Kung Pao Kitchen — Restaurant in Hyderabad

Introduction: A Unique Culinary Journey Our evening began with a fascinating conversation with the owner of Kung Pao Kitchen, a man whose journey into the culinary world is as inspiring as it is unconventional. After a successful, decades-long career in the corporate world, working with top IT giants, he decided to follow his true passion for food. His first venture, Lassi Shop, which focuses on serving delicious, refreshing lassis, was a resounding success. But he didn’t stop there. With his deep interest in food and the culinary arts, he soon expanded into the world of fine dining, launching Kung Pao Kitchen in Chikkadpally. His vision was clear: to offer a refined dining experience that celebrates the bold, flavorful tastes of Chinese cuisine, with a focus on authenticity and quality. This story of reinvention, driven by passion and a thirst for creativity, set the stage for what promised to be an exciting evening for us, a group of passionate food enthusiasts.

The Tasting Experience: A Symphony of Flavors As we gathered around the elegantly set table, we were ready for an evening that promised both exquisite food and enriching conversation. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the dishes we were served:

Soups Chicken Manchow Soup The Chicken Manchow Soup was the perfect starter to warm up our palates. It arrived piping hot, with a rich, aromatic broth that was both spicy and savory. The texture of the finely shredded chicken was complemented by the crunch of fried noodles that crowned the soup. The delicate balance of heat, tanginess, and deep umami notes made this soup a comforting yet zesty beginning to our meal. Veg Thai Soup The Veg Thai Soup, on the other hand, was a fragrant, vibrant bowl of flavors. The coconut milk base provided a creamy, soothing texture, while the lemongrass, lime leaves, and kaffir lime imparted a delightful freshness. The soup was perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of spice, making it a delightful contrast to the heavier, meaty chicken soup.

Vegetarian Starters Crispy Babycorn The Crispy Babycorn was a standout vegetarian starter. The babycorn was deep-fried to a golden perfection, crispy on the outside, yet tender on the inside. Tossed in a mildly spicy, slightly sweet sauce, it was the perfect balance of crunch and flavor. This dish was a hit at the table, with everyone eagerly reaching for a second serving. Dragon Paneer The Dragon Paneer was an absolute delight, with the paneer cubes marinated and tossed in a fiery, bold sauce that packed a punch. The smokiness from the wok-fried paneer was harmonized by the sauce’s sweetness and spice, creating a complex flavor profile that delighted every sense. Spring Rolls The Spring Rolls were crisp and perfectly golden. Stuffed with a mixture of finely chopped vegetables, the rolls had a satisfying crunch with every bite. Paired with a tangy, slightly spicy dipping sauce, these spring rolls were a comforting, familiar dish elevated by their quality and freshness.

Non-Vegetarian Starters Prawns in Oyster Sauce The Prawns in Oyster Sauce was a beautifully executed dish. The prawns were tender and juicy, soaking up the umami-packed oyster sauce. The sauce had a deep richness, with a perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness, making the prawns a delicious and indulgent starter. Chilli Garlic Fish The Chilli Garlic Fish was a wonderfully aromatic dish, where the fish fillets were cooked to a delicate perfection. The garlic was fragrant without overpowering the delicate fish, and the chili provided the right amount of heat. The dish was well-balanced, and the fish retained its softness, making each bite a joy. Spring Chicken The Spring Chicken was perfectly seasoned and grilled to a crispy finish on the outside while remaining juicy inside. Served with a side of dipping sauces, it offered a well-rounded flavor experience—smoky, savory, and with just the right amount of seasoning. It was a satisfying dish that spoke to the chef’s mastery of grilling.

Main Course...

Me and my group wanted to try some new Chinese place, and we happened to randomly come across a few reviews at Google, and decided to give it a try! Dayumm, I am so glad that we did.

The place is cozy and the ambience is very comfortable. The staff and the service is great, the food was served to us within 10 minutes of ordering, which actually is super fast compared to everywhere else that I have been.

We ordered :

1.CHICKEN HOI SEAN SOUP - Rich and Thick! Make sure to drink it as soon as you can, cause it tastes the best when hot.

2.CHICKEN MANCHOW SOUP - The crispy garnishes and the right kind of sourness got me all drooling over this one.

3.PRAWNS IN OYSTER SAUCE - Before trying this one make it a point to make sure that you are not allergic to Oyster sauce. This was actually so so so good, we had ordered another serving of it.

4.CHILLI GARLIC FISH- If when you slice into the fish tenders and find it glistening, the fish has been cooked right and is not dry inside. Try this with this dish, it's cooked perfectly.

5.TENDER CHILLI CHICKEN- The sauces and the coating is so rich, you will actually lick your fingers after having this one.

6.KP SPL BASKET NOODLES - Basket Noodles where my personal favourite, they had the right amount of flavours, nothing over powering and the crispy and fresh basket of noodles have it an altogether very refreshing feel.

7.MIX THAI NOODLES- It surprisingly had a very authentic Thai taste, like as if we got it right from the streets of ThaiLand, no extra soy sauce or garlic! Just perfect!

8.SEVEN JEWELS RICE- This one left me thinking what were the seven jewels in it, honestly I would leave it to you discover it.

9.DICED CHICKEN- If like some gravy with your noodles and fried rice etc, you have to order this one. It goes by complimenting really beautifully.

10.KP SPL FRIED ICE CREAM - one dig into this amazing ice cream, and I was lost. Just have it as soon as it arrives.

Overall, I give it a 4 star rating, and a heads-up to everyone who wishes to...

Assalamualaikum / Helloos A few of us foodies were invited on Saturday afternoon for the menu tasting at #kungpaokitchen . As there are many shops, offices and colleges in the surrounding areas, it is the perfect place for having lunch or dinner. What we had :- SOUPS :- Thai veg soup - this was thick and filled with a lot of vegetables , tasted good. Chicken Manchow Soup - one bite and it was wow!! With a little bite of spice , the soup was amazing and had lots of small chicken pieces, not shredded. Perfectly made. STARTERS:-Vegetarian options were the Crispy baby corn, Dragon Paneer, Spring rolls The crispy baby corn and Dragon Paneer were delicious, the spring rolls didn't impress me as it was quite regular!! Non vegetarian options were Prawns in Oyster sauce, Chilli garlic Fish, Spring Chicken. The prawns and fish were amazing and so crispy, flaky and tangy. The spring chicken needs improvement though. MAIN COURSE :- Vegetarian options were The 7 jewels rice, Paneer Thai green curry, Basket noodles. Each item was good, filled with a lot of veggies. The Thai curry needs a bit of tweaking. Non-vegetarian options were Egg fried rice, Ginger chicken, Basket noodles. Overall the star of the day were the 7 jewels rice and the egg fried rice. The basket noodles were quite good too with a crisp outer basket filled with veggies and chicken till the brim. DESSERT was fried Ice cream with a drizzle of chocolate sauce on top and was totally out of this world!! Loved all the dishes presented to us, some excelled while some had room for improvement but nothing was bad. We presented our observations, ideas and advice to the owner Shadab Khan who ardently listened as well as noted down all that we were suggesting. Thank you Shadab Sir, for having us over and explaining each and every dish in detail to us. Wishing you and your team the very best for a...