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Andrew Park and Manager, K.U.C Kohima Neikhote Mekrisuh. (Morung Photo)
Experience ultimate Korean culture at Korean Uncle’s Café in Dimapur, Kohima
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | February 24
When Andrew Park first opened Korean Uncle’s Café or more popularly known as K.U.C in Dimapur 4 years ago, it was with the intention to create a small Korea here in Nagaland where people can come and not only eat Korean food but also experience the Korean culture. On January 13, 2020, he started the second K.U.C restaurant in Kohima, much to the delight of the many Korean food lovers in the state capital.
His first encounter with Nagaland began when his sister married a Chakhesang Naga and he had visited the state on and off. During this period, he observed that Naga people are very interested in Korean food and he himself being a foodie and an excellent cook, decided to create a space that is exclusively Korean beginning majorly with food and other Korean products that ranges from skincare and clothes.
The most common similarity in the food culture between Nagaland and Korea, he states is that both are spicy. “And we both have mongoloid features”, he adds. At the newly opened restaurant in Kohima, K.U.C offers a free Hanbok (a traditional Korean dress) experience, and this has gone down well with the customers even as they continue to take pictures dressed in Korean traditional wear in the photo booth, a space made available in a corner of the restaurant.
In the last few years of running K.U.C, he has singlehandedly taught Naga employees how to cook Korean food wherein he also excitedly states, “some employees are also learning Korean language.” He currently employs 6 young people in Dimapur and 8 in Kohima. Earlier, he was teaching Korean language in Dimapur, which he plans to take it forward in the days to come.
But it wasn’t without challenges that he has efficiently managed to run the two restaurants. One of them, he says is, “Koreans are very hard working people” while Nagas tend to be more laid back and with no experienced people when it comes to Korean food, he had to teach the young Naga employees how to provide the best Korean experience for the customers here in Nagaland.
Overall, he however adds, “I am very happy, meeting good people here. At K.U.C, the connection between the customers and me itself is a relationship that we build.”
When asked how the name of the restaurant came about, he simply states that ‘the word ‘Uncle’ itself can build a good relation’, which, he hopes can better the relation between Nagas and Koreans, and further acknowledges his wife, who suggested naming the restaurant as “Korean Uncle’s Café”.
Andrew Park is a father of two children and doesn’t quite mind leaving behind his family back in Korea just to share with Nagaland, Korean food as well as Korean culture. He frequently sources some ingredients from Korea to give customers the true experience of Korean food and also visits his family once or twice a year.
The Manager of K.U.C Kohima, Neikhote Mekrisuh expresses that “Korean food is healthy as well as hygienic. They are very open and friendly, and also very hardworking, which is why as a Naga, sometimes we find it hard to catch up” but he is clearly excited to part of an international brand. “It’s not only about the business and building my career, but also to learn the Korean culture”, he further puts across.
Neikhote Mekrisuh has 10 years of experience in the hospitality sector and has previously worked in Mumbai for 7 years and later in Dimapur in a food unit. He considers it a good opportunity joining the K.U.C as the Manager.
The menu of K.U.C Kohima ranges from 22 different items apart from beverages and so far, the most popular item has been “Dosirak” meaning ‘Lunch Pack’ and includes Gimbap, Tonkatus, Nakjibbokeun, Kimchi, Salad and Miyeokeguk. K.U.C Kohima is located at the SBI (PBB) Building, New Secretariat Road and is open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm six days a week from Monday to Saturday.
