Delhi’s Ikigai Cafe: A Culinary Delight

Delhi’s Delightful Weather and Ikigai Cafe Experience

Delhi’s weather is treating us to some amazing days. We’re saying goodbye to the chilly winter and hello to the breezy spring and summer ahead. February in Delhi still has a wintery feel, but the chill is easing up, making it the perfect time to explore the city. Recently, I visited Ikigai in Defence Colony, a charming cafe that’s part of the Delhi Heights group.

A Cosy Ambiance and a Creative Menu

Ikigai has a small, inviting space with a sophisticated South Delhi vibe. It’s the kind of place where you can relax and enjoy [[good food]] and drinks. Their menu is cleverly designed, offering popular dishes with a unique twist. It’s not your typical trendy cafe fare. As soon as we sat down, they brought some complimentary snacks: three types of bread with creamy butter, and a delicious mix of banana, cassava, and sweet potato chips—a perfect way to start our culinary journey.

Refreshing Cocktails at Ikigai

Ikigai’s cocktail menu is packed with exciting choices. We sampled the Pornstar Martini—a delightful mix of vanilla-infused vodka, passion fruit, lime juice, and sparkling wine. Then, there’s the As You Fly, a refreshing concoction of yuzu and edamame puree with vodka, lime, and mint, offering a sour taste with a creamy texture. My personal favorite was the Smoke Break, a bourbon whiskey drink served with a jar of cherry wood smoke and topped with dark chocolate on ice. It was simply amazing!

Experimental Dishes to Delight Your Taste Buds

No cafe visit is complete without trying their salads! Ikigai’s salads have creative names like “Earth,” “Sky,” “Water,” and “Air.” We went for the SKY salad – a warm yet refreshing mix of pulled duck, dehydrated orange, kiwi, and muscatel grape dressing. The flavors were amazing!

Being a sushi lover, I had to try the Sake Dragon Sushi. This delicious bite combined truffled cream cheese, cucumber, ponzu sauce, and shrimp. It was a perfect blend of tastes and textures. They also have a Tex-Mex pizza—an interesting combination of Mexican toppings like guacamole, cream cheese, veggies, and biscuits on a pizza base. It’s an adventurous choice, but definitely worth a try if you like experimenting with flavors. The Jackfruit Skewer, a spicy jackfruit appetizer served with cooling tzatziki and pomegranate pearls, was another standout dish. For our main course, we ordered the Fire Cracker Chicken. Served with sticky rice, this spicy chicken dish was unexpectedly delicious, enhanced by fresh lemon juice and vegetables.

Sweet Endings to a Wonderful Meal

We ended our culinary adventure with the Hot Chocolate Souffle, topped with cinnamon sugar and raspberry. While the taste was good, the presentation was truly lovely. Finally, we indulged in the Pista La Vista Affogato Sundae—a delightful mix of chopped pistachio and vanilla gelato, freshly brewed espresso, and whipped cream. It was the perfect combination of coffee and ice cream for a grand finale. If you are in Delhi, I highly recommend a visit to this fabulous cafe!

Where to Find This Culinary Gem:

IKIGAI, D-4, Defence Colony, New Delhi, Delhi 110024

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