Cricketer Yuvraj Singh's Debut Restaurant ‘KOCA’ Launches in Gurugram

Cricket players opening restaurants is a trend that is unlikely to stop anytime soon. Following the culinary successes of Cricket Legends Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, and Suresh Raina, Cricketer Yuvraj Singh is next with his own restaurant, KOCA, in Gurugram, to open doors on 12 April. Scattered across two floors, the 14,000-square-foot restaurant is situated in a brand-new high-street complex on Golf Course Road, aims to draw customers seeking a high-energy setting or a quality dining experience (or both).

KOCA is a code name for Kitchen of Celebratory Arts, despite its Punjabi flavor. A key concern for Yuvraj, a partner in this project under Glamosphere Hospitality, was delicious food. Yuvraj's veganism and specific dietary needs make it difficult for him to locate many options on restaurant menus; this gap was filled with KOCA.

“My wife Hazel and I have travelled to so many countries and there are several memories around food. However, sometimes one feels restricted if there’s not much on the menu. I want to change that with KOCA,” says Yuvraj.

 “I want people to visit and enjoy the food here. We don’t want people to come in and say the place is great, but the food is average,” he says.  
The menu at KOCA blends Pan-Asian and global influences, inspired by Yuvraj’s international cricketing career and his travels. While Chef Megha Kohli and Noah Louis Barnes were the first to come on board as food curators, the kitchen is currently helmed by chefs Prateek Jha and Adiba Jha from Izumi Dubai. 

There is also a section dedicated to Yuvraj’s childhood favourites, which includes the rajma avocado galouti and kadhi chawal risotto. KOCA’s take on the galouti (a vegan option) has crispy bhakri replacing the ulte tawe ka paratha while rajma has been used instead of meat (which you do not miss at all). In the case of kadhi chawal risotto, arborio rice has been used as the base while the pakoras (that could be softer) are stuffed with a coconut and wasabi filling.

Some other cocktails include Pineapple Sour (a twist on the Gin Sour with coconut fat-washed gin, pineapple and hibiscus cordial), Gooseberry Picante (with gooseberry jam and the rim coated with pahadi salt) and the Pandan Negroni (with spiced liqueur, Campari, pandan-infused gin and pandan syrup).The Vietnamese cold coffee, inspired by a beverage of the same name, has an overload of coffee in the form of espresso mousse, Kahlua jelly, espresso crumble and dulce sauce. 

Speaking about the launch, Yuvraj Singh shared, “KOCA is more than just a restaurant—it’s a dream brought to life. My love for food has always been personal, and I wanted to create a space that reflects my journey and the flavours I cherish. From comforting childhood dishes to contemporary global creations, KOCA is all about celebrating food, flavours, and togetherness. I can’t wait for people to experience it.”