Zeerah
Zeerah is a Halal Pakistani and Indian takeout joint known for their bun kebabs, as well as traditional kebabs and stews.
The takeout nature of the business is fitting as the cuisine falls roughly under the category of Pakistani street food.
As such, the space consists of little more than a tiled counter with the menu behind it and a metal ledge for quick consumption of tasty eats.
Beef bun kebab are $4.50, $4.99 with an egg which I highly recommend. The patties are prepared fresh here in much the same way as on the Pakistani roadside on a large, flat circular grill.
The egg and patty are cooked on the same surface, patties pressed flat and eggs scrambled, griddled til bubbly and folded, both super quickly.
At the end the entire sandwich is pressed one last time to ensure a toasty exterior.
Everything comes together on a plain white bun with spicy chutney paste, tomato and white onion.
The potato veggie bun kebab ($3.50, $4.30 with egg) is very flavourful and light in comparison to the beef, which is also delicious but a bit heavier. Lentil is a veggie patty option too.
Chicken bun kebab ($4.99) is somewhere between beef and veggie patties texture and flavour wise and a little thinner.
The bun and toppings seem to perfectly incorporate American influences with their crispy and soft contrasting textures and sweet flavours into spicy and bold Pakistani cuisine.
Chicken biryani is $4.89 for an individual serving. Most items here come in sizes small, regular (appropriate for two) and large (appropriate for a family). Your choice of chicken, mutton or beef is cooked in an onion and tomato gravy for a relatively mild and aromatic dish, though spice levels can be adjusted on everything.
Samosas ($1.45 for an order of three veggie, $1.75 for chicken or beef) are similarly accompanied by scattered cilantro and a tiny wedge of lemon which I haven’t seen often but does bring a little bright freshness to both dishes.
BBQ seekh, bihari tandoori and tikka kebabs are cooked on long skewers in traditional tandoors.
Shami kebab on their own are $14.50 for an order of a dozen deep fried seasoned beef or chicken and lentil patties.
Nihari is $7.50 for a single serving of tender boneless beef shank in a thick spicy gravy with herbs and spices cooked on a low flame for hours. Coriander, green chili and batons of ginger bring a brightness and crunch to the rich, heavy traditional dish.
Don’t sleep on desserts like zafrani kheer ($3.50), a basmati rice pudding made simply with milk, sugar, saffron and rose water topped with chopped nuts on top.
It’s very thick and sweet, almost like a solid chai tea.
This family-run business has been around for over a decade.
Hector Vasquez