KARACHI: Farhan Muhammad Khan, who like many other Karachiites had found a beautiful place in Do Darya restaurant to dine with friends and family, is upset to hear that eateries set up some seven years ago will be closed after this Ramadan.
Deewan-e-Khass was the name of his famous restaurant, which along with four others, has already been shut down. Olive Café, Ambala Corniche and part of Kolachi, at the seaside in the Defense Housing Authority (DHA) neighborhood of the city, are also closed now.
One of the restaurants voluntarily closed business, 11 are open but may be shut down anytime, said Atif, the owner of Kolachi, a café named after the old name of the seaside Pakistani metropolis.
“When dozens of DHA and police mobile vans come and enter your property, how can you resist? They have started vacating the area by force,” Atif told Arab News, adding that when DHA failed to win the case in court, the authorities issued verbal orders to vacate immediately after Ramadan.
“This was a deserted place. A plot of 500 yards was worth 3 million rupees only. DHA gave us the place on lease. And we made huge investments.”
Atif claims that when the value of the land rose from 3 million rupees to 900 million rupees, the housing authority wanted the place vacated.
On March 22, 2013, the DHA authorities sent first legal notice to all restaurants to vacate the premises by Aug. 15. The notice prompted the owners to file a petition, submitting that each of the restaurants was allotted an area of 1,500 square yards under a written lease agreement on July 6, 2011.
The petitioners submitted before the court that they were promised their contracts would be renewed after the completion of a two-year period. “Though we were refused a lease for 30 years but were told that the place would not be vacated and there would be agreement after two years,” Atif said.
The latest stay order by Sindh High Court, dated Jan. 30, 2018, prompted the DHA authorities to resort to the use of force, Atif said.
“They have the power. All we can do is to go to court, which we will go. We have invested millions to build this place from scratch. All the restaurant owners will go to the court.”
The Kolachi’s owner also urged the army chief and chief justice to take notice of the action which, he said, was aimed at destroying a great atmosphere that projects the peaceful face of Karachi.
A spokesperson for the DHA refused to comment.
Fate of Karachi’s famous seaside food street in limbo
Fate of Karachi’s famous seaside food street in limbo
- Authorities to shut down Karachi’s famous seaside food street, Do Darya, after Ramadan.
- Tensions between restaurant owners at Do Darya and the Defense Housing Authority have been brewing since 2013.
Where We Are Going Today: Chicken Industry in Qatif
If you were to ask me what the perfect weekend treat-yourself meal is, my first choice would be fried chicken, followed by fried chicken, followed by a burger (but make it fried chicken).
One of my favorite spots for this delicious indulgence is Chicken Industry in Qatif, which, over the past few years, has become a hometown classic.
They also opened another branch in Olaya, Alkhobar.
The great thing about Chicken Industry is that you really cannot go wrong with any item on their menu; the burgers, broasted, twister, tenders, and nuggets are all very well-seasoned, juicy, and crispy.
All their menu items are available in spicy and mild options.
They have a few burger selections.
The original chicken sandwich, which comes with American cheese, pickles, and their signature industry sauce (a must to get on the side with any order), is their take on the classic Popeyes/Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich.
If you want to try a different type of sauce, you could give the black pepper buttermilk sandwich a go — a good option for those who like a balance of flavors between creamy and slightly zingy.
My go-to, however, is the chicken zinger, which comes with American cheese, mayonnaise, and lettuce — a no-fuss burger that has all the right toppings, sauce, and seasoning for the chicken.
Although, I would appreciate the option to add tomato as well for a little something fresh in there.
All of the Chicken Industry burgers come with a soft brioche bun. No notes; it’s a great bun.
The twister, made with two crispy tenders, is also a crowd favorite and comes in a few different options: the original with mild sauce, the fiery twister with spicy sauce, the classic with pepper mayo, and the spicy twister with pepper mayo as well.
Whether you do not want to commit to the full bun burger or just prefer a tortilla, the twister is a great option to either accompany or be the star of your meal.
Now onto the big kahuna: the broasted. If you really want to indulge, this is the option for you.
It comes with four pieces, either spicy or mild (trust me, get the spicy), and is served with garlic sauce on the side.
Although nothing compares to the Chicky Fry broasted, this one is a very close second. The chicken is so juicy and flavorful with wonderfully crispy skin; my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Their nuggets are good, though not amazing — fun to snack on, but I wouldn’t call them a necessity and definitely not as good as their tenders or other options.
And I must say the Chicken Industry French fries could use some improvement; not the greatest texture or flavor, just sort of meh. I will continue to order them because at the end of the day, they are fries, and they’re alright. Besides, no fried chicken meal is complete without fries.
And do not forget to get the sauces on the side: the cheese, the garlic, the industry mild or spicy, buffalo, barbecue, and buttermilk, depending on your preference. They all complement the meal very well.
