Written by: Noor ul Ain
Posted on: October 04, 2019 | 
Kamakazi Original Burger (credits to The Hungry Toad on Facebook)
The tiny, blooming commercial market in V block, Phase 2, DHA mostly houses small emerging fast food restaurants. A new entrant into this market is The Hungry Toad, with a small, pop-up shop after several successful reviews at food festivals like Lahore Eat and Coke Music and Food Festival. Their menu, at the moment, comprises only of three core items: an appetizer and two classic burgers.
I was intrigued to visit the place after hearing about their appetizer, called the Mozzetto, which is their unique take on Mozzarella sticks. Their signature quality, which sets them apart from any ordinary Lahori mozzarella sticks, is their coating. As opposed to bread crumbs, the rich, gooey cheese is breaded with crushed Flaming Hot Cheetos. My friends and I ordered everything on the menu, and were served hot, freshly made food after only a short wait.
The appetizer consisted of three mozzarella sticks served with a honey mustard dip. The first bite delivered the quintessential hot, stringy delight of fried, crusted cheese that had won our hearts instantly. However, that's where the charm ended. The middle section consisted of hardened, frozen cheese because the sticks were not fried through. The crust too, other than being bright orange in color, delivered little in terms of the quintessential crispiness of Cheetos. Disappointingly, they tasted like any other coated mozzarella sticks.
Mozettos at Lahore Eat (credits to The Hungry Toad on Facebook)
Next came the burgers. The first one which we tried, was the beef burger, called the Kamakazi Original. It consisted of a minced beef patty topped with cheese, mushrooms, pepperoni, pickles and onions. The bun was soft and the burger was served warm. However, we found the taste of the beef almost too overwhelming. It did not help that the pepperoni, which mostly works in such burgers, did not add to the flavor at all. Perhaps, it tasted more boiled than fried, which just confused our palettes. The only thing that seemed to be holding the burger together, was the pleasing blend of condiments and sauces that made it juicy and soft.
The last thing on the menu, was the chicken burger, called the Chickmeister, flavoured with a tasty jalapeno sauce. It really delivered in terms of the serving size, with a huge, wholesome crispy chicken patty sandwiched in a tender bun. The crust was marinated really well, and had a great texture to it, but the inside was tasteless. It was unfortunately dry, indicating either over-fried chicken or just poor quality meat. The jalapeno sauce too, worked for the first few bites, after which it became far too overpowering for the tongue. The sauce was so strong that it overwhelmed the chicken in the burger.
Since we ordered meals, both the burgers came with well fried, and hot, salty French Fries, and drinks. Even after ordering complete meals with an appetizer, the prices were very economical, and would probably serve as a good choice for a cheap, late night meal with friends. Since there was no seating inside, the best place to enjoy the restaurant is either in the car or as take-out. A final word on The Hungry Toad, is unfortunately about its mediocrity. There was nothing that set The Hungry Toad apart from other small burger joints that promise reliable and consistent flavor. In order for The Hungry Toad to retain the wonderful feedback it received during its initial stages, and in order to attract new loyal customers, it definitely has to do better in terms of fresh produce and quality of the ingredients they use.
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