creamy sauce – the correct way.
  • Tandoori fish. A well marinated cod or bass fillet grilled in the traditional clay oven.
  • Paneer bhurji. A spicy veggie dish prepared with onions, farmer cheese and peas. I am a card carrying carnivore but love this one veggie dish.
  • Assorted curries.

Borrowing the phrase from a popular Canadian TV show, ‘ You gotta eat here ‘ .

Note: All images are from the Lahori Restaurant website: http://lahorirestaurant.ca/