I have to admit to my love for Pan-Asian food. However, very few city restaurants make the cut when it comes to whipping up good Pan-Asian fare. Pa Pa Ya remains of the best. The restaurant recently completed 3 years and released a new menu too! I experienced it at Pa Pa Ya Palladium and still can’t get over how inventive it is!
For vegetarians, the Carrot, Truffle Cream Cheese Vegetarian Dim sum hits the right note. Among the non-vegetarian counterparts that ace it is the Prawn and Spinach Roll topped with XO Butter Sauce Dim sum. Other recommendations would be Cantonese Dumpling broth in its classical taste, Curry leaf and peppered Calamari, haricot vert, and Tenderloin Bulgogi – Korean style Stir-Fried Beef and the nuanced 1000 Chilies Chicken.
I chatted with the chef and was intrigued by the ‘Nigaki’, a take on classic Nigiri and Maki where the final sushi is a modern derivative of both. Dishes like charred American Corn, Avocado, Tanuki, Tobanjan Tare mayo are interesting and the Nigaki Sake and Boten Ebi tartare, Black Caviar served with Taraba Grilled ocean sticks, fresh jalapeno, Truffle and Tobanjan Tare mayo also get it right!
I was told that the idea behind the menu was to create a sense of playfulness and nostalgia, by adding some Pa Pa Ya magic to comfort foods and authentic flavors. And I have to say that along with delish flavours, the dishes are cutting-edge, include a lot of vegetarian options, are packed with ingenuity and pretty much tick all the right boxes.
Where: Pa Pa Ya
Palladium Mall, Level 3,
Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai
Contact: +918828031900
Note: The critic was invited by the restaurant but all the opinions expressed herewith are her own
