If Korean cuisine tickles your taste buds, there’s a hidden gem that should be on your radar. Tucked away in New Market and run by a Korean couple — Mr and Mrs Kim — Seoul Eemo is just perfect for hunger pangs after a long day of shopping. The term ‘Seoul Eemo’ loosely means ‘Aunty from Seoul’ and the culinary force behind the humble stall is Mrs Kim, who with the support of her husband, is expanding their food business in Kolkata.

The couple, who migrated to the city about 12 years ago from Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and have been married for 25 years, not only found a home in Kolkata but are now proud owners of three food establishments. Their cafe, Cafe Tov, and a restaurant named Seoul Korean Restaurant, both located in Ajoy Nagar, are loved by locals. The third is Seoul Eemo, which has just turned one month old.

Tucked away on the footpath a few steps from Scoop, Seoul Eemo offers a cosy spot to enjoy authentic Korean cuisine. Currently, their menu features three items — one vegetarian dish and two chicken items.

Mrs Kim prepares the dishes herself — from marination and prepping the sauces to often frying them for her customers

Tukbokki Tangsooyook, is a vegetarian dish of deep-fried rice cakes bathed in a sweet sauce. The hint of salt in the batter complements the sticky rice’s texture, while the sweet sauce has a mildly spicy kick. Chicken Dakgangjeong is the most popular item on the crispy menu. It is a deep-fried chicken item, served with a sweet-tangy sauce. For those who prefer milder flavours, Chicken Tangsuyuk, served with a honey-based sweet sauce and a drizzle of white sesame seeds, is a great choice. All three items come at a price of Rs 150.

The sauces, batters and marinades for rice cake, chicken and fries

These recipes are Mrs Kim’s heirlooms, carefully tweaked to add her unique touch. “I keep trying out new recipes,” she shared. Be it the honey-based sauce for Chicken Tangsuyuk or the sauce for the other two dishes, Mrs Kim adds her special touch with secret ingredients. The Kims are also considering expanding the food cart’s menu, as space permits, in the future.

A young foodie couple, who stopped by for a quick bite after some shopping

Ankit and Smriti, a young couple exploring New Market for shopping, sampled Korean cuisine for the first time with Seoul Eemo’s Chicken Dakgangjeong. “We liked the dish and liked how it was both sweet and spicy,” they shared.