Yin Yang Bistro — Restaurant in Pune

With a number of patrons on the lookout for restaurants offering close to authentic regional cuisine from around the globe, there has been an increase in cafes and bistros which offer this kind of fare. Yin Yang Bistro is one such place in Pune.

The place is located in Kothrud area, and is on the main Karvenagar road (Happy Colony), which makes it easy to locate. We struggled a bit to find decent parking here though.

As you enter, you are greeted by a friendly staff, and a decor which tries to emulate a restaurant in Chinatown. There was no hassle for getting a table as the place was less crowded for lunch time on a weekday.

The menu here is reasonably varied - a good selection of starters ranging from sushi to baos, dim sums, soups etc.; main course with dishes from Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine, and few desserts to round off the meal. We started with the Crispy Chicken Kasto (Katso?) Baos. The presentation of this dish was as expected - steamed buns stuffed with crispy fried chicken and served with fish crackers on the side. The taste wasn't as punchy as I was hoping for it to be. The fried chicken was crispy and tender, but seemed pretty bland to taste. The bao itself didn't seem freshly made since it was slightly more chewy. I would skip this starter for my next meal here. For the main course, we ordered the Burmese Khao Suey, and chicken claypot rice with Gaeng Phed (Thai red curry) and Exotic Vietnamese Yellow curry. Khao Suey was good - creamy coconut based curry sauce with stir fried veggies and noodles. This came with a side of optional garnishes like fried garlic and onions, chopped green onions, crushed peanuts etc. The claypot rice was served very differently than the authentic version. This dish came with a rice bowl and curry in a separate pot. Ideally, it should have been layered inside a single pot, and cooked over flame or burning coals. This creates the famous crispy rice that sticks to the bottom of the pot, which is typically the highlight of this dish. We missed that here. Having said that, both the curries were very flavourful and the rice was cooked well. The red curry was spicy, with a mix of veggies and juicy chicken pieces. The Vietnamese Yellow curry had a distinct taste of lemongrass and was very mildly spiced - perfect for a sunny afternoon lunch.

All in all, the meal experience was a mix of great and not-so-good food. We also felt that the dishes were slightly overpriced. I enjoyed most part of the meal, and would visit again to try some other other dishes like Japanese Udon Noodles, Mie Goreng, Pad Thai and a few appetizers like Crispy Lotus Stem and assorted...

YIN YANG- is a Chinese Philosophical concept that illustrates opposing or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world- it may mean good and bad, light and dark, positive and negative, man and woman, north and south and a plethora of other things.

The interiors are interspersed with oriental props, umbrellas and art with nice looking furniture. The place sends out very inviting vibes and the fresh aroma of culinary delites waft from the kitchen and tickles your nostrils and sets your gastric juices craving already.

At the outset the place may look small and dingy but they have a treasure chest full of amazing, lip smacking grubs and delicacies. It would be increasingly difficult for any food expert to believe the fact that their kitchen in that much less plinth area can dish out so many oriental dishes, unless the chef has some kind of magic wand. You name it they have it!

Strikingly delicious was the Teriyaki Bao which reminded me of so many flavours sweet, savoury, yeasty, crunchy, soft. This dish is truly a masterpiece. I strongly recommend that you try it folks!

Crabmeat soup- clear soup with sweetcorn and crabmeat, served piping hot- awakens your inner being.

In drinks tried the V.mojito and blue lagoon, very old established drinks that has been time tested and tried- there is tremendous potential in this place for a nationwide concept expansion and Franchise- one day it will happen:- mark my words!

Uramaki- californian style salmon,tuna and crab uramaki rolls in sesame. Plated well, adorable, feast for the eyes and tummy.

In mains, went a little adventurous by ordering Vietnamese style fish. It is very exquisitely plated, white indian pomfret in a white gravy garnished and infused with lemongrass, garlic and dried chilli peppers. It is a visually spectacular salver that you don't wanna miss here. Combine it with a pot of Vietnamese fried rice and you have a delish combo on your palate.

Ever tried sweet dimsums? Well it exists and they serve it as a dessert special. Sweet, soft steamed dumplings filled with honey and grated copra(dried coconut). Must try!

No wonder in life good things come in petite packages and this place is a living proof of that!

Special thanx to Mr Chaitanya, the owner, who was kind hearted to invite me for a tasting session, Chefs Govind Pali and Mitra, and also Rohit...

If you enjoy authentic Asian dining experience, then you must check out Yin Yang Bistro located in Kothrud. This bistro serves a wide range of East and South East Asian cuisines, including some of the most delectable dishes that you must try.

Taste - 3.5/5 Ambiance - 3/5 Service - 3/5 Value for money - 3/5

Cuisines: Yin Yang Bistro is a melting pot of different Asian flavors, serving up some of the most delicious and authentic dishes from East and South East Asia. From Ramen and Sushi to Dimsums and curries, there's something for everyone at this bistro.

We tried:

Thai Wok Chicken (4/5):

This dish is a spicy and herb-infused treat, with pan-fried chicken tossed in spicy sriracha sauce, along with veggies like bell pepper, onion, and capsicum. The taste is simply amazing, and it is definitely worth a try.

Chicken Crystal Dimsum (3/5):

This visually appealing dish comes with a thin, almost transparent cover and a meatball inside. Although the taste was as lucrative as the presentation! It was just decent. the dish is served with three different dips, and the mustard dip is the best.

Burmese Khow Suey (4/5): This dish is a coconut-based yellow gravy that will satisfy all your cravings. It comes with condiments like fried garlic, onion, and peanuts, and the staff is courteous enough to recommend separate servings for each of you.

Ambiance and Prices: The ambiance at Yin Yang Bistro is cozy, decent but nothing fancy. The prices are a bit on the higher side, but the variety and taste make it worth a visit.

If you're looking for a dining experience that will take your taste buds on a journey through Asia, then Yin Yang Bistro is a good option

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