Where to eat under Rs 500 in Islamabad
Filling street food meals under Rs 500 in Islamabad: biryani, pulao, shawarma, chapli kebab and samosa chaat, with checked PKR prices and locations.
With prices going up every few months, a proper meal under Rs 500 in Islamabad can feel hard to find. It isn't, if you know where to look. Every spot below has a named dish and portion at Rs 500 or less, and most are well under Rs 350.
We've split them into full meals (rice and plates) and quick bites (shawarma, kebab, chaat), so you can choose based on how hungry you are.
Full meals under Rs 400
Rice plates give you the most food for your money. A half plate of chicken biryani for Rs 220 is one of the cheapest full meals in the city, and it's available in several sectors.
1. Chicken Biryani (Half plate full meal) at Karachi Naseeb Biryani - E-11
Popular Karachi-style spicy aromatic biryani counter at E-11/3 Markaz offering economical chicken plates and combo thali deals.
- Price: Rs 220 for one half plate meal
- Where: MPCHS Markaz, E-11/3
- Hours: Daily 10 AM-1 AM
Price last checked 7 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
2. Chicken Biryani (Half plate full meal) at Karachi Naseeb Biryani - G-9
Prominent Karachi Company branch serving hot degh biryani and value combo deals to shoppers and workers.
- Price: Rs 220 for one half plate meal
- Where: London Plaza, G-9 Markaz (Karachi Company)
- Hours: Daily 11 AM-1 AM
Price last checked 7 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
3. Simple Pulao at Laziza Murgh Pulao & Krispo
A late-night G-9 pulao shop where the simple plate includes salad and raita.
- Price: Rs 320 for rice with salad and raita
- Where: Plot 136, I&T Centre, G-9/1
- Hours: Daily 11:30 AM-4 AM
Price last checked 7 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
4. Chicken Pulao at Bannu Beef Pulao - G-10
A G-10 rice shop with a clearly pinned storefront and simple chicken pulao portions.
- Price: Rs 350 for one plate
- Where: 20-E, Capital City Center Plaza, G-10 Markaz
- Hours: Daily 10 AM-midnight
Price last checked 7 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
5. Simple Pulao at Bravo Foods - Blue Area
A practical Blue Area stop for a straightforward pulao plate below PKR 400.
- Price: Rs 385 for one plate
- Where: G-7/3, Blue Area
- Hours: Daily 11:30 AM–midnight per official website; current session unconfirmed
Price last checked 7 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
Quick bites under Rs 350
For something on the go, shawarma, chapli kebab and samosa chaat all come in under Rs 350 at these counters.
6. Chapli Kebab at Brothers Afghani Naan & Melma Dost Chapli Kabab
A busy F-10 counter for a single freshly cooked chapli kebab or a fuller naan-and-kebab stop.
- Price: Rs 180 for one chapli kebab
- Where: Shop 16, Irfan Mansion, F-10 Markaz
- Hours: Daily 11:30 AM-1 AM
Price last checked 7 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
7. Chicken shawarma at Chitto Shawarma
Popular G-9 Markaz chicken shawarma counter, confirmed at PKR 200 per shawarma.
- Price: Rs 200 for one shawarma for one person
- Where: G-9 Markaz, near Punjab Samosa Centre, Islamabad
- Hours: Original Reel reports 5 PM–10 PM; confirm current opening
Price last checked 11 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
8. Regular chicken shawarma at Muchacho's Food
A compact F-8 shawarma stop famous for juicy loaded chicken shawarmas with garlic sauce and outdoor patio seating.
- Price: Rs 349 for one regular shawarma for one person
- Where: Muchacho’s Food, F-8 area
- Hours: Hours not independently confirmed
Price last checked 9 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
9. Special Samosa Chaat Plate (Full Meal) at Asli Bangali Samosa Centre - F-6
Historic Farooqia Market F-6 stall of Ustad Allah Ditta serving golden crispy beef & aloo samosas with tangy mint yogurt chutney and loaded chaat.
