Chow Down Atlanta

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

This is not the place if you’re looking for authentic pho. Rather, the pho and much of the other dishes served here are Korean-inspired. I guess it’s what’s to be expected from a Korean-owned and operated joint. But don’t let that disappoint you. It’s not all that bad.

The broth doesn’t come close to the original thing: it lacks the necessary depth of flavor and it’s quite thin and watered down. There are no undertones of cinnamon and star anise. However, the broth is clean and tastes more like plain beef stock. It’s a pretty good soup, but then again, it’s not pho. Each bowl comes with cold slices of onions and steamed bean sprouts, plus the usual limes, basil leaves, and jalapeno garnishes. A side of kimchi, available upon request, is fresh and spicy as it should be.

If there is one soup you must get here, it’s the Oxtail Pho. I don’t remember seeing it on the menu so just ask your server for it. The broth of this soup is quite fantastic: very flavorful and has the unique taste of oxtail. While you may be used to seeing oxtail with bones and meat, they’ve cleverly removed the bones and shredded the meat for you. Makes for easy eating. The order also comes in two bowls. The bigger bowl includes their regular pho broth and the smaller one has the flaked meat and oxtail broth. You need to mix them up together to get the full effect. Add the usual garnishes and what you get is a bold, hearty soup that is perfect for our current cooler weather.

Rice dishes also have a noticeable Korean flare. Instead of Jasmin, they use short grain Korean rice. You really can’t tell much difference but since I’m a rice expert, I can tell. They do cook it a little firmer so, really, the difference is negligible. Toppings include grilled meats and the grilled pork is a bestseller. Their nuoc cham dipping sauce version is amazingly spot on. It is not as sweet and with the perfect balance of flavors and lots of fresh minced garlic to boot.

Perhaps the word Pho in their name is actually a misnomer. No matter, they do have pretty decent pho-like noodle soups. The place is spotless and servers are attentive. For a better and more authentic alternative, head on over to What The Pho.

Side note: Do be sure to buy from the “Farmer’s Market On Wheels” when you’re in the area. Old Korean women touting freshly-picked vegetables from their home garden roam around peddling from the back of their vans and every single vegetable is so fresh. My last acquisition: Korean sweet potatoes (great when boiled and slathered with butter), small cucumbers, apples, tomatoes, and peppers. You’ll see them in the parking lot of Super H and other Korean strip malls.

Insider tip:
You can get the bean sprouts either steamed or raw. Remember the scare of salmonella on raw bean sprouts not too long ago? I prefer the steamed.

The scoop:
LA Pho
2645 N Berkeley Lake Rd, #129
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 417-9220

Technorati Tags: pho, Korean, Vietnamese, Duluth

It’s difficult to find a place when the only sign they have is in Korean characters. I passed by this place literally twice before I realized it was a restaurant. Opened four months ago, it’s a favorite among Koreans and the two times I’ve been, I have yet to see any non-Koreans except me.

This place specializes in soups although there are other Korean staples on the menu. I was floored by the Spicy Kimchi Galbi soup. It is the best in the city. If you’ve been a regular visitor on this site, you’ll realize I was meant to be Korean. That or I must have been one in my past life. I eat Korean more than any other cuisines at any given time. I’ve been to about 90% of all the Korean restaurants in the city and I seriously drive up and down Duluth, Suwanee, and Buford Highway looking for newly opened Korean restaurants. But back to my soup. The broth was so bold and sharp — flavorful, simmered for hours, with chunks of fork-tender boneless galbi, leeks, and pickled cabbage. It is very spicy but not so that only the heat is what you taste. Despite it, the tasy broth shines through. This is truly the best soup ever.

I’m not a fan of Sulungtang (bland milky beef soup) but it’s a yard stick when it comes to milky soups (and yes, they don’t come seasoned). Their version is quite fantastic, too. It has lots of tender beef slices and clear noodles. The broth has the right amount of milkiness, and with a few shakes of salt, becomes a wonderful first course.

