Best Food and Restaurants in Pakistan: Quick Guide for Singapore Travellers
If you are planning a Pakistan travel itinerary from Singapore, the best food and restaurants in Pakistan are concentrated in three key clusters: historic Lahore for smoky grills and street food, Islamabad for modern cafés with mountain views, and the northern Pakistan mountains for hearty, rustic dishes after hikes.[1][3][7] This guide focuses on where to eat safely and well in these cities, what to order, and how to plan meals around culture, history and landscapes – with practical tips tailored to Singapore-based travellers and investors.
This article is part of Homejourney’s broader Pakistan tourism and lifestyle coverage and supports our main pillar guide: Pakistan Travel Guide: History, Culture & Mountains Pakistan Travel Guide: History, Culture & Mountains | Homejourney . Here we go deep on food and dining, while the pillar covers visas, routes and cultural basics in more detail.
Why Food in Pakistan Belongs on Your Travel Bucket List
Pakistani cuisine is a rich fusion of Mughal, Central Asian, Persian and regional South Asian influences, built around bold spices, slow cooking and charcoal grilling.[1][3][6] For Singaporeans used to complex flavours in hawker food, Pakistani dishes feel both familiar (biryani, kebabs) and surprisingly distinct (nihari breakfasts, mountain stews, whole-roasted sajji).[3][4][5]
Food is also deeply tied to history and religion: many famous dishes date back to the Mughal courts or old trade routes, and most restaurants are halal due to Pakistan’s Muslim majority.[1][5][6] That makes Pakistan an easy fit for Muslim travellers from Singapore seeking strictly halal food, while non-Muslim travellers will still find the cuisine approachable and welcoming.[5][8]
From a lifestyle and property perspective, food streets and dining clusters often sit near high-demand residential areas – similar to how Singapore’s Tiong Bahru, Joo Chiat or Little India blend food culture and property value. In Lahore and Islamabad, popular food districts sit close to newer housing schemes and expat-friendly neighbourhoods, which is useful context if you eventually compare them with Singapore’s real estate market via Homejourney’s property search Property Search .
Understanding Pakistani Food: History, Regions and Flavours
To choose the best restaurants in Pakistan, it helps to understand how food varies by region:
- Lahore (Punjab) – Known as the food capital, famous for grilled meats, tandoori breads, rich curries and late-night food streets.[3][4][5]
- Karachi (Sindh) – Coastal, with spicy biryani and seafood; often in longer trips combined with Lahore or Islamabad.[3][5]
- Islamabad & Rawalpindi – Government capital with cleaner air, café culture and easy access to Margalla Hills for mountain views.
- Northern Pakistan mountains – Hunza, Skardu, Gilgit: simpler, hearty dishes with Central Asian influences, perfect after trekking.[1][3][7]
Core dishes you will see everywhere include:
- Biryani – Fragrant rice with meat and spices, heavily influenced by Mughal cuisine.[1][4][5]
- Nihari – Slow-cooked beef or mutton stew traditionally eaten for breakfast, originating from Mughal-era noblemen.[2][4]
- Kebabs – From chapli kebab in the northwest to seekh kebabs on food streets, grilled over charcoal.[3][4][7]
- Karahi – Wok-style curry cooked in an iron karahi, especially famous in Punjab.[4][7]
- Sajji – Whole roasted lamb or chicken from Balochistan, rubbed with spices and slow-roasted.[4][5][7]
Compared with Singapore, portion sizes are larger and meals are more communal. Ordering 2–3 mains to share for a group of four is usually enough, which also keeps costs down.
Best Food Areas in Lahore, Islamabad and the Pakistan Mountains
Lahore: Food Streets and Historic Flavours
If you have time for only one city for food, make it Lahore. It has the deepest food culture and a reputation similar to Penang or Bangkok in Southeast Asia.[3][4][5]
Key food areas to prioritise:
- Gawalmandi and Old Lahore Food Streets – Try nihari, paya (trotter stew), halwa puri breakfasts and classic kebabs around sunrise or late at night. Crowded but atmospheric; similar in feel to Singapore’s Tekka Centre on a Sunday morning, but more intense.
