In a room full of Pakistanis, “I love nihari” is as obvious a statement as “I like pizza” is to some people. So last March, when “Deli Boys” actor Saagar Shaikh announced during dinner at Ali’s Nihari & BBQ that it was his “absolute favorite dish,” he wasn’t trying to sell creator and Executive Producer Abdullah Saeed, co-star Asif Ali or myself on nihari. We knew, writes Tribune food reporter Ahmed Ali Akbar. And the rest of the cast of “Deli Boys” knew, because Shaikh kept bringing them to eat it at table 13 at Ali’s Nihari, up front by the glass overlooking the hustle and bustle of Devon Avenue. Nihari is nihari and it is worthy of obsession. Shaikh was explaining the lunacy that kept him coming back to this particular restaurant, to eat this particular nihari, sometimes traveling an hour from a long day of work on set. Tap on our bio link to read more. —— Photo 1: Saagar Shaikh (left) chats with Deli Boys Abdullah Saeed (center) and co-star Asif Ali (right) during a dinner at Ali’s Nihari & BBQ in the West Ridge neighborhood March, 31, 2024. Photo 2: Saagar Shaikh, left, eats dinner with “Deli Boys” creator and Executive Producer Abdullah Saeed as he scoops vegetables onto his plate during a dinner at Ali’s Nihari & BBQ in the West Ridge neighborhood on March 31, 2024. ? Ahmed Ali Akbar / Chicago Tribune ? Talia Sprague / for the Chicago Tribune

In a room full of Pakistanis, “I love nihari” is as obvious a statement as “I like pizza” is to some people.

So last March, when “Deli Boys” actor Saagar Shaikh announced during dinner at Ali’s Nihari & BBQ that it was his “absolute favorite dish,” he wasn’t trying to sell creator and Executive Producer Abdullah Saeed, co-star Asif Ali or myself on nihari. We knew, writes Tribune food reporter Ahmed Ali Akbar. And the rest of the cast of “Deli Boys” knew, because Shaikh kept bringing them to eat it at table 13 at Ali’s Nihari, up front by the glass overlooking the hustle and bustle of Devon Avenue.

Nihari is nihari and it is worthy of obsession. Shaikh was explaining the lunacy that kept him coming back to this particular restaurant, to eat this particular nihari, sometimes traveling an hour from a long day of work on set.

Tap on our bio link to read more.

——

Photo 1: Saagar Shaikh (left) chats with Deli Boys Abdullah Saeed (center) and co-star Asif Ali (right) during a dinner at Ali’s Nihari & BBQ in the West Ridge neighborhood March, 31, 2024.

Photo 2: Saagar Shaikh, left, eats dinner with “Deli Boys” creator and Executive Producer Abdullah Saeed as he scoops vegetables onto his plate during a dinner at Ali’s Nihari & BBQ in the West Ridge neighborhood on March 31, 2024.

? Ahmed Ali Akbar / Chicago Tribune
? Talia Sprague / for the Chicago Tribune