Written by: Sundus Sinkler
Posted on: January 16, 2020 | 
DRTY Korean Dog
The much-awaited Karachi Eat Food Festival took place from 10th – 12th January, giving Karachiites a wonderful opportunity to try out some delicious (and some lackluster) food, whilst enjoying the mild winters of Karachi. With all the hype around the event, my family and I decided to give it a try this year, despite missing it in the past for one reason or another. Although the overall experience was good, there was room for improvement in quite a few areas.
The festival was held at a public park near Clifton Beach, and we decided to go on the first day, to ensure that all food options were available. And this was a good call, as it allowed us to enjoy our trip without much pushing and shoving around. The entrance ticket was priced at Rs. 450/-, and the ticket came with a helpful guide of various food stall locations.
Coming to the food, the first item we tried was the Tikori. Priced at Rs. 150, this tikka flavored kachori (deep-fried dumpling) was served with aloo tarkari (potato curry) and chutney. It offered powerful bursts of flavors and was a good way to start our day.
Tikori
Afterward, we visited Burmese Bowls and tried their famous KhowSamosa Shot. This is an innovative creation, featuring a bite-sized potato samosa with traditional khaosey condiments, served with coconut curry. The combination was fantastic, and was packed with the perfect mix of spices. Priced only at Rs.70, one shot was definitely not enough! We then visited the Habib Oil Mills stall which had attracted quite a few people, and decided to give their Karari Fried Fish (Rs. 350) a try. The fish was served hot and fresh, but was not as tangy and spicy as initially advertised, which was quite a let-down.
Khowsamosa Shot
Next on the list was Drty Dogs. Hands down, this was the best item we tried festival and it surely lived up to the hype! There were two variants on offer: Drty Mexican and Drty Korean. We tried the latter, as it was the spicier option, and absolutely loved this variant. Priced at Rs. 350, this hotdog sandwich was cheesy and full of sauce, making for a delicious, messy yet thoroughly enjoyable hotdog experience! Highly recommended to all. Another eatery that we found outstanding was Muokata. We tried their hunter beef platter (Rs. 350), which was so tender and spicy that it was worth another visit. Served with pita bread, it was a delicious dish to try, though overpriced despite the tiny serving size.
Muokata Hunter Beef Platter
Another eatery on our list to try was Lemongrass. Unfortunately, this was a big disappointment. We tried their Korean Spicy Wings (Rs. 300), which were spicy, but not cooked all the way through, and were a little too salty for our taste. Struck this one off the list for future reference!
Last but not least, we tried Delina for dessert, which was perfect for those with a sweet tooth! Their famous Hot Mess (Rs. 350) tasted heavenly and was just what I needed to end a day of trying out so many different dishes. This dessert was made with moist sponge cake, caramel, cream, condensed milk and a layer of lotus biscoff crumbs. It was a mouthwatering combination and a rich treat that one cannot forget for a long time! Along with this, Delina’s Hot Chocolate (Rs. 300) turned out to be fantastic as well! Rich but not overly sweet, this drink made a perfect combination as the day drew to a close and the chilly winter evening arrived.
Hot Mess
Overall, the Karachi Eat was a fun and enjoyable time, especially for first-timers. However, some of the issues that need attention for future iterations of the festival. A few beggars managed to sneak past the guards, and hounded the visitors. Although there were some rides for kids inside, the tickets were on the other side of the grounds, near the entrance gate. Many people complained about going to the entrance gate, until giving up when there were too many people crowded by the gate. Additionally, the garbage bins were overflowing just a few hours into the event, which not only made it difficult to dispose of trash, but also made for quite an unappealing experience as they were located close to the food tables.
You may also like:
