I have decided to, once and for all, hunt down and eat the best 'chat' in Karachi. Available on every street corner of every market and bus stop in Karachi, the humble plate of chat is a favourite of Karchiites but the burning question that emerges from this is, who is the best and NO this does not include fruit chat!
Ever since the announcement status update on facebook, I have gotten many recommendations from many of my friends.
The method of research is going to be simple, I have identified a core group of guinea pigs, two of whom are my best friends Danial Shaikh and Wajeeh Fatima, leaving just one more coveted spot on the team (nominations and bribes to be sent to my email address). We will test one recommended chat house per week. After the the first bite the GP's (guinea pigs) will rate the dish based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the hightest and 10 being the lowest.
That's just rating the 'chat' fresh off the thaila, the best chat will need to hold its own in the ever-famous 'parcel' format. For that I will be identifying a group of 4 more GP's within my office and the same process will be repeated.
The results will be published as soon as they are in, so stay tuned to the blog.
The nominations and the nominators are:
- The Gazebo - Nadia Qaisar
- Chatkharey - Mrs. Aisha Owais
- The guy who stands next to Tando Adam Sajji at Hasan Square - Umair Siddiqui
- Javed Bhai's at Zoology Department, Karachi University - Mrs. Suwaida Tahir
- Falmingo's Chat, Boat Basin - Ayraj Adhami & Sadia Hussain-Haider
- Hyderi Chat, Hyderi Market - Fyza Khan & Fahad Hafeez
- Sherry's, Phase 4 Defence - Mrs. Misbah Omer
- Off I. I. Chundrigarh Road, between SCB and Prize Bond Market - Asif Yousuf
- Bohri Chat House, Empress Market, Saddar - Asif Yousuf
- The guy next to Meezan Bank on Tariq Road - Me
- Mirchi near Khayaban-e-Seher - Shazia Khan
- Bohri Bazaar Chaat, the famous chat wala in the gali opposite nimco - Mehreen Kazi
- The guy who sells chaat in Ancholi, Near Ahmed Medicos - Moizuddin
- Iqbal Bhai's Chaat, Opposite Bata Store, Pakistan Chowk - Faheem Farooqui
- Shamsu Chaat - Ali J Wastani
- The guy at Dhorajee next to Yousuf Burger - Atif Zubair
I'll add to the list as the recommendations come in. Personally I'm dying to try Hyderi and the guy at Hasan Square.
I'd love some comments and questions or even improvements to the research methodology.
Bon Apetit,
Z
