Hello world! I returned from spring break in Dominican Republic about two weeks ago, and I finally found time to start writing again. While it was nice to be back in the city, I would be lying if I said that I enjoyed the cold weather and homework assignments waiting for me upon my return. I definitely have a lot more self control in what I eat in NYC though since food here isn’t all-inclusive. (But then there is still the ever-present issue of my binge eating while studying…)
Before I had set flight for the DR, we had Jihyun’s birthday celebration at NY Kom Tang Soot Bul Kal Bi in Koreatown. This Korean restaurant was one I had passed numerous times but never really noticed. The place is known for its old-fashioned charcoal grilling, with the meat grilled right at your table if you order two portions or more. There are two floors to the restaurant, and the staff politely greeted and seated us upstairs before our entire party arrived. The prices were on par, if not a dollar or two cheaper, with other restaurants in Koreatown.
The key to being treated well in Koreatown (which I will refer to as Ktown from now on) is to go with Koreans. There was a good variety in the ban chan served (the complimentary small side dishes of food that out before your meal), and with Ji on our side, we managed to get seconds (and even thirds of that cold crab!).
The pickled julienne daikon and seaweed are always crowd pleasers, and the egg/mayonaise/apple dish also offered a surprising blend of yolky texture and sweet flavor. Erring on the fiscally conservative side for the night, I went for the Gobdol Bibimbab as my main entree, which is beef, egg, vegetables with rice in a hot stone pot.
Birthday girl ordered Kalbi Gui, prime short ribs marinated in Korean barbecue sauce, and Naeng Myun, ice cooked vermicelli noodles in soup with thin slices of beef with cucumbers, pears, and radish.
I tried some of the Naeng Myun after Ji mixed in some vinegar – not the biggest fan of the dish, though it was probably because I dislike vinegar in my noodles or soup.
Always the meat lover, Carson chose the Lajoki, fried sesame chicken and assorted vegetables served with sauce. He ordered the dish just in time, because for some reason the restaurant stops making it after 10pm. The dish reminded me of sesame chicken from a Chinese restaurant, tasty but nothing too remarkable.
Iris ordered the Kimchi Chigae vegetarian-style, a kimchi and sliced tofu casserole served with rice.
My Gobdol Bibimbab came with a raw egg on top, which I always enjoy mixing with the piping hot rice and then scraping the slightly burned crispy rice off the bottom of the stone pot. The spicy/sweet red sauce is a must-add for flavor, but for some reason, my dish just didn’t taste as appetizing as I had envisioned despite the amount of sauce stirred in. While no one at our table had meat grilled at the table, smoke entwined with the essence of beef and game constantly billowed over from the adjacent tables.
I ended up leaving the restaurant with my little doggy bag of half-eaten bibimbab, full from ban chan and infused with smoke. Overall a decent experience, though I think I’m going to lay off the bibimbab for a while.
32 W 32nd St
(between 5th Ave & Broadway)
New York, NY 10001
(212) 947-8482
I've been told that a certain smile breaks across my face whenever the subject of food is brought up, a smile that radiates the purest forms of delight and happiness. Food transcends beyond the smell and taste of what's presented in front of me; it's an experience to be enjoyed, indulged, shared with those I love. Working and living in NYC continually opens culinary doors, from hole-in-the-walls to upscale (even stuffy) dining. I never take any morsel of food for granted, and I'm often THAT girl at the table found licking her plate at the end of the meal.
