A taste of traditional iftar , in the hub of the city — Zakaria Street
TT Bureau
Published 15.06.17, 12:00 AM
HALEEM HIGH
Stop 1: Jadid Islamia Hotel, where we tried their famous Beef Haleem @ Rs 110. Even at 3.30pm, there were four huge cauldrons of haleem and a queue of more than 15 people, eagerly waiting to take their parcels home. The other varieties of haleem include mutton and chicken. Someone with a sweet tooth can also try their firni.
Stop 2: Another famous stop for haleem is Bashir Hotel (73/A Colootola Street) near the Ismail Madan Lane-Phears Lane intersection. The small establishment that springs up mostly during Ramazan serves one of the best haleems in the area and their Bashir Haleem (beef haleem), priced Rs 110, is a rich and flavourful broth.
Stop 3: Next stop for haleem was Sufia Restaurant, also known for its nihari in winter. t2 tried the Chicken Haleem, priced Rs 110. For someone who loves haleem but isn’t a fan of red meat, this is a great alternative.
Stop 4: The Mutton Special Haleem at Nav Aminia (next to Sufia Restaurant) is a meat lover’s paradise with mutton meatballs, mutton pieces and paaya pieces, all in the same bowl for Rs 190. The best part? You can order it on Swiggy if you live or work close by!
HAJI ALLAUDDIN SWEETS
Nestled in a narrow lane inside Zakaria Street is Haji Allauddin Sweets, standing at 6 Phears Lane for more than a hundred years. The whiff of ghee is prominent the moment you enter the shop, and their desi ghee products keep bringing patrons back. Three items on the menu that you must not miss are the Gulab Jamuns at Rs 360 a kilo, Mawa Laddoos at Rs 340 a kilo, and Imartis at Rs 480 per kilo. If you’re not much of a sweet lover, then their Mutton Samosa (with a spicy mutton mince and deep-fried in ghee) for Rs 25 a piece and Chicken Samosa for Rs 20 a piece shall satiate your iftar hunger.
CRISPY FAVES
What’s an iftar without a whole lot of fried items? From samosa to aloo chop, bainguni to piyaazu, an iftar spread is laden with loads of these, usually relished with some green chutney. If you’re looking for similar crispies for your iftar spread, then stop by the stall right outside Zeeshan Restaurant on Zakaria Street and choose from Beef Samosas, Aloo Chop and Piyaazu (onion pakoras) for Rs 3 each.
FRUITS
While dates remain the chosen fruit to break one’s fast with, fruits do make up a significant part of the iftar spread. From watermelon to papaya, banana, grapes, mangoes and more, fruit-sellers line up the streets as customers go around browsing and bargaining for the right price.
BIRYANI BITE
Even though biryani isn’t traditional iftar food, there are several restaurants on Zakaria Street, such as Dilli 6 and Nav Aminia, that sell biryani during Ramazan as well. We tucked into the Beef Awadhi Biryani, priced Rs 140, at Nav Aminia, which had beef pieces, beef meatballs, eggs and aloo, all on the same plate!
QUEUE FOR KEBABS
Once you enter Zakaria Street, keep going straight. Take the first right on to Ismail Madan Lane and you will find a tiny kiosk that goes by the name of Muradabadi Laziz Kebab. Choose from fried Rohu Fish at
Rs 400 per kg to Pomfret Fish at Rs 900 per kg as well as shrimps. Marinated in “secret” spices overnight, the fish is cut and fried on the spot. #FullFresh
If you meander further into Colootola Street and stop near the Colootola Masjid, to your left you’ll find the famous Dilshad Laziz Kebab, known for its variety of kebabs. t2 tried the fiery Kheeri Masala (roasted cow udders cooked in a spicy gravy) for Rs 40 a plate and it was #FingerLickingGood
A few steps from Haji Allauddin and further into Chuna Gali is the suta kebab den known as Adam’s Kabab Shop. Spicy minced beef is cooked on fat skewers over charcoal, and the one thing that secures the meat on to the skewer? Thread! Yes, that’s how the kebab earns its name. Priced Rs 25 a skewer, the Suta Kebabs from Adam’s Kabab Shop are the pride of the para, and patrons from all over the city flock to this tiny store for this melt-in-the-mouth goodness.
