Jaipur’s food scene is ever expanding. From vegan cafes and fine dining restaurants, Pink City’s food landscape is undergoing change every fortnight. So much so that every time I return, I hear friends and relatives talking about a new place in town that I must check out. Being someone fond of pan-Asian cooking, I am always on the lookout for restaurants that serve the cuisine in my city. If you are visiting Jaipur and want to check out the best pan-Asian dishes that the city has to offer, here’s a list.
The Lama
As a local, if I had to recommend my favourite restaurant in Jaipur, to someone (barring the cuisine), it has to be Lama. Located in the heart of the city, the eatery is housed in the same building as On The House, one of Pink City’s most loved cafes.
There is nothing on Lama’s menu that counts as a miss. Some highlights from the menu and things I order without even reading through it include their asparagus tempura sushi ( I have never eaten sushi that matches the one served here), the chilli garlic noodles, the newly-introduced chilli cheese dumplings or the most loved crystal dumplings, vegetable thupka, and red Thai curry with sticky rice. I would consider it sinful to leave without trying the cheesecakes that you could order from OTH’s menu (while dining at Lama, you can pick dishes from the menu served at OTH).
If you are in the mood for something else on the menu that isn’t mentioned on my list, just order! Nothing served on your table will leave you disappointed.
Address: E 145, Ramesh Marg, Durgadas Colony, C Scheme, Jaipur
Price for two: INR 1,200
Tao Asian Kitchen
The second on my list for pan-Asian food is the Tao Asian Kitchen that is arguably the only restaurant in the city that offers an omakase section on their menu where the chef would decide the delicacies they wish to serve you as a part of a 7-course meal.
Some other highlights from their menu include the Japanese nori and tom yum soup from the soup section (which is quite popular among diners), the shiitake mushroom ramen, spicy garlic ramen meal. Their crispy mushroom uramaki, spicy cream cheese, carrot, and cucumber rolls, and Tao California roll are must-try from the sushi section. If, like me, you find yourself confused about the sushi you want to pick, go for their sushi platter that allows you to eat bits of everything.
I enjoy their smoked cheese and spinach dumplings. As someone who isnt a tofu fan, I quite like their tofu drenched in Thai peanut sauce. Some other highlights include, spicy edamame with pod, edamame truffle bao (the pan-fried trio pepper cheese bao is yum too), Gochujang rice, and classic pad Thai noodles.
Two desserts that I am told you must try at Tao include their darsaan and panko banana. I usually go for a safer option and order the warm melting chocolate cake.
Address: Plot 10 & 11, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur
Price for two: INR 2,500
Nouba
Another restaurant that has been doing the rounds in the Pink City is Nouba. While it offers dishes from across cuisines, their pan-Asian section is well spoken about. And rightfully so!
Some highlights from the menu that you shouldn’t miss on your visit include their spicy tofu roll, smoked salmon nigiri, chicken bao, Shanghai dumpling, and miso yasai ramen bowl. From the mains, don’t miss their Burmese khow suey, Asian vegetables in hot garlic sauce, Thai green curry prawns, and chilli coriander fish. I am told that they are one of the very few restaurants in the city that serves great sea food. Their mee goreng drunken noodles are two other dishes that are quite talked about.
Nouba also offers Mughlai delicacies including kebabs and tikkas. You could alternate your pan-Asian cravings with their laal maas or mutton seekh kebab if you want to mix it up and try the best from both cuisines. Desserts are decent too. They do a good job with their tiramisu and honey darshan.
Address: C 54 A, 3rd Floor, Ashok Nagar, Agarwal Sanjiv and Company, Saileela Sarojini Marg, C Scheme, Jaipur
Price for two: INR 3,000
The Sushi Company
With two outposts in the city, Sushi Company is a must-try if you are a sushi-lover in Jaipur. The eatery does pizza and pasta well but sushi takes up most part of their menu (as the name justifies) and you must try them.
I mostly enjoy their uramaki-style sushi. Asparagus tempura tops my list followed by crunchy mushroom, avocado tempura, and crunchy tofu. Along with offering you a sushi platter, they also allow you to prepare your own sushi with preferred toppings. From the maki sushi section, the classic California roll is good but do try their sushi on fire and mango sushi if it is available and you dine in summer. Their red Thai curry is the best I have had in the city after Lama. Khao pad which are Thai-style fried rice is an interesting preparation and something you should look out for if you want to try something new.
If I had to recommend a dessert, then it would be their berry blast pancakes.
Address: Quarter 2, Sardar Patel Marg, C Scheme, Jaipur
Price for two: INR 2,000
Silk Route
While they have temporarily shut services, I thought that the round up would be incomplete without a mention of the Silk Route— an Asian kitchen where you can expect to love everything that arrives on your table. Keep an eye out for their reopening date if you are visiting the Pink City anytime soon (I am told that they are starting operations by late August).
Some absolute must-tries from the menu include, their spicy Korean fried wonton, Vietnamese pickle roll, udon noodles, Thai basil rice, their entire dumpling section particularly the Philly cheese dumpling (they are out of the world), and their enoki mushroom tempura.
Address: 5, Kamal Mansion, MI Road, Jaipur
Price for two: INR 1,500
