Lahore Karahi

I'm surprised to read some not so good reviews, as I've always found Lahore Karahi to be consistently excellent, on all our trips in from Montreal. This is our favorite Pakistani restaurant - and I was born in Karachi, Pakistan - and the food is authentic.

I always order the shami kebabs, and sometimes take an extra order home. This time, we stored them in the fridge of our Notting Hill B&B, and took them with us to our cousins in Southend the next day. (They survived the trip).

The chicken karahi is always good, as is the biryani, any vegetable curry and the nans.

There is a branch now open on London Road in Southend, with an amazing, very extensive menu. It'll be on my must-do list, when we visit the area this fall.
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Noreen
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, February 08, 2013

I have visited almost every town in Pakistan while researching a book on this spectacular country. I can truly say that this restaurant, in my own view, as one who loves Pakistani cuisine, is superb.
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Christine Osborne
8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 9
Monday, November 26, 2012

Second best curry house in the uk!!

Today I wanted lamb, as I am not too keen on heat I didn't know what to choose. The waiter said he would ask the kitchen to make me a special surprise.

Wow!!

Tender lamb in a gentle onion sauce finished off with ginger - a good curry is about flavor, not heat and this dish was delicious ! I took what I couldn't manage home for lunch tomorrow.
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Rachel Ward - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, June 16, 2012

Been going to this restaurant ever since moving to Tooting about 20yrs. Good Pakistani restaurant. The Seekh Kebab's are the BEST in Tooting. Pakistanis are known for making the best kebabs, even by Indians. You can also order the Kebab rolls with Peshawari naan instead of the Tandoori Roti, makes a great combination of that savoury and sweet taste. Have it with sweet lassi and finish it off with ras malai at the end. You'll love it! The biryani isn't that brilliant, but the meat dishes are quite good. If you want your food very spicy, ask for 'Desi' hot.
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ash1973 - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Well I had been there (tooting) last week with my wife and honestly it is not that great. I had read at a few places that the biryani was good and that they really make their dishes very spicy .

We had ordered fish masala fry and prawns tandoori which was OK. The fish was a bit cold and not at all spicy (we had requested to make it really spicy) even the dressing was ordinary. We then ordered a Chicken ginger and chicken biryani but unfortunately we were disappointed. I usually like my chicken to be soft and juicy...

The service was OK with well behaved waiters. We got a wobbly table so we had to take care of that while eating.

We didn't have a great time (may be we should have stuck to kebabs n tandoori). But then for that I would go to Tayyabs...

This was my experience but I would still request you to visit this place and post your experience (please be honest).
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Praveen
7 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, September 14, 2011

This establishment serves two culinary functions simultaneously, and is a cross between an Indian restaurant and a fast food outlet. It specialises in 'hot' north Indian and Pakistani cuisine, and as well as being able to seat around 100 people on the ground floor, it can accommodate around another 20 people upstairs. This restaurant is always packed, and as well as providing for a 'sit down' service, it also has a thriving 'take-away' business, and has a selection of available foods on display.

A good sign of an Asian food restaurant in the UK is that it attracts Asian as well as non-Asian people to its tables. The good food awards are displayed for customers to see, and the variety of Indian/Pakistani food is remarkable considering the broad service that is offered. There are many 'bland' Indian restaurants in the UK - offering food that is not really that 'Asian', but the Lahore Karahi in Tooting is not one of them. If a genuine taste of north Indian/Pakistani cuisine is the order of the day, then definitely give this restaurant a visit. It is best to get there early in the evening, as the place fills-up very quickly - but remember that the Lahore Karahi of Tooting is open for lunch as well - when it is usually less packed.

There is a plasma screen TV on the wall and many people eating have enjoyed watching the live cricket broadcasts that are shown free of charge to the customers. Anyone who has travelled in Asia and misses the genuine food will find this restaurant superb. The waiters are courteous and helpful, and always willing to assist with any problems that might arise during a visit. Considering this restaurant is in the heart of London, its prices are extremely competitive - and that includes Tooting - where there are many reasonably priced curries houses. A thoroughly good place and an enjoyable experience. Top notch in every way.
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ACW
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, August 13, 2011

its a disappointment. the serving staff are working hard to deliver food to the table from a kitchen that cannot tell the difference between food and slop. trading on the lahore karahi name - of which there are many and some of them offer excellent food , this falls short by a long way on standards and there needs to be a serious overhaul led by management to give customers something for their money ( or shut shop and leave - let someone else do it )

I ordered three vegetable dishes ( channa , bhindi and karela karahi - and was surprised to find the vegetables floating in the same onion slop ( it is clear that they have a standard onion masala mix and add the vegetables to this and apply a little heat ) - which makes it impossible to tell if the vegetables are freshly prepared - channa dal from a tin I suspect - bhindi I would expect fresh but this looked like it was frozen and the karela I couldnt tell as it had lost all its consistency ) - the nans were a disaster - rotis were thick and some raw on the sides and the peshawari nana was green in colour and nothing like anything i had seen before - >?? ) time to pack up and leave boys .....
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Maghrebi
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Monday, October 18, 2010

Just dreadful. This is in Tooting. I'm surprised it's still going.

Maybe it was just the dishes I ordered. If that is the case, avoid the shish kebab, the lamb dhansak, the keema nan & the nan bread.

Service was prompt if a bit impersonal but it is a caff style eaterie after all.
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Telboyofpeckham - View all reviews by this user
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Friday, October 08, 2010