On a rainy night this past December, friends took me to Desi Dastarkhawn, a Pakistani restaurant in Bahrain that has quietly held its ground since 2009. It’s a community stalwart and one of the only places in the country serving Pashtun foods.
I’ve had it on my wishlist for well over a decade.
Finally going, properly, with friends who know the menu inside out and eat there regularly made it all the sweeter. The kind of meal where you don’t second-guess orders, you just trust the table.
Kachori
Deep-fried lentil dough served with potato curry and green chutney. The filling is good, yes—but it’s the dough that’s dangerous. Crisp, rich, deeply satisfying.
Chapli Kabab
A spicy mutton patty studded with dried coriander seeds, pomegranate seeds, green chillies, and mint. Served with their house yoghurt raita. A Pashtun classic, and one of those dishes that reminds you how much flavour can be packed into a single patty.
Chicken Garlic Mayo Roll
Long hyped in online forums—and for once, it absolutely lives up to it. Messy, indulgent, and impossible not to love.
Haleem (Tuesday special)
Shredded beef cooked slowly with whole wheat, lentils, ginger, coriander, garlic, onions, and spices. Finished at the table with julienned ginger, crispy onions, and a squeeze of lemon. Deep, comforting, serious food. The kind that quiets you down as you eat it.
Chicken Highway Karachi
Named after roadside eateries in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Tomato-rich, chilli-forward, rustic, slightly smoky. Home-style, bold, and an absolute star of the table.
For three people:
13 BHD / £25 / $35
Location: Here
Have you tried Desi Dastarkhawn? What are your favourite dishes?
