I guess Pakistani people still love their traditional food...I don't think that 'bun kabab' is not going to survive in our society as people here are living below poverty line they could not afford to have that high price cheese burgers....so 'bun kabab' is going to last forever in our society and its business is profitable indeed. :)

Definitely bun kabab will survive. It is the luxury food for middle class, lower middle class, and obviously lower class who enjoy Bun kabab as when they want to spend their leisure money for enjoyment. Multinational junk food are still have far far away from the reach of above mention citizens Best Regard, Momna Gull.

Yummy, the Chapli Kabab, Bun Kabab at nursery is awesome, I had two goals when I went to Karachi last time, one was Bahadurabad ki chaat and second nursery ka Bun Kabab...

Give the recipe to make the bun kabab. thanks

Well!! that's good that Karachi is now getting involve in food matters other wise in the matter of street food or other kinds of the condition of Karachi is very bad...so its good:-)

Where in Dubai?, I tried it once in my life in Islamabad, and I really loved it.

Bun-Kebabs at Nursery Furniture Market and in North Nazmabad near rout 2-K Bus stop are also very tasty !

I think Bun-Kabab has a traditional value in Pakistani culture. Multinational food chains may include Bun-Kababs in their menus.

There are restaurants in US also (desi) that sell bun kakbas equally liked by all :) the smell is out of the world.

I am fond of this BUN KABAB since childhood. Now missing it because I am in Doha since last 2 years but whenever visits Karachi this is a "must eat" item. Same Bun Kabab is now available in Dubai with almost the same taste. I have been with multinational bank throughout my career in Pakistan and can say that this Bun Kabab is as infamous among all my colleagues i.e. from top to bottom as zinger or any other. The need is to improve its presentation as done by Student Biryani through better hygiene standards and sitting arrangements. This is our proud we should not feel low for that. There is no replacement to it...Karachi and Bun Kabab I miss u so much.

The popularity can be imagine form the fact A restaurant in Dubai is offering same type bun kebab & it has gained wide popularity among all esp foreigners & Indians. Their business is booming.

I love Bun-Kebabs. It has a unique taste. It has a local color; it adds to the diversity of food choices. We should not do away with it. You get bored of eating burgers. I live in USA and eat burgers all the time and I don't go to Pakistan to eat the same darn food. I want local food. It is unfortunate so many Bun-kebab vendors have switched to selling "Burgers". It is becoming increasingly difficult to find Bun-kebab these days. I luckily came across one near old Duty Free shop on Shah Faisal Road. I ate two of those. One with daal and the other one with potato. I always used to drink it with Ice-cream soda. I do request Karachiites and all tourists to Pakistan to keep this tradition alive. Always, ask for Bun-kebab only since you can always eat Burgers anywhere.

If Shami Burger is indigenous to Lahore and is not borrowed from "Burgers" then I am up for it. I believe that Pakistani food, in any city, taste much better than other countries. We should keep our traditions alive.

Guys please share all the locations where Bun-kebab is available in Karachi. People simply don't know where to get Bun-kebab from.

I think McDonald and KFC are over-hyped and over-priced. In Karachi, lot more tastier broasted chickens are available. They have been hugely popular before KFC. These American joint are only competing because of glamour. These food have no taste. It is flat. The meat patty is just ground beef with no spices added. The sauce is the ONLY ingredient that adds flavor to the burger. Our Bun kebab has flavor immersed in the patty itself which is enhanced by mouth-watering mint sauce. Once can make it very healthy but coming up with sauces that are not only tasty but are full of spices that improve health such as digestion etc. Trust me Imran, I have been in Dubai for a month and all I have been eating here are Burgers and KFC because they are halal. I am already bored with them. Americans can not compete in food with Pakistan. Our club sandwich is way better than American's (which is just whole piece of unseasoned chicken breast placed between toast). Our "Paratha Roll" is the most devilishly delicious :). Then we have our Chicken Tikka, Beef Tikka, Bihari Kebab, Dhagay lagay kabab, Hyderabadi Gola kebab, bundoo Khan seekh kabob, Peshawari Chaplee kabob. All so wonderful and mouthwatering. One more point you say McDonald and KFC are "new introductions" and they have been around since the 50s. So, Americans can get to keep their traditions alive but Pakistanis don't. Americans love of McDonald hasn't subsided. Why should they continue to love the same food day in and day out while we Pakistanis should abandon our traditional food? I don't think, Imran, it is a good attitude. They even export it world wide. And you are already feeling small about your culture.

