Esha Mufeez
For those looking for Korean food, an exciting culinary experience awaits in the busy streets of Karachi – a city known to bring forth various flavour fusions from all around the world. In 2022, we saw hotpot taking the city by storm which helped popularise the concept of live cooking and it inadvertently paved the way for Korean BBQ – a common way of having BBQ in Korea where the grills are built into the dining table itself. As with hotpot, you cook food yourself at the table based on your preferences.
While the hotpot places slowly welcomed Korean BBQ into their menu, what no one could have foreseen was how the cuisine would also be embraced by local street food vendors, kiosks, breakfast joints and even ice cream shops in Karachi.
To discover Korean food in Karachi, Esha spent time talking to the owners of two food places and also a food blogger who highlights various ramen recipes with Korean ingredients.
Place 1: Soul Spice
Soul Spice
Soul Spice, a restaurant in Clifton Block 4, has gotten increasing attention for its Korean food inspired menu – consisting of things you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the city. The recipes are created by Mariam Fatima, a 18 year old who runs the restaurant with her mother.
The restaurant has a homely vibe and also offers a pet friendly environment. Their specialty dish, a delicious corn dog (chicken or beef stuffed with cheese and skewered on sticks topped with in-house sauces) for just 550 rupees, is the buzz of the town. One of their appetisers: the crispy fire enoki mushrooms have become their most unique offering. The enoki mushrooms are deep-fried and topped with Gochujang sauce.
“If someone copies this recipe, I’d know I have made it!”, says Mariam, who is currently also studying to be a chef.
They also serve a Korean Ramen Bowl (flavorful broth with chicken, egg, tofu, mushroom, and spring onions mixed with kimchi with sesame seeds on top) and have Korean BBQ and Hot Pot.
Dong Bunsik
Dong Bunsik is an eatery that is run by a husband-wife duo from Korea. Due to its proximity to Iqra University, the place has become a popular dining destination among students. Not only is the menu pocket-friendly, but you also get to experience a unique dining setting that Sara and her husband, the owners have designed themselves.
While discussing her journey to bring the flavors of Korea to Karachi, she revealed that her husband is a tourist and would often visit Pakistan. It convinced them to open an authentic Korean restaurant in Karachi. Her menu has purposefully been kept reasonable so the students can afford it and still enjoy the food.
Dak Gangjeong (Gochujang and chili sauce-marinated chicken breast pieces), priced at 1100 rupees, Dalgona Iced Coffee (whipped coffee and milk with chocolate syrup), for 500 rupees, and newly introduced Tteokbokki (Rice cakes mixed in a sweet-spicy sauce and topped with red pepper and green scallions) available in 1000 rupees are among her menu`s most well-liked delicacies.
The Noodle Gal
K-dramas and K-pop have encouraged many people to try Korean cuisine. Aisha, a young food blogger, was also similarly inspired. Her page is a genuine gold mine of all things ramen-related, complete with plenty of delectable and affordable recipes that even include exquisite Korean side dishes. A quick look at Aisha’s Instagram profile uncovers many delicious noodle recipes that can satisfy anyone’s appetite.
Not only are her recipes delectable and easy, but they’re also budget-friendly, meaning that almost every ingredient is available on your kitchen shelf. She uses instant noodles and a combination of veggies and sauces in her recipes. Aisha believes that adding Korean ingredients is the key to taking any ramen dish to the next level. One of the most liked recipes is Dan Dan’s noodle bowl.
Social media has played a huge role in popularising Korean recipes and the ethos of Korean cafes. The South Korean food company Samyang Foods created the fiery Buldak Hot instant noodle, which went viral and gained popularity as a social media challenge.
It also helps that people in Karachi already have a knack for using spices in their food. Gochujang paste, kimchi, and ramen are now commonly found in most stores, while corn dogs are a mainstay of Karachi’s food streets. As it develops and thrives in this dynamic metropolis, Korean food stands as a testament to the unifying strength of food, where flavors transcend boundaries and cultural engagement occurs one taste at a time.
What has your experience been with discovering Korean food in Karachi? Let us know in the comments.
