Shorteats like kimchi, squid rolls, yoghurt smoothies, and pork stomach cutlets have landed in Chennai. Experience the Hallyu wave and step into these Korean cafes within the metropolis.
Cafe Dokebi, InKo Centre
Dokebi, in Korean mythology, are prankster spirits with supernatural powers that shock people. Like its playful namesake, the cafe guarantees its patrons a delightfully related menu and environment. Nestled quietly within the left nook of the InKo Centre on Adyar Membership Gate Highway, the not too long ago opened Cafe Dokebi presents guests a refreshing menu of Korean drinks and brief eats, together with a vibrant shelf crammed of well-liked Korean snacks. With its cosy atmosphere and cabinets embellished with souvenirs, it’s the excellent gateway into Korean cafe tradition.
Meals displayed at Dokebi Cafe at INKO Centre, in Chennai.
| Photograph Credit score:
R. Ravindran
Meeso Ryoo, who arrange the cafe in April 2023 says, “Indians love spice , however Korean meals is spicier .” Noodle dishes, like ramen, are one in every of Dokebi’s hottest dishes, though Ryoo laughingly notes that not everybody can deal with the warmth. “I strive my greatest to serve genuine meals, all from Korea. Most issues we serve are firmly rooted in Korean delicacies, and a number of the substances, like plum and citrus syrups for the drinks, are from there.” One other well-liked dish is their triangle-shaped gimbap, a dish product of cooked rice, greens, fish, and meat rolled in seaweed, which is available in vegetable, rooster, and pork variants.
Cafe-goers who don’t take pleasure in spice can indulge within the latest addition to the menu: bungeo-ppang, a fish-shaped bun full of candy purple bean paste. The bun’s acquainted sweetness, mixed with the style of the marginally nutty Korean purple bean, makes it a pleasantly shocking deal with that’s greatest loved with a cup of espresso. However what actually units Cafe Dokebiaside from different Korean cafes is its beverage menu.
Meals at Dokebi Cafe at INKO Centre, in Chennai.
| Photograph Credit score:
R. Ravindran
Together with a spread of sizzling coffees and teas, Dokebiadditionally presents a refreshingly crisp, chilly matcha tea, Korean yoghurt smoothies, and varied fruity drinks, with flavours together with the splendidly tart but candy Korean inexperienced plum, which comes combined in chilly soda. These iced drinks are extra well-liked than their heat counterparts and are excellent for combating Chennai’s sweltering summer season warmth.
One other Kitchen, Adyar
As you step into One other Kitchen, the tantalising aroma of traditional Korean barbecue wafts via the air, inviting you to take pleasure in a symphony of flavours that may transport you to the streets of Seoul. One other Kitchen, Adyar, is a restaurant that specialises in Korean dishes, baked items, and barbeques. Spanning over two flooring, itpresents guests varied sorts of seating, together with particular tables embellished with chimneys designed particularly for his or her well-known Korean barbeques.
“That is our favorite Korean restaurant,” says Sujie Lee, who not too long ago moved to Chennai along with her household from Korea. “Seeing genuine Korean meals being served right here makes us really feel at house, and there’s no unhealthy day {that a} huge bowl of jjajangmyeon can’t repair!” Jjajangmyeon is a noodle dish product of black bean paste, diced pork, and greens and has its personal distinctive, earthy and decadent flavour. It stays one in every of One other Kitchen’s hottest choices, because of its homely style and delicate stability of seasoning.
Meals displayed at One other Kitchen Adyar, in Chennai.
| Photograph Credit score:
R. Ravindran
However whereas itboasts all kinds of Korean delicacies, what to look out for listed here are the facet dishes that include your order. Filled with flavour, banchan, or facet dishes, are served alongside each foremost dish and are a vital a part of the Korean meal, meant to be shared by everybody on the desk. You’ll hardly ever get the identical facet dish twice, and so they make for a refreshingly candy and spicy break between the in any other case wealthy entrees. Amongst our favourites had been candy potato browns, pork stomach cutlets, kimchi, squid rolls, oi muchim (a spicy cucumber-sesame salad), and a candy and tangy apple cider-pineapple sauce served with shredded cabbage.
Straight like a nonetheless out of a Okay-Drama, One other Kitchen’s in-house bakery is unquestionably price visiting. Guests can select goodies to take pleasure in with their meal — be it a savoury goroke (a bun full of fiery Korean glass noodles) or indulging within the quintessential candy purple bean and recent cream buns. Different well-liked baked items embrace turtle bread, soboro, matcha soboro, and walnut cheese bread.
Meals displayed at One other Kitchen Adyar, in Chennai.
| Photograph Credit score:
R. Ravindran
These pastries are mildly candy, not too overwhelming, and are greatest served heat. Many objects on show, just like the soboro and the walnut loaf, are well-liked Korean snacks, giving patrons a style of Korean road meals tradition. The restaurant and bakery discover themselves busy with common prospects who can not get sufficient of the delicacies. “Initially, it was my curiosity in Okay-Pop and Okay-Dramas that made me need to strive the ‘Okay-Delicacies’ as nicely, however the dishes are so distinct from the standard Indian & Indianised western cuisines that saved me coming again to it.”, says Anusha Kumar, a scholar.
One other Kitchen’s quaint appeal because the ‘Korean restaurant subsequent door’ lies in its novel and peaceable atmosphere the place individuals can share a meal over conversations with family and friends. It invitations us to be within the coronary heart of Korean eating – even when it’s only for a couple of hours. Positive sufficient, this isn’t simply one other kitchen.