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    Food Review: Cocochan - An Authentic Pan-Asian Experience

    Written by: Sundus Sinkler
    Posted on: March 18, 2019 | | 中文

    Cocochan Restaurant

    Amongst the hustle and bustle of the busy Tipu Sultan Road of Karachi, Cocochan Restaurant is an excellent addition to the diverse array of cuisines that the city has to offer. If you’re looking for an authentic Pan-Asian experience, you should head to Cocochan. Although you have to face heavy traffic to reach the restaurant, the food is worth the wait; from the layout of the restaurant to the service, our overall experience was extraordinarily good.

    Cocochan offers a generous seating capacity and a warm ambience. The restaurant, with wooden accents on its ceiling, has a beautiful and spacious interior design. The menu comprises of Sushi, Thai and Mandarin cuisine, and one prominent aspect of all the dishes is that the seafood is undoubtedly fresh, since many Karachiites complain that very few eateries consistently use fresh seafood.

    Although the lengthy menu made it difficult to select the dishes, we started off with Sushi Rolls. Being a fan of California Rolls, I was delighted to see the Crispy California Rolls on offer, and ordered them right away. This turned out to be a great choice, as the Sushi was not only very fresh but the addition of the crispy crumbs on top (which I had never heard of before) along with the soy sauce dip, made a perfect combination. I would highly recommend this to everyone, especially those who will be trying sushi for the first time! This 8-piece dish costs Rs. 1,190, but will not disappoint.

    Crispy California Rolls

    Crispy California Rolls

    Another type of Sushi Roll we decided to try was the Spicy Tempura Maki. These rolls offered a unique combination of prawns, jalapenos and cream cheese, which turned out to be an absolute treat for our taste buds. The mild kick of the jalapenos took this dish to another level, and when dipped in the soy sauce mix, the combination was tantalizing and is also highly recommended! The cost of the dish is Rs. 1,140.

    The next item we picked from the menu was the Wok Fried Prawns tossed in a Signature Spicy Sauce. Priced at Rs. 940, this dish was another hit. The big, juicy prawns were served in spicy gravy that complimented the authentic flavors of the prawns. With a decent serving size, paired with a side of vegetable fried rice, this dish could easily become a family favorite.

    Wok Fried Prawns

    Wok Fried Prawns

    From the Rice and Noodles section of the menu, we ordered Chicken Chowmein. This dish was served with a cracker on top. Priced at Rs. 590, there was nothing remarkable about the Chowmein.

    Chicken Chowmein

    Chicken Chowmein

    For beverages, we ordered the Mint Sparkler (Mint Lemonade), which served as the perfect beverage to compliment an excellent meal.

    Overall, we felt that Cocochan far exceeded our expectations in terms of food, as well as service. Not only was our food served within 20 minutes of being ordered, the staff made sure to take our feedback. The restaurant proved that at least within Karachi, they simply excel at serving delicious Pan-Asian cuisine.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021