Mr. Zigs There is no guarantee of hygiene even in McDonald's. Since the food is still prepared by the locals. What guarantee can you get that they will wash their hands before serving you. Not only their food is pricier but is not as tasty as desi version. It is only marketing that McDonald might have become popular since the company has enough wealth to do aggressive marketing. Also, our Mr. Burger is lot better in taste than McDonald's Big Mac. I know this because I am a fan of Big Mac. I didn't think there could be any better burger than that but Mr. Burger proved me wrong. I still prefer to eat the Bun-kebab from the thaila walas. I think it is just instinctive to us whenever we see a Bun-kebab vendor, we are automatically drawn.

Im drooling over the screen !

'Hygiene' would probably ruin the taste. There is a reason why roadside food tastes good anywhere. Have tea from a clean glass in a Dhaba and it tastes awful..

Bun Kabab the best.

Bun Kabab is the real and original fast food for the common citizen. The so called western fast food joints are put on a pedestal as a novelty food joints in the country. If anything, this street food king will perhaps be dethroned by another tasty morsel, locally produced. At present, nothing beats Bun Kabab.

In Lahore its called Shami Burger :) and is equally popular.

No one can compare :-) "Bun Kabab" with any other multinational food it has its own glory and taste and also very easy to get from every where in Karachi and every area has its own "Special Bun Kabab". Best of Luck for ever to Bun Kabab.

Hi all! Yes- it symbolises Karachi but so are many food items from every small and big cities the world over. Bun-Kebab has tremendous nostalgic value and is routine snack & meal for the locals. Our pride should be in how people from outside our culture accept it, like we have accepted the products of multi-national food vendors. Is it just for taste and value for money that we go for international cusine? Yes- and no! We are all victims of the marketing skills of the producer- seller and that is where the Multi-National food vendors score over our traditional food. Otherwise - in taste- look and aroma, whether it is Bun-kabab or donner Kabab or Pav-vada or Masala Dosa or Iddli Sambar

There is no comparison between Bun Kabab and multinational fast food chains. We are talking of the 10% population able to buy those fast food stuff and and 100% able to buy Bun Kabab. You can figure out the rest. Long Live Bun Kabab!

There

Bun Kabab are good for Pakistan, local food cheap & good is good if it is done to a good standard. Local food can attract lots of people due to high prices of electricity & food items instead of expensive fast food, cheap food like Bun Kababs will pick up a lot of customers in times of high prices in Pakistan. Long live Bun kabab.

The problem with Bun Kabab is that one is never sufficient. I always take two atleast if I am out and about to take Bun kabab, and it will not be justice to Bun Kabab to ask a question about its maza or taste, most of the Bun Kababs taste great. But better to avoid available on thailas as they are fraught with health risks, you wanna have still, good luck to you.

Bun Kabab is Bun Kabab!!!! It has its own unique spicy taste.

Multinational fast food chains offer low quality food at an extremely unreasonable price. In North America, McDonalds etc is considered a low end place. If you took your girl friend there, the date would be over. In Pakistan people are being played into paying higher prices for these low quality burgers. Bun kababs are very tasty but once again, hygiene becomes an issue. The same great tasting stuff can be made form quality ingredients. If bun kebabs rectify their image and use quality ingredients and good hygiene, then Kebabs will out compete McDonalds etc no problem. Traditional Pakistani food is meat heavy, protein rich and very healthy, and Pakistanis love their traditional food (no wonder Bandu Khan survived all these years and finally KFC realized that they weren't a match ;) ). As long as people continue to get fooled by these multinationals and continue to pay high prices for lousy burgers, McDonalds and Co. will survive. But as soon as people start becoming more intelligent, things will change. Karachi people need to eat proper homemade food, so they remain healthy and don't develop an inferiority complex to other Pakistanis who are physically far superior.

