Korea House

You know that saying about how the more sketchy a place looks, the better it probably is? Well, that is definitely true of my latest food adventure. I had often driven by the small “hole in the wall” known as Korea House, but I had never tried it until last weekend. I became suspicious it was going to be very good before I even walked in because there was a line of people waiting outside. My friend and I had to wait at least 30 minutes before a table even became available for us in the small restaurant, and the seats were only about 2 inches away from the groups seated on either side. That being said, it’s probably not the best place to go for dinner on a Friday night if you are in a hurry, or if you require more than a few inches of personal space. However, those are honestly the only negative things I have to say about the entire experience.

Our waitress was kind, and the service was quick. I ordered the, “Japchaebap,” which was described on the menu as “stir fried potato noodle, vegetable, beef bits, and rice.” I really had no idea what to expect when my order was brought out, but I was pleasantly surprised (pictured below). The noodles were almost a shade of purple and unlike any I had eaten before. They were mixed with small pieces of beef and cooked broccoli, onions, zucchini, and carrots. It was all bathed in a thin sauce that tasted a little like teriyaki but had no color, and it was delicious. Since it was my first time trying real Korean food, I probably shouldn’t make any comparisons, but I will say it was better than any other stir fry I’ve ever had before.

My friend ordered the, “Dolsot Bibimbap,” which consisted of sticky rice, pieces of beef, and mixed vegetables topped with a fried egg and served in a hot stone pot (pictured below). We learned it was customary to top this dish with hot sauce and then stir it all together with chopsticks so each bite was a flavorful combination of each component. My friend obliged, and even though I don’t usually like spicy foods, I was a fan of this one! The coolest, or should I say hottest, thing about this dish was that it stayed warm throughout our entire dinner since it was served in a hot stone pot.

A selection of small side dishes also came with our meal. I can’t even tell you what most of the items were, but they were a fun addition to the experience (pictured below). I really liked the one on the top left which I think was some type of baked egg cut into squares. It sounds disgusting, but it had a great flavor so don’t knock it til you try it people! I also enjoyed the one on the bottom right which was a some sort of potato dish. It tasted just like the potatoes in my mom’s beef stew.

I spent about $18 on this meal (including tip) which I did not consider to be bad at all, especially considering I had enough to take home for lunch the next day. Korea House may not look like a hot commodity on the outside, but the food tastes better than Pilot Pete looks if you give it a chance. (Btw that’s a Bachelorette reference for those of you wondering who I’m talking about.) So, the next time you find yourself with no plans on a Friday night, you should definitely take the time to eat at Korea House. And with its intimate seating arrangement, you might even make a new best friend who can provide you with plans for the next Friday night. 🙂