Ilyas Dumba Karahi (Truckaa Wala Adda) — Restaurant in Lahore City Tehsil

We've been hearing a lot about it lately so we decided to go there. Left at 8, stuck in traffic, roads were jammed, road construction near '1-moriya pull' was in progress, anyhow, reached 'General truck stand Ravi link road', there were many 'shinvari' and 'truck' hotels side by side, but thanks to our friends who were there before so they took us in the street where our destination 'ilyas Truck Adda Karahi Tikka' was. We reached there around ~9:15. Went in and sat on chairs, a friend of ours went to place the order. He came after half an hour. We asked him what took him so long and he said you have to first buy the meat of your choice from their meat shop and than you have to give it too the cook so it took time and it's weekend also so... Anyhow, we sat there, had chatter, stories, snaps, had matches of PUBG and CoC even, insta, Snapchat, we did whatever we could to kill the time. There were some people who brought their Ludo and Cards with them because they knew they were gonna wait that long. Our dinner came at ~11:20, the presentation was good, we ordered one KG of Sulemani karahi (without gravy it is served, made with black pepper) and one KG of Saada Karahi (typical and famous). I had the first bite from Saada karahi, and Oh My God, it's outta this world, it's heaven, the very first bite that i took was worth the 3-hour wait. The gravy was so good, the masala was so tasty, the meat (dumba) was so well cooked, it was melting in the mouth. Then i tried a piece from The Sulemani Dumba Karahi. It was hot. I tried tearing the piece with my fingers. The very first thing that came in my mind was Gordon Ramsay's presentation of meat. Smoked and grilled with black pepper, every single thread of meat was visible. Had the bite. Yummy. Just beautiful. Fairly justified. The pure taste of meat. I could eat that whole KG myself. We were 4 persons. Had 2 KGs of Karahi. We had it all. Offered thanks to the gracious Allah, again and again, and again. All of it was so good. Then our friends said, let's try 'Kahva'. We asked the waiter person who was serving us for Kahva. 'chhota ya bara' (small or big), he asked. What's the difference we asked in return. Small has 4 to 6 cups and large can be served for 8 to 10, he replied. A small one we ordered that came within 10 minutes with brown sugar. With some brown sugar we tried. Every sip of it, after the dinner, was so relaxing that we were again thanking Allah. We asked the waiter for the bill. Went to the counter. Cleared the bill. Tipped the waiter. Took our car out from the parking garage. Sat in it. Started driving to way back home. But we were not in a hurry this time. We were enjoying the ride with light music. We just had the slightest glimpse of...

People call it the original and the oldest Dumba Karahi Point at Truck Adda.. Maybe it is the oldest but I can assure you that the place and atmosphere has lost its original vibes, In SEP 2024 I visited it after almost 13 years and immediately felt a huge change such as being a totally open and outdoor phatta system to an indoor walled sitting area in a different place. The rooftop sitting area is not temperature controlled and no fans were installed. If you want real taste you must go with someone who went there a few times before.. they offer you to choose your own dumba meat, weigh it in front of you and ask the cook as per your own specs.. if you are not familiar you won't get the best taste.. the normal cooking time is almost one hour 30 minutes. We ordered a Kabuli Pulao meanwhile but that was not up to the mark however the chanp booti was good. The Karahi was also not as good as it used to be a decade ago. You must go there with cash as they don't offer any other payment options and the ATM's nearby are very crowded or out of service all the time. The have a dedicated parking space free of cost but avoid going to the area in luxury cars specially in the time when Mandi is open.. use the Ring Road Batti Chowk side for...

Ilyas Dumba Karahi (Truck Adda) in Lahore is renowned among meat enthusiasts for its authentic Lahori desi cuisine, particularly its signature Dumba Karahi. Established in 1985, it has garnered a loyal following for its rich flavors and traditional cooking methods.

Highlights:

Signature Dishes: The Dumba Karahi is a standout, often praised for its tender meat and aromatic spices. Other popular items include Sulemani Qeema, Malai Boti, and BBQ chops. Many patrons recommend pairing the meal with their traditional Qahwa to conclude the dining experience.

Ambiance: The setting is open-air with traditional seating, offering a rustic "Truck Adda" vibe. While this adds to the authentic experience, it may not be suitable for those seeking a formal dining atmosphere.

Service & Wait Times: Expect wait times of 1 to 2 hours, especially during peak hours, as dishes are prepared fresh. Service can be slow, and some customers have noted cleanliness issues.

Pricing: The cost is on the higher side, with some dishes priced over Rs. 3,000 per kilogram. While many find the quality justifies the price, others feel it may be steep for the...