K-Restaurant Review: Bubblin’ Cafe

Vedansh Varshney, Delhi and Navya Sharma, Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Bubblin’ Cafe stands out as an emerging trendy destination offering a fusion of Korean cuisine and bubble tea. Conveniently located just an 8-minute walk from Sector 18 Noida Metro Station, it is nestled near the DLF Mall and opposite Gardens Galleria Mall. Despite being relatively new, this cafe is swiftly gaining popularity among Korean culture and cuisine enthusiasts, thanks to its diverse menu and captivating ambience. Founded by Abhinav, Saurabh and Nona, Bubblin’ Cafe embodies a spirit of adventurous exploration where new ideas and challenges are embraced. In a review conducted by Vedansh Varshney and Navya Sharma on behalf of Hallyuism, they delve into the food and ambience and share their overall experience of visiting Bubblin’ Cafe. Keep reading to learn more about what this café has to offer!

Ambience

Bubblin’ Cafe boasts pastel beige and purple interiors complemented by wooden flooring, evoking a relaxing and inviting atmosphere. The soft yellow lighting adds a touch of warmth and sophistication, further enhanced by neon lights adorning the walls. A designated photo corner features a cosy sofa, a boba tea plushie, and a captivating neon sign backdrop, making it the perfect photogenic spot for capturing aesthetic social media content. Though the seating is currently limited as the cafe is relatively new, the owner envisions future expansion. The cafe serves as an ideal venue for small group gatherings and event celebrations, where people can enjoy choosing from a great selection of bubble tea and also grab some delicious Korean snacks. Additionally, the cafe has counters showcasing a variety of Korean noodles and other snacks available to the customers for purchase.

Food

Corn Dogs 

Korean corn dogs are a delightful twist on traditional hot dogs, featuring a crispy fried batter on a stick topped with options like mayo, sugar, ketchup, mustard, or cheese. What sets them apart is their batter, Korean versions use a yeasted batter and panko breadcrumbs, while American corn dogs typically use cornmeal and eggs. 

At Bubblin’, we ordered the Cheese Corn Dog, which was a fusion of a satisfying crunch on the outside and a delicious burst of melted cheese within. Served with tomato ketchup, it made for a perfect appetiser, offering a fulfilling start to the meal. The Chicken Corn Dog, filled with sausage, was equally delectable. The Corn dogs were served with Potato Wedges, which was something we typically don’t see being served with this dish at other places. However, it provided a tasty complement to the dish.

Our rating: 8/10

Korean Fried Chicken

Korean Fried Chicken, known as “치킨” (chikin) in Korea, encompasses a variety of fried chicken dishes popularized in South Korea, including the traditional ‘huraideu’-chicken and the spicy ‘yangnyeom’ chicken. In South Korea, fried chicken is enjoyed as a meal, appetizer, or even as a late-night snack. As chicken enthusiasts, we ordered the Korean Fried Chicken dish which was served piping hot and perfectly seasoned. While the flavour was undeniably delicious, we found ourselves wishing for boneless chicken pieces for easier enjoyment. Nevertheless, the taste was amazing, making it a dish worth trying.

Our rating: 7.5/10

Drinks

Taiwanese Bubble Tea

During the early 1980s, Taiwan introduced the world to bubble tea, a delightful tea-based beverage. While you can customise it with various toppings such as red beans, grass jelly, popping boba, or aloe vera, bubble tea is traditionally enjoyed with tea and chewy tapioca balls. We tried the Taiwanese Bubble Tea with Tapioca Pearl, which was refreshingly cold. It was an absolute delight; the tapioca pearls provided the perfect level of chewiness, and the popping boba delivered a burst of flavour with each sip.

Our rating: 9.5/10

Watermelon Bubble Tea

Watermelon Bubble Tea is a refreshing soda-based drink with a hint of watermelon flavour and popping pearls as a fun topping. Following the staff’s recommendation, we opted for passion fruit-flavoured popping pearls, adding a tropical twist. While watermelon is perfect for summer, combining it with passion fruit may create a confusing flavour profile. In our view, both flavours shine better on their own. Nevertheless, we appreciate the sweetness and fizzy texture of this soda-based beverage, making it a delightful treat overall.

Our rating: 6.5/10

Bubblin’ Cafe, located in Noida, presents a diverse selection of Bubble tea options, allowing customers to customise their beverages with various bases, flavours, and toppings. While the menu primarily focuses on Bubble tea, it also features a modest yet satisfying assortment of Korean dishes and snacks worth trying. The cafe has a comforting and picturesque interior, great for taking aesthetic pictures and creating a chill atmosphere to hang out with friends or conduct small gatherings. Their polite staff provided helpful recommendations for our drinks, enhancing our overall experience. Our visit to Bubblin’ was enjoyable, including engaging conversations with one of the co-founders, who shared insights into the cafe’s inspiration and vision. With its delightful bubble tea offerings, we look forward to returning to satisfy our cravings again in the future.

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