A healthy Asian fix

Activated charcoal prawn dim sum

Bandra resident Karan Gaba was all set to open a 35-seater Asian eatery last year in the suburb. The menu was almost curated, staff was hired, the interiors were designed, and they were ready to roll out in the first half of 2020, when life as we knew it changed. "Even in the initial days of the lockdown, I was hopeful that things would get better, but it kept worsening. Things were too uncertain to continue paying the rent for the place. Even when dine-in opened, due to the limited seating, among other reasons, we realised that going ahead with a cloud kitchen was better," shares Gaba about Soba, a Pali Hill-based Asian delivery kitchen that he launched in February with chef Travis Braganza.

Buckwheat chicken spring roll

In a city saturated with options for Asian food, Soba offers healthier alternatives, claims Gaba. "Asian food is the highest selling fare in the city. There's competition and a wide variety available, right from a roadside vendor to a wasabi. However, a lot of places offer food made with bottled sauces, or ingredients that aren't fresh; this ultimately adversely affects the body," he points out. The idea, he shares, was to bridge the health gap in the Asian food sector by going for diet-friendly swaps and premium quality ingredients. So, for instance, the menu boasts of dim sum made with organic buckwheat flour as opposed to maida, gluten-free noodles, quinoa-coated manchurian and schezwan sauce with the goodness of spinach, he explains.

Indonesian style satay chicken

This conscience-driven approach, we notice, spills over to the packaging of Soba's food too; brownie points for the neat, eco-friendly containers. We head for the all-black ?activated charcoal prawn dim sum (Rs 370) first and find the coating slightly stiff, although the stuffing is palatable; their in-house spinach schezwan sauce helps to enhance the spice quotient. The buckwheat chicken spring roll (Rs 310) is light, crispy and diet-friendly, while the Indonesian style satay chicken (Rs 340) is an absolute winner with a nutty peanut sauce and tender, smoky slices of poultry. Big thumbs-up to Soba for its VFM quantity; the dim sums come in plates of seven large pieces, and the appetizers are good for two to three diners. We wash all of this down with a refreshing and bubbly lavender lychee fizzle with popping boba (little balls made of tapioca starch) (Rs 220), perfect for the summer.

Japanese chicken katsu curry

Among the mains, the chicken moon fan rice (Rs 370) holds its own as a flavourful dish; go for it if you're looking for a quick WFH lunch. The turmeric and pandan steamed rice (Rs 290) boasts of a heady aroma, and pairs well with the green Thai curry (Rs 330). Our favourite find, though, is the Japanese chicken Katsu curry (Rs 490), a mix of sweet, salty and comforting; a bed of lightly tossed veggies adds a nice crunch.

Chocolate buckwheat brownie

We're surprised to work through so many items without feeling bloated or too full. So, to end on a sweet note, we settle for a nice and fudge-y gluten-free chocolate buckwheat brownie (Rs 290). But if you, like us, have space for more desserts or are just having one of those days, eat a cookie - more specifically, the mildly sweet chocolate sesame cookie (Rs 230) for a quick, guilt-free therapy.

At: TPS 3, Plot 340, 16th Road, Pali Hill, Bandra West.
Call: 9321435338
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