Wow!!! This article brings back memories long lost in the bustle of the Silicon Valley!!! I'm in California now but everytime I think of Pakistan Chowk and Burns Road (We lived in Queens road so close by), mouth starts watering for those delicious bun kebabs!!! Priceless!!!!!

I would say nothing can beat a Bun Kabab with egg :) - KFC's zinger, Mc Donald's Big MAC no match.

Bun kabab are very old and the tongue is dead due to same taste. I prefer Mc Donalds and the KFC why not the new introductions..? These are the real world class fast food, cheap and best and also clean and hygienic.

Hi, Bun Kababs have been there forever but it has passed through a wonderful journey to make itself known from the poor and among the rich. Some indulge on it as a feast and some as a snack. An addictive delicacy that has been a part of the daily lives of a very large part of the population particularly among the fast paced Karachities rich and poor. I will share my account of Bun Kababs from my area PECHS where I grew up. I have been a Bun Kabab fan since my school days. In the 70's some of the Bun Kabab carts around different schools in PECHS area were famous and who can forget the Chacha on a bicycle with a wooden box on the carrier he who would turn up near my residence in block 2 every other day same time and will serve his Kababs with an option of having it rolled in a chapatti or a Bun with a very tasty mouth watering chutney. He was a regular until the early 90's. Overall PECHS had been famous for some tasty spicy good Bun Kababs. In the 80

The sight of bun kababs stirs a sweet flash back into yesteryears. Having studied at Dow, Burns Road was a daily passage for me. Whenever time permitted, treat was on. Today, I drive 150 miles to Dallas to get one from Tooso at Carrolton. Its yummy. Kind of purani jeans phenomenon! Bun Kabab Zindabad

Eating Bun-kabab is an experience that cannot be surpassed by the fancy burger call it Big Mac, whopper or whatever. I miss my days in Karachi when no second thought crosses the mind whenever we encounter a Bun Kabab stall in Saddar or Tariq Road.

Our thaila at collage was the worst in hygiene but it tasted awesome. And at old Dhauragi there was a Bun Kabab wala, he made the best Bun Kabab with Egg. no doubt good memories. Thanks for reminding us all.

Thankyou for the fine description---I can just feel the taste in my mouth.

Long Live the Bun Kabab! simply irreplaceable! And the best part is that even though I have more money in my pocket as compared to a few years ago, the "lust" for it never dies... =P long live the Bun Kabab.

Well first of all both Bun Kabab and burger are very bad for health. Also, I always wonder what type of oil they are using. And yes the most important part of the kabab meat, I always wonder what meat is it. Other then that it taste great!

So far it has survived and I am sure that it's gonna survive in the long run as well. These fast food multinational chains are no match for our Desi Bun Kabab. The Hot sizzling desi sauces which our locals use and the Desi kebab. mmmmmm yummmmy!!! International Brands like KFC and Mc Donalds stand nowhere compare to this!!

Indeed.

Our traditional foods are much good but there should a proper place for these foods and assurance of cleanliness.Then these foods will be more attractive to people.

I can smell bun kabab here in toronto just by looking at tawa and kebabs in the picture...Bun Kabab all the way!!!!!!!!Viva Karachi!!

These Bun Kebabs are not new in our life as of fast-foods. Secondly they are cheap so that every poor man in our city Karachi afford it. Bun kababs Zindabad.

Wow Bun Kabab at time anywhere no formalities no advance booking eat it any where its the best fast food which every body can afford to buy time will tell when nothing else remains you will find it around. Any corner.

The Bun kabab can take on any multinational food. It doesn't have to be unhygienic to be tasty and it can be made as quickly as any fast food. All it needs is a fast food chain to pick it up and make it happen.

I haven

Vada Pav with lasoon ki chatni!!! no competition... especially with Jumbo Vada Pav

It's lunch time in my office here in London and I am eating a bland vegetable pasty which tastes like old people's food. Thanks for bringing up the memory of the Karachi Bun Kabab. The international fast-food chains have no chance of defeating the ages-old bun kebab.

