Chow Down Atlanta

It’s still hot as heck in Atlanta. What better way to cool off? Naengmyeon. Chewy, homemade Korean noodles in flavorful, icy broth served in large stainless steel bowls. Two ways.

Mul Naengmyeon. My absolute favorite. The clear broth is so refreshing. The slices of radish and sweet pears balance the savory beef slices. The hard-boiled egg is icing on the cake. Yum.

Bibim Naengmyeon. The spicy gochujang dressing gives just the right kick and heat. Slices of tender beef and cucumbers make it a hearty dish. More yum.

Doo Reh Myun Ok
1291 Old Peachtree Rd NW #401 (inside the Assi Plaza - Suwanee)
Suwanee, GA 30024
(770) 476-0480

Technorati Tags: Korean, naengmyeon, Suwanee

…because it is soooooo good. Enough said. Try it now.See more here. Or here.

Well Bean Tofu

N. Berkely Lake Rd.Duluth, GA678-584-0057

Technorati Tags: Korean, Duluth

Introducing… the Beef Bowl. $4.99. Happiness in a bowl. Perfectly steamed white Korean rice, loads of tender bulgogi in its own flavorful sauce. You can’t get happier than this. My happy food.

Book Chang Dong Tofu House
2550 Pleasant Hill Rd
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 814-2299

Technorati Tags: Korean, Duluth

This is one of the best Korean BBQ deals in the city: $9.99 or $14.99 buys you all the bbq meat you care to eat. The $9.99 includes beef brisket and pork belly; while $14.99 adds boneless galbi to the repertoire (good quality saeng galbi). Definitely get the $14.99 deal. By the way, this isn’t your typical ghetto buffet style all-you-can-eat type of thing. There are no sushi or Chinese food included. Just great tasting banchan and your bbq meats delivered to your table upon request.

The tofu soups are good, too. I love the silky tofu they use. Possibly the silkiest tofu in the city hands down. So, go and eat here now!

Sodeulnyuk
2790 Lawrenceville Suwanee Rd.,
Suite 165 (next door to Umaido)
Suwanee, GA 30024
(678) 394-5190

Technorati Tags: Korean, Suwanee, bbq, ayce

My best buddy Sean took me here knowing just how much I love Korean food. The meal was really good. And filling. There were 12 items. I ate finished all of them. My favorite was the Galbi Jjim (beef short ribs). It melted in my mouth. It was so good I had to have silence.

Go on an empty stomach. You’ll thank me later.

<3 Thanks again, buddy. And also for taking pictures. </end>

Woo Nam Jeong Stone Bowl House
5953 Buford Highway NW
Atlanta, GA 30340
(678) 530-0844

Technorati Tags: Korean, Buford Highway

I took the pork fat drippings and drizzled it over my rice. OMG.

I eat Korean all the time. There was one week in May last year that I ate it 7 times in a week. Crazy. I’ve been here many times. But the other night was the best Korean dinner I’ve had this year. We demolished everything in front of us. The boneless galbi and pork belly rule here. And the delicate chawanmushi is to-die-for. (What happened to the pictures, FB?)

Oh and I almost forgot… I became a Korean last year. Thanks, Gene.

More here and here.

Open later for dinner on weekdays than weekends. (Does that make sense to you?)

Cafe Todahmgol
2442 Pleasant Hill Rd, Suite 3B,
Duluth, GA 30096
770-813-8202
Mon-Sat: 5PM-2AM
Sunday: 5PM-12Midnight

Have you noticed I haven’t been posting anything Korean lately?  I just want to mix it up a bit, that’s all.  There are tons of Korean restaurants that have sprouted like mushrooms lately and there are actually two spots I haven’t written about and a few more I am planning to visit. But back to the Korean programming… I had dinner with my homies a few weeks ago at Song Do. This place used to be a shabu-shabu joint. I had not visited since they turned into a dinner-only BBQ joint so I suggested that we eat here.

