With restaurants that serve everything from manchurian and ramen to Korean barbecue and Thai curry, Delhi has a thriving East Asian food scene. The city’s Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants have been feeding hungry diners for years. Noodles are fried up for chowmein and chopsuey, as broths bubble on stovetops for pho. Dimsum are steamed in bamboo baskets while fresh fish is rolled into sushi. Since the word “Oriental” has problematic connotations attached to it, we’ll stick to saying that we’re excited to bring you a list of Delhi’s five best East Asian restaurants.
The China Kitchen (Chinese)
Located in the swanky Hyatt Regency Hotel, The China Kitchen has an extensive menu with Cantonese and Sichuan classics. Five pages of the menu are dedicated to dimsum alone, with categories like “steamed”, “boiled” and “fried”. The clay pot dishes are for those who’d like to try something off the beaten track and the dan dan noodles are vegetarian, unlike the meat versions at most other Chinese restaurants. The only catch here is that you must be prepared to shell out over ₹3,000 for a meal for two, especially if you’re ordering seafood.
Kofuku (Japanese)
Kofuku is set in the busy Ansal Plaza mall and the restaurant’s name translates to “happiness”. The Delhi outlet followed the brand’s first one in Mumbai and has only grown in popularity. Traditional Japanese low seating gives the place an air of authenticity. As should be the case with any Japanese restaurant worth its salt, the nigiri is very good. The menu also boasts carpaccio, including zucchini and avocado versions. The katsu curry is tasty, reasonably priced, and comes with a choice of chicken, prawns or pork.
Gung The Palace (Korean)
With both regular tables and low seating, Gung caters to every diner’s preferences. The place is spread over three floors in Green Park and even hosts karaoke nights. Korean barbecue is Gung’s specialty, which can be seen on most tables as patrons enjoy their meat. Apart from that, the gimbap and kimchi jigae are personal favourites. Gung doesn’t shy away from serving bulgogi and octopus. The complimentary kimchi before every meal is a treat. Wash the food down with some Korean plum wine.
Little Saigon (Vietnamese)
Little Saigon is probably one of the best restaurants that Hauz Khas Market has seen. A tiny restaurant with only a few tables, it satiates those who crave really good Vietnamese food. The stir fried prawns in lemongrass used to be on the specials menu but became so popular that they’re now a regular affair. The fresh summer rolls are refreshing and tasty, and the pork and rice noodle salad is in a league of its own. Bowls of Little Saigon’s pho are spicy and comforting, and the banh mi is a favourite with many.
The Spice Route (Thai)
From the spicy raw papaya salad to Thai-style spring rolls, The Spice Route at The Imperial Hotel gets everything right. Although the restaurant specialises in other East Asian cuisines, its Thai dishes are exceptionally good. The tom yum soup is standard, with a distinct flavour of lemongrass. Try the Thai-style stir-fried mixed vegetables with rice for a light dinner, or splurge with the kung nang phad khing (stir-fried lobster), whose price tag is a whopping ₹2,750. The Spice Route is very expensive but worth it if you’re celebrating a special occasion.