AOA, Indeed its a reflection of our culture and remind us we used to be the people who lived and felt happy what Allah gave us, now its just different problems every where, however the spirit of Bun Kabab still lives through our hearts. I agree with some bloggers the picture here is very horrible, ever a kid can take better shot than that. I love Pakistan and every that shows our true culture.

Feeling hungry go to Pakistan Chowk hunger vanishes with the aroma of Bun Kabab. Keep it folks

Absolutely! No fast food.....Bun Kebab forever!

I cannot forget having the Bun Kababs at Bahadurabad's Charming Restaurant with a Pakola! Heaven!

I am from USA. Still remember the days in National College, Karachi. The best lunch was the Bun Kabab made in front of us the taste is much better than the foreign Bun Kabab from Burger King, Wendy or McDonald.

Come on guys, I am feeling hungry, been living away from Karachi for so long, but I still can taste and smell bun Kababs and Nihari..mmm

I would here say that Bun Kabab is a good thing to have in the hustle and bustle of routine. It's cheap and easy to eat and even readily available. Well if one doesn't prefer the traditional bun kababs, there are other options as of KFC's and Mc donalds and etc. But hain tu Bun Kabab hee and these are best for lunch.

I totally agree with Wajiha Asrar Siddiqi and Flacster and most important thing is that the roadside bun kababs are equally tasty (truly Paki essence) and easily available at reasonable prices which is the main reason of their popularity. Long live desi bun kababs :D

Well, I would say that both the Pakistani fast food and the multinational fast food chains would go side by side, but they will be modified with time.

Though Indo-Pak is famous for the traditional foods and Cultural norms, still Globalization has sought a deep effect on our lives and social standards...for that renaissance is taking place and we are getting to be junkies of Fast foods...To be conceived as food lovers, we are intended to become caliber conscious, that the reason which is making us accept those multi-national food business chains...weather of that all, our Pakistani and Indian foods along those fast-food restaurants is combating European recopies in West n Mid-East...

Pakistan chowk or Burns Road ka Bun Kebab! with a Pakola! no comparison. Reminds me of college days! kum paison mein acha khana. Though people are getting more status conscious now in Karachi. Having a bun kabab standing at a 'thaila', not too many people from upper middle class and over prefer that. Flamingo is a good alternative to that, and it did provide Bun Kebab, until a couple of years back atleast. When it comes to hygiene, you never know what

I am from Mumbai. good to hear about the popularity of bun kababs in Karachi. Our "Vada Pav" is also Mumbai version of burgers

The Pakistan Chowk 'Bun Kebab' has gone international. An outlet has just opened in Bur Dubai styled 'Imli & Chilli' that serves the most exotic Karachi 'Bun Kebab' and mouth watering Paratha Rolls for the desi food junkies in Dubai. Amazingly it is always full to capacity and you have to wait in que to be served. However the difference is that the LCD screens behind the cash counter quite explicitly show these Bun Kebabs being made with the Chef wearing plastic gloves for the hygiene requirement.

A complete bun kebab experience is not just eating one but watching the 'thaila' guy make it in front of you on a hot 'Tawa' with simmering oil, taking in the scene and the smell simultaneously and finally biting into one that has only your name written on it!

Certainly yes! it has survived so far and it is going to survive in future also as the example you've quoted proves that. Plus, this bun kabab phenomenon most popular among youngsters who make over 55% of our population, due to variety of reasons. Among them, its easy availability, convinience and not very expensive price tag are the most plausible ones.

Great picturization!

I think the reason bun kababs will always be remembered and cherished because it reminds us of who we are and where we belong, bun kababs remind us that we are at home. The multinational food chains can never do that.

Bun Kababs can never lose their charm especially in Karachi. I am a pure foodoholic person and have tired almost all the international food chains, but still whenever I am out of home and feel hungry the first thing came in mind is 'Bun Kabab'

I agree with Muhammad Quddus

I think its not eaten (bun Kabab) as much as it use to be. But its one of the best fast foods out of the subcontinent. But for the South Asians', I don't think we can survive on burgers or for that matter bun kababs all the time. Home food is home food, the main constant choice after a while. Mcdonalds, KFC and others are great once in a while and will have acceptance in our market. But more due to the marketing prowess than a constant people preference for such foods. Pakistanis may not like it through out their life cycle. Bun kabab, will remain.

