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A Glasgow man who was forced to flee his home country as a young boy has opened a restaurant in the southside. When Saeed Tanga Khan was just 10 years old, his life around him fell apart. With war taking hold of his home in Afghanistan, he and his family were forced to flee and cross the border to the safety of neighbouring Pakistan. However, despite living through a time of deep turmoil, it was there that he discovered his love of food. In Peshawar, among the crowded markets and with street vendors all around him, Tanga learnt how to cook, thanks to the city's busy food stalls, rich spices, and smoky aromas. The 38-year-old told Glasgow Live: "The war was a painful and uncertain time, but it taught me resilience and the value of hard work. That struggle became the foundation of everything I’ve built. "My love for food began in Peshawar, Pakistan, where I learned to cook as a refugee from Afghanistan. "The rich mix of Afghan and Peshawari flavours inspired me to share that taste and culture with others. "Food was my first real language. Even when I couldn’t speak the same words as others, I could still share a meal — and that meant something." Tanga moved to the UK, and for the last 10 years has been living in Glasgow, a city he says gave him a chance to rebuild his life, where he helped a friend revive a restaurant. And now, he has opened Khyber Sheenwari, which serves charcoal-grilled kebabs, sizzling Shinwari karahi, freshly baked naan, and authentic Afghan tea. Eager to welcome the people of Glasgow through his doors, Tanga hopes his restaurant will become more than just a local eatery, but also a place for the southside community. He added: "I’ve been in Glasgow for around 10 years. It’s home now — a city that gave me a chance to rebuild my life and share my culture through food. "I fled Afghanistan as a child and grew up in Pakistan, where I discovered my passion for food. Years later, I came to the UK and helped a friend revive a small restaurant in Glasgow. "That experience inspired me to start my own, blending Afghan flavours with Glasgow’s love for hearty, authentic food. "When people walk in, I don’t want them to just eat. I want them to feel something — warmth, welcome, belonging. That’s what Khyber Sheenwari is all about." You can find Khyber Sheenwari on 61 Bridge Street. The restaurant is open every day 12pm - 11pm. Sign up to our daily Glasgow Live newsletter here to receive news and features direct to your inbox Join Glasgow Live's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
