Devanshi Ghanshala, Vedansh Varshney (Delhi) and Kaamaakshi Bhat (Zirakpur, Punjab)

Located in the bustling alleys of Majnu Ka Tila, Delhi; Hanok Korean Kitchen Restaurant serves as a perfect place to satisfy your hunger for authentic Korean food. The place is a 15-minute rickshaw ride from the closest metro station, Vidhan Sabha on the Yellow Line. Rather recently established, this restaurant is rapidly gaining popularity amongst Korean food enthusiasts due to the wide variety of dishes offered here and also for its alluring and picturesque interior. On behalf of Hallyuism, team members Kaamaakshi Bhat, Vedansh Varshney and Devanshi Ghanshala reviewed the food, ambience, and overall experience at Hanok Korean Kitchen. Keep reading to know more.

Ambience

Based on the theme of ‘Hanok’– a Korean traditional house, the interior does a brilliant job at perfectly capturing the essence of traditional Korean layouts. Their interior is made up of wooden structures, including the floor and the roof, which provide a perfect backdrop for clicking social media-worthy pictures. The restaurant has small separate divisions which can accommodate both small as well as large groups of customers. The separate spaces help maintain privacy and enable the customers to enjoy their food in peace without unwanted interruptions. The seating arrangement also feels very traditional, as you’re required to remove your shoes and sit cross-legged. The atmosphere was relatively pleasant with some of our favourite K-pop songs playing in the background while we enjoyed our food over conversations.

Service

Hanok Kitchen staff was very welcoming and cheerful, with a big smile on their faces. Initially, all rooms were pre-occupied, but upon expressing our preference for private seating, they shifted us as soon as a space opened up. They handed us the menus and were also kind enough to explain to us about the variety of dishes they had to offer. Although the restaurant was packed with customers, we did not have to wait long for our food to arrive; it was quick and smooth. The staff’s friendliness contributed positively and helped us make ourselves comfortable. 

Food

The menu had a large variety of dishes, which left us confused as all of them seemed quite appetizing. After much deliberation, we finalized three dishes that we wanted to try the most:

Kimchi Kimbap

Kimchi Kimbap is a Korean seaweed rice roll that includes Kimchi as one of the main ingredients. Kimchi is a popular Korean side dish usually made with napa cabbage and radishes along with chilli pepper, garlic, ginger, etc. In Kimbap, the rice and fillings like vegetables, egg, Kimchi, etc., are rolled in sheets of seaweed (nori) and then cut into smaller pieces, which can be dipped into soy sauce to enhance the flavour or enjoyed with other side dishes provided like cucumber Kimchi, spinach salad, etc. Hanok’s Kimchi Kimbap rolls were a true flavour explosion. The rice was nicely cooked with fresh vegetables like carrots and cucumbers filled inside along with their freshly prepared Kimchi. Unfortunately, the saltiness of their Kimchi was a bit overpowering, and it hindered our ability to savour the Kimbap to the fullest as the flavours were not well balanced. The flavour of Kimchi can vary from one place to another as it heavily relies upon the ingredients used, preparation method, storage, and other factors.

Our Rating: 7/10

Dak Galbi

Dak Galbi is a popular Korean stir-fried chicken dish. Boneless chicken is stir-fried with vegetables in a sauce which is a mixture of Gochujang (Korean red chilli paste), soy sauce, and minced garlic and ginger. Dak Galbi served by Hanok Korean Kitchen, was a tempting combination of spicy tender chicken and crisp vegetables. The portions of chicken served were generous making it an ideal choice for people who enjoy non-vegetarian food. The flavour was a great balance between spicy and sweet, with a bit of a delicious smoky aftertaste which keeps you wanting to go for more and more bites. This dish would also work as a great combination if coupled with plain sticky rice. Dak Galbi truly exceeded all our exceptions and is a ‘must-try’ when visiting Hanok Kitchen.

Our Rating: 9/10

Veg. Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki is a popular Korean street food item. It consists of round rice cakes stir-fried or boiled in Gochujang sauce along with Kimchi and vegetables. Hanok’s Veg. Tteokbokki was delicious and enjoyable. The Tteok (rice cakes) were soft and had the perfect chewy texture. The sweet & spicy sauce was rich in flavour, as one could feel the sweet and savoury taste in every bite. For enthusiasts of spicy food, the spiciness can be adjusted while ordering the dish, so if you want to experience that fiery kick while eating, make sure to inform the staff beforehand. The vibrant visuals and rich flavours teleport you to Seoul for a moment.

Our Rating: 9/10

Final Thoughts

Hanok Korean Kitchen lives up to its hype owing to its high-quality food, friendly staff, and aesthetic interior. Their food service was quick and impressive despite the rush hour. We thoroughly enjoyed every dish we ordered; the flavours were amazing and memorable. Their traditional interior and relaxing ambience make the experience feel more authentic and exciting. We had a great day and lots of fun visiting Hanok’s Korean Kitchen that day and will undoubtedly visit them again in the future along with more friends when the craving for Korean food hits us again!

Have you had an enjoyable experience at a Korean restaurant in your city? What is your favourite Korean dish, and have you tried any of these dishes? Share your experience in the comments below!