Written by: Ayushi Verma and Vedansh Varshney, Delhi
Edited by: Bagmita Gogoi, Tinsukia, Assam
As Indian youth increasingly embrace K-pop and K-dramas, the popularity of Korean culture in India has soared, including a newfound fascination with Korean cuisine. More people are trying Korean dishes after discovering viral Korean food cafes and outlets in various cities, eager to understand the buzz and see if the flavors suit their tastes. Today we’re here with a new restaurant recommendation for all our Korean cuisine enthusiasts residing in Delhi or Delhi-NCR.
Nestled within Lajpat Nagar market in Delhi, Kia’s Cafe proves to be an experience rather than just another Korean restaurant on your checklist. It is a hidden gem that offers a delightful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. It has a friendly staff that welcomes you and guides you through a menu full of mouth-watering Korean foods and drinks. Whether you are an enthusiast of Korean cuisine or simply curious about Kia’s Cafe’s Korean menu, it offers a delightful culinary experience that pleases the senses and warms the heart.
Ambience
The café has a warm, welcoming and soothing atmosphere. As you step through the doors, you experience an ideal fusion of simple pastel-colored interiors and K-pop inspired decor, which will likely excite you if you’re a fan of Korean pop music. It also serves as a great setup for clicking aesthetic pictures as the restaurant features beautiful wall art and posters of Korean pop bands such as BTS, Blackpink, etc.
You can also enjoy the K-pop music playing in the background while enjoying your food or request them to play songs of your choice. In our opinion, this Korean restaurant would serve as an ideal location for relaxation, meeting friends, or organizing small get-togethers and events, where you can enjoy delicious Korean food and refreshing drinks in tranquility.
Let’s talk about all the different Korean dishes our team was curious to try here in the next section!
Food
Stir-Fried Chicken Kimbap
Stir-Fried Chicken Kimbap is a signature Korean dish, combining the rich flavors of stir-fried chicken with the traditional appeal of kimbap. At Kia’s Cafe, we ordered stir-fried chicken kimbap and it was presented beautifully, with each roll neatly sliced and arranged on a sleek ceramic platter. The dish was a perfect blend of flavors and textures, perfectly cooked, tender, and juicy. The vegetables added a refreshing crunch, with the slightly sticky rice that held everything together providing a pleasant chewy base. Overall, our team would highly recommend it. It is a must-try for anyone seeking a delicious and satisfying Korean dish.
Our Rating: 8/10
Cheese Tteokbeokki
Tteokbeokki is a popular Korean dish made from chewy rice cakes, typically simmered in a spicy or tangy red broth. It often includes vegetables like carrots and cabbage, as well as additional ingredients like egg, seafood, or cheese. At Kia’s Cafe, we ordered the Cheese Tteokbeokki and were delighted with its taste. The rice cakes had the perfect level of chewiness, and the gravy was well-balanced, neither too sweet nor too spicy. Our team would recommend trying the Cheese Tteokbeokki when visiting this restaurant.
Our Rating: 8/10
Chicken Teriyaki Dosirak
Dosirak, akin to the Japanese Bento, refers to a Korean lunch box or packed meal that includes rice, various side dishes, and non-vegetarian items like chicken or seafood. The vegetarian version features paneer or vegetable-based dishes instead of non-vegetarian dishes. At Kia’s Cafe, we ordered the Chicken Teriyaki Dosirak, which came with rice, Chicken Teriyaki (served along with sauteed capsicum and bell peppers), and included five side dishes: Kimchi, Pajeon (green onion pancake), coleslaw salad (made from cabbage, red cabbage, carrot mixed with mayonnaise), sliced egg rolls, and sweet rice cake. While the side dishes were delicious, the Chicken Teriyaki was a bit too salty for our taste, which affected the overall enjoyment of our meal.
Our Rating: 7/10
Takeaway
With the surge in popularity of Korean culture among Indian youth, Korean cuisine is also gaining traction as people seek to satisfy their curiosity about the viral Korean dishes they come across on social media. Street vendors, cafes, and restaurants specializing in Korean cuisine are opening up more in various cities across the country. If you live in Delhi or Delhi-NCR, Kia’s Cafe, which is located in Lajpat Nagar, is worth paying a visit for its diverse menu featuring a variety of Korean dishes that you can choose from. The restaurant boasts a soothing ambience with aesthetic and decorative interiors that will make you feel comfortable.
