Korea

House No. 158, National Highway 17, Poire Bhatt, Bypass Road, Near Verna Church, Verna, Goa 403722

Mob: 0 74101 20696

Meal for two: Approximately R2400 + taxes, with alcohol 

In the heart of Verna surrounded by lush paddy fields and the uninterrupted hinterlands nestled close to Udear Springs, Korea is the latest gastronomic offering from Amory Dsouza. A trained chef in the Art of the Orient, after the success of Yaki Zushi, Korea is a focus on all thing’s ‘K’. Enter the subtle and arresting vibrant décor which will almost immediately have you whip out your phone. Every spot is carefully curated and the floor is expansive with a beautiful play of colour. A teleportation to the visually perfect scenes of the famous K dramas that have captivated our lives on streaming channels. Chef Prakash Limbu at the helm has kept it as ‘glocal’ as one gets with a constant deliverance to flavour profiles.

A love affair for the gastronome in you, this place is meant to be slow and savoured with friends and family alike. Start off with a Korean dumpling soup in savoury broth − Manduguk. Whilst it can be had with meats or vegetables of your choice, the prawns are succulent and delicately balanced to marry the steadily-cooked broth in precision. The Beef Kimbap is a Korean twist on sushi with flavourful rice rolls filled with veggies, meats and more. The slivers are marinated well and the rolls themselves are artistic in visual deliverance. The famous Korean cheese corn dog is a fun option of Mozzarella cheese and mashed potato coated with batter and breadcrumbs deep-fried and served with mayonnaise and ketchup. It will warrant a try to see what the fuss is all about. It's youthful and definitely brings a smile to all who order it. Then, order a Samgyeopsal. This succulent Belgian pork belly is delicately crafted and barbecued at one’s table with a display of vibrant sides and sauces to choose from. An option of assorted vegetables is available as well. As the restaurant reaches crescendo, one can see the attentive staff in overdrive trying to give all their patrons a fun time. Gimmari is presented next. This Korean fried seaweed glass noodle roll has an unique and delightful blend of textures in every bite. Do however pace yourself and keep space for the Hot Pot. Presented in a community-styled dining setup, the Hemul Tang is a hearty seafood hot pot filled with a variety of seafood and vegetables in a rich wholesome broth. The portions are sizeable and sharing is advisable to enjoy the vastness of the balanced menu. For the herbivores, the Shoyu Veg Ramen is a delight for the eyes with exotic vegetables in a broth infused with garlic oil, soy, miso paste, sake, mirin & shoyu paste. This comes with special house-made thin noodles finished with spring onions and togarashi.

As one concludes a well-spent evening, make sure to try the Fluffy Japanese Cheesecake. This creation is a symphony with its lightness and texture, thus bringing an end to one’s heavenly gastronomic journey.