Shish Mahal (restaurant)

Shish Mahal (restaurant)

In 1961, Mr N Mohammed opened the Greengate Asian Restaurant in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland. It was the first Pakistani restaurant in the city. Mr Mohammed's son Ali Ahmed Aslam worked in the business and in 1964 they opened the Shish Mahal restaurant, named after the 'Mirror Palace' in Lahore, Pakistan. Although it has changed location since then, the 'Shish', as it is popularly known, can claim to be the oldest 'Indian' restaurant in Glasgow. Many of the best known 'Indian' restaurants are in fact Pakistani. The term Indian being a generic reference to Southern Asian (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) - the styles of cooking and taste varying significantly. Affectionately known as the Curry King of Glasgow, Mr Ali can justifiably claim to have pioneered the Asian restaurant scene in Scotland, while some argue that he should be credited with the invention of the Chicken Tikka Masala.