Daily Times

Lahore, Lahore Aye! The quote stands justified once you have experienced all those tasty and every desi or western dishes Lahore has to offer. Lahore is not just the heart of Punjab but also a focal point of some of the most delicious food items.

In a very short duration of time, the Lahore’s food eating culture has achieved popularity in many different countries because of its Pakistani Diaspora.

Lahore is perhaps more of a culinary Mecca, with different cuisines from all over Pakistan available in the city. Punjabi’s love for food and culture is evident from the time you enter the city.

“Lahore has its feet in history and its heart and soul in food.”

One can tag Lahore as food spot. Starting from food street, DHA to MM Alam road. However, I insist on visiting new places because I feel like they need to be given a chance. Few days back, I had a chance to explore few new restaurants within modern Lahore.

Pakistanis and specially Lahori folks have an insatiable love for burgers. Whether it’s a crispy chicken burger, a beef burger or a plain old and a shami burger, they’re always looking out for good burgers.

While there are many burger outlets in Lahore, both local and international, most of them have the same burgers with a little change in recipes. Only a few burger joints have gone out of the way to introduce something new.

Cafe XXL in Lahore is one the many few who are serving a unique burger they like to call The Might Jaw Breaker or The Steak Americano Giga.

Recently, I had a chance to visit this XXL café owned by Zakir Rizvi which is renowned for its jaw breaker burgers and tasty shakes, joins the list of eateries simply not to miss in Defence Lahore. There standard is simply impeccable. Its variety of chicken to beef Burgers and to Choco Moco Shakes, every item is far delicious from other. If you want to treat your taste buds with some amazing burgers then this is a highly recommended place.

Simply XXL, lives up to its name. Massive sized burgers. I tried their Juicy Lucy and it was just as the name suggests, juicy. So juicy that you may want think of putting on a bib. Within the burgers they are adding the XXL’d sauce which makes it juicier and more flavoured. The beef patty was prepared right after I ordered, and not a frozen one.

The other was their Sriracha chicken. Anyone into Thai food ought to try it. Mildly hot, it gave a unique tasty blend to the burger. And yet again, sized to XXL. Not just the bun, but the chicken as well.

And can’t finish without mentioning the shakes. Tried both, Choco Loco and Crazy Caramel. Creamy, not too sweet and adequately served with marshmallows and wafers. The shake was sumptuous, exquisite, outclass and just perfect, totally in love with the rich milky & light creamy. So, I would highly recommend to give it a try. Seems like a start-up, reasonably priced, and not one indulging in corporate earnings. Well, not yet at least.

Although the menu is pretty basic, and more or less the same as that of other burger shops in the city, the difference is in how light the food is, truly speaking, on my visit I was already making mental notes on which burgers to order “next time”. Seriously it’s sad that I haven’t got full but in heads as I wanted to try their every single dish. While going inside the cafe one can feel the music but more than the sound of music, it’s the aroma of burgers and freshly baked snacks which are in-house specialty that entices you up.

While talking with few management fellows, I was being informed that the burgers items is being bought from bread and beyond which is one of the leading bakeries of Lahore. The interior is very light and classy, within small place they have tried to decorate with some paintings and beautiful sceneries. The catchiest painting was of Che Guevera, which makes people attract to it.

The presentation is as playful as the combination of flavours, as all drinks come in adorable mason jars. The service is good, the atmosphere is a bit loud, the restaurant itself is very cosy. The prices are decent, not the typical overpriced cafe and great for family getaways! I highly recommend if you’re thinking about visiting this cafe to have the experience then why not today, right now!

Last but not the least I will rate XXL as 9/10

The writer is a social and political activist. He can be reached at salmanali088@gmail.com and Tweets at @Salmani_salu