Sick of all the Indianised Chinese? Ajung’s in Tangra (the other China Town) serves authentic Chinese food — Shangong, Pakchoy and Cuptai included!
Ajung’s (that’s what it’s commonly called since the restaurant doesn’t even have a signboard or a name – everyone simply refers to it by the name of its owner, Ajung) is the hidden gem of hidden gems in Tangra. Located on 147, Tangra Road (don’t bother Googling it), you won’t find it on any website or app. This is the place all the members of the Chinese community themselves go when they’re not in the mood to cook. It takes a little bit of an effort to get there but we promise it’ll be worth it. Take a right just before you reach Kim Fa (just ahead of the temple) and follow the path. The car will only be able to make it to a certain point after which you’ll have to get off and walk about 250 metres. It’s not recommended for those who find it difficult to walk.
On a Sunday afternoon, you’ll find young people from the Chinese community hanging out over a pile of yam noodles. Hamchoy, pakchoy, shangkong, cuptai (a traditional soup made with offcuts of meat) are some of their specialities that you don’t get commonly in the city. We highly recommend the wontons – fried momos topped with crunchy, fresh winter veggies (cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms and greens) and the steaming prawns which taste super smoky. No Chinese meal is complete without a plate of chilli chicken. And honestly, this is the best chilli chicken you’ll eat in the city. Lemony, spicy, tangy and perfectly crispy, you won’t find it difficult to polish off the bowl. Ajung’s hand-make their own noodles from scratch. Besides the yam noodles, you can also try the brown chow (a slightly sweet chow caramelised to give it a brown colour, a favourite with the kids) and the traditional actual Hakka noodles (tastes quite different to the ones you’re used to eating).