Khyber Restaurant- A Pakistani Peshawari (Peshawari coming from the city Peshawar located in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan) restaurant located near the East Hounslow Bus Station on the main high street. I discovered this gem by chance actually. I was on my way back from work and I had to get another bus, it was late and I was starving. I looked around and spotted this place. I walked in and saw your typical Asian take out and restaurant in London– good hearty food and basic tables and chairs. I did not think much of the food thinking it would fill me up.
As I scanned the menu I ordered their chappali kebabs (flat kebabs) and naan. That was the first time and I have kept on going back for more. If you ask me about the single most authentic place for Pakistani food especially Chicken Karahi then I will send you to this place- hands down. It’s not your typical Asian takeaway where the Chicken Karahi is boneless with the korma sauce. No. Their food tastes the same as it would back home in Pakistan. On the bone, oozing with spices and flavour.
Their food reminded me of the dhabas (small hotels set up by people in nearby villages along the roads especially for truckers) my Dad would stop at for food while we would be traveling from one city to another. You’re hit by a bout of nostalgia. And the people there are as excited to make the best food for you as you are excited to eat it when you tell them “Make it the same as you would in Pakistan!” You would notice one of the guys who works there enjoying watching us eat! I kid you not, between 5 people we gobbled down 2 big dishes of Chicken Karachi, plates of chappali kebab and the food was so cheap that it all came down to around £50! Delicious, mouth watering food at an amazing price. Now that’s what I love!
Unfortunately, these people do not have any web presence. Next time I go there I will get their business card and upload their details. They go by the name of Bab-e-Khyber but they’re mainly known by Khyber Restaurant. The only information I can find for them is 55 High St TW3 1 Hounslow United Kingdom.
The pictures do not do this place any justice. I shall be going there again very soon and will upload even better ones! 🙂 Till then enjoy them.
This was a Family dinner and we decided to visit Babe Khyber but it turned out to be a very bitter experience, the service was very poor and food also not up to standard, meat was very smelly and staff very rude, I have not experienced such behaviour at any other restaurant in my life, will advice not to visit if you are picky about the service, personally I can tolerate bad food but not bad attitude.
Oh wow! Really disappointed to hear such a poor experience. I haven’t been back since 3 years. Sadly that’s the story of most Pakistani restaurants in London. I wish someone would start a Pakistani restaurant at par with the Indian counterpart Dishoom or better. They should really learn from Dishoom’s success!