Hanok Korean Restaurant

Oh hello old friends, it surely has been awhile since life had so rudely interrupted us. My latest obsession is Korea. I have become infatuated with a Korean actor and would just absolutely do anything for this Asian Brad Pitt. It's okay everyone Michael knows about this crush of mine.

Since I have this crazy borderline psychotic obsession with this fellow it would make sense to go to a Korean restaurant. I can see Michael's eyes rolling already, but that's alright, he loves Korean food. So lets get started.

I found out of this pleasant Korean paradise through a friend of mine who said nothing but good things about this place, and one hungry night Michael and I thought we'd give it a try. Hanok is located on Alexandra Road in Richmond in a little strip mall with various other restaurants.

It's actually a really big and spacious restaurant with perhaps about 30 tables or so, the decor was the old historic Korea, quite cute and quaint I would say. When we arrived the place seemed to be really quiet, there were only about six parties  in the restaurant in such a big place.

Appetizers

Of course I had a hard time deciding and choosing what I wanted to get, but I promised myself I would eat healthier this summer.  I was feeling something with a broth, soupy type of meal but I also didn't want to leave the restaurant feeling really full. I decided to get the buckwheat noodles with radish kimchi and boiled egg ($9.99). I figured it would be a healthier alternative to the regular noodles or rice.

Cold buckwheat noodles

When it arrived there was an unexpected coldness to this dish. I then looked back on the menu and it said "cold buckwheat noodles" and of course I missed the word cold. But I still liked the texture of the noodles, it had a nice chewy consistency and the pickled radish gave it a nice crunch on the side. My only problem was that the dish overall was rather sour and I don't think I enjoyed that taste. I know that it is a pickled dish but I didn't think it was pickled everywhere.

I wish I had given the soup a little more of a chance but because it was such a big cold dish, I felt it left a bad taste in my mouth. As for the egg, I was hoping it would have been a running yolk because I feel the yolk's creaminess could have tamed the sourness, but unfortunately it was just a regular old fashioned hard boiled egg.

Soft tofu soup with seafood

Michael had the soft tofu soup with seafood ($9.99). The dish arrived very hot in its stone bowl. Michael was a little disappointed to find out they didn't use clams in the shell for the soup like the picture in the menu showed. There was a good mix of squid, octopus, mussels and other seafood in the bowl and it was definitely cheap, filling and tasty. Can't really go too wrong after meeting those three points.

I think the restaurant was somewhere fun to go with Michael but since I ordered a so-so dish I am keen on returning to try other dishes on their menu. But since I am trying to eat more healthier a taste isn't suppose to be eating tasty and delicious food anyway. So for a gal watching her hemline it was a pretty good meal.


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Dai Jang Kum

Sometimes figuring out where we want to eat is like pulling teeth. Finally, after deciding on an option where we didn't have to leave Richmond, Michael and I agreed we'd go for Korean barbecue at Dai Jang Kum, 3088 St. Edward Dr. Michael knew about this place from going with his family a while back, but I had yet to try it.

The hot plate grill

When we walked in it wasn't too busy, the restaurant looked quite big, and all the tables were arranged in booths with a stove each for diners to cook their meat. We decided on Combo A ($35.95), which had a combination of chicken, beef, short ribs and pork. Our waiter came and installed our stove for us, he then set up our first batch of meat on the stove, but the rest was up to us.

Our combo came with a rice and a soup each

The lightly marinated chicken and beef was very tender and juicy. We each got a small dish of something similar to a sweet soy sauce to dip the barbecue goodies. The best part was its sweetness had just the right amount, not strong enough to over power the taste of the marinating of the chicken and beef, but enough to add a new flavour.

A small salad each

Michael basically wolfed down everything else on the table. He especially loved the dipping sauce and said it just added a sweetness to the meats you don't usually taste. I know he liked cooking the meats himself too. The cooking plate does get a little charred during cooking, but the servers seem to be more than please to replace them when that happens.

