PorKen Deli is for porkivores. It's a home-based business in Dehiwala that does some of the most delectable pork-based dishes we've had to date.
The Food
It's pork cooked in different ways – curries, bites and ribs, but they've got a few chicken and veg-based dishes too. Their portions are served in 2-person (small), 4-person (medium) and 8-person (large) quantities.
We opted for the Black Pork Curry (Rs. 900 for Small), Red Pork Curry (Rs. 900 for Small) and Devilled Chicken (Rs. 650 for Small), accompanied with Parippu (dhal) Curry – Pol Sambol combo (Rs. 400 for Small) and Poranu Roast Paan (Rs. 200, serves 4).
The Black Pork Curry was top-notch. It's probably the best Black Pork Curry we've had. Every piece of this succulent pork was lavished with dark roast curry powder, a dash of ground goraka (Malabar tamarind), garlic, ginger and other spices – creating that unique black curry flavour and texture. The handful of rampe (Pandan) and karapincha (Curry leaves) worked its magic to make it an aromatic affair.
Boneless and with a very little amount of fatty cuts, the meat itself was soft, wonderfully cooked through, and deliciously juicy.
The Red Pork Curry had more oily pieces than the Black Pork Curry, but that didn't hold us back from indulging it. Oozing out with a lovely lemongrass-y hint, it was hot, and savouries up anything you'd choose to pair with it. The gravy itself has a spicy kick to it too, along with a little bit of oiliness drawn from the pork. Fantastic!
Anything devilled has never floated my boat to be honest, unless I make it at home, so I can adjust its sauce content as I like. But PorKen Deli's take on Devilled Chicken really hits my sweet spot. Sweet and spicy, with just the right amount of sauce to boot, the chunks of chicken were slightly tough from the outside, while the inside was all soft and juicy.
This flavour was spread throughout the pieces of capsicum and bell pepper in the mix too, so not an ounce of this did not go to waste.
And here's the dynamite trio – parippu curry, pol sambol and roast paan! Milky and infused with a good dose of spices, there was a lot of curry taste in the parippu. The pol sambol was absolutely relishing too. Spicy with a tinge of sourness running through, the whiff of umbalakada (Maldivian fish) in the fray made it irresistible.
The roast paan was of good quality and tasted fresh. There was a nice crunch to its outside, a spongy middle and one of these can easily fill up an adult.
Altogether, it's a dance of flavours!
How To Order
Easy peasy! DM them through their social media pages – Facebook/Instagram and place the order. Their delivery covers a wide area – Colombo 03 – 08, Mount Lavinia, Dehiwala, Battaramulla, Nawala, Nugegoda, Kohuwala, Pepiliyana, Boralesgamuwa, Maharagama, Delkanda, Narahenpita and Thimbirigasyaya.
And if there are special cases with large orders, they're willing to deliver beyond their usual limit too. As for our order (to Nugegoda), the delivery fee was only Rs. 200.
Conclusion
PorKen Deli can make anything delicious, not just pork or other meats. They seem to use high-quality ingredients to craft up these goodies, and it's totally worth every rupee you pay for it. Plus, the portions being available in small quantities makes it a very convenient option too.
Whether it be having people over, or just lunch at the office, this is a solid choice to go with. We highly recommend.
