Chow Down Atlanta

Do you know what Omurice is? It’s a very thin omelet filled with fried rice then drizzled on top with ketchup. Growing up, going to Japanese restaurants were filled with the anticipation of eating this fun dish. It’s a very common item on the kid’s menu. In fact, I’ve never really noticed any grown-up eating it. Basically, it’s kid food. When I got older, I would get this as a side to my Japanese grown-up meal.

In Atlanta, you’ll find more omurice in Korean restaurants than anywhere else. I love the Korean version — rice, stir-fried in ketchup with beef, eggs, peas, and carrots. The picture above was a $7.95 platter that came with a huge omurice, a big piece of tonkatsu, and cabbage salad. Banchan and hot soup all complete the meal. Yum.

Find this meal and similar others at Don Quixote in Duluth and Buford Highway.

Technorati Tags: omurice, Korean, Japanese

A quickie post as I’m afraid this Chinese-Korean place is on its way to my “Death Watch” (if I ever had one). Death Watch is a term coined I first heard from my good friend Eli Zandman of Tomorrow’s News Today. It’s a list of businesses that, according to him, are “good as dead or should quit while they’re ahead.” Seems it was originally from Eater.com. Now I love Fung Mei. The food and service are both exemplary. The ambiance and decor are both top notch — you ought to see the huge aquariums that double as dividers. However, with the opening of Golden House nearby, I’m sure the clientele will shift to the new Cantonese place.

Jajangmyeon. Homemade noodles with a side of fermented soy bean sauce has always been my favorite. The version here is good. A little less smoky and a bit more sweetish than what I prefer, but tasty nonetheless.

Did you know? This smoked pork is amazing. There’s no other word to describe it. The thin slices of pork belly are smoked then stir-fried with leeks. There is no other place that makes it better in this part of town. Get it.

The menu is extensive so there’s something for everyone. Food is really good. Go before it’s too late.

Fung Mei
1605 Pleasant Hill Rd Map
Duluth, GA 30096
770-935-8888

Technorati Tags: Chinese, Korean, Duluth

I’m not really a big fan of this place but I have a best friend who is and eats here at least twice a week. Once in a while, I get dragged along. Don’t get me wrong. The food, on the average, is better than decent and some dishes are really good. So. Here’s what my friend eats every single time he goes here…

Tonkatsu. Humongous portion on a humongous plate. Two huge pieces. Crispy fried, tender pork. Pretty good tonkatsu sauce. Served with rice, shredded cabbage salad with thousand island dressing.

Dukbokki Noodles. Now I have to admit this one is pretty awesome. You get this tubed-shaped rice cakes (dukbokki or tteokbokki) that are so chewy in a spicy, thick, broth flavored by Korean hot pepper paste and kimchi. But that’s not all. It has homemade ramen-like noodles. And a boiled egg!!! If there’s one thing you can’t miss here, this is it. It’s number 4 on the menu.

Chicken Noodle Soup. This is a little too bland for my taste as the broth is really light and thin. There are tons of shredded chicken, leeks, sea weed strips, ribbons of dropped egg, and get this… homemade noodles. Yes. Homemade. In fact, all the noodles here are homemade. A few dashes of salt can make this very hearty soup delicious.

Spicy Pork Bulgogi. This lunch set is sure to make you full. You get lots of tender pieces of pork stir-fried in a spicy, savory, sweetish sauce. Then you also get kimbap (similar to the Japanese maki or sushi rolls), shredded cabbage salad, curry sauce, and rice.

Banchan. The usual suspects. But. They have sausages in gochujang sauce!

Very friendly service in a very nice, quiet atmostphere. I’d go for the dukbokki noodles alone. Prices hover in the $7.95 range.

Don Quixote Restaurant & Cafe
There are two locations: Duluth and BuHi. The pictures here are from Duluth. Each location is independently owned and operated.
3751 Satellite Blvd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 584-1129

Technorati Tags: Korean, Duluth, Atlanta, tidal

Korean restaurants are sprouting like weeds in Duluth. A new addition opened this month in the same plaza where Great Wall supermarket is located and there are two more nearby which I haven’t had a chance to visit. According to my translator good friend EDM, Namsangol is a village in Korea where traditional houses exist. I so wanna live there. Follow the link and look at the amazing houses!

Anyway, I was hoping they have table-side BBQ at lunch but was told they only do it during dinner OR you must order for 3. Which I can definitely finish. But I only had half an hour for lunch so BBQ will have to wait another time. The menu here is extensive with the usual soups, rice plates, stews, meats, and more. But what’s great are the combination options. $10.99 gets you a bowl of tofu soup and a choice of fried rice, galbi or bulgogi. The pork-kimchi fried rice isn’t as spicy as I would’ve wanted it to be but it hit the spot. Lots of flavorful pork in “well-stir-fried” rice. Well-stir-fried, you ask? My mom coined the phrase and we heard it a lot growing up: it’s when rice is properly stir-fried — not sticking to each other, dry, not wet, not mushy, and each morsel has that crunchy exterior yet soft inside. They do that here. Oh, and did you know, it’s even topped with a fried egg!

The soondubu is almost excellent. They use the softest, silkiest, high-quality tofu and there are a lot of seafood in it (clam, mussel, squid, shrimp, fish). But while the soup is hearty, the broth, although flavorful and bold, needs a little bit more punch. Almost excellent. Almost.

Definitely a good addition to the neighborhood. Will have to explore more of the menu and try the BBQ of course.

Nam San Gol
2300 Pleasant Hill Rd.,
Duluth, GA 30096
770-623-1789

Technorati Tags: Korean, Duluth

Just a quickie post — went to the newly-opened-for-two-days, BBQ Chicken aka Chicken & Beer, which is right next door to Honey Pig. It’s such a fun space with a fun mural, a quirky glow-in-the-dark bar, colorful walls, cozy booths, with Korean and American pop songs blasting in the background. By the way, did you know, the name of the restaurant is BBQ Chicken (not barbecue but B-B-Q which stands for Best of the Best Quality). Chicken & Beer is what they serve. Catchy, huh?

A Korean chain, they use 100% olive oil. I was only able to try the Olive Original Chicken and the Olive Sweet Spice Chicken. Oh my gosh, the Olive Original Chicken is soooooooo good. Possibly the best regular Korean fried chicken in town. The skin is super crispy with a slight herby taste and a hint of olive oil. It is so tender and juicy. It. Is. Delicious!!!

The Olive Sweet Spice Chicken is also good. The sauce they use is so garlicky with just a tiny hint of heat (would have liked it to be more spicy). It is not cloyingly sweet and the consistency of the sauce is just right (not too sticky and gooey).

But wait. You wanna know what would really blow your mind? The waffle fries. Imported from Korea, the pieces are small but they are so crispy with no hint of sogginess or oiliness. The Cajunish-cheese dusting they’re sprinkled with makes them oh so wonderful. Mind blowing. I kid you not.

Prices for 2-pc combos (with a side, salad and drink) start at $6.95, half-order chickens start at $9.45, and whole chickens start at $17.95. The menu is quite big with salad, wings, and burgers.

Do it! NOW.

BBQ Chicken (Chicken & Beer)
3473 Old Norcross Rd.,
Duluth, GA 30096
678-417-6464

Technorati Tags: chicken, KFC, Korean fried chicken, Duluth, Atlanta