A Peshawar family’s fifth generation is carrying on the family legacy of running their 200-year-old Siri Paye restaurant called Nika Haji Nazeer Ahmed Paye, commonly known as Nika Siri Paye.

Owner Umar Daraz said that his great grandfather Naik Mohammad also known as Nika had introduced the special dish to the city.

The restaurant is located opposite the heritage site and Hindu temple, Gor Khatri.

The paye is prepared in a clay pot on low heat for 18 hours and then served in clay bowls.

A big bowl costs Rs500 and smaller portions are sold for Rs200 and Rs300.

Umar Daraz said that people from adjacent localities as well as Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Karachi come to his restaurant, such is its fame.

“Sometimes overseas Pakistanis place an order for frozen paye so they can take it abroad when they go back,” Umar said. “During the summer, I receive orders from Swat and Murree.”

Sheikh Rasheed, former interior minister and leader of the Awami Muslim League, visited the restaurant in 2020.

Thai vlogger and food connoisseur, Mark Wiens, tried it in 2018 and called it one of the best dishes he’s eaten in Pakistan.

Umar Daraz said, however, that the business has taken a hit due to the inflation.

“In favorable conditions, two to three maunds of siri paye were sold daily,” he said. “But due to inflation, I now manage to sell only one maund per day.”