Now that Mumbai is back into lockdown and eating out at restaurants is off the cards for a while, I am again on the lookout for good delivery kitchens in the city that provide tasty fare while maintaining impeccable hygiene standards. As we brace ourselves for a repeat of last year, I plan on ordering in comforting meals and digging into them while enjoying my favourite TV shows. One of my go-to cuisines to order in is Asian, however, given the current circumstances, I think finding healthier alternatives is crucial.
To my luck, I chanced upon Soba Asian Kitchen, a delivery spot that specializes in healthy yet delicious versions of Asian favorites we all know & love. Their menu features a combination of comfort foods and classis from China, Thailand and Korea.
I started things off with Activated Charcoal Prawn Dim Sum, a scrumptious prawn filling encased in wraps made with organic buckwheat flour and activated charcoal. The charcoal added a subtle earthly flavor while the use of buckwheat flour gave the dish an incredible lightness without compromising on that savory umami we so love. These Dimsums came with Soba’s special house-made sauces which were the perfect accompaniment.
Another appetizer I thoroughly enjoyed were the Chicken Lollipops in Siu Haau Sauce, which were essentially juicy chicken drumsticks coated in a sweet, sticky spicy sauce. This one’s a flavour explosion!
One of my favourite’s were the Tempura Prawns in Chilli Garlic Sauce. Despite being batter fried, these were incredibly light and airy. I highly recommend these if you’re looking for an indulgent treat that doesn’t leave you feeling guilty after you’ve finished. Next, I tucked into Korean BBQ Chicken Baos. The chicken was cooked to perfection in that it practically melted in my mouth, and the soft, fluffy Bao buns provided a great textural contrast.
For main course, I had the Blue Pea Burnt Chilli Garlic Rice. This is Soba’s version of the crowd favourite but with the addition of Blue Pea Flowers. Apart from giving the rice a beautiful blue colour, Blue Pea Flower has some amazing health benefits given that its rich in antioxidants. The occasional bite of crispy golden fried garlic was a delightful bonus.
If you’re a fiend for spicy noodles like me, then you have to give the Dan Dan noodles with Soya Kheema a try, especially if you’re looking for meatless options. What I loved about this was that it mimics the savory flavours of meat despite being meatless, and the tingly, tongue-numbing spice that is signature to Dan Dan noodles adds an aromatic kick. I will definitely be ordering this again.
Another one of my favourites was the Japanese Chicken Katsu Curry; a tender chicken cutlet coated in panko breadcrumbs and deep fried served with a thick, delicious Japanese Curry. This along with some warm rice is like a hug on a plate, and is great for those days on which you could use a pick-me-up.
Often, an Asian spread like this can get quite heavy, but even after a meal of four appetizers and three main courses, I was left feeling pleasantly satisfied rather than uncomfortably stuffed. In fact, I still had room for dessert. I finished things off with a Sesame Chocolate Cookie, which was just the right kind of sweet treat to end my meal.
I highly recommend this delivery kitchen, especially to those who are health conscious but still want to enjoy their favourite Asian delicacies.
Soba Asian Kitchen: A Healthier Option
