Pound for pound, what’s the best snack in Cardiff?
There are few strong contenders in my book, including Pooja’s legendary paneer roll, the excellent pizza by the slice from West and RomEat, the £1 panelle from Bacareto, the spinach and cheese borek from Four Seasons on City Road, Welsh cakes served warm off the bakestone from Cardiff Market, and the deep-filled steak pie from Rees the Butchers.
However, one acclaimed snack which hadn’t passed my lips until last week is the keema naan from Lahore Kebabish in Grangetown, and now I’m rueing all those missed munching opportunities.
It’s another recommendation from the same knowledgeable Cardiffian who brought City Road’s Hadramowt to my attention. When I last raised the subject of the best bites to eat in Cardiff, I was informed in no uncertain terms: “Don't want to cause an intra-city diplomatic incident, but the best snack in Cardiff is Lahore's keema naan.”
Located on the busy thoroughfare of Penarth Road, Lahore Kebabish’s bright and basic dining room has a fridge full of curries and fried snacks as its focal point. On offer are starters of pakoras and samosas, a selection of curries, and Lahori specialities such as haleem and paya (a breakfast dish made with trotters).
Having ordered at the counter, a pair of fragrant and tangy mango lassis (£3) were the first to appear.
I'll talk about the keema naan next as it really was the star of the show. For £3, it was a meal in itself; the crisp and pillowy bread filled with an equal quantity of spiced minced lamb which peered through its crust. A brush of glossy butter completed the first rate snack.
Nihari (£10) delivered on the promise of its long cook. Exceptionally tender pieces of lamb were bathed in a well-spiced sauce that was enriched with meaty marrow and cooking juices. Batons of ginger and pieces of green chilli meanwhile brought fresh fragrance and spice to the dish.
Saag paneer (£6.50) saw soft pieces of cheese coated in spinach, onion and spice which had cooked down into one thick sauce.
Sizzling harayali chicken tikka (£5) had a vibrant green herb marinade and was pleasingly juicy and smoky of flesh. Soft and sweet charred onions accompanied each mouthful.
Accompanying side salad was a little lacklustre, the lettuce most certainly having seen better days and raw onion dominating the plate.
Tandoori pratha (£3) wasn’t anything like the flaky layered paratha I expected, but it was still excellent. The thin, crisp and soft bread was brushed with a liberal amount of fat and was a great mop for all those curry sauces. It's clear that breads are definitely one of Lahore Kebabish's strengths.
We had a delicious lunch at Lahore Kebabish and I really enjoyed their curries and sizzling meat. But I’ll be making a special detour for that keema naan anytime I’m within a 1km radius.
The Details:
Address - Lahore Kebabish, 160 Penarth Rd, Cardiff CF11 6NJ
Telephone - 029 2022 1354
Went here for dinner last night. The mango lassi and keema naan certainly lived up to expectation. Lamb chops were also very good as was the on-the-bone meat curry. Give the samosas a swerve as microwaving ruined the pastry. A very no frills authentic eating experience which was very good value.
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