The best sticky chicken wings in Durban
Image: Frank Chemaly
Wandering Seoul
Where: Shop 78, Protea Mall, 191 Ridge Rd, Umhlanga Rocks
Open: Daily 11.30am to 9pm
Call: 076 328 7094
The Poet found it, and the name had me intrigued. Wandering Seoul inspired, a place where the lost or the seeking could find home or purpose or nourishment.
The restaurant is where bamboo sushi used to be. It's smart and comfortable and had a real makeover. This is not the usual Asian restaurant that is a glorified takeaway with a couple of plastic tables in the corner. No, we were served with beautiful metal chopsticks, to food coming out on artisan dishes. And it was packed. The Poet, her family and I found the last table at the back.
Tuna tobika roll
Image: Frank Chemaly
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
A pancake which turned out to be more of an omeltte packed with vegetables.
Image: Frank Chemaly
Korean Barbeque is the thing here with two large tables braaing an array of meats and vegetables at the table. Many were skilled hands at the process.
Because the poet had just been to a Korean barbeque in Singapore, she wanted to try their signature bibimbap, which one of the ladies in her aqua class had raved so much about.
We order two types of Korean sushi, the kimbap which is chicken sausage and rice wrapped in seaweed and the tuna tobika roll which is similar but includes fresh veg in the wrap. The latter we enjoyed, the former were on the bland side. I suppose chicken sausage is not the most exciting ingredient in the world.
Sticky Asian chicken wings.
Image: Frank Chemaly
Then we tried what was billed as a pancake but in reality was more an omelette stuffed with veg and cut into pieces which you dipped into a spicy soy based sauce. We enjoyed it.
Next up were the best sticky Asian chicken wings I've had in Durban. Beautiful succulent chicken with a lovely crisp coating not destroyed by the spicy sticky sauce. We all decided we could eat buckets of these.
The Poet and I shared the bibimbap with wagyu beef which came to the table in a little cooking pot topped with a fried egg, before our server poured over the spicy gochujang sauce and tossed it all together for us. I really enjoyed the good kick of that spicy sauce with the meat and rice and crispy veg. There was so much I had leftovers for lunch the next day.
Vivek opted for the Teriyaki wagyu with rice which was also enjoyable.
Wagyu bibimbap topped with a fried egg.
Image: Frank Chemaly
Everyone had had more than enough food but somehow they offered us a chinese style creme caramel which I just had to try. It was a wonderfully eggy custard sitting in that burnt caramel syrup. It got the thumbs up
Having decided that next time we would try the Korean barbeque, the Poet booked for lunch two weeks later, inviting the entire bridge set along. Sadly on the coldest day of the winter I was at home with flu. They on the other hand had a ball. I will go back and try next time.
Food: 3 ½
Service: 4
Ambience: 3 ½
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
Layla Arrison: Pioneering the voice of rugby for women
Breaking down doors Earlier this year, Layla Arrison made history by becoming the first English-language commentator for a Springbok game. Photo: Supplied Image: Supplied Layla Arrison is one of South Africa's new voices of rugby – and she's on a mission. As a trailblazing commentator, she's breaking down barriers for women in sport while staying true to herself and living authentically. For many local rugby fans, her voice has become familiar: offering expert analysis across Currie Cup clashes, United Rugby Championship showdowns, and Springbok Test matches – both men's and women's. It's a role she's embraced with passion ever since picking up the microphone three years ago. Growing up as a 'tomboy', she played rugby with her cousins, while her interactions with former Springbok and Stormers fullback Gio Aplon, who was a family friend, helped her develop a deep passion for the game. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ While studying at Stellenbosch University, she became one of the first women to be offered a rugby scholarship, which grew her love for the game even more. 'I loved the camaraderie and building something and drawing women to a sport that you would not see women in. That was a big part in feeding my fire and making me think this was something I would want to do with my life.' Broadcasting, she says, came after a stint with the Bulls Daisies, where she was trying to figure out where to go next. 