Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 25000
But the highlight of my street food adventure at Saddar Bazaar was the chapli kebab. This kebab consists of a beef patty that is fried on a massive grill with eggs, onions, vegetables, and spices. They come out crispy on the outside and soft and moist inside. You have to try them to believe them!
This chaat contained sweet fruit, chunks of paneer, almonds, whipped cream, and almonds. It was flavor-packed and an amazing way to cleanse my palate after the pulao!
Qissa Kwani Bazaar is also home to numerous shops. One of the highlights of my time there was my visit to a traditional teahouse. There, you can enjoy a cup of green tea and even lay down afterward!
Try Pakistani Street Food at Qissa Kwani Bazaar
Zaika Chawal Restaurant
This is hands down, the best pulao I’ve ever eaten in my life. The meaty, chunky, juicy beef, combined with the nutty chickpeas, sweet raisins, and rich marrow is a flavor combination I will never forget. It’s no wonder eating this pulao is considered one of the top things to do in Peshawar, Pakistan!
Khalid Shoping Plaza
Shah Qabool Colony
Of course, the heritage walk would not be complete without stopping at a street food vendor. I met a very nice man making aloo kebabs on the street. These deep-fried potato patties come in spicy and non-spicy varieties and are extremely tasty.
Some of the buildings there date back over 500 years! The bazaar is particularly interesting, as you can see several vendors and shop owners making intricate bridal and ceremonial dresses by hand. I was fascinated by the amount of time it takes to create one—up to a week, at 10-12 hours per day!
The vendor was so hospitable, he gave me a taste of some delicious, sweet sauce that went well with the kebabs before I left! Elsewhere are vendors selling orange slices with black salt. It’s an interesting combination, and the vendor was so nice, he gave it to me for free!
Another street food dish I absolutely loved was the roghni paratha. This thinner, crispier paratha is brushed with ghee midway through the baking process and served with chana, chilies, cucumbers, and onions.
Qissa Khwani Bazaar
Street Food
One of the most popular restaurants in the city is Nisar Charsi Tikka. When you pull up, you get an immediate spectacle from the butcher, who dismembers chickens outside and hangs them above his station. The entire kitchen is outside, so you get to see them cook before you head inside!
Pakistan
Qissa Khawai Rd
I loved the vibrant colors of the different scarves so much that my guide bought me one as a gift! The hospitality and friendliness of the Pakistani people in Peshawar blew my mind. I highly advise exploring the market when you visit. It’s one of the best things to do in Peshawar, Pakistan!
The chicken is seasoned with only salt, and yet it’s some of the tastiest chicken I had in Peshawar. The nice char on the outside added a bit of smokiness, but it still retained its juices. But the chicken karahi with naan was a game-changer. This saucy, pan-fried dish has a grilled, smoky flavor that blew me away.
Shops
My time there was short—just a couple of days—but I will never forget how amazing this city was to me. I toured the city with my friends at Manaky, a travel marketplace dedicated to creating memorable travel experiences in Pakistan. They took great care of me and gave me experiences I will hold dear for the rest of my life! These are the top 5 things to do in Peshawar, Pakistan!
Of course, the stunning architecture of the homes is a major highlight. These expansive homes rise high above the street and are some of the most beautiful in the city. As an architecture buff, I couldn’t help but marvel at them!
In many ways, Qissa Kwani Bazaar is the beating heart of Peshawar. A huge, lively, bustling area of the city, brimming with activity, it’s the best place to go to people-watch. From clothing and food vendors to pottery makers to brass vendors, you can find just about anything there. And the food is incredible, too!
For the ultimate shopping and food experience in Peshawar, you have to head over to Karkhano Market. Established in 1985 and home to over 4,500 shops and vendors, this market is downright massive. I highly recommend hiring a local guide to help you navigate it, as it can be pretty overwhelming!
Best of all, it’s served family-style on a mat along the wall, so you and your party get to dig in in a comfortable, traditional setting. I loved this experience. By the time I left, I had learned why this pulao is considered Peshawar’s best pulao. Definitely one of my favorite things to do in Peshawar, Pakistan!
Check out my VIDEO: Street Food in Peshawar!! Giant Pulao + Pakistan Street Food Tour in Qissa Kwani Bazaar | Pakistan
Explore Saddar Bazaar
University Road, Peshawar
The main symbol of the pass is the town’s main gate, Baab-e-Khyber. Inside the gates, you’ll find friendly street food vendors selling chana, beef stew, chicken, roasted corn, chaat ingredients, samosas, sugarcane juice, kheer, and parathas. One of my favorites was a man selling bannu pulao, a unique version that only contains rice and huge chunks of beef.
Another must when visiting Peshawar is Saddar Bazaar. This garment market is one of the city’s busiest shopping areas, located along Saddar Road. The street is lined with shops selling hats and clothing, including traditional Peshwari hats made from wool.
Street Food
He mixes eggs, chilies, tomatoes, and spices into ground beef by hand and fries them on his grill. My guide, Rashid, had been teasing these kebabs all day, and I must say, the hype was real. They look so simple, but the flavors inside are anything but.
If you’re a history and culture buff like me, one of the best things you can do in Peshawar, Pakistan, is walk the Peshawar Heritage Trail. Completed in 2018, it’s the first cultural heritage trail in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
Check out my VIDEO: Pakistani Kebab Legend!! Peshawar Kebabs & Street Food Tour | Pakistan
Eat Legendary Peshawari Kebabs
The market has areas that are electric, while other mall-like areas are quieter. On the second level of one of the buildings, my guide Rashid took me to a cologne and perfume shop where they served us some tasty doodh patti!
The dahi bhalla isn’t the only chaat available at the bazaar, as you’ll find another made from fried dough, potatoes, chilies, spices, and a crunchy noodle called sev. You can also try chapatis, pizza parathas baked inside a tandoor, sugarcane juice, a sweet and syrupy fried dough called jalebi, and chicken charga.
Shop No 40
After you finish eating and are feeling content and sleepy, the best thing to do is lay down and relax for a bit! The mat is pretty comfortable and they have lots of cushions, so kick back, take a load off, and enjoy your evening!
Main Jamrud Road, Karkhano Market
Like at BaBa Wali, you remove your shoes to eat and have the opportunity to lie down as you enjoy your dumpo. The dumpo is moist and tasty with a bit of sweetness. I added chicken to mine and had some deliciously crispy and juicy grilled thighs and drumsticks. The chicken is cooked separately from the pulao and is piled on top afterward. And while I liked the kabli pulao a bit better, the dumpo is still incredible. It’s definitely more than worth a try!
Another spot foodies cannot afford to miss is Jalil Restaurant Bar-B-Que Inn. Another well-known local haunt, this restaurant is known for its legendary kebab cook. He’s a Pakistani icon and has been working there for 22 years!
Conclusion
The city dates back to the year 100 CE as the ancient Indian city Purushpura. However, its recorded history goes back even further, to 539 BCE. That makes it Pakistan’s oldest city and one of the oldest cities in all of South Asia.