It can be tough to find authentic cuisine when far from home. In the case of Lahore Restaurant, which serves authentic Pakistani cuisine in Secaucus, home is over 7,000 miles away; which is why owners Ishrat Ilyas and Qamar Abbas are bringing popular dishes from Pakistan to New Jersey.
In fact, the chef at Lahore Restaurant traveled to Lahore, Pakistan to soak in the culture and customary cuisines; which include one-of-a-kind street foods. The initial response has been so positive, the owners are already looking to expand to a larger location. For now, the 1,700-space has been built from scratch, including the full kitchen. “The inside of the restaurant’s décor is very traditional to mirror the city of Lahore in Pakistan,” says Ishrat.
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A Taste of Lahore
Ishrat says Lahore is considered the New York City of Pakistan, and known for having the country’s best food. “From street food to high-end restaurants, Lahore has it all,” he explains. To represent the restaurant’s namesake, Lahore boasts a full, handpainted mural of famous landscapes in Lahore. For instance, the mural includes the Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, and Lahore Fort. The owners also imported a life-size rickshaw from Lahore, a traditional vehicle used as a taxi in the city. Finally, small hand paintings adorn the wall, depicting glimpses of life in Lahore.
Lahore Restaurant serves dishes Ishrat describes as “traditional Pakistani food made fresh,” with one special note: Meals get “A bit on the spicy side, so we always let our customers know,” he adds. At the moment, popular menu items include the gol gappy, a famous street food in Lahore. Chicken tikka boti (tandoori-style barbecue) and chicken seekh kabab (minced chicken kabab marinated with fresh spices) are also favorites. These dishes are made fresh in a clay oven.
Likewise, the Chicken Karahi (a popular Lahori-style curry) and Goat Karahi (Lahori-style stir fry goat) are hits. The karahi is a traditional pot used to cook these foods. At Lahore Restaurant, meals cooked in a karahi are brought straight from the stove to the table in the pot. Click here to see the full menu.
About the Owners
The main owners of Lahore Restaurant — Qamar and Ishrat – are directly involved in the restaurant’s daily operations. However, they have no background in the restaurant business at all. “It was just a passion of ours to always open a Pakistani restaurant; we are both big foodies,” Ishrat says. Growing up in Jersey City, he says there were few Pakistani restaurants, and most were only good for takeout. “We never had a restaurant where families could go and have a full dine-in experience,” he says. “So, this was a big dream of ours to bring this kind of restaurant; where families can come dine in and experience fresh food which brings them back to the taste of Lahore.”
Visit Lahore Restaurant at 1277 Paterson Plank Rd, Secaucus. (Click here to find them on Google Maps.) To learn more: Click here to visit their website | Follow them on Instagram | Click to give them a call.
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Lahore Restaurant FAQs
Yes, they accept reservations.
No, they do not offer gluten-free options.
Lahore Restaurant offers vegetarian options, yes.
They offer takeout, yes.
Yes, they deliver via Uber Eats, Doordash, and Grubhub.
No, they do not serve alcohol.
There is a kids’ menu, yes.
All Photos: © Lahore Restaurant
