For us Pakistanis Naans are a very important part of our meals. Whether it’s a special occasion or when we’re too lazy to make chappatis at home; the nearest Naan wala always comes to the rescue. There is nothing like the feel and taste of a hot naan straight out of a tandoor (mud kiln).
For the foodies in Islamabad, there is a new food joint just around the corner thats revolutionizing the meaning of a good naan. The place is literally called Naan Stop and rightly so. A joint venture of four recent graduates, Naan Stop is a trendy modern dhabba with an interesting variety of naans. Situated in the heart of F-10 Markaz, Naan stop has an outdoor sitting space with wooden chairs and tables that are characteristic to traditional dhabbas.
When entering the shop to for placing the order, the truck art inspired décor and the lanterns at the stairs give you an immediate feeling of warmth and desi-ness that cannot be ignored. The seating space transforms as night falls when the fairy lights on the old banyan tree are switched on.
These guys offer you a diverse range of fillings for your naan ranging from the aloo naan to the more unconventional flavors like the garlic cheese naan. Their best selling item is their dry fruit naan which is also the most expensive item on their menu, but we reckon it’s a must try. These guys claim you won’t get it anywhere else in Pakistan, because its their invention! They are also planning on adding a “customize your own naan” option in their menu in the near future so you get to play around with all sorts of filling options for your naan.
Ofcourse, when we hear phrases like “modern dhabba” or “Tandoor Café” the first thing that pops into our minds is chai. What café or dhabba is complete without tea on their menu? Naan Stop will not disappoint you in this regard as well. They claim to have the best doodh patti in all of Islamabad as it is brewed with pure milk(zero milawat). They also offer karrak chai, Kashmiri chai (Pink tea) and green tea.
Naan Stop also has a focus on good pricing and even if you have 250 Rs in your pocket you can easily afford to have an aloo naan with doodh patti and you’re good to go . Yes a proper and hunger satisfying meal in just Rs.250!!
So the next time you’re craving for junk food like waffles or pizza, try one of Naan stop’s naans instead and you won’t be disappointed.
Amina Mazhar
Ever since I was a kid, eating has been a hobby. Once I grew up, I started stepping into the kitchen more often. Although I love to cook everything but baking is something I am very passionate about. Its my therapy and it definitely takes me to my happy place. Ofcourse, this hobby of mine also caters to my hyper sweet tooth as well, which is an added bonus. Because baking is something that I have learnt from my mother so it has a very emotional value for me. Since times immemorial I have seen my mom experiment with baking in the kitchen, I like to believe she has passed that skill on to me as well (I know i can never surpass her awesomeness).