Eating with guys is just wonderful because, one, they can match my appetite (at least most of them), and, two, I do not get embarrassed ordering 12 different entrees and 6 appetizers for two people. Jimmy (aka as Mr. Half Iron Man) is so awesome because, not only does he not have a single ounce of body fat, he is also probably the only person who can eat as much as me. They say skinny people can eat a lot because there is no fat in the gut that gets in the way. The first time we met, we tried to out-eat each other. Thirteen pizza slices was the record. Chloe: 1, Jimmy: 0. (Okay, for the record, he ate 12 so it’s not really a blowout. And only because someone beat him to the last slice.) FoodieBuddha eats like a normal guy so I really do not know what is going on with that. Sean is the nicest guy I know (especially because we both love durian) and he’s showing promise and could possibly out-eat me pretty soon. Get this though, this dude can cook!

Song Do was the chosen place for us because of their Korean charcoal barbecue (and because Sean needs a quick getaway to school). There is just something about the smoky flavor imparted by charcoal in meats.  The best part, though, is their all-you-can-eat program. For $21.95 per person, you get to eat all the kinds of meat they have. Which is just what we did. The banchan here is buffet-style. While the items are all fresh, I personally think the taste is just pedestrian.

The meats, however, are the main reason to come. They are well marinated and sliced on the thicker side than most places. The boneless galbi and pork belly are my favorites and the best in the house.

Our server was quite attentive and checked on us regularly. They are only open for dinner. Check them out, you will not be disappointed.

Read other reviews here and here.

Insider tip:
A few steps down from Haru Ichiban.

The scoop:
Song Do Korean BBQ
3616 Satellite Blvd.
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 497-9799

Technorati Tags: Korean, barbecue, Duluth

This is gonna be a quick and short post. I am literally pooped from trying to keep up with my hyper mother who does not seem to know the word sleep (or slow down). Hanging out with her (and my sister) is more tiring than having two full time jobs!

Anyway, I have been hitting up Well Bean regularly for a few months now. A popular chain in Korea, I was surprised that their soondubu actually taste homemade (rather than chain-made).  They have a pretty big tofu soup menu including uncommon types such as dumpling, ham and cheese, and crap (sic) meat. Their broth is always consistently good:  hearty, never thin/watery with a deep red color, and with the perfect flavor consistency.  The tofu chunks are creamy and have just the right amount of form so as not turn to mush after a few stirs. Best of all, their spice level is spot on.

The banchan items are all freshly made and each one has the right amount of sweetness, spiciness, and/or sourness.  They do not skimp either and will generously give 10-11 items even for a solo diner.

Their galbi is quite delicious and can easily go neck-and-neck with So Kong Dong. The meat is tender and marinated well.  Finger lickin’ good.

Verdict: an excellent place for Korean food. Avoid the busy lunch hour when not a single table will be available and service will be nonexistent.

Insider tip:
Soups start at $4.99. Combination meals (soup + galbi) are $13.99.  More expensive meals such as the Bossam or Kimchijeon will set you back $29.99.

The scoop:
Well Bean Tofu
2645 North Berkeley Lake Rd.
Suite 136
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 584-0057

Technorati Tags: Korean, soondubu, Duluth

My affection for Korean food (specifically sundubu) was once again ignited by the sudden onslaught of cold weather last week. So Kong Dong has been a favorite spot for many years. I haven’t been back in a year due to the barrage of Korean restaurants that have been sprouting in Duluth like mushrooms lately, which have been keeping me quite busy. So this week alone (and it’s only Wednesday), I’ve been to two Korean tofu houses already.

Not much in the decor and menu have changed except they now have the fashion-of-the-moment call button. I opted for the usual combination tofu and galbi lunch. The soups come in four spice levels: White (draw your own conclusion), Mild, Spicy, and Very Spicy. I got the Spicy Pork Kimchi tofu soup. I love the silky, smooth, creamy tofu with lots of pickled cabbage and slices of tender pork. But I was disappointed with the broth — it was thin, watery, and not as spicy as it should be. A far cry from their soups of old. Worse, it has jalapeño slices! Let me explain why I despise jalapeño in Korean soups. First, it’s not the norm. Second, it alters the taste. Go ahead and scoff but it really does. Peppers all differ in taste — even between green and red bell peppers. When I asked the lovely Ms. Bliss about her opinion on this, she agreed and further stated that “she has no preference for raw bell peppers (as in salads since they taste pretty much the same) but there is a chemical reaction from cooking green bell peppers that produces a different taste in dishes.”

