For a city where restauranters seem to invest more in décor than on their chef, Everest Villa doesn’t even pretend to care what it looks like (well, they are renovating the outdoor seating, so I may have to eat my words in a few weeks time). They focus on delivering delicious Korean food and that’s what keeps me coming back – even if they leave something to be desired in terms of hygiene ; ) My first memory is from sixth grade summer when a few girlfriends and I were home on vacation and went to Karaoke there. I’ve been a regular since!

Anyway, it’s an old place. The tables, windows, walls are pretty much caked in dirt, but as soon as the waiter starts flooding your table with the goodies you can’t even begin to care.

The best order would be the Bulgogi – you can get strips of marinated chicken, beef or pork. And you can opt to have the waiter bring it cooked or sizzle it on your own stove-top dinner table yourself. Obviously, the latter is way more fun. It’s only about Rs.500 for the meat and I think about ten little (and I mean very little) “side” dishes. There’s a miniscule portion of ten so as tiny as they are there are many. Plus a hearty portion of soup and rice – the seaweed being my favourite!

The multiple side dishes include good old Korean kimchii, cucumber kimchii, beans, spring onions, tofu, potatoe-pancake, raddish, spinach alongside some chilli jam, lettuce and chopped garlic and green chilli. What you’re meant to do is smear the lettuce with chilli jam, dip the sizzling Bulgogi from the stove in the sesame oil and Korean salt, place the meat on the lettuce, put one or two types of kimchi, garlic green chilli, fold it and voila – stuff your face! I often think it closely resembles the South Asian paan, only there is no peecheeeking attached to this.

The Bulgogi is always a hit and for some Rs.500, it easily feeds two people and is a good value meal (since they serve the kimchiis immediately you don’t need to order starters either). Well, maybe you should get the Kimbaps (Korean “sushi”) because are done really we here.

If the Bulgogi sounds too heavy then you can opt for Bibimbap – something like Korean Fried Rice, but of an altogether different level. You could get the Jabchhe – clear fried noodles (I’d suggest with beef, that’s the tastiest).

Despite all the Korean eateries mushrooming across the Valley and having visiting a few, Everest Villa still remains my favorite – the food is so good I have no choice but to forgive the hygiene and slow-ish service! This place gets a 5/5 ; )

Visit our business page for Everest Villa/Shangri-La Restaurant @
http://www.parakhi.com/business/Shangri-la-Restaurant

Since Valley Foodie can’t cook and hates to clean up after creating havoc in the kitchen while frying  eggs in place of a “real meal” the only option she has is to explore and to eat. You may think such an individual could not provide solid food reviews, but really, it’s the opposite (because she watches Master Chef). Anyway, who says the way to a man’s stomach alone is through food?