Last week, we visited the newly launched Nasi & Me in Velachery, where the restaurant has introduced a limited-time Korean street-food menu called The Korean Edit. The special menu offers Chennai diners a taste of the vibrant street-food culture of Korea along with distinctive Southeast Asian offerings of nasi and mee.
Chef Sadesh Babu walked us through the menu explaining the intricacies of each dish. Inspired, we started with Jaejin-mandu (Korean steamed dumplings) and Yangnyeom chicken wings. The Mandu offered a balanced flavor of ginger, garlic, minced chicken and glass noodles, while the Chicken Wings were a flavor explosion – sweet, spicy, salty and umami, with gochujang being the dominant spice. “We aerate the wings by adding soda to the flour for dipping the wings before frying, giving them a light, crispy texture,” the chef explains.
Jajin Mandu Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Next, we tried gimbap, Korean rice rolls, and pajeon (savory pancakes). The chef says, “Korean cuisine uses soy sauce and sesame oil in almost all dishes, and their pancakes are made from a mixture of flour flour, potato starch, green onion, a mixture of spices, sesame oil and here in our menu we have included shrimp to please the seafood lovers.” Although the pancake is very soft, when we pair it with the accompanying dipping sauce, it elevates to another level. Gimbap consists of cooked, marinated and fried fillings, a stark contrast to Japanese sushi, where the ingredients are often raw. The spicy, nutty sesame flavor, along with strips of minced chicken, carrots, spinach and egg, served with spicy soy-sesame dip, steals the thunder. Korean cuisine also encourages diners to adjust flavors with sauces, creating a personalized eating experience.
The interior was a visual delight with exposed rafters and cane light fixtures. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
For the main course, we skipped the ramen and tried the bibimbap, which literally means “mixed rice.” Served with mixed vegetables—carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, and cucumber—chicken, and a sunny-side-up egg, the dish was packed with flavor. Each bite offered a harmonious blend of sweet, salty, nutty and spicy notes, revealing why bibimbap is one of Korea’s most beloved dishes.
gimbap | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
For dessert, the menu offered Passion Fruit Panna Cotta, a creamy Italian dessert with a tropical twist. The tart passion fruit complements the smooth richness of the panna cotta, giving the food a refreshing flavor.
The interior was a visual delight with exposed rafters and cane light fixtures. A touch of whimsy is added by the charming centerpiece mural, which depicts village animals – a stork enjoying sushi, a buffalo wearing a chef’s hat – mixing fantasy with cultural elements. The Korean Edit menu is complemented by the distinctive Southeast Asian dishes of Nasi and Mee, giving diners the best of both culinary worlds.
Paigeon | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
@Nasi and Me, Velachery. From 12 noon to 11 pm. For reservations, call: 95914 14947
