Indian vs Pakistani food: what is the difference?
They share a border, a history and a lot of recipes. Here is what sets them apart, and where they meet, from a kitchen that cooks both every day.
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One table, two traditions
Until 1947, India and Pakistan were one country, and the food of Delhi, Lucknow, Lahore and Karachi grew from the same Mughal kitchens. That shared root is why you will find biryani, nihari, korma and kebabs on menus on both sides of the border. Chef Athia Khais built Khan’s Kitchen around that overlap, and deliberately never labeled the restaurant as one or the other.
Where they differ
- Meat and vegetables. Pakistani cooking leans heavily on meat: goat, beef, chicken and lamb. Indian cooking includes a much larger vegetarian tradition, from dal makhni to palak paneer.
- Beef. Beef nihari, beef seekh kebab and chapli kebab are everyday dishes in Pakistan and far less common on Indian menus.
- Karahi and the grill. The fast, hot karahi and charcoal grilled kebabs sit at the heart of Pakistani restaurant food, especially from Lahore and Peshawar.
- Regional range. India spans many regional cuisines, from Chettinad in the south to Goan vindaloo in the west. Our menu includes both.
Where they meet
Biryani, nihari, korma, haleem and the tandoor belong to both. At Khan’s Kitchen, Chef Athia designed her nihari and karahi so that guests from India and Pakistan would each taste home in them. Most nights, both are in the dining room.
What to order if you want to taste both
- From the Pakistani side: chicken karahi, nalli nihari, chapli kebab and beef seekh kebab.
- From the Indian side: butter chicken, chicken Chettinad, dal makhni and Gobi Manchurian.
- Shared classics: mutton dum biryani and Nawabi korma.
- Beyond both: Borani Banjan from Afghanistan and Yemeni mandi.
Questions
Is Pakistani food the same as Indian food?
They share a lot, especially in the north, where both draw on Mughal cooking. Pakistani menus usually lean more on meat, karahi and grilled kebabs, while Indian menus have a wider range of vegetarian dishes and regional styles.
Is Pakistani food spicier than Indian food?
Not as a rule. Heat depends on the dish and the cook. At Khan's Kitchen every curry is made mild, medium or spicy to order.
Where can I try Indian and Pakistani food together in Alpharetta?
Khan's Kitchen at 5310 Windward Pkwy, Suite D cooks both side by side, along with Afghan and Middle Eastern dishes.