Opting for a spiritual journey to Makkah is made even better by the familiar foods onboard, especially for the inhabitants of South Asians who fancy good and rich aromatic foods. Makkah has numerous restaurants and Pakistani cuisine is well represented for guests from Pakistan or for those who like spicy curries and tasty biryani. At WorldHajj, it is our promise that your journey will be just as perfect in terms of functionality, worship, and cultural experience. Here we present the list of 10 best Pakistani restaurants that you can find in Makkah to taste the Pakistani flavor.
1. Faisalabad Restaurant
Location: Hijrah Street, Makkah
Specialties: Kebab, daal, meat korma, Bukhari rice
This restaurant was named after Faisalabad city in Pakistan and offers a great variety of dishes that represent the gastronomic culture of the country. As a Pakistani restaurant, you can expect to get wonderfully hot kebabs, warm and creamy daals, and rich meat kormas that are packed with Pakistani spices and flavors. The Bukhari rice is also a favorite, and one can easily make a hearty meal out of it after coming back from work. Over time, the site has grown to be very popular with those intending to spend some time in Makkah while on pilgrimage.
2. Hajees Restaurant
Location: Aziziyah District, Makkah
Specialties: Biryani’s, kebabs, and conventional curries
Hajees Restaurant incorporates a fusion of traditional Pakistani and Indian meals, which not only makes the restaurant genuine but offers total satisfaction. Their menu specialties include biryani that’s fragrant and spicy, as well as curries and kebabs to satisfy a person’s hunger cravings. Hajees offers a comfortable atmosphere which is perfect for families and friends. The food at this restaurant is prepared in a manner that makes each dish reminiscent of home-cooked Pakistani which every individual enjoys.
3. Tayyibah Restaurant
Location: Misfala, Makkah
Specialties: Middle Eastern and Pakistani fusion cuisine
Tayyibah Restaurant provides a combination of Middle Eastern and Pakistani cuisines, which would be interesting to people who want to try something different from the usual American fare. The name of the restaurant itself possesses an Asian connotation and it translates to something like ‘Purity’ or ‘Bliss,’ which underlines the restaurant’s commitment to only the finest products. Whether you desire a traditional meal of Pakistani curry or you’re looking to conquer the Middle Eastern flavor, Tayyibah’s offer is fair and balanced.
4. Paradise Restaurant
Location: Al Aziziyah, Makkah
Specialties: Chinese-Indian food, biryani, kebabs
Paradise Restaurant has received a warm reception particularly due to the preference of the more diverse menu of Chinese and South Asian cuisine. In addition to its biryani and kebabs, the restaurant has a unique combination of rotational with Chinese food selection to meet the expectations of different taste buds. The informal ambiance favored suits them to congregate, order portions, and savor the essence of both cuisines.
5. Punjab Restaurant
Location: Al Aziziyah, Makkah
Specialties: Butter chicken, biryani, kebabs, Punjabi-style dishes
With a reputation for serving genuine Punjabi food, Punjab Restaurant is the best place for everyone who feels hungry and in the mood for warm, spicy food. Credited for its spicy butter chicken, flavourful biryani, and succulent kebabs’s this restaurant recreates the authentic Punjabi food experience in the holy city of Makkah. If you are a first-time visitor or a regular diner of Punjabi palette, this restaurant serves food full of flavors served in hearty portions.
6. Firdous Restaurant
Location: Al Hedaya, Makkah
Specialties: Butter chicken, beef biryani, mutton pulao, chapli kebab
Firdous Restaurant specializes in traditional Pakistani dishes that include fabled butter chicken, biryanis, and the highly-favored chapli kebab. For the pilgrims, this restaurant’s home-like ambiance, and relatively moderate rates for the offered dishes are definitely worth mentioning. Separate family and single sections to have relaxed dining, and different meals guarantee that everyone will find food for their preference.
7. Mumtaz Restaurant
Location: King Abdullah Road, Makkah
Specialties: Karahi chicken and mutton, chicken biryani, mixed daal, traditional sweets
One of the claims that the Mumtaz Restaurant has is that they offer the best traditional Pakistani food in town. This includes options such as chicken and mutton karahi, chicken biryani, and mixed daal to ensure that the restaurant caters to both meat and non-meat eaters. Sweet items such as gulab jamun and kheer, are also highly recommended to round off most meals. This is a family-orientated place, which is cozy and comfortable, ideal for rest after visits to religious places.
8. Charminar Hyderabadi Indian Restaurant
Location: Al Aziziyah, Makkah
Specialties: Hyderabadi biryani, Chicken 65, and some other special Hyderabadi items
While it translates to an Indian restaurant, recently many Pakistani people have fallen in love with Charminar Hyderabadi for non-vegetarian specifically Hyderabadi biryani. However, popular non-Indian Chicken 65 and other Hyderabadi special dishes go well with the biryani. But, being filled with spices, the dishes are quite preferred for those who like their food hot, which is a specialty of Hyderabad food.
9. Matam Madina
Location: Al Aziziyah, Makkah
Specialties: The Indian and Pakistani curries, Rice items
Matam Madina is a restaurant that aims to provide you with the finest Pakistani and Indian cuisines you could ever get your mouth on. Offering curries and rice dishes that are indicative of South Asia, it is much frequented by pilgrims from these two areas. Here, the taste is bold, and the meals are slow-cooked to a point that the spices are fully matured in a way that gives the taste of homemade food.
10. New Multan Restaurant and Sweets
Location: Al Aziziyah, Makkah
Specialties: Traditional Pakistani dishes, sweets such as gulab jamun and jalebi
Finally, the Pakistani menu of main dishes and native sweets will remind many people of their childhood and serve as an extra bonus for guests of New Multan Restaurant and Sweets. The main course menu at this restaurant features delicious and very satisfying meal options, accompanied by a sweets corner that features some Indian favorites such as gulab jamun, jalebi, and kheer. It is especially suitable for people who are seeking to complete a dish with sweet items or enjoy simple desserts.
Final Thoughts
Food is often a reflection of the culture, and Makkah’s food and dining establishments are no different; they reflect the foods that pilgrims carry from their respective regions of the world. For the Pakistanis, these restaurants are not just places to eat but a comfort in an otherwise sacred pilgrimage banked with emotions. Every restaurant on this list truly encapsulates the friendly nature of the Pakistani people and provides a dining experience where guests can come together and feel that each dish was made specifically for them.
If you are planning your pilgrimage with WorldHajj, you might want to consider including a few of these restaurants on your list. Rich flavourful curies, tender biryanis, and delicious desserts—Pakistani restaurants in Makkah are sure to deliver the comforting diner’s experience.