AUTHENTIC ORIENTAL - Yum Chi - Review

Yum Chi Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato


YUM CHI, VIJAY NAGAR

New Delhi is a cauldron of cultures. It has been influenced by every immigrant family that has stepped foot into this great city. And one such culture is the Chinese and Tibetan culture. The food has been greatly influenced by the same and one of their classics has taken over the city by storm by the name "Momo". And somewhere along the line, the authentic Chinese cuisine has been lost. The Delhi-Street-Chinese has taken us to chilli potato, chilli chaap, chowmein, spring rolls and away from the Thukpa, Dimsums and Kotheys. But one restaurant in Vijay Nagar near North Campus of the University of Delhi aims to get people the real taste of the orient.


AMBIENCE

Yum Chi in Vijay Nagar transports you to the hills of Tibet and the decor is subtle and calming. The flags waving across the roof, the wooden flooring and tables to match the beautiful lights running across the restaurant make for a beautiful setting. The service is friendly and the servers always have a smile on their face. They're always there to help and at the end I felt like befriending him and calling him to my Ladies' Sangeet. For Real.


The vibe inside Yum Chi will calm you down to you soul. If I ever met the Dalai Lama, this is how it would have felt like. I WAS ABOUT TO OBTAIN MOKSHA. IT WAS SO CALM. LOOK AT THIS PHOTO AND REJOICE THE BEAUTY THAT IS YUM CHI.


THE FOOD

I am no expert on authentic Chinese cuisine, but when you print the words "Authentic Chinese" on your menus and napkins, I don't expect the same old Chilli Potatoes. And that is exactly what Yum Chi did not do! It did not try to elevate the same old street food to restaurant quality. It raised the roof and introduced my palate to traditional flavours.

THE DRINKS

The drinks at any cafe-cum-restaurant in North Campus on Hudson Lane has to have shakes and the place didn't disappoint! It had on offer a variety of beverages to choose from. But I chose the ones that looked the most unorthodox.
  • Paan Bahar Shake: A brilliantly fresh and vibrant drink. Served on top of a Pan-ka-patta and topped off with one too, the drink shows off the paan flavour brilliantly! A perfect way to start the meal.
  • Berry Cookie Shake: A refreshing contrast beverage with the tang of the berries and the smoothness of the cookies.
  • Imli Ka Boota: Nostalgia in a glass. Remember those Rs. 5 packets of Imli you got from a street vendor? Imagine someone made a way to serve it up as a carbonated drink. THIS IS IT!



THE APPETISERS
  • Chicken Dimsums: The sight of opening that wooden steamer to reveal bright orange pucks of chicken is amazing. The dimsums are wrapped in an orange covering rather than the boring pale one. The chicken filling holds its shape and is tasty in itself. HOWEVER, they also serve a number of dipping sauces along with the dimsums! Ranging from mayonnaise to green chilli to black bean and more!

  • Spring Rolls: The proper way to do the fried rolls of vegetables. Brilliant upgrade to the streets!

  • Singapore Wok Fried Chicken: Probably the dish of the day for me. The chilli on the chicken was smooth. As smooth as a baby's bottom. The chicken was cooked well and I could have easily finished the entire plate on my own. BUT DAMN SHARING.

  • Golden Sand Prawns: Now, I don't know if it is just me, or a lot of you out there who hates prawns. These meaty little suckers make me nauseated every time I bite into them. The smell of prawns is just wrong. SO WRONG. However, Yum Chi made those relatively easy to eat.

THE MAINS

  • Five Spice Chicken: Massive chunks of chicken in a perfectly spiced and warm gravy.

  • Thai Red Curry: A classic oriental curry with a coconut oil base. The curry was smooth and went well with Fried Rice.

  • Ema Datshi: Probably the one dish that really gives Yum Chi the credibility it deserves. Ema Datshi is the National Dish of Bhutan and was something I've never had before. It is a cheese and pepper based gravy and is served with a Tingmo, a steamed bun. Now, when you eat the Ema Datshi you'd easily mistake it with liquid pizza. HOW? YOU JUST WILL. DON'T ASK ME HOW. The flavours are so homely and so familiar yet so different! It is a dish worth trying!


THE DESSERT
  • Death by chocolate: A classic in its own right, the DBC was a chocolate truffle cake served with vanilla ice cream. One petty little detail I'd like to point is that due to the two contrasting temperatures being kept so close together, the dish lost out on its immediate appeal. The two items on the plate normalised the temperature of each other.


THE VERDICT

In conclusion, Yum Chi is a beautiful solace. It transports you to a beautiful little place in the Himalayas with food to make up for it. The traditional flavours are refreshing and offer something that cannot be found on the streets of Delhi. For those looking for a change in environment with some good food and drinks, THIS IS THE PLACE!







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