Khao, Suey

The khow suey spread comes with differently packed condiments

Not just another coconut-based curry, the success of khow suey lies in its delicate balance of flavours. It's usually a hit or miss, even with the same restaurant on different days. But our hunt for a good version stops at Suey, Ranu Singh's home delivery venture in Khar. Armed with family recipes - Singh's parents-in-law are Burmese - she says, "It is a staple in our home; we eat these dishes every day."

Although the menu is limited to khow suey and three salads, the portions are great. The large one (veg at Rs 1,200 and chicken at Rs 1,300) serves three. The small portion (veg at Rs 450 and chicken at Rs 550) is also filling. The dish comes with neatly packed condiments - minced garlic and green chilli, chilli oil, chilli flakes, fried onions, spring onion, crushed peanuts, coriander, lime, and crispy noodles. Assembling the dish at home is simple; you start with the noodles, add the gravy and top it off with the condiments given in the package, following Singh's instruction manual.

Khow suey bowl

While most restaurants are wont to make one curry and add vegetables or meat to it, it's evident that Singh cooks each dish separately. The chicken infuses the gravy, while the vegetarian counterpart is fragrant, flavourful and comes with carrots, broccoli, zucchini, and corn. The gravies, with a hint of spice and sweetness from the coconut milk, hold their own without the condiments. This isn't something we've seen with other khow sueys in the city where the toppings enhance the curry. Singh has nailed the balance of flavours. And a bonus? The noodles are freshly made.

Tofu salad

Suey offers three salads - glass noodle, tofu, and pomelo salads (all at Rs 550). The tofu one is a burst of flavours - fresh, garlicky and quite earthy with soft tofu. We had to give the pomelo salad a miss since the fruit isn't in season. If you're looking for khow suey on the go and want to ditch the elaborate set-up, opt for the glass noodle salad for the classic khow suey flavours in one container.

Ranu Singh

Launched by the homemaker in 2021, the enterprise has taken slow but steady steps to expand, keeping in mind safety and quality during the pandemic. It's evident in the packaging - the food is placed in a branded cardboard box with a handle, so it's neat and easy to carry. The contents of the dish come in spill-proof plastic containers (they are currently testing paper containers to make the shift to the greener side). The condiments are labelled, and the noodles have a ‘how to assemble or reheat' instruction sticker. We can picture this as a great gift, and Singh offers customisations of the dish as well as the packaging in that case, she tells us. Final verdict? This khow suey is one of the freshest we've eaten - light and clean on the palate while leaving you filled and satisfied.

Log on to: @khowsuey_ on Instagram
Call: 7208154277 (place orders 24 hours in advance)

Also check out

Busago: Play chef and tweak your khow suey with their in-house sauces.
Call: 9022887246
Cost: Rs 405 onwards

The Village Shop: If you're looking for organic ingredients and fresh flavours, this is it.
Call: 9870399498
Cost: Rs 525 onwards

Burma Burma: Choose from a variety of noodles - flat, udon, wheat, and hakka. They even have a dry khow suey.
Call: 7506061460
Cost: Rs 520