foods wings

Tea stalls or chai dhaabas have been a staple of Karachi life for several decades now and the past few years have seen the evolution of the culture to become one that is inclusive of females and families, whereas in the past dhaaba life was the sole domain of men. The commercialization of the dhaabas has been a gradual process and has also given rise to a culinary revolution which includes the famous cheese and Nutella naans. Now the revolution is finding its way onto the streets of Lahore through eateries such as The Manji Munch, Maaro Tandoor and Sarak Pey Karak. We decided to pay a visit to The Manji Munch to see just how Lahore was incorporating the dhaaba life into its own vibrant food culture.

Located in K Block, The Manji Munch isn’t your typical dhaaba. For starters there are no other eateries offering the same sort of menu or ambiance in the vicinity. The blazing tandoor creates its masterpieces live while the hungry audience sits comfortably in the adjacent plot with ample space between tables. An overhead light also illuminates the seating area which is always a plus in outdoor settings. And Manji’s uniqueness only becomes clearer once one gets ahold of their menu which plays host to items ranging from chai, the cornerstone of any dhaaba, to Nutella naan which has taken every foodie’s taste buds by storm over the last couple of years, to Mutton karahi which came as a slight surprise given the preconceived notions we had in mind. In between one also encounters the evergreen chicken tikka and the Afghani burger, fresh on the streets of Lahore after having been a part of Islamabad’s foodscape for many years. As a hungry party of five, we decided to order all of the items stated above, in addition to the cheese naan to serve as a starter.

The food was served within reasonable time except for the karahi which understandably took longer than everything else. The cheese naan had generous amounts of cheese and served as an enjoyable appetizer.  From the main course, the weakest link was probably the Afghani burger. Though the ketchup used was of a much better quality than the Islamabadi variant, the overall taste was slightly dry and could perhaps have done with some mayonnaise or diced onions to add more variety to the flavours which were dominated for the most part by the large helpings of French fries. The sausage split in half could also have enhanced the flavor if it were chopped into smaller pieces spread throughout the burger. The chicken tikka was overcooked by the smallest of margins but was still considerably juicy and was gratefully devoured with the help of roti and raita. The real winner though, was the mutton karahi. The meat was tender and cooked to perfection while the green chillies and tomatoes also played starring roles in this blockbuster of a dish. Following the meal, we called for chai and a Nutella naan. While the chai wasn’t a standout on its own, the Nutella naan, with its extremely generous helpings of Nutella, was a great way to end a diverse and fulfilling meal.

Overall, The Manji Munch impressed with its diverse menu which was rather reasonable on the pocket and managed to hit the mark more often than not. The ingredients used were also of a high quality which means no running to the nearest wash room after the meal, as is the case with so many outdoor restaurants. In fact soon foodies will be able to enjoy the Manji experience indoors as well, since construction is underway to establish an indoor seating area.  The serving amounts too were more than ample and well worth the price. And the Lahori public seems to think so too if the healthy attendance is anything to go by. We definitely will be paying The Manji Munch another visit, to get a drift of Karachi’s dhaaba life if nothing else.