'I got into a couple of conversations with people. Someone who had a streaming site said I should just come and do commentary for the games. I ended up really loving it, not realising that it was going to be something I was going to do. 'Long story short, I went to SuperSport, had a conversation with Robbie Kempson. He introduced me to producer Arthur Khoza, who ended up taking me to Ongeziwe Zondani, another of the producers. I shot my shot and said, 'If you ever need a woman in rugby, give me a shout.' About two weeks later, she called and said they'd started a new series and asked if that was something I'd want to be a part of. I came on as a guest and that built on to commentary and now I'm anchoring and presenting.' Since then, her journey has taken her from commentating on Craven Week games to Test matches. Earlier this year, she became the first woman ever to commentate on a Springbok game. Unfortunately, many in our society still hold backward views and believe that a woman shouldn't be commentating on rugby games. 'There was a day or two where I thought, 'Is this really worth it?' I've been in this space for three-and-a-half years. For three-and-a-half years, I've had to deal with people saying this. What I had to realise is that the people who think you're good, those who think you're doing a great job, aren't going to tap you on the back and say, 'Well done.' The reason the negativity is so loud is because it's negativity – they are the ones who are speaking. 'I've had to change the way I thought about what people are saying. If people are saying, 'She's annoying,' or, 'This is why women shouldn't be in sport,' thank goodness that's all they're saying. Thank goodness they're not saying, 'She's a terrible person,' 'She's inauthentic,' 'She's bad at her job,' because none of those negative things came at me for what I was saying. I was saying exactly the same thing as my male counterparts were saying, but they didn't like what I was saying because I'm a woman saying it. We'll get there, and I understand because I'm the one breaking the ceiling. Someone's got to have the pushback, someone's got to take the flak.' In the future, she hopes that young girls and women will look at her like how she looked at iconic cricket commentator Kass Naidoo, who has been breaking barriers for almost three decades. 'My only advice would be: don't take the first 'no' or first rejection as the final one. Keep going, keep pushing. If I had listened to all the 'nos' that I got, I wouldn't be here today. I've worked hard, I continue to upskill myself, and I've found a way to make myself feel deserving of the seat at the table. That would be my advice. Continue to upskill, don't take no for an answer, and keep pushing back. Me, Cato [Louw] and Mots [Motshidisi Mohono], we're fighting to have you have a seat at the table, but you've got to earn it and you've got to show why. 'What's good with us as women in this country is that we want to clap for each other. We want to support each other. Yes, we are competitive, but we do realise there is space under the sun for all of us, and we're doing it for the next. Once you've earned that seat at the table, continue to work hard and upskill yourself so that you maintain that and open more seats for more women.' IOL Sport Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
21 hours ago
- IOL News
The best sticky chicken wings in Durban
Kimbap Image: Frank Chemaly Wandering Seoul Where: Shop 78, Protea Mall, 191 Ridge Rd, Umhlanga Rocks Open: Daily 11.30am to 9pm Call: 076 328 7094 The Poet found it, and the name had me intrigued. Wandering Seoul inspired, a place where the lost or the seeking could find home or purpose or nourishment. The restaurant is where bamboo sushi used to be. It's smart and comfortable and had a real makeover. This is not the usual Asian restaurant that is a glorified takeaway with a couple of plastic tables in the corner. No, we were served with beautiful metal chopsticks, to food coming out on artisan dishes. And it was packed. The Poet, her family and I found the last table at the back. Tuna tobika roll Image: Frank Chemaly Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading A pancake which turned out to be more of an omeltte packed with vegetables. Image: Frank Chemaly Korean Barbeque is the thing here with two large tables braaing an array of meats and vegetables at the table. Many were skilled hands at the process. Because the poet had just been to a Korean barbeque in Singapore, she wanted to try their signature bibimbap, which one of the ladies in her aqua class had raved so much about. We