Food has always been one of Pakistan’s favorite pastime – not only do we love eating as a nation … we love talking about food, watch food being made on television, making plans to go out for food and since the advent of social media we love taking pictures of our food and tweeting it, posting it on our Facebook pages and of course via Instagram now!!
Then comes the Holy month of Ramzan … the month where we don’t eat most of the day … but do we plan for the breaking of fast like one, big, happy nation of FOODIES … and of course based on the market’s demands, we have a whole variety of Iftar-Dinner options to choose from during the month.
But what I have suddenly started noticing is a new Ramzan dining trend … the Sehri!
Yes! Yes! Who in their godforsaken minds wants to get up at 3 in the morning and go out to eat?? But as Farhat Rabia said on the Facebook group Khana Peena, “Recommended on weekends only… Sehri (out) starts at 12 midnight up till 4 am for us … usually at Burns road … then sleep thru the day till 3pm.”
Another red flag was Abid Hussain sharing his attempt to have a Sehri out in Lahore recently, ”Village Restaurant, Hardees, Pizza Hut on MM Alam Road JAM PACKED at 3am.” (Interesting!!)
A quick look on Google showed me that there are actually a lot of places now offering Sehri deals and offers for the food lovers in the Urban centers … from fast food places like Pizza Hut to the big hotels to street dining and even restaurants like Bar B Q Tonight and Gloria Jean’s … there are a lot of options and most places are usually packed especially on the weekends. As for the rest of the week, as Hareem Sumbul said: “…we go for a dinner at 1 am and call it an early Sehri pyaar se ♥ 
”
Maybe as Faisal Kapadia says, “It’s just become more hip now but (in Karachi) Burns road, Cafe Laziz and Waheed kebabs were always a staple for Sehri out back in the 80s too …” and also now we have more Sehri dining options to explore too!
To those skeptics of going out for a Sehri meal … here are some great reasons to venture out for Sehri this coming weekend (assisted by Bilal Alvi and Farhat Rabia):
- Sehri prices are much lower than the Iftar-Dinner deals
- Restaurants are less crowded than Iftar time (though this is debatable for some places and days!!)
- Restaurants offer you a better service during Sehri time
- Iftar menus at most places are pretty repetitive – while Sehri options more diverse
- Many people feel too full after an Iftar – but can eat more at Sehri time
- Roads have less traffic at night than evenings
- It is a cooler time of the day
- Most people are fresher at that time, as compared to their lethargic condition at Iftar
- It’s just super fun to try out fun new things for Sehri.
Yes there will always be non-fans for a Sehri out like Aly Balagamwala who “strictly avoid(s) Sehri outside as the food can cause heartburn, dry mouth and hence a very miserable roza” But the new Urban majority of Pakistan is with Faisal Kapadia … “Sehri is more of an important meal than Iftar any day … plus (we) just need any excuse to go out and feast 
”
Blog was first published on Pak Tea House.
Ramadan or no Ramadan, late evenings especially on the weekend are always part of Karachi. I believe it’s because we are socially knitted to our family and friends. What fun would it be to go alone or just as a couple to a restaurant in the middle of night when there is no holar hangama, no teasing and no laughter. Eating out in Ramadan is becoming more and more part of our culture than a religious activity.
i miss karachi and ramadans in pakistan. foodie or no foodie good company and good food always hits the marks.
Karachi misses you too!
well i think Ramzan is there to remember and worry more about the One who bless you with this food rather than dashing and craving out for food.
to dine out we have the rest of the 11 months and yeah karachi donot sleeps so yeah complete 11 months. peace
I don’t think I can ever manage to go out for Sehri and eat a lot. But yeah the trend does seem to be catching on…
It looks that you need to change the trend of Iftar
Even i dont prefer eating Sehri outside. Reasons:
1. unhygienic (At most of the places) all time
.. i prefer sleeping & eating fresh
2. Too much oil – fats
3. Heart burn
4. bad for stomach, if eaten regularly
5. not fresh – although they cook fresh but ingredients are mostly stale
6. waste of time
7. Most of these places are far
Places like Gloria Jeans and Bar B Que Tonight have Sehri deals … whats unhygentic about them?
Oil really depends on what you eat, and you can choose to have things that dont give you a heart burn or bad stomach!
After that its your individual choice ofcourse … Cheers
Thanks, but i dont think anyone can eat there regularly!
And yes, if i try to avoid foods that causes above prblems then i think the food list get too much filtered and i will eventually get less options…
anyone provide khajla and pheni for sehri?
Hi Raza, khajla/pheni is readily available at most bakeries, and I know many people whose staple Sehri meal is that throughout Ramzan.
i mean ready to eat, because that is the only sehri meal for me throughout Ramazam.
I would prefer a Sehri out any day over an Iftar! Lesser madness and better choices of food being the top reasons!