Food you will love
Given the growing fascination of the Korean culture among Nepalis it’s no surprise that Korean restaurants these days get a lot of visitors. If the aisles of supermarket stores packed with ramen and other instant Korean snacks are any indication, Korean food is the new ‘it’. Hangkook Sarang in Naxal, Kathmandu, is catering to this Korean food loving crowd and how
A short walk from Bhatbhateni in Naxal, Hangkook Sarang is tucked in a quiet alley away from the dust and the noise of the main streets.With its curved arches for rooftops, wood paneled interiors, and wooden frames on the wall, the restaurant itself is made to resemble a traditional Korean monastery. At the center is a working wooden wheel, modeled in the likeness of the standard water pumps in ancient Korea. The build is to emulate a typical Korean building and it is achieved with some remarkable success.
Chijman Gurung is the man behind the conceptualization of the restaurant. Gurung went to South Korea decades ago for foreign employment and fell in love with the country’s culture and especially the food. “What fascinated me was the balance in Korean food. They are quite the drinkers but they accompany their drinks with fresh greens, pickled radishes and other such natural digestives,” he explains. He believes that eating in this manner is so rooted in the Korean culture that the people themselves never realize the balance in their food.
Korean food also strongly makes use of spice so Gurung could see a possibility for Korean food in Nepal. So he opened the first Hangkook Sarang in Pokhara nearly a decade ago. Since then he has launched a chain in Biratnagar and Thamel, among other parts of Nepal. But the one in Naxal is separate and exists independently.
Hangkook Sarang directly translates to “one country love” and Gurung only hopes that his customers come to love the food as much as he does himself. The logo to Hangkook Sarang (designed by Gurung’s wife) is a reference to food culture, Buddhism and his perceived vision to unite people through good food.
The layout is designed to offer a choice for seating arrangements. From glass panels to outdoor seating arrangements and interiors completely done in wood, the feel is robust. Rather than fluorescent lights, the focus is on natural lighting and the first light isn’t lit until the sun sets. Each table is equipped with a center grill pan/stove that can be used to grill meat or heat broth. The menu too is similar to that of a typical restaurant and this, Gurung explains is so that Nepali people first develop a taste for Korean food. “There are some dishes that may be too strange for our palates so we’re going slow. We also have a new menu in the works where we’ve added a few specials,” he says.
Gurung himself leads the team in the kitchen. “None of our staffs are trained cooks but they learn from experience. Often he takes his staff to the restaurants run by native Koreans to develop a feel for the food. The side dishes change daily with the singular exception of yangbaechu kimchi (a staple for any kind of Korean food). From radish kimchi to grilled spinach, seasoned fried tofu, the sides are somehow little feasts on their own. The bar menu boasts a range of drinks. They have soju too, if one wishes to try that.
With a good ambience and soul food that it promises, Hangook Sarang is definitely a great stop for either a heavy lunch or dinner.
Avocado Smoothie
Price: Rs 300
Although not a part of the official menu, this smoothie can be specially requested for. The smoothie is essentially a blend of mashed avocados, honey, yoghurt and some milk. It’s a refreshing drink, one that feels dense, cool, and slightly sweet. The lightness and the frothiness of the drink is a welcome intrusion especially when you are washing down the spices and grease of Korean food. All in all, it’s a good drink to go along with your heavy lunch.
Shabu shabu salad
Price: Rs 300
Rapokki
Price: Rs 500
Maeuntang (Fish)
Price: Rs 1500
Oshan
Price: Rs 1500
Gamjatang
Price: Rs 900
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