Written by: Bilal Sohail
Posted on: September 20, 2023 | 
| 中文
The standard local shawarma stall
It's safe to assume that the Arabic cuisine is now firmly rooted in the diverse food culture of Lahore. Foreign cuisines need to satisfy three genres of eateries to be widely accepted by the seemingly tough Lahori crowd. Namely street food, comfort food and fine dining. It's no wonder that Arabic eateries have managed to do exactly that after being in the market for quite some time. However, Shawarma is the most popular Arab street food.
A well-hidden and discreet but authentic shawarma joint is 'Sarookh'. The signature Arab shawarma was gaining increasing popularity around the world, many street food vendors in Lahore jumped on the train instantly, promising a rollercoaster of flavors to tantalize our taste buds. The Shawarma immediately became a student favorite because it was a budget-friendly and easy snack, allowing Lahoris to experiment with alternate flavor profiles, other than some of our very own and eternally loved options like the 'Anda Shami Burger' and 'Roll Paratha'.
Sarookh Shawarma
Local street vendors and the more premium outlets like 'Cock N' Bull' introduced this variant of the authentic shawarma, which was swiftly adopted by the Lahori population. It was available in both wrap and platter form. The highlights of this shawarma include skewered chicken, basic pickles and vegetables topped with a spicy sauce, all wrapped or served with a toasted pita bread. This immediately became a go-to for a lot of people, with food vendors big and small competing on both, the quality of their product and price.
These price wars became so popular that they even featured in memes during this period. Vendors would keep pita breads of various sizes to allow for different portion sizes. What was particularly laughable about their otherwise effective marketing strategies was how they came up with a completely new size category called, the 'Waqai Bara Shawarma' or the 'Genuinely Large Shawarma', unbelievably priced at Rs. 40 apiece only! For a growing number of adults affected by the onslaught of inflation, these price wars were welcome.
Other noteworthy names of premium street food vendors dealing with the same kind of shawarma include 'Maja Rica' in Muslim Town, and 'Paradise Restaurant' in Gulberg.
Broast chargrilled at perfection
Fast forwarding to 2017, I tried an artisan shawarma or a 'Sarookh' as it was called, for the very first time in the heart of Dubai, UAE. I was immediately taken aback by how different it was from what we were so used to in our hometown. The overpowering notes of garlic from the 'Toum Sauce' made for a pleasant surprise, with the Pita bread being substituted with something that had a texture and form very similar to a tortilla bread. The vertical rotisserie chicken was marinated in mild spices to perfection, and the selection of vegetables and pickles was also quite different. Simultaneously, some Lahori Street food vendors were also trying to sell an authentic product in order to be more marketable.
However, making the Lahori population accept the authentic Arab flavor is not easy. This is primarily due to our love for spicy food and how the Pakistani-Arab flavor fusion helped in placing the shawarma as our go-to comfort food option. There were a few places that popped up in Lahore like 'Damasco', promising an authentic shawarma experience, but it wasn't welcomed by everyone with the same enthusiasm.
We somehow wanted the best of both worlds and that's how we ended up at this well-hidden and highly underrated food stall, conveniently named 'Sarookh', the house of Arab fast food. It is located on the PIA Main Boulevard near Wapda Town. We were completely taken aback by the derelict access to the food outlet. The service road is lined with potholes and at times you have to go off the road in order to get there. The ambiance is quite underwhelming too, with a few tables and chairs casually laid out under the night sky.
Sarookh, located in PIA Main Boulevard near Wapda Town
We ordered their Sarookh Shawarma which was available in two options, normal and spicy. They were clearly trying to cater to our taste, while also giving us an opportunity to taste their authentic version of shawarma. The very first bite made us fall in love with the grilled chicken, strong garlic notes and pickles coming together in the perfect way to create a flavorful meal. The portion size was perfect for a wholesome snack, but since I was starving, I ordered the second one after taking just a few bites off the first to make it a hearty meal. This time I went for the cheese add-on, which made it even better.
It felt like they were already understaffed for the number of orders they usually get around 10PM. The waiting time for my second Sarookh felt like an eternity, but the piping hot ingredients wrapped inside a mildly toasted tortilla was certainly worth the wait.
A perfect shawarma that won't break your bank
We also tried their take on Dajjaj, which was only recently added to their menu. This Arab style Chicken Broast infused with a mildly spiced filling was indeed a welcome addition. We recommend that you try this place as soon as possible and continue to support local businesses, especially when they get it right, as their limited but scrumptious offerings will keep you going back for more.
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