Halal Series part 1: Shahnawaz Palace

Restaurant name: Shahnawaz Palace
Address/Location: 159 Jackson Avenue Edison, NJ
Food type: Pakistani
Halal? YES
High Chairs for toddlers? YES
Atmosphere? Great place to take your family, but maybe not the most intimate setting for a couple or newlyweds
Website? http://shahnawazpalace.com/
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 am - 4 pm (All you can eat buffet); also available for banquets, receptions, and other functions


So yesterday I walked into a buffet of delight, halal style! Before I get into the nitty gritty food analysis, let me set the scene for you: Shahnawaz boasts a very elegant, well-decorated banquet hall, gushing with beautiful flower displays and excellent table settings all around. The desi music playing in the background is just right, not so loud that your ears fall off but not too soft that you struggle to hear anything. When you walk in, you are greeted by one of the many Pakistani family members who own/operate the restaurant, all very kind and cordial.

On to the buffet, where an extravagant feast awaits. First, you can start off with some Chicken Corn Soup, desi style of course. If soup's not your thing, then it's all good, just move on to the real gem of this restaurant: Halwa-Pourri nashta with aloo and chana masala to complement. The Halwa is so warm and sweet, it makes you salivate just looking at it. Combine it with the soft, hot pourri's and you are in business my friend.

After you soak in the sweetness of the halwa-pourri, you can make your way over to the luncheon section, where dishes of all kinds await; whether you want a rack of lamb, chicken korma, nihari with naan (garlic naan available), or just want your haleem with rice, the options presented are sure to please. They even have buffalo wings and chinese food if you're not feeling the traditional desi food vibe. Once again, the decor and set up of the food itself is quite amazing, especially the fixings section for your nihari/haleem where the different dishes of fixings are stacked in a very unique and fashionable manner. Of course when you are eating, you will need to wash that food down with some sort of drink. Shahnawaz offers unlimited soft drinks, water, and even such desi favorites as plain and mango lassi.

Now once you are ready for dessert, an array of savory sweetness awaits. Whether you prefer some jello (halal of course), custard cake, flan, or perhaps some brownies and cupcakes, it's all there. If you're more into the desi style desserts, then there's also a wide assortment of mithai and sweets, jalebi, and gulaab jamun as well. Of course, you can always get chai at any time to satisfy your cravings.

All in all, Shahnawaz is a good restaurant with an amazing selection of halal desi food to choose from in the midst of a very beautiful, decorative atmosphere. It is hands down the best halal desi buffet in the northeast. So, the next time you are in Edison, New Jersey, be sure to check out Shahnawaz Palace on Jackson Ave.

Overall Rating: Four Stars (out of five)

~Qman

Welcome!

Hey Folks,

welcome to the awesome blog of Q and T, here to give our two cents when it comes to restaurants, desserts, and general eating habits. Stay tuned for our upcoming series of posts featuring critiques and ratings on halal restaurants across the east coast!