Chow Down Atlanta

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

I’m not really a big fan of Han Il Kwan. It’s good but it’s not drop-whatever-you’re-doing-and-get-here-now good. With so many Korean restaurants in town, there’s always a better one right around the corner. I don’t know if I’ve already mentioned this before but I didn’t realize how many Koreans live in Atlanta until I bumped into one of the officers of the Korean Association of Atlanta a few years back. He told me that there are 100,000 Koreans who immigrate to Atlanta (specifically Gwinnett) every single year. That’s a lot.

My favorite Korean places are Myung Ga Won, Cafe Tohdamgol, and Tofu House 88 (the latter is on my top 3 because it’s the only place in the city where you can get Kimchee Fried Rice). But Han Il Kwan will do sometimes. It’s middle of the road — good but not stellar. I remember when this place used to be Szechuan Gardens (a Chinese restaurant my classmates and I use to frequent for their inexpensive food.) They did a good job renovating the place with an area in the back for charcoal barbecue.

To use the charcoal grills, your party must order 2 types of meat from the barbeque part of the menu. We did the usual galbi (shortribs) and ribeye. The galbi meat were sliced a little too thin than most other places but they were marinated really well and the flavor is just perfect.

The winner here is always the ribeye. They are good sized pieces; thick with lots of marbling. Although your server will take control of the cooking, do pay attention to the cooking time and start transferring the meat from the grill and onto your bowl as soon as your desired meat doneness is achieved. We made sure the ribeye were cooked medium but the galbi a little well-done because that’s how galbis are supposed to be anyway. Plus, well-done galbi ensures you get the perfect caramelization from the marinade.

Service is very good and food is fresh. Our bill came to $45 before tip which is quite expensive for lunch, however, do note that we had 2 big pieces of ribeye with our meal. Incidentally, my sister and I finished everything so nothing was wasted.

Insider tip:
Located next to a car wash right inside the perimeter.

The scoop:
Han Il Kwan
5458 Buford Hwy NE
Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 457-3217
Mon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m

Technorati Tags: Han Il Kwan, Korean cuisine, barbeque, Buford Highway