The Korean dishes that were ordered by our team were satisfactory, though not exceptional. However, having tried various Korean dishes at different locations, we acknowledge that the preparation and taste of Korean food can vary by restaurant. It’s worth exploring this outlet to see if it suits your palate. We definitely plan to return to Kia’s Cafe to try more of their offerings!
Embrace the irresistible charm of Korean cuisine and discover why it continues to captivate food enthusiasts worldwide! Share your love for K-food in the comments below—we’re eager to hear about your favorite dishes.
Lovely article with nice explanation. Would love to visit this lovely place very soon and try my favorite Korean cuisines. it will be fun to experience the cute ambiance of this café.
would love to try next time when i go Delhi next time
I am hungry now. The food looks so good.
Planning a visit to this Cafe soon😋
Our next destination to try korean treats 😋
Amazing 😍😍
Wow…. Tasty menu… Here
Excited 😊
This article itself made me drool over the food, would love to go to this place soon. For my personal favourite k – food is hotdog/ corndog.
I really want to visit 💜
going to visit real soon😍
Looks like an amazing place with good food and pretty ambience.
It gives a home like vibe to me with homemade Korean food ❤️🤭
Beautiful place 🥳💕
I’ve visited the place! Loved the food there!
This place is near my college😭…would visit very soon
Wahhb
😲 wow
Wow😍
Sigh….another one added to the list😇🖖
Wow😍
Wow the food looks amazing😌
Will try out soon😎
Ohhh woww…..
Great
😋 soo good
Every detail is so thoughtful and cute, I can’t stop smiling
With a diverse menu and aesthetic interiors, it’s a great spot for Korean food lovers. Worth visiting if you’re curious about Korean dishes!
will try out someday
I’m getting hungry now after reading this article 😭
Wow the food here sounds delicious, especially the Cheese Tteokbeokki! I’m definitely adding this place to my Delhi food bucket list 😋
Gonna try this place soon!
I have never tried korean food.but I think this is my chance to go.will sure visit this. Amazing place soon
Cheese Tteokbokki looks so tempting! I really want to try it soon
All the dishes are mouthwatering and article not just focused on non vegetarian dishes but also highlighted the vegetarian dishes of the restaurant as most of population of india is vegetarian included me I love to try korean food and now I really suggest my friend this cafe as it not just have good food varieties but also have a very good ambience attracting every k pop lover.
This review made me want to visit Kia’s Cafe right away! The ambience sounds so cozy and perfect for K-pop fans, and the dishes like Cheese Tteokbeokki and Stir-Fried Chicken Kimbap look absolutely delicious. It’s amazing to see more Korean restaurants opening in Delhi—can’t wait to try this place and enjoy some good food with my favorite K-pop songs playing in the background! 🍱
This place looks so cozy and fun — pastel walls, K-pop playing, and all those BTS/BLACKPINK posters definitely caught my eye. The stir-fried chicken kimbap sounded so good (8/10 from the review!) and the cheese tteokbokki seems like a must-try. The chicken teriyaki dosirak however being a bit salty was good to know. I’m excited to check it out with friends.
Thsi article is very informative. I would really love to visit this cafe and try mouth watery foods like cheee tteokbokki, kimbap
This review captured the vibe of KIAS Cafe so well — warm interiors, inviting menu, and that balance of Korean taste with Indian comfort. It’s nice to see how Korean cafés abroad try to maintain authenticity while making the experience accessible. Makes me feel like a little slice of Korea is possible even here. I’d love to go there someday, especially on a cozy rainy evening with some hot Korean tea or coffee.
Such a lovely and detailed review! You captured both the vibe of Kia’s Café and the flavors of each dish so well. The honest ratings and descriptions make it easy to know what to try first. The ambience sounds especially inviting—now I’m tempted to visit Lajpat Nagar just for this!
This place looks so cozy and fun! The stir-fried chicken kimbap and cheese tteokbokki sound amazing, and it’s great to know the chicken teriyaki dosirak is a bit salty. Can’t wait to visit with friends soon
The cafe gives a nice, calm and aesthetic vibes. And with good korean food. Would love try korean food here.
“The fact that they have BTS and Blackpink posters AND let you request songs is a huge win for me! 💜 It sounds like the perfect place to hang out and fan-girl over some Chicken Kimbap. Thanks for the recommendation, Hallyuism! Can’t wait to visit. 🫰”