Gawalmandi Food Street Lahore was always just Gawalmandi. Traders and businessmen set up shop here, selling their wares to consumers in the early 20th century. A natural marketplace emerged, and over time, it evolved from craft items to restaurants and food specialties.
If you’re a blue-blooded Lahori by now, desi food and street food probably courses through your veins. I’m no different, and when I need to go the extra mile, I usually end up on at Gawalmandi Lahore and Fort Road.
In fact, I made a video about Gawalmandi Food Street Lahore with Charcoal + Gravel not too long ago. The energy is unbelievable; that too, at off-peak hours!
Here are my top picks for restaurants on Lahore’s Food Street:
Billa Pehlvan ki Champein chaamp Billa Pehlvan is a household name when it comes to restaurants in Food Street. It’s one of the oldest around, and even the servers pride themselves on working there. Apparently, they do not use any local spices, choosing to import them from India instead. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. All I know is that they serve succulent, thick-cut lamb chops that fall off the bone. Talk about tender, loving care — for your stomach.
Saadiq Murgh Channay saadiq Saadiq is one of my absolute favorites. When I’m feeling extra wholesome, I usually visit the small dhaba that can barely seat 12 people for some much-needed naan channay. While they serve murgh channay, channay with nargisi koftay and mutton channay, the real showstopper is a massive bowl of saaday channay with naan from a nearby tandoor. The broth is absolutely insane, so don’t say I didn’t warn you when you fall in love.
Feeqay ki Lassi Feeqay ki Lassi I’ve never been a big lassi guy, opting for water instead. Gotta stay hydrated, amirite? Feeqay ki Lassi is an anomaly in my usually proctored diet. Feeqay ki Lassi has pairay wali lassi, which basically means made with real butter and khoya. After a heavy binge on the savories of Gawalmandi Food Street, a tall metal glass of lassi will hit the spot, and then some. Don’t blame us if you fall asleep on the ride back.
Haaji Sardar Fish fish While fish is usually considered a low-calorie protein, that’s not what Haji Sardar is going for. That’s not his vibe. Sardar’s desi fried fish is synonymous with spice-laden, besan-dipped, and double fried- you won’t find me complaining about that at all. The shop is swarmed by patrons waiting in line for their orders at all hours of the day, especially during winters.
Yousuf Falooda YousafFalooda Like most desserts, falooda has never been my jam. But loaded up with saweiyan [glass noodles] and tukhmalanga [basil seeds], Yousaf Falooda will rock your world. Adding Roohafzah to it also gives it a creamy gola ganda [shaved ice dessert] feels right. Yousaf Falooda Shop on the Gawalmandi Food Street also offers enticing kheer options. I’ve never tried the kheer, but I know countless people who swear by it.
Taj Mahal Sweets taj mahal Noor calls this the best nashta in town. The only issue with the term ‘nashta’, though, is how loosely it is defined. I have other contenders in mind, but none on Food Street (unless we’re counting Saadiq). Halwas, pooris, meethay pooray, and all the channas you can eat. It’s hygienic too, though that shouldn’t be your first reservation when dining out in Gawalmandi. Taj Mahal Sweets has been around forever, and for good reason.
Amritsari Hareesa amritsari Perfect for cold winter nights, Amritsari Hareesa on Lahore’s Food Street is a local legend. Consistently good, the beef or mutton hareesa is served a fresh desi ghee tarka and with piping hot kulchas. Amritsari Hareesa is considered the go-to for quality hareesa in Lahore. Cap it off with a chai and you’ll be set for a week.
Not only does Gawalmandi Food Street Lahore offer a deep dive into history along with impeccable views of the city we call home, the food stalls and decades-old eateries make it one of the most famous food streets in the country. Gawalmandi Food Street is a place synonymous with...
Read moreAwesome food and drinks service provider. Gawalmandi is a town located in the central part of Lahore. It is regarded as the cultural centre of Lahore. The famous Food Street of Lahore is located here. Gawalmandi is a made of two words Gawala meaning Milkman and Mandi meaning Market. Formally Gawalmandi was one of the largest buffalo milk producing market in Punjab, until large number of Kashmiris started settling in after 1947. Gawalmandi is the hub of Butt family and many UK Butt nationals can derive their ancestry directly from these families. Formally known for wrestlers and thugs, culture in Gawalmandi shifted highly after Zia regime as more and more people started pursuing higher and even post graduate education. Gawalmandi has significantly high literacy rate. “After partition, Gawalmandi was the first properly developed area outside of the walled city in Lahore. It had already become a residential community after 1911. Later on, it was the Gulberg of its time,” Shakeel explains.
According to Shakeel, the families who migrated to Lahore from Amritsar and other nearby cities settled in Gawalmandi. Among them were craftsmen and even some businessmen. A lack of employment opportunities for the newly-arrived families meant that some of the...
Read moreGawalmandi is an iconic town located in the central part of Lahore. It is regarded as the cultural centre of Lahore. The famous Food Street of Lahore is located here. Gawalmandi is a made of two words Gawala meaning Milkman and Mandi meaning Market. Formally Gawalmandi was one of the largest buffalo milk producing market in Punjab, until large number of Kashmiris started settling in after 1947. Gawalmandi is the hub of Butt family and many UK Butt nationals can derive their ancestry directly from these families. Formally known for wrestlers and thugs, culture in Gawalmandi shifted highly after Zia regime as more and more people started pursuing higher and even post graduate education. Gawalmandi has significantly high literacy rate.
Historical PlacesEdit
The area of Gawalmandi is surrounded by four road making an irregular trapezium. 3 out of four roads are named after Lords of British Empire such as:
Lord Nisbet
Lord...
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