Archive · 30 Jul 2026
Glasgow’s Shish Mahal: A Pakistani‑Scottish Culinary Legacy Story
Shish Mahal is a popular Indian restaurant in Glasgow.
Its owner, Asif Ali, says his dad came from Pakistan in 1945 with only £5 and started the restaurant.
The place is famous for a dish called chicken tikka masala, which they claim was first made there.
The food mixes Pakistani cooking with Scottish friendliness.
The restaurant says Glasgow didn’t change their Pakistani roots; it gave them a stage to shine.
Asif Ali, CEO of Groupe Shish Mahal, highlights the restaurant’s heritage.
Shish Mahal, founded by his father who immigrated from Pakistan in 1945, is a Glasgow staple.
The restaurant claims to be the birthplace of chicken tikka masala in Scotland.
The dish reflects Pakistani heritage blended with Scottish hospitality and Glasgow’s welcoming culture.
The restaurant emphasizes that Glasgow preserved rather than diluted its Pakistani roots.
- Who
- Asif Ali, CEO of Groupe Shish Mahal
- What
- Shish Mahal claims to be the birthplace of chicken tikka masala and celebrates Pakistani heritage in Glasgow
- When
- Father arrived in 1945; current statement made in 2024
- Where
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Why
- To highlight the fusion of Pakistani heritage with Scottish hospitality and Glasgow’s welcoming culture
- Restaurant
- Shish Mahal
- Founder
- Asif Ali's father
- Founded
- 1945
- Location
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Claimed Dish
- Chicken tikka masala
- Cuisine
- Pakistani/Indian