There’s something deeply comforting about the newly opened outlet of Pan-Asian diner, Haiku. Sans big bold dragons and crimson walls — which is a given at several Asian eateries in the city — this one has tried its best to avoid cliches. The blue walls, that owner Suma, says fades with time and the crockery handcrafted in Auroville, are aesthetically soothing. We were sincerely hoping that the dishes offered here would have the same quality as well.
This is Haiku’s second outlet in the city and it opened a few days ago at Ramky Grandiose for the residents of Gachibowli, who stay far away from their first one in Banjara Hills. They serve Japanese, Cambodian and Thai specials amongst others, and we couldn’t wait to try their authentic servings. Owner Suma promises, “They are apt for those who don’t want to be overwhelmed by strong taste.” As we started checking out the detailed interiors, seated on a quirky sofa picked up from a local market, the first starter arrived. Their Burmese Parcels, plated in a grey serving dish with white stripes, was packed with the wholesomeness of the bok choy, broccoli and served with a chilli sauce prepared in-house. These deep-fried wontons were crunchy.
We suggest that you dig in while it’s hot, as the crisp bits tend to get soggy sooner than expected. The moment we finished the parcels, we were ready to try the Teriyaki Tofu Maki from their sushi section. This tofu rolls, layered with Teriyaki mayo, made us think about the most underrated ingredient when it comes to sushi — tofu. We had tried various maki rolls with asparagus and shiitake mushrooms, but this one was a revelation. As we waited for our next dish to arrive, we realised how the décor is as fresh as the dishes served! The potted plants are so pretty that you can keep looking at them as you wait for your food.
The Hot Basil Pepper Silken Tofu with sautéed bell peppers, sprinkled with chopped basil and a glaze, was inviting but spicier than the other dishes, taking us by surprise. However, minutes before we reached the finale, we were back to exploring comfort findings from their menu. Their lightly pan-tossed Vegetable Chilli Cilantro Noodles was a delightful mix of subtle flavours, colourful veggies like bell pepper and red chillies. There was a degree of simplicity to this dish that completely won
us over.
Price for two: Rs 1,500 ++.
Photos: Sathya Keerthi