COVID lockdown has had an unexpected impact on our viewing habits – we are all fascinated by K Dramas on the OTT platform! Honestly, who can resist the temptation of Korean food after watching these mouth-watering scenes? The good news is that several restaurants have emerged recently to cater to our new discoveries about Korean cuisine. The latest addition to the list is Hanok, a restaurant that promises to bring authentic Korea to Hyderabad.
The name “Hanok” refers to a traditional Korean house with unique architecture, and the design of the restaurant is in line with this theme. The atmosphere of Hanok welcomes guests with a door reminiscent of traditional Seoul houses.
Following the success of Cravery Cafe, the promoter now launches Hanok keoolful Food in Filmnagar at a restaurant celebrating Korean cuisine.
Our rice at Hanok starts with chewy potato balls, silk tofu with stir-fried kimchi and Kimbap. The outstanding dish is the savory pancakes stuffed with soft vegetables and crispy outside, and the mushroom mandu dumplings, which runs contrary to the usual dumplings. My diners were amazed by the shrimp tempura and crispy squid. The vegetable biimbap was delicious, the rice was stuffed with stir-fried vegetables and the side was sprinkled with roasted vegetables (red chili sauce).
So, what inspired restaurant owner Priya Vasireddy to bring Korean food to Hyderabad? She said she visited Seoul. But, given Hyderabadis’ love for spices, will Hannock be loyal to authentic Korean cuisine? Priya admits: “We gave India a little twist and made it more attractive to the Hyderabadians.”
The menu was made after Priya and her partner visited Seoul and wrote down all the dishes they liked. After a lot of trial and error, the recipe was perfected and then handed over to the chef of the rest of the training team. By the way, Hanoke’s chef has extensive experience in cruising and serves global cuisine.
The dishes that Hanok must try include the Ramyun Bowl, which adds a sharp twist to the usual ramen, and the cheesy Tteok-Bokki, a favorite among K Drama fans. Although only three months old, Hanok has been popular with food lovers in Hyderabad, and even during the day, the place buzzes with people. “This place is packed on weekends,” Priya Beams.
All in all, Hannook seems to have done it right. The only thing missing is Soju, but there is a range of drinks to choose from, including Korean-style tea, iced coffee and silt.
