Chow Down Atlanta

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

I ate Korean two days in a row. First at Book Chang Dong (BCD) where I actually came in during opening day in January 2005 and have been a regular ever since. Then today at Toh-dam (another favorite), which I consider to be the best place in metro Atlanta for tofu soup and ribs. And that’s coming from someone who has tried every Korean restaurant in town. Really.

Toh-dam is located inside Assi Plaza on Old Peachtree Rd in Suwanee (close to Discover Mills mall). Funny, Assi Plaza is an exact replica of Super H Mart but slightly smaller in scale (Super H was built first and Assi followed a little close to a year later). Anyway, the menu is similar to BCD, not that extensive but have enough of the staples — galbi, sundubu, pancake, bibimbap, cold noodles. Like I said, they have the best tofu soup and ribs. Hands down. The tofu soup is so flavorful and the ribs are so tasty.

Unfortunately, Toh-dam is on the pricey side when you consider the portions you’re getting. The tofu soup, although the same price as every where else, includes very little ingredients. You can actually count the number of beef strips or seafood in them. But you will so overlook that once you taste the full-bodied broth. And their broth is consistent in taste unlike other places where it changes not only from day-to-day but bowl-to-bowl on the same day and on the same table. The tasty ribs cooked to perfection are thin and they only give you three whole pieces cut into two for a total of 6 small pieces. If you get a separate order of galbi (beef ribs), you’ll only get about a pound compared to the two pounds you get at BCD.

The galbi-tang, my absolute Korean favorite (which is clear beef broth with beef ribs, mushrooms and ginseng) is totally divine although a whole $2 more than other places. Incidentally, BCD just added galbi-tang to their menu recently and they call it “Well-being soup”. What I’m saying is that Toh-dam skimps on their portions but they’re big on taste and for me, I’d rather pay for great taste than waste my money on a lot of food with mediocre taste. Toh-dam is an absolute favorite of mine followed closely by BCD.

Insider tip:
Tucked underneath the stairs on the left side of Assi plaza (similar to BCD’s location inside Super H Mart plaza)

The scoop:
1291 Old Peachtree Rd #101
Suwanee, GA 30024
678-417-1718

Technorati Tags: Toh Dam Tofu, Korean food, galbi, sundubu, tofu soup, Assi plaza, Suwanee, Old Peachtree Rd, Korean restaurant, galbi-tang, Book Chang Dong

I grew up eating Korean food. The first Korean restaurant my family went to in Atlanta was back in the 80s at the only Korean restaurant in town located deep inside the downtown area. I could not remember exactly where it is or even what it’s called. I was very, very young then and at that age, you don’t really try to remember anything.

Since then, we’ve been to almost all the Korean restaurants in Atlanta. 88 Tofu House occupies a stand-alone building that used to be Arby’s back in the 80s just inside I-285 on Buford Highway. It was voted Best 24-Hour Dining by Best of Atlanta 2006. Thanks to a recent major renovation a couple of years ago, gone are the dank atmosphere and maroon tables. The place is now bright and airy with new hardwood floors and pine-colored wooden tables with barbeque pits in the middle.

88 Tofu House is your alternative when all the other Korean restaurants are already closed. Open 24 hours a day, it offers no-frills Korean fare. The Galbi is tasty and the Bulgogi is good but may taste “soapy” at times (both are Korean Barbeque). Don’t know if it’s just me but I can taste a hint of soap in their Bulgogi once in a while. They serve a generous amount of Banchan (appetizers) usually at least 8-10 types but I’m not sure if the fact that we’ve been regulars for over 10 years has something to do with it. The Bibimbap (rice with veggie/beef topping) combination comes with a side order of Galbi or Bulgogi and is the best-for-your-buck value on the entire menu. It’s also the only place where this combination exists. The Sundubu (tofu soup) is forgettable as you’re able to find better ones elsewhere although the Seafood kind is the best. They’re also the only ones who will customize your tofu soup — one of my favorites is the beef and mushroom combo.

Still, 88 Tofu House provides you with excellent service, fresh food, and inexpensive prices. And you must absolutely try the Kimchi Fried Rice. It is to die for. And this is the only place to get it. It’s fried rice topped with cubes of pork and onions seasoned with spicy kimchi sauce served on a hot stone pot. The best!

Let me leave you with one last picture… I’m not sure what the idea is behind this drying bit but it was on a cold January day when I took this photo about four years ago just outside the entrance door. The only English-speaking server wasn’t in so I had to ask another girl who could only answer me with, “miso, yes, yes”.

Insider tip:
Kids get a free bowl of rice and beef soup. No alcohol served.

The scoop:
88 Tofu House
5490 Buford Hwy NE
Doraville, GA 30340-1126
(770) 457-8811

Technorati Tags: Korean restaurant, Korean food, Korean dining, Korean cuisine, 88 Tofu House, Buford Highway, inside the perimeter

This post is mainly aimed at the four well-behaved teenagers dressed in goth who were brave enough to come in and willing to give Korean food a try. While their looks must have scared raised one too many eyebrows among the all-Korean clientele (us excluded), they sat down, asked many unintelligible questions to the server, ordered, ate, and left with full tummies. Foodies in the making! In any case, think of this as the unknowing diner’s guide to Korean food. And a preface to my upcoming numerous Korean food posts.

The setting

Upon being seated at a Korean restaurant, you will be served a glass of Bori-cha (roasted barley tea) and given menus. Korean menus are generally very descriptive written in Korean with English translation. Don’t get pressured, you can politely ask the server to come back a few minutes later after you’ve read through the menu. When ordering, it is best to point to the dish name on the menu rather than attempt to say the dish name. This avoids confusion and prevents surprises when they bring

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