Every November, as the air cools and the streets glow with the warmth of fall, families across America gather around their tables to give thanks. For Pakistani Americans, this season carries a familiar rhythm, one of gratitude, hospitality, and togetherness with a distinct flavor that blends tradition with a sense of belonging.
Across homes in Chicago and beyond, Thanksgiving becomes more than a holiday; it’s a reflection of identity, a celebration that feels both deeply American and unmistakably Pakistani.
For many first-generation immigrants, Thanksgiving was once a new idea, a holiday they learned from friends, neighbors, or workplaces. But over the years, Pakistani families have made it their own.
The turkey might be brushed with masala and roasted alongside trays of Chicken Chargha and Biryani. Chutneys and cranberry sauce might share the same plate. Tea replaces wine, and laughter replaces formality.
At its heart, this celebration isn’t about adopting traditions; it’s about expanding them. It’s about gratitude, family, and the comfort of food that feels like home, wherever home may be.
Some families spend days preparing dishes that blend old and new recipes passed down from Karachi or Lahore alongside the staples of an American feast. Others choose to take a well-earned break, ordering in from trusted kitchens that taste like home. That’s where Sabri Nihari quietly enters the story. Not as the center of attention, but as the flavor in the background, the tray of slow-cooked Nihari shared after prayers, the biryani that arrives just as guests settle in, the naan still warm enough to tear by hand.
It’s food that reminds us of gatherings back home, yet sits comfortably beside pumpkin pie.
In neighborhoods like Devon Avenue, Thanksgiving is as diverse as the people who live there. Some host large potlucks where friends bring dishes that tell stories. One makes karahi, another brings pie. Others choose the ease of catering or takeout, allowing them to spend more time around the table instead of the stove. And some families simply visit Sabri for lunch or dinner, sharing a quiet meal after a long week, no big plans, just the comfort of good food and familiar faces.
Whether you’re celebrating at home or dining out, a few dishes have a way of turning any meal into a gathering:
Each dish carries a sense of home, a connection to the people and places that shaped us.
For Pakistani Americans, Thanksgiving isn’t just a day marked on the calendar. It is a gentle moment of reflection, a time to honor the journey that brought us here and the traditions that continue to keep us grounded.
This season, whether you gather with family, welcome friends into your home, or share a comforting meal from Sabri Nihari, may your table be abundant, your hearts light, and your gratitude felt in every bite.
