Kasuri, Lahore: worth the hype?

Kasuri has been the most-talked-about opening in Lahore this year — a Punjabi kitchen that leans traditional but plates like fine dining. We visited twice, unannounced, and paid for our own meals.

The room is the first thing that lands: warm brick, low brass light, and an open tandoor you can smell from the door. Service was attentive without hovering, and the menu is refreshingly short — a sign the kitchen knows what it does well.

The food

We started with the seekh kebab, and it set the tone: smoky, loosely packed, and seasoned with a confidence most places never reach. The nihari — slow-cooked overnight — was the standout, rich without being heavy.

The nihari alone is reason enough to book a table. It is the best version we have eaten outside a home kitchen.

Not everything landed. The biryani was competent but underseasoned next to the rest of the table, and desserts felt like an afterthought.

The verdict

Kasuri earns most of its hype. Go for the kebabs and the nihari, skip the biryani, and book ahead — the room fills by eight.