- Fort Road Food Street (near Badshahi Mosque) – Rooftop restaurants with views over Lahore Fort and the mosque, serving Mughlai dishes like biryani, karahi and grilled meats. Great for first-timers – menus are tourist-friendly, yet still used by local families.
- MM Alam Road & Gulberg – Modern restaurants, dessert cafés and international chains in a more upmarket district, akin to Holland Village or Dempsey. Good if you want cleaner, family-friendly environments and easier English communication.
Price-wise, a hearty local meal in Lahore can range from the equivalent of about a mid-range hawker meal in Singapore to casual restaurant pricing, depending on location. For current exchange rates from SGD to Pakistani Rupee, use Homejourney’s currency tools when planning daily budgets Bank Rates .
Islamabad: Cafés, Cleanliness and Mountain Views
Islamabad is greener and more planned than Lahore, with broad roads and neighbourhood sectors. Food here feels closer to what Singaporeans might associate with expat districts – more spread out, with cleaner surroundings and many families dining out.
Food areas to focus on:
- F-7, F-8 and F-10 sectors – Clusters of cafés and restaurants serving Pakistani, Afghan, Turkish and international cuisine. These sectors are popular with professionals and diplomats, similar to how expats cluster around River Valley or Novena.
- Monal or other hilltop restaurants in the Margalla Hills – Famous for panoramic city views and Pakistani barbecue. These are very popular with locals on weekends; make reservations and go before sunset for the best experience.
- Blue Area – Central commercial strip with office crowds and quick lunch spots, including biryani and karahi eateries.
Islamabad is also a common staging point for trips to the Pakistan mountains. Many travellers stop here for a day or two to enjoy city comforts and stock up on snacks before heading north.
Northern Pakistan Mountains: Hunza, Skardu, Gilgit
Once you head into the Pakistan mountains – Hunza, Skardu, Gilgit and surrounding valleys – the scenery becomes the main attraction, but food still plays a key role in the experience.[7] Expect simpler, more rustic dishes designed to keep you warm rather than elaborate restaurant menus.
Typical mountain food highlights include:
- Hunza bread and walnut cakes – Dense, energy-rich and often served with tea after hikes.
- Yak or mutton stews – Slow-cooked, lightly spiced and perfect in cold weather.
- Local dumplings and noodle soups – Showing Central Asian and Chinese border influences.[1][3][7]
In these regions, guesthouses and small family-run hotels double as restaurants, similar to homestay experiences in rural parts of Malaysia or Indonesia. Food safety is generally fine if you pick busy places and avoid raw salads or tap water – a rule I personally follow here and in similar highland areas.
Insider Tips for Singapore Travellers Eating Safely in Pakistan
Homejourney prioritises safety and verified information, and that applies to food as much as it does to property. Based on frequent trips and comparing conditions to Singapore’s standards, here are practical guidelines:
- Start with safer environments – On your first day, eat in reputable, mid-range restaurants in areas like Lahore’s Gulberg or Islamabad’s F-7. Once your stomach adjusts, explore older food streets.
- Follow the crowds – Just like we trust long queues at certain Singapore hawker stalls, busy Pakistani eateries tend to have high turnover and fresher food.
- Be cautious with raw items – In smaller towns and mountain areas, avoid raw salads, ice in drinks and unbottled water. Stick to cooked dishes and sealed water or hot chai.
- Ask for “less spicy” – Even if you’re used to sambal and chilli padi in Singapore, Pakistani spice levels can surprise you. Ask for milder versions, especially for kids.
- Time your meals
References
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 1 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 3 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 7 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 6 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 4 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 5 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 8 (2025)
- Singapore Property Market Analysis 2 (2025)