- Price: Rs 250 for full plate chaat with 2 crushed samosas, chana curry, yoghurt & chutneys
- Where: Shop 2, Farooqia Market, F-6/1
- Hours: Daily 10 AM-9:30 PM
Price last checked 11 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
10. Curry Pakora at Sabri Chaska & Restaurant
A low-key F-8 plaza kitchen in Victory Tower serving inexpensive everyday curries around the clock, highlighted by their golden Curry Pakora bowl.
- Price: Rs 250 for one plate
- Where: Shop 1, Victory Plaza, near Allied Bank, F-8 Markaz
- Hours: Open 24 hours daily per listing
Price last checked 7 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
11. Samosa chaat at Punjab Samosa Centre
A sharp, inexpensive samosa-chaat plate in G-9 for an early-evening snack.
- Price: Rs 150 for one plate for one person
- Where: Allah Wala Plaza, G-9, Islamabad
- Hours: 5 AM–9 PM reported publicly
Price not yet confirmed. Call ahead
12. Doner shawarma at Turkish Doner
A late-evening F-10 doner lead; the workbook gives a starting price, so it stays outside automatic matching.
- Price: Rs 300 for one doner for one person
- Where: Turkish Doner, F-10/3, Islamabad
- Hours: 5 PM–1 AM reported publicly; call to confirm
Price not yet confirmed. Call ahead
Fries, rolls and something sweet
If you're out late in F-10 or I-8, these are the cheapest ways to finish the night.
13. Fries + Soft Drink Meal at Binge - F10
A compact Tariq Market stop for a fries-and-drink meal when you want something quick under PKR 350.
- Price: Rs 300 for one fries serving with one soft drink
- Where: Shops 1-2, Ayaz Khattak Plaza, Street 14, Tariq Market, F-10/2
- Hours: Daily 1 PM-4 AM
Price last checked 7 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
14. Chicken Regular Mayo Garlic Roll at Hot N Spicy – I-8
A crisp paratha roll with BBQ chicken, onion and mayo-garlic sauce; priced from the I-8 menu.
- Price: Rs 500 for one regular chicken roll, serves one
- Where: Mir Chakar Khan Road, I-8, Islamabad
- Hours: 10 AM–4 AM reported by the public I-8 listing
Price last checked 9 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
15. Nutella Filling Donut (Cheapest Single Sweet) at SUNDAYS Bakeshop - I-8 Markaz
Chic late-night I-8 Markaz bakeshop offering fresh glazed and Nutella-filled donuts, cupcakes, and artisan desserts.
- Price: Rs 270 for one donut
- Where: Ground floor, 3-B Business Centre, I-8 Markaz
- Hours: Daily 9 AM-2 AM
Price last checked 7 Oct 2026. Confirm before going
16. Samosa chaat at Juice Land DHA-II
Known for Samosa chaat in DHA 2. The dated source records PKR 230; confirm the total before going.
- Price: Rs 230 for one plate
- Where: Sector D, DHA Phase II, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
- Hours: 9 AM–3 AM shown by Google Maps on 2026-10-05
Price last checked 3 Feb 2026. Confirm before going
17. Mango milkshake at Lucky Mango Juice – G-10/3
The glass-sized mango milkshake at the supplied Bhatti Market pin.
- Price: Rs 100 for one glass of mango milkshake; volume not stated. The mug is a separate size
- Where: Bhatti Market, G-10/3, Islamabad
- Hours: Hours and seasonal mango availability not confirmed
Price not yet confirmed. Call ahead
Common questions
What is the cheapest meal in Islamabad?
In the BitesMap catalogue, a half plate of chicken biryani for Rs 220 and a chicken shawarma for Rs 200 in G-9 are among the cheapest filling meals.
Can you eat in Islamabad for under Rs 500 a day?
For one meal, easily. The rice plates and shawarmas in this guide cost Rs 200 to 400 each.