RAWALPINDI: Even as upscale restaurants, offering both traditional and foreign cuisine, crop up around the city, fast food outlets hold a special place in the city, and indeed in the hearts of most food lovers.

Of the various fast food offerings available, one of the most ubiquitous in the city is the Zinger burger.

Introduced by KFC, the Zinger burger can now be found at various outlets in the city, each with a slightly different take on the fast food classic.

At the heart of the Zinger burger (or roll) is the mildly spicy, crunchy, fried chicken fillet. The chicken is served on a sesame seed bun with a slice of cheese, vegetables and a side of French fries.

Some outlets may also serve the burger with a fried egg or mint chutney, and the meal is rounded off by a chilled soft drink or juice.

From Murree Road to Raja Bazaar in the busy downtown area to the calm roads of the city’s upscale residential colonies, the Zinger burger can be found almost everywhere.

“Whenever I grab some food while out shopping, a spicy Zinger burger is my first choice,” said Amna Ahmed from Chaklala Scheme III.

She said she has loved the burger and a soft drink since she was a child, and the meal is easy to eat in her car when out in public.

She said that while the KFC’s Zinger burger was the best, the shops that offer the burger in various markets are also good. “At least the food is prepared in front of you,” she added.

Imran Raja said a burger is quicker and easier to pick up than waiting for a chicken tikka or something else to be prepared when out shopping or at work.

“Food chains introduced home delivery for office goers and people at home, but for students and visitors at public places, a burger and a Coke or some other soft drink is nothing more than a treat,” he said.

Shahmeer Malik said a Zinger burger and a coffee is the ideal meal in the winter.

“I always like my burger with cheese and egg, a little greasy with mustard to bring out the flavour,” he said.

He said local shops in the Satellite Town commercial area matched the food offered by chain restaurants.

“For quality purposes, shopkeepers make the platter in front of customers, and people can judge the food from the flavour and the quality of the ingredients used by the shopkeeper,” he said.

The owner of one such food outlet in Satellite Town, Haji Mumtaz has been making Zinger burgers and rolls for four years because “people wanted this item more than others”.

“The opening of these shops in the city is proof enough of their popularity,” he added.

Mohammad Obaid, a shopkeeper in Westridge Bazaar, said: “The burger recipe is simple, but people also educated chefs on how to add additional ingredients. In the early years, the burger I made was simple, but then added spices and sauces because of the customers, which is how the present recipe was made.”

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017