Side dishes

One of the reasons Michael and I love coming to Korean barbecue restaurants is because they serve little side dishes. Dai Jang Kum did not fail. We both love the sweetened potatoes and I'd have to say the kimchi can't be beat either. Michael was really looking forward to the seaweed side dish Korean restaurants usually serve though, I guess they don't serve that at this restaurant.

We just wanted to say that we were both pleasantly surprised by the service at Dai Jang Kum, our waiter was very friendly and was quite attentive. For carnivores wanting to chow down on food that promises not to disappoint, Dai Jang Kum should definitely be a consideration.

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Jang Mo Jib

Our evening took us to a Korean restaurant instead of French, as had we originally planned, since it was fully booked. But it was Friday night, C'est Dommage.

So traditional Korean BBQ and hot pot it was! Jang Mo Jib, located at 8320 Alexandra Rd., in the heart of Richmond by the Landsdowne Mall.

I remember visiting this restaurant a few years ago with a friend. The decor and environment remained the way I had remembered it, the outside showing off an exaggerated Asian architectural feel, no mistaking this place for a western steakhouse.

The menu is what really surprises you. With so many choices, it's difficult choosing, one of my favorites is a seafood pancake with onions, and the rice noodles with a veggies and soy sauce. Yum, but they come in such heaping portions that I'd never be able to finish it.

Michael and I both ordered from the claystone hot pot menu, dishes served with a tofu stew and a soup mix with assorted veggies and proteins. A bowl of rice held in signature Korean metal bowls accompanies its arrival.

Kim Chee Soon Doo Boo - long name, many ingredients.

I had the Kim Chee Soon Doo Boo, a medley of soy bean paste, kimchi, radish, egg, beef and tofu paste. The dish was a delight. The tofu was extremely smooth and paired well with the mildly spicy broth - you get to choose mild, medium or hot. My mild broth was delicious, it wasn't spicy enough to overwhelm, but was enough to give a nice kick of heat. I mixed it with the rice and it was Korean heaven, the tofu and broth mixes with the rice to add moisture, definitely a dish I was happy to try. The added bits of kimchi also gave the dish a nice crunch to counter the softness of tofu.

Those are my chopsticks on the top right. Mmmm, potatos.

One of the things I look forward to most at a Korean restaurant is having the side dishes presented to you before the meal, especially the sweet marinated potatos. We received generous portions of the usual four side dishes, potatos, radish marinated in a hot sauce, kimichi, and a seaweed veggie mix.

Ssuk Uh Soon Doo Boo - assorted seafood stew

Michael had the Ssuk Uh Soon Doo Boo, a similar bowl in the tofu hotpot menu, with assorted seafood, onions, radish, tofu, and egg in the signature broth. He ordered it with the medium spicy option, but complained it wasn't spicy enough. He loved it though. His bowl had enough seafood to quench his appetite, so much he couldn't finish all his rice.

Tohng Gahl Bee - AAA beef short ribs

Usually I don't eat beef, but Michael really wanted me to have some - since we were at a Korean BBQ restaurant. We both shared the Tohng Gahl Bee for $24.95, AAA traditionally cooked Korean short rib marinated in BBQ sauce and cooked on charcoal. The beef was pretty good. It was juicy, tender, and melted apart when it was your mouth. The sauce made it taste even better, sweet but not overwhelming. Topped with the smokiness from the charcoal, it really hit the spot. It just went so well with everything.

The tableware shows the restaurant takes its authentic feel seriously.

I haven't been to many Korean restaurants I could say the same for the food, except one. One of my fondest memories was going to the famous K-Town in New York City, and they really knew how to make good food. But I think my experience tonight at Jang Mo Jib could sit right up there with New York.

In total the bill came to $56 with tip.

As for the earlier mentioned French restaurant, a little place near Fraser Street and Kingsway in Vancouver. I'm stoked for several reasons, first, my fabulous aunt had recommended this restaurant, and I trust her opinion in many things. Second, Michael has never been to Europe and I think he never understood why I have a love affair with Europe. Visiting this restaurant would be a good experience for him.

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