Nov 14: The Delhi counterpart of Kofuku Mumbai specializing in Japanese and Korean dishes at lesser prices but with no lessening of quality is a new go-to restaurant for Delhi gourmets who can find here authentic food in a relaxed ambience with excellent service, writes our guest writer Aruna Chawla who feels the restaurant would draw bigger crowds if the shabby Ansal Plaza were improved and when the beverage list is pumped up
For a city that is slowly, but surely, learning how to romance pan-Asian cuisines, Kofuku is in here for the long run. The Delhi baby of it’s Mumbai counterpart, Kofuku specializes in Japanese and Korean dishes. Envisioned by Chef James Biaka, who also manages the Mumbai outlet in Bandra, since its opening in 2011, Kofuku Delhi is a relatively new addition to the city’s list of Japanese restaurants.
Located at Ansal Plaza, the 68-seater restaurant (including 20 seats outside) is heavy on an Indian-friendly Japanese aesthetic. While they have the regular table-chair setting for diners (both inside and outside the restaurant),one can experience a truly authentic Japanese way of dining in their ‘tatami’ booths. Tatami booths are private areas with low to ground tables with holes underneath for feet. At Kofuku, you can choose to either sit regularly, like you’d sit on a chair, since they have space underneath the table, or you could sit cross-legged. Either way, each of these booths give you privacy, and can seat 5-6 patrons at a time! The tatami style of sitting cross legged is actually quite common in various cultures, even though the names are different. Sitting cross-legged while eating, helps put a slight pressure on your stomach so you don’t end up overeating. The booths themselves have graffiti paintings consistent with the ambience.
The menu itself is pretty expansive, and caters to both the authentic Japanese palate and the Indian palate just starting to experiment with the cuisine. Although not an expert (but definitely a huge fan) of Japanese cuisine, seeing a number of Japanese and Korean expats fill up the restaurant on an early Monday afternoon makes me believe they are, in fact, as good as it gets. Kofuku means Happiness in Japanese, and they are truly serving Happiness at Kofuku.
Rajinder Budhiraja, partner at the Delhi outlet says the restaurant is already very popular with the Japanese, Korean and expats. About 30% of the clients are Japanese and Koreans each with the rest split equally between expats and Indians. He explains that the restaurant has been getting popular with non Indian through word of mouth because of the food authenticity. The restaurant does ramp up the spices for the Indian customers if they so desire. For instance, their wasabi is authentic but the super spicy wasabi version is not, but so hot that they ought to take a release form signed by he customer and serve in a red small bowls.
Kofuku Delhi has a wide variety for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, making sure that no one is left out. We tried Super Crunchy and Oh My God! Maki, Ebi Tempura, Meat Bulgogi, Buta No Shogayaki, Black Cod in Miso, and Jampong. The Oh My God! Maki literally makes you go “oh my god!” because of how spicy it is. It’s a chef’s special and I definitely recommend a try. Buta No Shogayaki is comfort food at it’s best: very sublime flavours, wonderfully cooked pork that melts in your mouth, and the whole dish leaving you with a feel good experience. The Black Cod in Miso was actually the first time I tired black cod at all, so I don’t know what to compare it with. It was really good, but I don’t think it’d be my first choice of food if I see it on a menu. However, for black cod lovers, Kofuku’s presentation and quality of the dish is definitely a deal-maker, and you should try it and let me know if my assessment is correct (or not!).
They also have a bento box option that is available during lunch for Rs. 600+ and is also available for delivery. If the dishes I tried are a standard to go by, I’m betting the bento box would be good, affordable option!
Their drinks menu for now is limited to a select few wines, cocktails and sake (rice wine). However, Ankur Sahni, the Restaurant Manager says they are working to expand their sake collection to be the biggest in the city and he is also revamping the wine list.
The service in itself is thoughtfully planned. Each table and private booth has a call button that you can use to call the server, ask for the check or ask for water. No more prying eyes hovering over your head while you try to relish your food! The server we got was attentive and well-spoken.
The only major problem I find with the restaurant is it’s location in Ansal Plaza, Khel Gaon Marg, a Mall whose condition is only deteriorating due to the ignorance or apathy of its management. This requires Kofuku to make sure to convert customers into loyalists who’d brave even the shabby mall for the wonderful food they serve. Once their list of wines is complete, I might just be one of them!
Aruna Chawla
Aruna is a 5 th year Law Student, who is bitten by the wine bug and plans to pursue wine as a vocation after finishing her degree in a few months . She works with the F&B industry by providing consultancy on wines with a special focus on the millennial generation. She’s also coming up with her own blog on wines, millennials, marketing ( focusing on the Indian audience) and any combination thereof.
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