Heritage on a Plate: Chin Chin’s Hakka Pop-Up with Chef Katherine

For Coimbatore food lovers, the name Chin Chin evokes nostalgia, flavor, and timeless charm. For years, this celebrated restaurant at The Residency Towers has been a culinary landmark, winning the hearts of diners with its authentic Chinese fare. Now, Chin Chin is adding yet another chapter to its legacy with a five-day Hakka Cuisine Festival Pop-Up from August 20 to 24, featuring the artistry of Chef Katherine, a third-generation member of India’s Hakka Chinese community.

Step inside Chin Chin during this festival, and it’s not just a menu you’re tasting—it’s a journey through history, heritage, and culture. Chef Ajeeth Janardhanan, Culinary Director of The Residency Group of Hotels, set the tone at the launch, saying, “For a restaurant to delight guests for around 30 years is a milestone in itself. Our constant pursuit is to offer dishes that are both exquisite and authentic. This pop-up is more than a food festival; it’s a celebration of Hakka cuisine in its truest form, elevated with fresh local ingredients and contemporary techniques.”

Sujith Kumar, Executive Assistant Manager at The Residency Towers, called the event a proud moment. “Chin Chin has been part of Coimbatore’s food memories for decades. Having Chef Katherine here to share her family’s recipes is truly special,” he said. 

Chef Vinod, who heads Chin Chin’s kitchen, added that the collaboration is also a learning experience for the culinary team, giving them insights to enrich the menu beyond the festival.

For Chef Katherine, the pop-up is deeply emotional. “There’s a misconception that Hakka food is simply another style of Chinese cooking,” she explained. “In reality, it’s the story of the Hakka people—a nomadic community that traveled across China and later settled all over the world. The dishes we’re serving here reflect that journey. Each one carries a history, a memory, a flavor rooted in heritage.”

On the menu are 15 handpicked dishes that promise to intrigue and delight. There’s the Hakka Yam Abacus Beads, a traditional New Year delicacy symbolizing prosperity; Typhoon Shelter Prawns, a golden-fried specialty tossed in aromatic garlic and shallots; Xinjiang Mutton, infused with bold cumin and Sichuan pepper; and Ma’la French Beans, spiced with Sichuan pickles and dried red chilies for a lively kick.

The festival is not just about tasting food—it’s about experiencing the soul of a community through every delicacy. The intimate setting of Chin Chin, with its warm ambience and 72-seat dining space, makes it the perfect venue to savor these rare flavors.

The Hakka Cuisine Festival Pop-Up runs only until August 24, so don’t miss this chance to indulge in an unforgettable culinary adventure.

Chin Chin is open daily from 12.30 p.m. to 3.00 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. For reservations, call 97877-77770.