Warm Up to 2025 at Nanima Asian Kitchen
It’s important to start the year off right, and Nanima Asian Kitchen might just be the best place to do it with their delicious Asian food. Bring in the new year or kick off your Veganuary with some healthy, sustainable eating, then give yourself a pat on the back.
A Kemptown Gem
Perched on a corner in Kemptown, Nanima Asian Kitchen switches it up daily with an impressive selection of homemade soups, salads, curries, pastries, and more. Pop in for an excellent coffee or a homemade Indian spiced chai to warm you up, or stay a little longer to try one of the delightful home-style meals.
Many of the main meal options are vegan or vegetarian by default, and the non-veg options are equally enticing. Because the dishes change daily, you’ll be personally introduced to each one in depth, with the staff taking extra care to ensure you know all the details about the ingredients and how things are made. If you’re on a sustainability kick, Nanima Asian Kitchen has you covered too. Dishes are cooked in-house every morning and the kitchen prepares just enough to last the day (tip: chef Nicky’s most popular dishes – like the excellent laksa – tend to run out fast!)
Refreshing Drinks to Start
We began with an apple and mango juice and a peach iced tea, both freshly made just hours before our arrival. There is a great selection of other exciting drinks to choose from, but these were refreshing and sweet, a great way to wake up our palates.
Soul-Warming Soups and Asian Food
Daily changes to the menu mean you’ll get to try something new every time, and we were pleasantly surprised by a beetroot and roasted red pepper soup and a silky Thai tom kha.
All their soups are 100% vegan and 100% delicious. The beetroot and roasted red pepper soup was a beautiful bright red with threads of beetroot running through it. It was filling yet light—the generous portion could easily be enough to warm you up on a chilly winter’s day.
We also tried the tom kha, an aromatic coconut broth laced with coriander and a touch of chili. This was a perfect combination of mild flavours, and the baby mushrooms and wedges of tomato added some tasty textural components.
A Generous Spinach and Paneer Pastry
Along with the soups, we tried one of the pastries: a spinach and paneer pie. A little like a spanakopita, it was incredibly well-filled with a lovely bite to the pastry, a very satisfying side item to accompany the rest of the meal.
The filling was decadent—cheesy and nourishing without being overwhelming. A dressing made using vegan yoghurt and Nanima’s own homemade achar (a south asian condiment) topped it off, softening it slightly and giving it an even more sumptuous mouthfeel.
A Feast of Main Meals
With so many possible combinations for main meals, it took us a few moments to decide what to try from the fantastic spread before us.
We opted for a delicate warm Japanese salad paired with a base of mung bean noodles and bean sprouts, and an aloo chana curry on a bed of fragrant steamed coconut rice.
Japanese Salad with Mung Bean Noodles: The mung bean noodles coupled nicely with the salad, and although made with very healthy ingredients, it left us feeling sated. Edamame, shredded carrot, and cabbage provided the ideal crisp topping for the chewy noodles and crunchy beansprouts, and a few tofu puffs balanced the textures wonderfully.
Aloo Chana Curry with Coconut Rice: The aloo chana was comforting and hearty—something I often find myself craving at this time of year. The chef always makes one noodle and one rice option as a base for your main, and we were lucky enough to catch the steamed coconut rice. It was fluffy with a potent coconut aroma, mixing with the aloo chana evenly so there was a bit of both in each mouthful. The homemade achar complemented the curry superbly, bringing a little zest.
The Secret to Nanima’s Popularity
It’s no surprise that Nanima Asian Kitchen has a large number of loyal customers, whether they’re grabbing a quick snack or a full meal. Changing the Asian food menu means running the risk of customer disappointment when a favourite dish isn’t available, but more often than not, regulars are happy to be introduced to something new and delicious.
Sweet Spiced Chai
We decided to finish off with an Indian spiced chai—a milky brew tinted with warm spices and a touch of sweetness.
While there may be healthier options for an end-of-meal sweet treat, this is a nice way to hit that craving without reaching for a typical dessert (although they have some very appetising ones on offer!) The chai is made using the traditional method of brewing Indian spices, giving it an authentic flavour that’s hard to find elsewhere. The hint of sweetness gives a dessert-esque vibe, and in my view, it’s a lovely way to round things off.
Take a Taste of Nanima’s Asian Food Home
If, by the end of your visit, you’re not quite ready to part with Nanima Asian Kitchen & Cafe you’ll find jars of their spectacular Asian food such as sauces and oils for sale by the counter along with other mouthwatering treats to take them home.
Nanima Asian Kitchen is the perfect place to warm your soul and your belly this January.
