BEIJING, China: Tucked away down a quiet lane in Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China, the Pakistani eatery Man-O-Salwa has become popular despite its hidden position.
While the restaurant may not be large, it exudes a cozy and well-maintained ambiance. Impressively, it boasts a 4.5 out of 5 rating on China’s popular customer review app, Dazhongdianping.
Muhammad Usama, the restaurant manager, fluently converses in Chinese as he introduces diners to the delectable dishes on the menu, “This is the only Pakistani restaurant in Harbin,” he explains, “I recommend you try the curry chicken and traditional milk tea.”
It was founded in 2019 by Muhammad Atif, who opened the restaurant shortly after earning his doctorate from a university in Harbin. The establishment aims to introduce authentic Pakistani flavors to Chinese friends.
Atif brought in chefs and a manager from Pakistan, including Usama, who previously worked as a chef at a five-star hotel in Pakistan.
Despite challenging times, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Atif and Usama never contemplated closing their business. Instead, they took proactive measures, like showcasing their dishes and gathering customer feedback on short video platforms, to promote Pakistani cuisine and the restaurant.
“In the past few years, I have rarely visited my hometown. I have stayed in Harbin, even when there were few customers,” Usama shared.
The restaurant is committed to delivering an authentic Pakistani taste, employing chefs from Pakistan and importing most of their ingredients directly from Pakistan. Currently, four Pakistani employees work in the kitchen.
Management notes that the restaurant has gained immense popularity online, with all tables fully booked on weekends. People from neighboring cities around Harbin make special trips to experience Pakistani cuisine.
“I have never tasted Pakistani food and wanted to try it. The taste here is good and special,” said Harbin resident Ai Mingzhe, who found his dining experience at the restaurant sparked his interest in learning more about Pakistan.
With the restaurant’s business booming, Atif is working on expanding the dining area and preparing to open another branch in the port city of Ningbo in east China’s Zhejiang Province.
“I love China, and I will continue to do business here, using the power of food to build a bridge for exchange between China and Pakistan,” Atif stated. —APP
