Food from the depths of the heart and the ocean
Looking for a place to enjoy some delicious seafood and Asian cuisine? Check out Ko Ko Kai , a
new Pan-Asian restaurant at Kokapet. The catchy name means “heart and ocean” in Thai,
which reflects the restaurant’s philosophy of serving food from the heart and food from the
ocean. The restaurant has a calming and relaxing ambience, with fun pictures of Koko, the cat,
brand mascot, enjoying a meal. The décor is soothing and elegant, with pastel colors and potted
plants. The light mint green walls are quite a departure from the darker shades of green, red,
and black with gold accents that dominate the interiors of most restaurants serving South Asian
food. Their cocktail bar will soon offer Asian-inspired cocktails. I had a chance to try some of
their mocktails and dishes, and here are my impressions.
For drinks, we ordered the Eastern Spice, a refreshing mocktail made with green apple and
cinnamon. It was a perfect balance of sweet and sour, with a hint of warmth from the spice. The
other noteworthy mocktail, an acquired taste, was the Melon Oasis made with fermented milk,
Yakult and fresh watermelon. We followed this up with an Avocado, Plum and Pine Nut Salad
with a Greek yogurt dressing. This was stellar, as was the Chicken Tom Kha soup with
delicately balanced flavors and a great consistency.
For starters, we tried the Singaporean Creamy Chilli Prawns and the Chicken Shaggy Roll. The
prawns were succulent and coated with a creamy sauce that had a mild kick of chilli. Machinga
Chicken Dumplings topped with a spicy sauce were lip-smacking and vanished in a trice. The
Chicken Shaggy Roll was a crispy fried roll stuffed with minced chicken and cheese served with
a tangy dip and salad.
For the main course, we opted for the sushi and the Hot Stone Bowl. Khar Mi Uramaki, a
vegetarian sushi had grapefruit segments on top that mimicked salmon flakes. It was a clever
twist on the traditional sushi, and the grapefruit added a burst of freshness and acidity. The Hot
Stone Bowl is one of the best sellers here and offers a choice of rice or noodles, protein, and
sauce. We ordered jasmine rice topped with chicken and teriyaki sauce. The rice was allowed to
cook further in the residual heat of the hot stone bowl to lightly crisp it up for texture.
The desserts were a fitting finale to the lovely meal. We loved cracking open the chocolate shell
to get to the firmly set mousse and Nutella in the Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse; a must try. For
icecream fans, there is Mochi Ice-cream in seasonal flavors; we tried the prettily plated
Strawberry Mochi Ice-cream. The unhurried vibe at Ko Ko Kai made it an enjoyable meal.
Meal for two: Rs 1,800
4th floor, Kokapet Terminal, Gandipet Main Road, Above Bata Showroom
Tel: 89775 25562
Timings: 12 pm to 3 pm and 7 pm to 11:30 pm
