Chow Down Atlanta

I was finally able to try Shane’s and I must say I really like it. I like their barbecue because the sauce they use is sweet with just a tad of tanginess, not vinegary as others are (like Dreamland’s). The ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender and are really, finger-lickin’ good, with flavor all the way to the bones. The pulled pork are also tender and has that slow-cooked taste to it. The chicken tenders are surprisingly big and plump; not your average flat, skinny tenders you see everywhere. They’re very flavorful and moist inside. The sides are equally good. The mac-n-cheese is creamy, the fries are crispy on the outside, the Texas toast is soft and slightly toasted, the baked beans are not mushy.

You get a lot of value for the money as servings are humongous. The picture above is the $9.99 Sampler platter with a quarter rack of ribs, pulled pork, 2 plump chicken tenders, a Texas toast, and two sides. It’s a true hungry-man’s lunch. Most items on the menu start at a little over $5 such as the Chicken Tenders plate with 4 big tenders and a side. While the most expensive is the Full Rack of Ribs plate with 2 sides for $12.99.

Insider tip:
Come hungry as portions are huge.
The soft and chewy chocolate-chip cookies are delicious.
Try the Peach ice tea.

The scoop:
Shane’s Rib Shack
Check website for locations
Open daily at 11am

Technorati Tags: Shane’s Rib Shack, ribs, barbecue, chicken tenders, pulled pork, barbecue ribs

Souper Jenny has one of the best lunch deals in town: $10 gets you a humongous bowl of soup, a side (choose sandwich, pasta, or salad), a seeded roll, a cookie, a fruit, and a drink. While $10 may seem a bit much for some folks, consider this — you get tasty, freshly made food daily using the freshest, healthy ingredients and the portions are substantial.

There are six kinds of soups daily (hot and cold), as well as two types of sandwiches (one of which is made with homemade pita bread), pasta, and salads. The soups are hearty and flavorful while the sandwiches are creative (think chicken salad with arugula, basil, and dried cherries).

The line outside starts a good 15 minutes before the place actually opens but fear not for it moves rather quickly. The place is cozy but rather cramped. Parking can be a pain during peak times.

Insider tip:
Menu changes daily. Call ahead to get the day’s menu.
Cash only.

The scoop:
56 E Andrews Dr NW
Atlanta, GA
30305-1316
Phone: (404) 239-9023

Technorati Tags: Souper Jenny, lunch, lunch deals, brunch, fresh daily, Buckhead

I’ve been going to BCD since its opening day in January 2005. I was literally one among the very first customers and have been a regular ever since. My mom, also a big fan, describes it as “like eating at someone’s home.” And I definitely agree. It’s home-cooked meals at best.

I eat at BCD almost twice a week (sometimes more). I like the fact that the food consistently stays the same: quality and taste wise. The menu has stayed the same until early this year with the addition of two new soups: Galbi-tang (beef soup made with short ribs), and Chicken soup. Galbi-tang is my absolute favorite Korean food and I was jumping with joy when they finally added this to their menu. In Atlanta, BCD has the best Galbi-tang — it is pure beef broth (no milk), seasoned perfectly (the ones with milk are not seasoned at all and you’ll know this by the bowls of salt that are served with it), and has fall-off-the-bone beef ribs and tender radish and mushrooms. (Side story: they used to call this soup Well-Being Soup and they even had small posters on the wall advertising this new soup. I asked one of the ladies there if it was Galbi-tang and when she said yes, I told her the correct translation was Beef Ribs Soup. They’ve since changed the posters.)

Everything on the menu is good. I guarantee it. The Galbi-gi (grilled short ribs) are tender and flavorful; and the tofu soup is tasty with chunks of silky tofu. The cold noodle dishes are refreshing and perfect for the hot summer-like days we’ve been having. The seafood pancake is full of seafood chunks; and the Bulgo-gi (grilled sliced beef) is a good choice as well. It irks me when bulgogis are soapy-tasting but this one isn’t.

White steamed rice comes in its own individual servers (hot stone pot in a wooden box) and you must spoon it into the provided metal bowl to eat it. After a while, a crusty bottom will form in the stone pot and the servers will pour hot bori-cha (barley tea) over it. Leave it to soak for a minute or two before you spoon the rice directly into your mouth. The result is soft, wet rice in a nutty soup. Delicious. Personally, my rice of choice at BCD (and only because BCD has the best) is the red bean rice. It’s only available by request.

Insider tip:
There is a special going on wherein you’ll get 5% of your total food bill back in a form of a ticket which is redeemable on your next visit.

The scoop:
Book Chang Dong
Located inside the Super H Mart Plaza on Pleasant Hill Rd.
2550 Pleasant Hill Rd., Duluth
(770) 814-2299
Open daily from 11am

Technorati Tags: Book Chang Dong, Korean food, Korean cuisine, Pleasant Hill Rd., Duluth, Super H Mart plaza