Along with the ‘K-pop’, ‘K-drama’, there is another ‘K’ thing, which is becoming a rage with the Indian youth—Kimchi. This Korean speciality made of fermented and pickled vegetables— is now acquiring a new independent identity of its own in the foodscape of the millennium city — Gurugram.

This spicy starter or a side dish is now available in most Korean restaurants in Gurugram—for sale.

Most of these restaurants store authentic kimchi, which is not just served as a complimentary starter to customers, but they have started selling this popular side dish by the kilo.

Also read: East Asian grocery stores and restaurants mushroom in Gurugram as the number of expats rises

Pick up a kilo of kimchi in a jar for just Rs 1000. Demand for khimchi is not confined among the Koreans who live in Gurugram. Many Indians—especially the Gen Z – have also become regular with this ‘k’ thing.

“The Kimchi tastes as good as what I have had in Seoul, there is no difference,” a senior executive working with a South Korean multinational told India Narrative. The executive said that a decade ago, he had been to Seoul on an assignment. “I was asked by one of my colleagues to get a jar of kimchi from there. Today, the story has changed as the khimchi available here at multiple outlets is authentic.

Multiple Korean restaurants have come up—Bibimbab, Midam Korean, Chungdam are just among the many.

The foodscape in Gurugram truly presents an international picture with mushrooming Japanese and Korean restaurants. These restaurants cater to the thousands of expatriates living in Delhi and the national capital region. But as the country’s youth gets caught up with Korean culture and language, the demand for Korean food and kimchi has also seen a dramatic rise. 

Also read: India-South Korea observe International Friendship Day, promise to deepen ties

Besides, restaurants, Southeast and East Asian grocers have also multiplied across the cosmopolitan Gurugram.

It is not just ease of doing business, but ease of living for the expats is one area which the authorities are now focusing on.

Insiders said that the government aims to make living conditions for expatriates as comfortable as possible. “This includes the softer side as well, which means the expats should get a feel of home so that they are comfortable bringing their families along,” an official source said.