Ramen for the soul: Chef Niyati Rao’s monsoon ode at KMC with Nongshim

There’s a certain magic to Mumbai’s monsoon. The city slows just enough for you to look out the window, cancel plans, and crave something warm, spicy, and low-effort. And if you’re like most of us, that something is instant noodles. For chef Niyati Rao, too, the humble bowl of ramen has always been more than a midnight fix—it’s been a comfort blanket, a canvas for creativity, and now, the inspiration behind a full-fledged menu.

This monsoon, she teams up with cult Korean noodle brand Nongshim at her own KMC Bar and Bistro for a ramen-forward culinary drop that’s steeped in emotion, memory, and, of course, a whole lot of spice.

From 4 am fix to five-star fusion

Growing up, Niyati’s 4 am snack of choice was, after all, a steaming bowl of instant noodles, mixed up with whatever she could find in the kitchen. That spirit of spontaneous remixing now takes centre stage, as she reimagines five signature Nongshim ramen flavours into what we can tag as monsoon moodboards in a bowl.

Each dish in the lineup is personal, playful, and proof that instant noodles can absolutely be elevated. It's a surreal and full-circle moment to be sharing something so simple and special from her childhood in this way.

Five Bowls, one feeling – comfort

The limited-edition menu, available from July 18 at both of KMC’s locations—Fort and Pirojshanagar—is less about fine dining and more about fine feeling. Think crispy chicken katsu atop a bed of Shin Ramyun; silken Dan Dan noodles with peanut-sesame sauce and pork; or a luxe, monsoon-suited Toomba ramyun bowl with corn ribs and local Tomme de Bombai cheese shavings. There’s even a coconut shrimp bowl for those who like their rain with a side of fragrant, umami flavours.

For the truly bold ones with a knack for spice: the spicy wonton noodle bowl, where truffle cream-cheese dumplings dance with Nongshim’s super spicy noodles. Each dish manages to feel familiar but fresh, like your rainy-day craving grew up with you.

Ramen + toddy = Match made in monsoon

They say no comfort meal is complete without a good drink, and the team at KMC knows that. Alongside the noodle bowls, you’ll find three toddy cocktails, served hot or cold, designed to echo the city’s rainy rhythm. Earthy, rich, and aromatic, they’re the liquid equivalent of a warm blanket.

A tribute to collective cravings

Nongshim has always had a quiet cult following in India, but this collaboration does more than just tap into that. It celebrates the emotional real estate instant noodles occupy in our lives.

At the heart of it all is the idea that comfort food doesn’t have to be basic. Sometimes it’s slow-cooked pork. Sometimes it’s a packet of noodles with a twist. And sometimes, it’s just about slowing down and enjoying the rain with something warm in your hands.

Whether you're the kind of person who keeps three ramen flavours on hand at all times or someone discovering the magic of spicy noodles for the first time, this one’s worth slurping.

All images: Nikhil Vaidya 

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