How many calories in a bun kabab? Anday wala, chicken, beef, with chutney — plus low-calorie swaps to save 150 calories.
A single beef shami bun kabab contains approximately 350 to 400 calories, depending on the size of the patty, whether an egg is added, and how much oil is absorbed during the frying process.
This makes it one of the more calorie-dense options in Pakistani street food, but not the worst — you can still make it work within your daily calorie budget if you understand the macro breakdown and control the variables.
Quick Calorie Summary – Bun Kabab: • 1 beef bun kabab (with egg) – 400–500 cal • 1 chicken bun kabab (with egg) – 300–400 cal • Without egg (any type) – 230–420 cal • Lettuce wrap instead of bun – 150–300 cal
| Component | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bun (1 large milk bun) | 140 kcal | 4g | 3g | 26g |
| Shami Kabab Patty (1 piece) | 120 kcal | 9g | 8g | 4g |
| Egg (1 fried) | 90 kcal | 6g | 7g | 1g |
| Green Chutney (1 tbsp) | 10 kcal | 0.5g | 0.5g | 1.5g |
| Ketchup (1 tbsp) | 15 kcal | 0g | 0g | 4g |
| Oil Absorption from Frying (per patty) | 40-60 kcal | 0g | 5-7g | 0g |
| Total (Beef Shami Bun Kabab) | 375-435 kcal | 19-20g | 23-25g | 36-37g |
Note: If you order a double patty or anday wala bun kabab (egg), expect the total to jump to 500-600+ calories, with significantly higher fat content.
Bun kabab is calorie-dense because it combines refined carbohydrates (the bun), with high-fat meat (the shami kabab patty), fried eggs, and additional oil used during shallow frying.
The classic milk bun used in bun kabab is a soft, sweetened bread that contains added sugar, butter, and milk powder. A single large bun contributes close to 140 calories of mostly empty carbs with minimal fiber. Unlike a whole wheat bun, there is almost no nutritional upside here.
The shami kabab patty itself is made from minced beef and chana dal. While the beef provides a solid 9 grams of protein, the patty is typically shallow fried in oil, which adds significant fat. Restaurant-style shami kababs often have a 60:40 or even 70:30 meat-to-fat ratio, making the raw patty calorie-dense before it even touches the oil.
Adding a fried egg takes this street food to a completely different macro level. A single fried egg adds 90 calories and 7 grams of fat, which pushes the total calorie count past 400. The green chutney and ketchup are negligible in volume, but they contribute hidden sugars, with ketchup alone adding 4 grams of sugar per tablespoon.
This is the biggest hidden calorie variable. Street vendors typically shallow fry the assembled bun kabab in a generous layer of oil on a hot tawa. The bun absorbs oil like a sponge. Depending on how much oil remains on the tawa, the final product can absorb an additional 40 to 80 calories worth of oil.
Compared to other popular street food items, bun kabab falls somewhere in the middle in terms of calorie density:
| Street Food Item | Calories per Serving | Protein | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bun Kabab (Beef Shami) | 400 kcal | 19g | 24g |
| Samosa (Potato) | 250 kcal | 4g | 14g |
| Chana Chaat | 220 kcal | 10g | 6g |
| Gol Gappay (6 pieces) | 200-250 kcal | 4g | 10g |
| Chicken Roll | 500-600 kcal | 22g | 26g |
| Zinger Burger | 520 kcal | 25g | 28g |
Yes — a single beef bun kabab at 350-400 calories fits easily into most weight loss meal plans. The key is portion control: stick to one patty, avoid double patty or anda versions, skip the mayonnaise, and don't pair it with a sugary drink.
For an even lighter option, choose an aloo bun kabab or make them at home using a quality kitchen scale and measuring spoons to measure ingredients precisely, and a non-stick pan to cut oil absorption by half.
Digital Kitchen Scale (SF-400) on Daraz PK
Measuring Spoons & Cups (10pcs) on Daraz PK
Newgett Digital Kitchen Scale on Amazon UAE
AMERTEER Measuring Cups & Spoons on Amazon UAE
Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale on Amazon UAE
To reduce calories without losing the authentic taste, follow these tips:
1. Use a whole wheat bun instead of a milk bun — saves ~50 calories and adds fiber.
2. Shallow fry patties in a non-stick pan with just 1 tsp of oil instead of deep frying.
3. Replace 50% of the meat in shami kabab with chana dal (split chickpeas) — boosts fiber and cuts fat.
4. Load up on fresh salad (onion, tomato, cucumber) instead of extra chutney to add volume with minimal calories.
5. Use Greek yogurt-based green chutney instead of oil-based chutneys — same tang, fewer calories.
Non-Stick Frying Pan (30-36cm) on Daraz PK
| Bun Kabab Variation | Approx. Calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Beef Shami Bun Kabab (Single) | 375-435 kcal | 19-20g |
| Aloo Bun Kabab | 300-350 kcal | 12-14g |
| Anday Wala Bun Kabab | 480-520 kcal | 24-26g |
| Double Patty Bun Kabab | 550-650 kcal | 30-34g |
| Chicken Bun Kabab | 320-380 kcal | 22-24g |
| Grilled (Homemade) Bun Kabab | 280-320 kcal | 19-20g |
A standard beef burger from a fast food chain (McDonald's, Burger King, or a local Pakistani chain) typically ranges from 500 to 600 calories. A bun kabab, by comparison, is lighter — largely because the patty itself is smaller and made with a mix of meat and lentils rather than pure beef.
Here is how they compare side by side:
| Item | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bun Kabab (Beef Shami) | 400 kcal | 19g | 24g | 36g |
| McDonald's Beef Burger | 520 kcal | 26g | 28g | 42g |
| Burger King Whopper | 670 kcal | 28g | 40g | 50g |
| Zinger Burger (Local) | 520 kcal | 25g | 28g | 42g |
| Grilled Chicken Burger | 420 kcal | 30g | 16g | 36g |
A standard anday wala bun kabab (beef patty, egg, chutney, bun) contains 350–500 calories. Chicken bun kabab is slightly lower: 300–400 calories.
Removing the egg saves about 70–80 calories. Total drops to 280–420 calories.
Yes, generally. A beef burger with cheese and mayo can hit 600–800 calories. Bun kabab uses lighter chutney (coriander/mint) instead of mayo, and the patty is often smaller. But the fried egg adds extra fat — go without egg for a lighter option.
300–400 calories (with egg). Without egg: 230–320 calories. Chicken is leaner than beef.
Skip the egg → save 70–80 cal. Ask for less oil on the tawa. Use only half the bun (open-faced) → save 100 cal. Replace bun with lettuce wrap → save 150 cal. Skip chutney if it has added sugar (most roadside ones do).
Chicken bun kabab without egg, extra salad, and no chutney. Add a squeeze of lemon instead. That is roughly 250 calories and 20g protein.
Up to 550–600 calories — the chutney often has hidden sugar/oil, and the bun is brushed with ghee.