order two types of Korean sushi, the kimbap which is chicken sausage and rice wrapped in seaweed and the tuna tobika roll which is similar but includes fresh veg in the wrap. The latter we enjoyed, the former were on the bland side. I suppose chicken sausage is not the most exciting ingredient in the world. Sticky Asian chicken wings. Image: Frank Chemaly Then we tried what was billed as a pancake but in reality was more an omelette stuffed with veg and cut into pieces which you dipped into a spicy soy based sauce. We enjoyed it. Next up were the best sticky Asian chicken wings I've had in Durban. Beautiful succulent chicken with a lovely crisp coating not destroyed by the spicy sticky sauce. We all decided we could eat buckets of these. The Poet and I shared the bibimbap with wagyu beef which came to the table in a little cooking pot topped with a fried egg, before our server poured over the spicy gochujang sauce and tossed it all together for us. I really enjoyed the good kick of that spicy sauce with the meat and rice and crispy veg. There was so much I had leftovers for lunch the next day. Vivek opted for the Teriyaki wagyu with rice which was also enjoyable. Wagyu bibimbap topped with a fried egg. Image: Frank Chemaly Everyone had had more than enough food but somehow they offered us a chinese style creme caramel which I just had to try. It was a wonderfully eggy custard sitting in that burnt caramel syrup. It got the thumbs up Having decided that next time we would try the Korean barbeque, the Poet booked for lunch two weeks later, inviting the entire bridge set along. Sadly on the coldest day of the winter I was at home with flu. They on the other hand had a ball. I will go back and try next time. Food: 3 ½ Service: 4 Ambience: 3 ½
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Xolly Mncwango proves yet again why she's gospel royalty
Even with her already glittering career, xolly Mncwango's dreams remain expansive. Image: Supplied There are concerts, and then there are moments - moments that feel suspended in time, where music becomes more than melody and lyrics, and turns into an atmosphere. On Sunday, August 3, the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) became that kind of space, as gospel powerhouse Xolly Mncwango staged day two of her The Unusual Encounter concert. The buzz had been building for weeks. Fans arrived draped in their Sunday best, voices ready, hearts expectant. The stage was lit in blue and red colours. And when Mncwango stepped into the spotlight - elegant, poised, every inch the queen she is - the room erupted. 'These shows are unusual because they are not just concerts,' she told the crowd early in the evening. 'They are encounters with God. It is worship, it is testimony, and it is healing all in one.' From the first note, she made good on that promise. Backed by a tight band and a choir whose harmonies wrapped around her soaring vocals, she moved effortlessly between her celebrated hits and the fresh treasures from her latest release, 'Unusual Deluxe'. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ When Mncwango stepped into the spotlight - elegant, poised, every inch the queen she is - the room erupted. Image: Instagram The music and the message 'Unusual Deluxe' is more than just a re-release - it's a gift for the fans who have journeyed with her. The extended version of her acclaimed 2024 studio album 'Unusual" retains the 21 original tracks and adds five live recordings from her Carnival City concert earlier this year. The bonus tracks - 'Igama Lakho', 'Alikho Igama', 'Thank You", 'Healing Power" and 'Liyabasebenzela' - carry a raw, unfiltered power that live worship uniquely brings. 'Some of these songs are not just about music,' she said. 'They are markers of my journey, my faith and my calling as a worship leader.' On stage in Durban, the new and the old flowed together effortlessly. Her songs transformed the atmosphere - hands lifted, tears fell, and an almost tangible stillness settled over the room as she sang. From church benches to centre stage Mncwango's story begins in the pews of her local church, where she first discovered her voice and her purpose. 'I was drawn to the power of worship and how music could shift an atmosphere,' she reflected. 'Gospel was not just a genre to me; it became the way I connected with God on a deeper level.' That deep connection has never left her. Even now, with award wins, platinum plaques, chart-topping singles and millions of streams to her name, she still describes herself simply: 'Before I am a singer, I am a child of God. That keeps me grounded.' While other artists might chase trends or industry demands, Mncwango is deliberate about staying close to what she calls 'the Source.' 