[Rating:2.5/5]
We visited the Asia Kitchen a few days back for lunch. I must say they’re trying and will get there eventually, but not just yet.
The decor is minimalistic and nice, but doesn’t quite suit the name. ‘Asia Kitchen’ tends to suggest a place that exudes warmth or perhaps sophistication. The current decor seems to have left things half way, kind of half done. They also really need a decent speaker system.
We received a warm welcome and were quickly shown to our tables, where our orders were taken in a jiffy. I was pleasantly surprised to see the restaurant nearly full up for lunch on a Friday. Given their fairly remote location, that is quite a feat. Full marks so far. The service was polite and pleasant and the serving staff were attentive, as long as they were at our table. Out of sight, out of mind seems to be the service theme.
We ordered Mushroom Wontons and Vegetable spring rolls for starters, Dal Tadka, Shahi Paneer, Murg Mussallam and vegetable Jal Frezi with Naans for the main courses and assorted ice creams for dessert. I also ordered one portion each of House Noodles and Double Fried Pork for myself.
The food took a while coming, which was alright considering the crowd dining and since we were 18 people, the slight delay was quite acceptable. When the food arrived, nearly all the bowls were very sloppily filled. Smudges of curry, dal or vegetables adorned the outside of practically every serving dish. Some were served with the servers fingers inside the bowl. Taking particular note of the Murg Mussallam, which was a chicken curry and nowhere near the painstakingly prepared original, the food was quite ordinary and doesn’t merit a detailed review.
The House Noodles were under flavoured, slightly burnt from sticking to the wok and quite a mess really. The Double Fried Pork tasted very good and would have been the star of the meal if it hadn’t been for the inferior cuts of meat used where most of each piece was fat.
All in all, the dining experience was average. Should you visit? No, unless you’re in the vicinity and famished.
- Sid
PS: The picture is a stock photo and was *not* taken at the Asia Kitchen.
Update 3rd August 2009: We received good service. The Indian food was fine. The Chinese however, still has a little way to go before it can be rated acceptable. We ordered Sweet and Sour Pork, Chicken Hakka Noodles, Kadhai Paneer and Plain Naan. The noodles tasted fine, but were shredded into little more than 1 inch noodlets. The pork meat was cooked well, but the dish was overwhelmingly sweet and had a very distinct vinegary tang to it. I say stick to the Indian.
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Hey Sid,
Vah! Kya blog hai bhai. Just amazing. I drifted over here after googling “Sid khullar” following your review trail at different websites including foodiebay (which by the way is an amazingly comprehensive website). I must say-your writing is very enjoyable, filled with wit and amazingly descriptive words that just paint the food in my mind. I think you should call up the Hindustan TImes and tell them to fire Mr. Sanghvi; He has really declined over the years. You would be the perfect replacement. I live far from home so reading about good restaurants help me budget my time well when I come to New Delhi. There was a dearth of fine websites/blogs like yours JUST four years ago, and finding places to spend well earned moolah was a rat race, as word-of-mouth is as reliable as an American car-that is to say-unpredictable. I just wanted to ask you a favor, nay ask for some much needed advice! What do you think, in your opinion, is the best place to eat:
Kulfi-especially the matka kind
Chole Bature
Butter Chicken
Paneer Tikka
IndoChinese food
Chinese Food
Ice Cream
In and around New Delhi (I mean including Noida, Old Delhi, Gurgaon)
I would REALLY appreciate your help in compiling some sort of a mega list that I can depend on when I crave these nostalgic mainstays of my childhood. Thank you so much,
Kumar
Hello Kumar – thank you for your kind comments. Here’s my list of places for the food you mention:
Kulfi – no idea, sorry – don’t eat much sweet stuff
Chole Bature – Haldirams
Butter Chicken – Moti Mahal, Shipra Mall, NOIDA
Paneer Tikka – Moti Mahal, Shipra Mall, NOIDA
IndoChinese & Chinese – Mandarin Trail, Great India Place, NOIDA
Ice Cream – Nirulas
Perhaps you could start a list on this site – I’ll make a provision – let me know if that’s something you would like.
Sid
Hi Sid
Well, I was looking for a review for the Asia Kitchen, before I thought of going to the place, and here it is. Also, it confirms my fears of kind of food they have. Though I haven’t been there so far, I heard from people similar things that you mentioned. Moreover, you mentioned ‘Mandarian Trail’ as a good place for Chinese. I’ve been there twice, and didn’t find it any better than all of those ‘punjabi-chinese’ joints, though teh decor is nice, and the service attentive.
Looking forward to more such reviews.
Amit
@Amit: Thank you for visiting. *Real* Chinese places are quite scarce in Delhi. Yes, Mandarin Trail does serve popular Chinese food and I believe it is one of the few doing an overall good job.
Hi Sid
You mentioned u’ve been to Jalandhar. Could you tell me what other restaurants/ dhabas you’ve been to there? I wanted your opinion on some of them, especially ‘Lucky Dhaba’.
@Amit: I don’t have very great food memories of Jallandhar. I do however recall this little joint/dhaba opposite the Radisson which served these stuffed naans with gravy that were quite good!
Oh! You’re talking about La Tandoori.. Well, that place was once known all over Punjab for their tandoori chicken, keema naan and chicken curry. But now it has drastically gone down, and is more of a ‘chalta’ joint. But still, the keema stuffed naan’s are quite okay.
Hi Sid , i read your review of Asia kitchen . I dont agree to your views at all . I along with friends are regular visitors to this joint. Their food is awesome specially starters , chinese dishes are the best we get in noida . This is the only restaurant my parents also enjoy going .