Tucked right above KUP Coffee Roasters in Nungambakkam the interiors of the newly opened Ba Da Bom feel like stepping into a Korean convenience store that has opened a kitchen. As we entered the place, we were welcomed by the frenzy pop music playing in the background. The walls in muted yet vibrant colours, the little corner with an arcade style video game, and the shelf with popular Korean beverages, juice cartons, and packets of snacks made the whole place feel like someone’s very cool living room.
We soon dived into the food. The Shake shake kimchi salad was the icebreaker for us. It arrived with a small paper bag and involved active participation from us in shaking. The more you shake, the more flavour it seems. But it was crispy nevertheless. The unfermented kimchi dressing coated napa cabbage, carrot, spring onion and cucumber without making it soggy.
We tried one of the crowd favourites, the Whipped mascarpone toast next. Featuring fried brioche, yuzu marmalade, roasted chilli oil, and refreshing cream, this was wiped off from the plate within minutes.
The Black pepper gochujang beef, which arrived next had that sweet spice and hot balance we wanted after the Whipped mascarpone toast. Wok-tossed with onions, scallions, and toasted sesame, it came with bok choy on the side. The glaze was even, not sticky sweet, with a nice kick to it that makes you go again.
We washed it down with South Koreas’s popular cream soda Milkis. We opted for the peach flavour, which was lighter and less sugary than expected.
The Bulgogi pork belly gave us barbecued pork belly in hot sauce, tucked inside the soft breads with chips on the side. The pork fillings being juicy and tender made the whole dish an enjoyable affair.
Meanwhile, the Goki guksu was the slurpy centrepiece. Knife-cut tapioca noodles in chicken broth with gochujang, fresh vegetables, pickled eggs and char siu pork belly, it was savoury, a little smoky, and very slurpable.
For dessert, The Brokendown choco pie gave us marshmallow fluff, chocolate cookies and vanilla bean ice cream. Messy in the best way.
Hot tip: With only dinner servings and limited seating, the place gets sold out quickly. Make sure to book your seats through reservation via their Instagram handle before going.
Meal for two: INR 2,000+ +. 7 pm to 11 pm. Closed on Mondays. At Ba Da Bom, Nungambakkam, Chennai.
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