An amalgamation of crafty interior, characteristic of Khaadi, bustling ambiance and ultimate desi comfort food – Express Kanteen has become a haven for pani puri and chaat lovers, and this time with no qualms about hygiene matters. Needless to say, anything Shamoon Sultan touches, becomes gold and Kanteen is the most recent epitome of his Midas touch. Nestled inside the gigantic Khaadi outlet at Com 3, Kanteen offers a mouth-watering menu made of desi dreams in collaboration with Desi Gali. In facts this review comes after several visits made to the eatery, where I tried out a couple savoury options. But before one could plough through the menu, the striking ambience makes you instantly warm up to the place. The décor is very Khaadi – funky, traditional ethos which we have come to associate with the brand. Everything from the comfy furniture, vibrant upholstery and quirky art dominating the walls adds character to the place. Special mentions to the painted, overturned kettles which serve as unexpected lamps. Now on to the menu – everything is priced under Rs 1000, with the ‘street chaats’, ‘small plates’ and ‘buns and more’ ranging from an affordable Rs 250 to 350. On my first visit I tried pani puri, special mix chaat and bun kabab trio with the mandatory cup of unsweetened chai. To my delight pani puri arrived as shots! Mini shots filled with khata, imli ka pani topped with crispy puris – scrumptious! My first impression of the special mix chaat was amazing – yummy channay, spicy condiments and masala set my soul (which was craving some spice) on fire. However, on my second visit with my friend, I was a tad bit disappointed – we found the chaat to be a bit too bland for it to be deemed ‘special’. Bun Kabab trio boasted of aloo, daal and beef patty each. Aloo and beef stood out the most, having the perfect seasoning and smoky flavour to them. With swigs of chai, a tummy full of desi comfort stuff and a homey ambience all was right with the world. There is a lot to explore under the Lazeez Khanay section – till now I managed to try two and those were absolute winners. Tawa Chicken was my favourite and an item I keep going back to Kanteen for. Spiced in yoghurt and topped with green condiments like coriander and green chili, I couldn’t ask for anything more yummy. Making for small morsels with roomali roti satiated the desi lover in me. Up next was the king of all that is desi comfort cuisine – Daal Chawal, and Kanteen servers its lentils with side-lines of fried bhindi, shami kebab, papri and green chutney. Daal is always a classic hit on the table; well-balanced spices with a smokey flavour to it, courtesy of a spicy tarka, making for delicious morsels with rice. Did I also mention that Kanteen has a mighty fine taste in music, which includes a lot of Coke Studio selections in its playlist? Kanteen is a place where you can savour and cherish good food and company of good friends, respectively.

Location: Com 3, Block 6, Scheme 5, Clifton Karachi, Pakistan
Average cost for 2: Rs 1000 to 1200 approx

TASTE

It is not an overstatement to say that you can blindly order anything from their menu and love it. Their Small Plates and Street Chaat sections have the real gems.

SERVICE

Affable and courteous staff stays on its toes to assist you.

AMBIENCE

Everything from the comfy furniture, vibrant upholstery and quirky art dominating the walls adds character to the place. Special mentions to the painted, overturned kettles which serve as unexpected lamps.

PRESENTATION

Presented in beautiful cutlery with neat presentation.
I loved how the pani puri shots reached me!

VALUE FOR MONEY

Everything is priced under

Rs 1000, with the ‘street chaats’, ‘small plates’ and ‘bun and more’ ranging from an affordable Rs 250 to 350. Also, all items are good for  haring in groups.