I got to try all this food with Amy Blogs Chow for her Midtownlunch review at Bann Next Door. I liked the fatty part of the rib the best. White sauce flew all over her feet. Don’t you know can’t take me anywhere?
Had lunch with Matt on Korean Way at Kunjip. I got the Haejang Guk (hot and spicy stew of ox-bone and ox-blood with assorted vegetables $8.95). The box bone was about three inches thick with some tender meat on it. They were generous with the congealed ox-blood globs, which had the texture between firm tofu and liver. There is some iron/bloody richness to it, but not as much as blood sausage. It was surprisingly my favorite part of the dish. There wasn’t much flavor in the whole Haejung though. I’m not sure if it’s what I order, but I never seem to find enough flavor out of the entrees. It’s a good thing they give you an array of banchan side dishes like kimchi and vegetables which are very flavorful. Mix it up with my dish and I’m set.
Matt had the Boo Dae Chigae (beef sausage, spam, bacon and vegetables seasoned in spicy red sauced $8.95). Looking this up, it was originated during the Korean War where the poor would collect leftovers from the American Soldiers …Hot dogs, ham, vegetables, rice and throw in ramen noodles. Matt’s dish was more flavorful than mine. It was the salty Spam and the bacon that was like Asian stewed pork belly chunks, which had a bit of tea flavor I thought. I guess I need to start ordering my Korean food with Spam.
Kunjip – 9 W 32nd St (btw 5th Ave & Bway) New York NY10001
We checked out the Tofu House menu for the vegetarian in our group. Turns out that just because it’s called Tofu House, it doesn’t mean it’s a vegetarian restaurant like I thought. All the tofu dishes have meat in them and possibly meat broth. They did end up having one vegetarian dish, I assume from all the vegetarians that mistakenly go there.
They brought out the assorted Korean side dishes (kimchi, pickles, fried fish, etc.) and rice in hot stone pots to make it nice and crunchy on the edges. I ordered the Curry Premium Tofu which was sort of bland until I threw in the kimchi and pickles. I was hoping for some creamy curry, but it was very watery …possibly liquefied from the intense heat of the pots. The red sauce tofu dishes looked better but I quite can’t say for sure. It was fun to crack the raw egg into the bubbling hot pot and let it cook. Near the end of the meal, the waiter came by and put water into our old stone pots that had scraps of rice left in it to make soup. I don’t get the rice water soup. I’m sure someone else can explain this better.
Tofu House – 3575 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90010
Tofu House is a chain with locations in California, NY, Seattle, Korean & Japan. Go with a non-pesce-vegetarians. You’ll get bonus fish!
Cracking an egg in the bubbling hot stone pot
I walked around Koreantown LA for lunch. So many choices. I ended up in the Koreantown Plaza Mall which had a big food court with a lot of quality Korean fast food, meaning you get real plates, hot stone bowls for your Bibimbap and silverware. The portions were huge. I was watching these small old Korean ladies eating huge plates of fried cutlet with sides.
I chose Ganji Bawi in the middle. It seemed to have have the biggest line which is a good sign I think. Ordered their Dolsoat Bebeebap (Bibimbap – beef & vegetable with rice in a hot stone pot). I enjoyed it. The rice got nice and crunchy along the edges of the bowl. So much food. I ate about half and was stuffed. How do small old Korean ladies do it?
Looking on Yelp, I suppose it’s not the place to get the best Korean in Koreantown, but sure is interesting. There’s a weird review on there about some guy getting dumped and picking up a chick.
Koreantown Plaza – 928 S Western Ave Los Angeles, CA 90006
Popped into Kofoo rice bar and got a beef Bulgogi Bob. Delicious. I was thinking how awesome the leftovers will be the whole time. Sitting in Madison Sq Park with the cherry blossoms blown through the air. It was beautiful. Some girls put their baby in a pile of the cherry blossoms on the ground and sprinkled it on his head for a fun photo op. Then the baby got up and fell flat on his face. Three hours later at work, my boss sees me come out of the bathroom and notices that I have a something in my hair. He picks it out and looks troubled. I knew it was a cherry blossom flower, but he didn’t. Very brave.
KOFOO Korean Rice Bar – 334 8th Ave (btw 26th & 27th St)
Only place I could find on Korean Way to get quick take out. My fav was the kimchi fried rice and meatball. Everything is pretty good though. I think they put kimchi in everything.
Woorijip – 12 W 32nd St (Btwn 5th Ave & Bway) New York 10001
