In Karachi, considered Pakistan’s culinary hub, Indian street food has found a home through ‘Kavita Didi Ka Indian Khana.’ Kavita Solanki, the owner, previously worked as a marketing executive before establishing her food cart to introduce Karachi to the delectable street flavors of India.
Set in Karachi’s cantonment area, Kavita Didi Ka Indian Khana was born out of Solanki’s desire for a place to enjoy authentic pav bhaji and vada pao, which she found lacking in the city. ‘So, I thought, why not start with the thing that is very difficult to find in the city?’ she explained.
Kavita’s food stall quickly gained popularity, attracting large crowds. Today, it is among Karachi’s most renowned food joints and is often the first name that comes to mind when discussing the city’s culinary scene. However, Solanki attributes the success not only to the two Maharashtrian dishes but also to the authenticity and taste of her food. ‘We are giving proper homemade stuff, nothing artificial. What we eat at home is what we are bringing here,’ she said.
Despite being ethnically Gujarati, Solanki has never visited India. She learned to cook the mouthwatering Indian dishes she serves via YouTube videos. ‘Once we tried it at home, we liked it. So, we would make these for ourselves every weekend at home,’ she shared.
Solanki’s clientele is diverse, including people from all faiths, particularly those looking for an alternative to meat. ‘They offer some unique dishes, and they’re very clean, yummy, and nice,’ said Maha Ahmed, a loyal customer and a pharmacist, about Kavita’s stall.
