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    Khow Suey: Karachi's Link to Myanmar

    Written by: Mustafa-ur-Rehman
    Posted on: June 15, 2020 | | 中文

    Khow Suey with Deep Fried Noodles on Top

    As the most important port city, and biggest commercial hub of Pakistan, Karachi has been the location of mass migration ever since Partition in August 1947. This has meant that the city’s culture, food, and lifestyle has remained under a wide variety of influences. This diversity is perhaps most apparent in the city’s culinary landscape, and foods such as the humble dish of khow suey, which is one of the most loved dishes in Karachi, tells the rich story of the city’s cosmopolitan history.

    Khow suey is a one-dish soup meal originally from Myanmar (Burma). It is made with egg noodles and curried beef or chicken with coconut milk and served with a number of condiments. It is a sweet yet spicy make-it-yourself comfort food that people in Myanmar still eat with some variations.

    Burmese Khow Suey

    At first, it is difficult to imagine the relationship between Myanmar and Pakistan, but history may provide some explanations for this cultural phenomenon. This dish was popularized in the city by the members of the Memon and Gujarati communities settled in Karachi. The roots of this relationship are traced back to World War II, when Indian forces were deployed in Burma to protect the frontier of the Empire from the Japanese. But even in colonial India, Memons were a thriving business community that often ventured to the far ends of East Asia to trade textiles, paper, and other goods.

    After Partition in 1947, and when Burma gained independence as Myanmar a year later, a large number of Memons migrated to Pakistan, while others settled in Myanmar, namely in the city of Yangon. Those who settled in Karachi, and remained close to their Burmese roots, established a vibrant Pakistani-Myanmarese community, which became a part of the social and cultural fabric of the city.

    The second wave of Indians who migrated from Myanmar to the Indian Subcontinent came as a consequence of the 1962 military coup. Since the junta was a strong proponent of religious intolerance and the removal of foreign settlers, the Memon community considered it prudent to move back to their homeland.

    As they settled into Karachi, they brought with them Burmese cuisine, which grew popular with the locals and other communities who came to Karachi under similar circumstances.

    Street Food Khow Suey

    There are some slight variations between the two versions of khow suey, owing to taste palettes and available ingredients. The original version is light and soupy, with a chicken broth serving as the base of the soup. Gram flour, coconut milk, and sautéed meat are added to the soup, before it is served over egg noodles and some garnish items like chili, onions, and parsley. The Pakistani version uses spaghetti instead of egg noodles as the base, and tops them with curry made of gram flour and coconut milk. Crunchy texture is added using layers of fried spaghetti and samosa dough. Green chilies and ginger are added to garnish.

    Homemade Khow Suey

    Khow suey is easily the most popular dish among Memon and Gujarati communities today. It is a must-have for any event, whether it is lunch after Friday prayers or a dinner party for the extended family, and some even make the noodles by hand.

    Restaurants all over Karachi serve this dish: Pan-Asian restaurants like Soi or Khao Dosa in Defence area serve Khow Suey that is more authentic to its original form. But you can also find this dish in local food vendors, like Lala’s Food Corner of the famous Burns Road or the famous Mirchili Food franchise all over Karachi.

    A Khow Suey Bowl from Mirchili

    Khao Suey from food vendors is prepared with a more desi and meat-emphasized flavor, prepared with a lot of spices and crispy shavings to satisfy local tastes. However, as more home-based Khow Suey businesses begin to emerge, each attempt to make the dish their own with new ingredients and flavors.

    Khao Samosa by Burmese Bowls

    Khow suey is an excellent example of how food and culture are so closely linked to a city’s history and migration. The different influences came together to create a dish that belongs to Pakistan and Myanmar, without much issue of contention or debate about the best version. Just like the Memon and Gujarati communities in Karachi, khow suey is solidified as an important part of Karachi’s delicious and multicultural landscape.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021