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    Food Review: Thali

    Written by: Zainab Hasan
    Posted on: November 11, 2016 | | 中文

    Hyderabadi Special Thali

    Nestled in the vicinity of Shaheen Chemist (Sector F-6), Thali popped up on the map six months ago as part of a dream to bring authentic, multicultural, flavorsome food to the dwellers of Islamabad. “As foodies ourselves, we cherished the food we grew up on – homemade, spicy and healthy. Thali allows us to share our love for food with others around us”, says Amaanullah Babar, co-founder of Thali. “Our vision was to create an environment that feels natural and relaxing. To serve that purpose, we have provided an open sitting space.”

    Thali features a diverse menu that seems to offer something for everyone. Any visitor’s first stop should be the ‘Chaat Corner’ – an entire section dedicated to chaat, popular vegetables, herbs and spices. Whether it’s Bhail Puri, Papri Chaat or the irresistible Sre Dahi Puri, every aspect of these munchies is on point and leaves you asking for more. The next item on the menu that caught my attention was the Dosa, a South Indian delicacy that is difficult to find in Pakistan. Similar to a crepe, it is made from rice & lentils cooked on a flat griddle. The batter needs to be fermented overnight for the right texture and requisite sour taste. Thali serves its Dosa with a variety of fillings that give it the most authentic and tantalizing flavor.

    Thali Restaurant Islamabad

    Pani Puri

    Not surprisingly, Thali is the main attraction on the menu. The restaurant boasts a broad selection including Hyderabadi, Mughlai, Barbecue and Punjabi Thali. The Barbecue Thali includes Malai Boti, Chicken Tikka Boti and Seekh Kabab. Served hot, moist and juicy, it is sure to appeal to desi taste buds. The Hyderabadi Thali puts on quite a show with Zafaraani Mutton, Chicken Zeera and Butter Chicken. The distinguishing feature of each dish is the blend of spices used. Gulab Jamun is an added bonus, and if you’re lucky enough, they might surprise you with Shahi Tukray as well!

    The idea behind a Thali is to offer all 6 different flavors of sweet, salt, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy on a single plate. All Thalis supposedly cater to one person, but some of them are large enough to be shared by two. Instead of having to choose dishes separately, the owner recommends customers to just go with the Thali; it’s more economical, and you get to taste a whole lot more in just one plate.

    Thali Restaurant Islamabad
     

    Thali’s desire to serve and fulfill customers’ needs has been their driving force for the last six months. The menu is reasonably priced – most Thalis are within Rs. 700. Hence, customers from different walks of life can indulge in what Thali has to offer. I would suggest you go on a weekday, as weekend nights can get crazy. But here it is, folks: Thali features some of the city’s best casual dining. Go fetch!


    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