The galbi here is quite possibly the best prepared-in-the-kitchen galbi in the city. I have tasted galbi in over 25 restaurants in the metro and this one is just spot on. The sweet/salty marinade they use is just perfection and the flavor is all the way through the meat. The meat is also grilled just right.

The banchan here is also a tad better than in most places in terms of flavor. The jap chae is chewy and so tasty, the pickled long green peppers are delicious, the iced nappa cabbage soup is soothingly sweet and tart, the tiny anchovies are sticky and sweet, and the fried fish is lightly battered and fried golden. Add to all these the bean rice and you have a fantastic meal.

Insider tip:
Open early daily.
Closed on Tuesdays.

The scoop:
So Kong Dong
5280-C Buford Hwy
Atlanta, GA 30340
(678) 205-0555

Technorati Tags: Korean, Buford Highway, BuHi, soondubu, galbi

If you’ve been a regular visitor of this site, you know that I pretty much cover the Korean beat more than anything else. I think I have close to 30 entries on Korean restaurants alone! I love Korean food and literally drive up and down BuHi, Duluth, and now Suwannee to find new places. Eat It Atlanta tipped us off via twitter about this place a couple of days ago.

I sampled all the tacos and all the snacks on my visit yesterday. My thoughts: I honestly have mixed feelings with the food. I’ll elaborate later as it is a busy weekend for me — 2 big lunches and 1 huge dinner with open bar on Friday alone, 2 food festivals today (Saturday), and 2 places to visit tomorrow.

It’s awesome and I just love it — Korean tacos — Korean flavors in a take-with-me-anywhere, eat-quickly, eat-anytime concept. They have 5 tacos here at Hankook. Fried tofu is typical of Southeast Asia and it’s how I like to eat it. The crispy outside and softer inside is a great play on texture. Added with greens in some type of vinaigrette dressing, I really liked the tofu taco. I’d get this again next time. The bulgogi taco is another hit. The marinade is milder in flavor but went well with the dressed crispy greens. Now about the flour tortillas. You must know a good bit about Korean cuisine to realize that using corn tortillas simply will NOT work in this type of tacos. The Korean flavors (sweetish/salty/spicy meat marinade) will clash with the taste of the corn tortillas. The taste of corn tortillas will also overpower the taste of the meat. It’s not a good combination. It’s like using, say, a tomato-garlic-pesto bun on a burger. You wouldn’t and shouldn’t do that. This is not Mexican-style tacos. Using flour tortillas instead is really a good call on Tom’s part.

The Naeng Myeon is a typical summer dish as it is served cold. I’ve had many versions of this dish, some made with soba noodles, some with arrowroot (clear and black), some mul (with broth), and some bibim (salad). I like mul in winter and bibim in the summer. The version here is bibim, made with chewy soba and the taste is spot on, although I would have liked it to be more on the spicy side. Think of it as a cold noodle salad. I wish they used a spicier red chili paste or at least have the option to choose the heat level. No matter, it’s a refreshing dish.

The Bibimbap isn’t really a snack but a meal in itself. First of all, the serving is huge. Second, it has all the requisite ingredients of a one-dish meal: warm rice, cold veggies (mildy pickled cucumbers, steamed bean sprouts, mushrooms), bulgogi, and topped with a fried egg (my preference over raw egg seen in more authentic Korean places). This would have been a hit in my book had they used a spicier gochujang.

Skip the thick-battered tempura sweet potatoes (pedestrian) and Duk Pokee which is rice and fish cakes in a spicy sauce (flavor is off - tasted more like canned tomato sauce). But do try the Gunmandu which gives you 6 pieces of deep fried dumplings (think pot stickers) with a good filling of minced pork. The ginger-scallion flavors are all there. The Jap Chae is bland and doesn’t really go well with tacos. It’s more of a side dish to barbecue meats.

So is it drive- and crave-worthy for me? All I can say is that I am very happy that folks ITP now have some form of Korean food that is very accessible to them. While my spoiled self makes do with a gamut of outstanding Korean places within a 10 minute-drive from where I live. I know you’re jealous (*smile*).

The scoop:
Hankook Taqueria
1341 Collier Rd
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 352-8881

Technorati Tags: Korean, taqueria, Korean tacos, Peachtree Hills