'I spend time in prayer, I observe life, and I allow God to speak to me through everyday moments,' she said. 'That's what keeps my music fresh.' Accolades and anointing Earlier this year, she claimed a Metro FM Music Award - a win she describes as 'God saying, 'I see you.'' She added, 'It is more than recognition. It is encouragement to keep ministering, to keep trusting the path even when it's not always clear.' Her shelf is already lined with gold and platinum plaques, proof of sales and streaming milestones rarely achieved in the gospel genre. But for Mncwango, the numbers tell only part of the story. Her true measure of success is the lives touched - the testimonies from fans who say her music carried them through illness, loss or despair. Women who shaped the woman When asked who inspires her, Mncwango does not hesitate. 'My mother,' she said with warmth in her voice. 'Her faith, her quiet strength, her prayers … They have carried me through seasons I did not think I would survive. She is the embodiment of grace under pressure.' 'And believe it or not, my little sister. She is the reason I sing professionally. She is such an embodiment of inspiration. She believed in me before I did.' As for Women's Month, Mncwango sees it as more than just a symbolic date on the calendar. 'It is a time to honour those who came before us, who made space for us to stand tall today,' she said. 'In the industry, it's about breaking barriers, supporting each other and using our voices - not just in song, but in influence.' Even with her already glittering career, xolly Mncwango's dreams remain expansive. Image: Supplied Mentorship and ministry Her influence is already spilling into mentorship. She has plans - still under wraps - to create something specifically for young women in ministry. 'If it is God's will, absolutely,' she said. 'I believe we are called to pour into others.' Her advice to emerging artists is firm but nurturing: 'Stay anchored in God before anything else. The industry will test you, and so will life, but if you are rooted in your calling, you will stay grounded." "Know your worth, protect your voice and soul - literally and spiritually - and never lose the message for the sake of the platform.' Dreaming beyond borders Even with her already glittering career, Mncwango's dreams remain expansive. 'Internationally, working with someone like CeCe Winans would be a dream; her humility and anointing are unmatched,' she said. 'Locally, I would love to do something powerful with other women in gospel. There is something about women coming together in worship that shifts things.' "The Unusual Encounter" - a spiritual homecoming That night in Durban felt like the culmination of all these threads - her roots, her influences, her message, her anointing. We were not just entertained; we were ministered to. Songs became prayers, and moments between tracks turned into heartfelt testimonies. By the time the final notes faded and she took her bow, no one wanted the night to end. Some lingered in their seats - myself included - while others embraced strangers, bound together by the shared experience. Mncwango's voice - both literal and figurative - had done its work. She had reminded the room that gospel music is not background noise or filler. In her hands, it is a force, a healing balm and a celebration all at once. Her return to KZN was more than a tour stop. It was a reminder to her fans - and perhaps to herself - that no matter how far she travels or how high her career soars, the foundation laid in her home province still holds. And just like that, "The Unusual Encounter" lived up to its name - a night that will be remembered not just for its music, but for its ministry. Lutho Pasiya's top 5 Xolly Mncwango songs you need to listen to: 'Umuhle Baba' is a beautiful, soulful song that celebrates the beauty and strength of a loved one, often interpreted as a tribute to a father or a respected man. 'Jerusalem' is a powerful, inspirational gospel-infused song that reflects themes of faith, hope and spiritual journey. The track symbolises a quest for peace, freedom and divine connection, drawing from the biblical city of Jerusalem as a metaphor for a promised or sacred place. 'Yebo Nkosi' is a heartfelt gospel track filled with praise and worship. The phrase 'Yebo Nkosi' means 'Yes, Lord' in Zulu, and the song expresses deep reverence, gratitude and surrender to God.
