Burns Road derived its name from James Burnes a British spy-doctor.

After the partition of Pakistan the street name was changed to “Muhammad Bin Qasim Road”. Street Food shops of burns road are very popular among the people of karachi. You can find all varieties of food stalls that operate till late past midnight. Big and small restaurants, some operating since 1940 offer quick and ready to go meals at affordable rates. Food such as Qorma, Sajji, Nihari, Chapli Kabab, Biryani, Haleem, Chargha, Fish and Dahi Baray are very popular in all ages. According to one theory, Burns Road area, over time became the celebrated food central of the city because migrants from India liked to eat out the way they used to back in their native towns before partition. Taking advantage of that demand a number of experienced as well as inexperienced venturers from within the migrant communities started cooking their traditional foods commercially, but only a few survived. Most of the surviving eateries had humble beginnings and it took them years and years of sheer hard work before becoming household names not only in Pakistan but also world over.

Dil Bahar Dahi Baray, Malik Nihari, Waheed Kebab, Delhi Rabri and Cafe Lazeez, are among the oldest food outlets here. Most of these places are 50 years old and serve the most delectable traditional foods Karachi has to offer.