Madina Tikka Shop & Chargha House

Madina Tikka Shop & Chargha House is a tikka and chargha restaurant on the Service Road in Shaheen Abad, the northern restaurant strip of Gujranwala in Pakistan's Punjab province. It combines two dishes that define the city's food reputation, charcoal-grilled tikka and chargha, in a single stop, and it is popular with families driving along the service road.

The cuisine is Pakistani barbecue and fried chicken. Signature dishes are chargha, chicken tikka, naan and raita. Chargha is a whole or half chicken marinated in spices, steamed or boiled until tender and then deep-fried, giving a crisp, deeply seasoned exterior; it is the house specialty and is usually eaten with naan and raita. The chicken tikka is marinated in yogurt and spices and grilled over coals, so a combined order lets visitors taste both of Gujranwala's best-known chicken styles.

The dining room is casual and busy. Expect plain tables, families, quick turnover and the smell of charcoal and frying oil. Noise levels are moderate to high on weekend evenings. No dress code applies beyond everyday modest clothing, and alcohol is not served; tea, lassi and soft drinks are the usual drinks.

Prices fall in the $$ band, about PKR 700-1,500 per person, roughly US$2-$5. Chargha is usually sold by the half or whole bird, which makes it economical for groups, while tikka is ordered by the piece or plate. The restaurant is typically open from around midday to late evening, though hours should be confirmed locally. Public ratings are about 4.1 out of 5.

Reservations are not normally required; the restaurant is a walk-in venue, and only large groups need to arrange a table ahead. The Service Road location in Shaheen Abad is reached by taxi or rideshare, and the same strip holds other restaurants, including biryani and fish places, so groups with different tastes can eat nearby.