I agree... The Bun Kabab has not replaced and the multinational food chains do not ever qualify as competition.

I am living in Saudi Arabia for last 10 years. Hardy, Mc Donalds, etc. Whenever think of Bun Kabab of Karachi vendors, mouth starts watering. Irreplaceable.

Bun Kebabs will never lose their charm, plus one can never have enough of bun kebabs! Bun Kebabs, forever!

In Karachi, I had my share of having fun with the "Bun Kabab" without ever dwelling into the symbolic values. The equivalent of bun kabab--the hamburger-- in the U.S.A. is taking the big plunge. We are going to have fun with the bun kabab till eternity. God bless bun kabab.

It is amazing how the tough bellies of most Karachiites survive these fast foods served in open spaces without much hygiene, very scarce water for washing dishes etc. But I guess there is no choice. I loved Bun Kebab, especially when hunger was the motivator and pocket had Rupee One and fifty paisas in good old days. My sister would often get them for poor little chotas repairing her old volksy in PECHS as she talked and joked with them. This was then replaced by Mr. Burger. Now I wonder what the cost is? Bun Kabab is surely a part of Karachi culture just like Pakistan Chowk.

Back in Karachi, just downstairs from our office we had one McDonald's outlet and just beside it was a 'bun kabab thaila'.'Bun kabab' was taken as a special treat and a reason to get out of the office during the hunger pangs pre or post lunch, not because it wasn't expensive but because it had an amazingly delicious desi taste. So what if it was unhygienic?? who cares? We, the Pakistanis love the taste of food more than its hygienic value and bun kabab is something that has a power to make you feel hungry even if you're not hungry. One of the things that we miss the most here outside Pakistan is 'bun kababs', other is of course 'desi chics' :)

This is a horrible image...seems like a juvenile composition...the focus is not at all on the bun kebabs or the bun kebab stall instead a random guy and an underconstruction building reflected off a window.....sadly it also does not capture the soul and spirit of Karachi or its roadside eateries.

Mr. Burger was the local fast food chain in the early 80's, until the market was opened for the multinational chains to enter in the late 1990's. I went back to Mr. Burger last year for the first time in 10 years, and I couldn

The Bun Kabab is symbolic of Karachi, and although hamburgers are picking up everywhere, I think the Bun Kabab has enough to weather the storm. I live in Dubai, and I only eat the Bun Kabab when I'm back home, simply because it has a special place in my heart. I also think that Karachiites owe it to the bun kabab to make sure that it stays on. I really don't think franchise hamburger joints can replace the bun kabab because they depend on the experience of the consumer visiting the fast food joint, whereas the bun kabab is literally a street snack.

I would say that as unhygienic as they appear to the people who see sweaty men in dirty clothes making them without wearing any gloves, people might have decreased their consumption of the beloved Pakistani form of the burger. As a Karachiite, I wouldn't say I am not a fan of the international fast food outlets, infact my consumption of burgers is much more than that of bun kababs. Maybe if the bun kabab makers try to take a more hygienic approach towards cooking their special kind of burger people would be more attracted towards bun kababs, because when it comes to the taste, bun kababs beat all kinds of fast food!

How can you even draw a comparison between bun kebab and a fast food burger chain. Bun kebab has always been and will remain the most tastiest sought for the people of Karachi (after Student Biryani, Nihari, Bundu khan's Kabab Paratha etc). I live outside Pakistan and in the Pakistani Embassy we have a tea stall where we can buy bun kabab as well. Whenever I feel like I will go to the Embassy not for renewing my passport or Nadra Card but for buying Bun Kabab. Additionally whenever my Pakistani friends go to the embassy they also bring for me the delightful Bun Kabab. So you can see the pivotal role that Karachi's Bun Kabab plays in our lives.

Very good comment 100% agree with you