Galbi-gi is another measuring stick when it comes to barbecued meats. Theirs has the perfect balance of sweet and salty, marinated for hours, has tender pieces of ribs that are grilled lightly yet perfectly. Quite delicious but on the expensive side. A few pieces will set you back $15.99.

Not very many Korean places serve fried rice (most only serve bibimbap which they also have). Here, there are three kinds of fried rice: beef, pork, and shrimp. I love it that they use dry cooked rice (as opposed to mushy and soggy). They add lots of slivered meat and chunks of egg. The smokiness of this rice dish is enough to whet your appetite. It’s a good filler and goes well with the galbi.

Incidentally, they have the freshest, housemade kimchi with its crunchy veggies and deep, red sauce. They give you 6 at most but if you’re like me, I’d rather go for quality than quantity. This is now one of my most favorite Korean places. Do not miss the spicy soup.

Insider tip:
Right next door to Umaido.
In the shopping complex where Super H Suwanee is located.

The scoop:
Kang Seo
2790 Lawrenceville Suwanee Rd.,
Suwanee, GA 30024
(770) 932-7753

Three words: Korean Black Goat. Possibly the only place serving Korean native goat dishes, Bang Ga Nae sits on PIB between Pleasant Hill and GA-120. This place used to be a Malaysian restaurant years ago. I’m glad they’ve kept the pond with waterfall inside. Rather than tables, they have booths with high backs for privacy. They also have two tatami-style seating arrangement for bigger parties which I would not recommend unless you want to sit cross-legged which is so bad for your knees.

Now if you’ve never had Korean goat before, then you’re in for a treat. I’ve only had black goat in Asia and this is the first place I’ve seen it on the menu. Black goat meat is very tender and not gamey at all. Here at Bang Ga Nae, they serve black goat meat in many different ways: stewed (the most common way of preparation), broiled, and deep fried. I wanted to taste the meat in its purest form so I opted for their Deep Fried variety. Lost in translation, my sweet-and-sour sauce on the side ended up served with the meat. Oh well. In this dish, the goat meat is sliced in thin strips then dipped in cornstarch batter before deep frying. The coating is very light and thin but with a slight chew. The meat? Buttery. Melt-in-your-mouth good and better than lamb, mutton, or veal. I can’t wait to go back for their stew and broiled meat.

Although pricier than most Korean places, they do have combo specials that pair galbi with noodles or soup. They also have bibimbap and soups that start at $5.99. Bang Ga Nae is an absolute delight. And go for the black goat meat if anything else.

Notes: The sweet and sour sauce that they use is totally different from the Chinese kind. It is very light (in taste and color) and they use pineapple juice as a souring agent. It is very good but get it on the side so your meat won’t get soggy. A much better alternative is to dip your deep fried goat meat in Korean chili paste.

The galbi here is quite expensive at $14.99 and the serving is small (about the same as the lunch portion as Book Chang Dong) but the meat is sliced thicker (though fattier). Taste-wise, I’m not a big fan — for some reason, it just didn’t do it for me. Good but not stellar like other places.

Insider tip:
Friendly but excruciatingly slow service.

The scoop:
Bang Ga Nae
3312 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite B
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 417-7769

Technorati Tags: Korean cuisine, Duluth, GA, Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Korean goat, black goat

I come from a family who love hot pots. While Shabu-shabu and sukiyaki have always been the favorites, my mom particularly likes Chinese hot pots. However, I’m beginning to really love Korean hot pots. The newest addition to the Korean dining scene is Shabu King inside Park Village in Duluth where Super H Mart calls home. This is the third (or fourth) incarnation of this spot — as a Korean fried chicken joint, as Man Doo, and now as a Korean shabu place.

Since the chef hasn’t changed, no visit to this place is complete without their old specialty: man doo. These huge Korean dumplings are filled with lots of ground pork, minced tofu and green Asian cabbage. The wonton wrappers are soft and moist and the fillings are perfectly seasoned. The sweetish-salty dipping sauce adds depth of flavor. Yummy. (Side note: did you know that BHFM was among the first in Atlanta to mass produce man doo? About 10 years ago, they had a Korean food section where cooked food, pre-marinated meets, assorted banchan, and man doo were made. Two Korean ladies and one man made man doo all day long, every single day. They had two kinds, steamed to order, and the best man doo in town. My mom used to bring home three dozen or so pieces every week she went there. I miss those!)

