Karachi Eat is celebrating its 10th year anniversary with its 10th festival this weekend. The dates? 6th, 7th and 8th January 2023. Location? Beach View Park. While so many of us claim to be over it, one can’t deny that it did platform so many food brands that ended up being our favourites. Tbh, even now that’s the appeal of going to Karachi Eat: discovering new food brands that may not be big enough to have franchises yet but stand on a promising idea and hopefully, delicious food.
Here is what has caught our eye from the Karachi Eat 2023 line-up so far:
1.
Flaming Hot Nachos
By Sweet Greens
If you remember a photo of red tacos doing the round on your social media at some point, you have seen Sweet Greens at work. They have been a Karachi Eat favourite for sometime now and safe to say, anything they make slaps. This year they are bringing their famous red chilli tacos, chilli lime tacos, drunken noodles (which are going to be really spicy) and flaming hot nachos.
What we are really excited to try are the flaming hot nachos (having already fan girl-ed over their tacos earlier) and the drunken noodles.
The flaming hot nachos will have corn tortilla, spicy chicken with sour cream, salsa verde and jalapenos with spicy queso sauce.
The drunken noodles, meanwhile, will have spicy stir-fry chicken with whole wheat noodles topped with cabbage, spring onions and red chillies. These noodles will have spice to the MAX, so be warned.
2.
The Philly
By 2 Guys 1 Grll
2Guys1Grll, is another Karachi Eat favourite and is launching a new product at the festival. Called The Philly, the sub has succulent rib-eye steak, their signature cheese sauce, caramelised onions and a topping of actual red chillies for a serious zing. While their donut burgers have stood the test of time and we continue to crave it, the Philly also looks real promising and one of the things we are excited about trying this weekend.
3.
Crispy Fried Mushka & Jheenga Karahi with Pav Buns By Mahigeer
A small troop of people set out on a Mahigeer Tour, organised by this initiative that does guided food tours in Karachi, called Khanay Mein Kya Hai. The idea was to explore the food, culture and history of Karachi’s original, indigenous inhabitants – the fisherfolk community. Expectedly, it featured delicious food like jheenga masala, deep fried dandee machli with chutney, guar sabzi, chutney made with garlic and talhaar mirchain and more. However, what one could not have foreseen then was how people, inspired by the tour would really want the Mahigeer community to have a presence at one of the biggest food festivals in Karachi.
And coming to Karachi Eat 2023 they are! On the menu is crispy fried mushka with two types of chutney: a red one made from talhaar mirch or a green one with hara masala. And they are bringing jheenga karahi with pav buns.
We honestly can’t wait to try the food here!
4.
Mac & Roast Beef Sub
By Oakwood Fire Grill
Mac & Cheese, caramelised onions, roast beef – in ONE sub? That’s all our favourite things. How can we not? Oakwood Fire Grill is also bringing Surf & Turf sliders, which has grilled shrimps and steak topped with a chimichurri salsa.
And – because of course there is more – they have this dish called a churro dog, where a sausage is replaced by churros and the hot dog bun is replaced by donuts. Interesting.
We are rooting for the mac & roast beef sub though!
5.
Three-Layered Pizza
By YellowTaxi
You can’t have Karachi Eat without there being food that borders on being gimmick-y and for a weekend, we don’t mind indulging. Yellow Taxi seems to be bringing what they are calling a 3-layered pizza (?!). With meat, veggies and cheese sandwiched between each layer, the pizza seems like it wants to be a lasagne. Anyway, this is definitely one of the things we want to try (or look on as our friends try). Lol.
How do you feel about this? Let us know in the comments below.
6.
Dumplings in Tarragon Sauce
By Fomo Hotpot
You have probably heard us saying Tarragon Sauce has been over-done. BUT what is Karachi Eat if not trying out a few combinations that sound a bit unusual and maybe even downright bizarre? For that reason, we had to have dumplings in tarragon sauce in this list.
Fomo Hotpot (the name of the stall) is doing other, non-bizarre flavours too. Dumplings in chilli oil. Dumplings in Thai sauce. Dumplings in Schezwan sauce.
Our pick: Tarragon. We will take one for the team!
7.
Tacos By
Sombrero
Okay this is getting into a territory where the food itself does not sound very unique. We already have Tacocat and Adobo satiating our taco cravings. BUT. what if. What if, this ends up being one of those instances where a food brand delivers a solid product with simple ingredients so well that it ends up being a welcome addition to the scene. Is that excessive wishful thinking? Our job, as Karan Johar would say, is to conjecture.
8.
Cheeseburger Dumplings
By That Brown Bawarchan
Yes this is a stock photo as of now because we can’t believe there is no photo of something that sounds as intriguing and so on-brand for Karachi Eat as a “cheeseburger dumpling“. Anyway, this is definitely something that we are going to be keeping a lookout for. What if it ends up nailing the flavours of a cheeseburger but in the texture of a dumpling? The possibility is mouth-watering, ngl. Let’s hope it’s not in vain.
9.
Chow Chow Bath
By Khao Dosa
We have never heard of Chow Chow Bath before, so we kinda asked Khao Dosa for help with this one.
“Chow Chow means a mushy combo. It is one of the most famous breakfast items in South India. Made from semolina, this dish is a combination of Kesari Bath and Khara Bath. It is served with mixed pickles,” they said.
They kinda had us at breakfast.
10.
Chapli Kebab
By Chapli Kebab House
Okay so the Chapli Kebab House is on this list for reasons that do not apply to any other stall. This is basically one stall that we have MISSED every time we have gone to Karachi Eat and so in 2023 – new year, new us – is making a resolution to not miss it this time.
11.
Roastwich, KJ and Philly Steak
by Fiz & Bob
Last but not the least, Fiz & Bob, one of our favourite sandwich places is also coming to Karachi Eat. They are bringing their whole line-up. Roastwich is by far what we have liked the best so far and their sandwich called KJ and Philly Steak are recent additions.
12.
Strawberry Frapuccino
By Shake N' Bake
A strawberry frapuccino isn’t entirely unheard of, but maybe this has potential to be the only one you want to remember? And, because we need a drink after all the food!
So… there you go! Or maybe you are not going. But either way, here is the Karachi Eat tea that we had so far Let us know what you are keeping a lookout for.
Want to purchase tickets? Click here.