The hot pot takes center stage here now. For $29.99, two people can share a shabu meal that is simply quite the best in town. A pot of fresh vegetables and mushrooms in kimchi broth is simmered on the table top stove. With it comes a plate of beautiful ribbons of paper-thin meat and a bowl of thick noodles. The kimchi broth is spot on.  It is spicy good.  The veggies are so fresh, and the noodles are chewy.  Truly delicious.

There is a proper way to eat Korean hot pot:

•  let the pot boil
• add small amounts of meat
• serve meat, veggies, and broth onto your own bowl
• dip meat into dipping sauce with wasabi mixed in to it before eating
• repeat until all meat is gone
• lastly, add the noodles, let boil
• when most of your hot pot is gone, leftovers will be transferred to a serving bowl

Now comes the best part — a bowl of rice, minced beef, and chopped greens, topped with a raw egg will be cooked in the same pot. Let me tell you that this is the best bibimbap (minus the chili paste) I have ever tasted. The egg and the kimchi-laced pot adds so much flavor. It is the best “fried rice” ever!

Aside from two kinds of hot pots (regular and ribeye), they also still have their famous Korean fried chicken which sets you back $16 and although they are small pieces, they give you quite a lot. It is the best Korean fried chicken in town, by the way. The spicy garlic fried chicken is a little less expensive and as good but I prefer the plain fried chicken.

Insider tip:
Sodas are $1 with one free refill — beware, they come from 2-liter bottles which tasted like they were opened one too may days ago.

The scoop:
Shabu King
2550 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 476-8599

Technorati Tags: man doo, Korean, shabu, hot pot, Duluth, GA, Gwinnett, Korean fried chicken

Do you have eating phases? I do. Last week, I ate Korean seven times, three for dinner and four for lunch. I’m over that now and I’m currently into my Cuban phase. This may be the last Korean post for a couple of weeks. Unless, of course, I find another new Korean joint (which is always the case in Gwinnett).

Big House opened 6 or 7 months ago. It is the lone occupant in a teeny tiny plaza on PIB right before you hit Abbots Bridge (GA 120) if you are heading north. The place serves a more traditional Korean fare and caters to the more upscale, more authentic Korean clientele brought about by the golf course nearby. The decor is very Asian — lots of lacquered wood with booths partitioned in wooden slats. Every booth is equipped with a small flat screen tv which is neat.

Each table has two earthen jars of house made kimchi (cabbage and radish). The kimchi is very fresh and crunchy. The taste and quality is also a lot better than most places. The server will give you small plates, tongs, and scissors for you to be able to dish them out and cut them into manageable bites. An assortment of 7 banchan is served additionally and these aren’t the common ones either: rice cakes, chap jae (stir-fried noodles), soy beans, and egg-battered fried vegetables. This is one of the very few places where fruits are part of the banchan. I like that. Fruits help cut down the fatty taste in your mouth.

I opted for a more traditional soup: cabbage, jellied ox blood cubes, shaved beef, tripe, and vegetables in a spicy kimchi-beef broth. It was delicious and hearty but definitely not for the novice. There were also a lot of mustard leaves and some stringy weeds that made this soup quite filling.

The Bulgogi soup is just fantastic. It tastes very similar to Japanese sukiyaki. The broth is salty-sweet with lots of bulgogi. Enoki mushrooms complete this comforting soup.

There are bento boxes that offer complete lunches which include your choice of meat (bulgogi or galbi), as well as bibimbap, pancakes, and tofu soups. Definitely a great place for authentic soups with nice ambiance to boot.

Insider tip:
A smaller portion of seafood pancake is available during lunch for $4.99.

The scoop:
Big House Korean Restaurant
3305 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 417-7330

Technorati Tags: Korean, soups, Duluth, bulgogi, galbi, Korean food