"When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find a traditional Korean restaurant with large tables, and I noticed the big ventilation systems on the ceiling for the cooking. To my surprise, we didn’t end up ordering the typical BBQ, but instead tried a variety of dishes that included a delightful mix of pork and beef.
What really stood out to me were the banchan – the side dishes. They had an impressive selection, including different types of kimchi, a refreshing icy dish, and some small dried fish, among others. I believe the quality of a Korean restaurant can often be judged by the variety and quantity of banchan they offer, and Kobawoo did not disappoint with about six or seven different side dishes for the five of us.
I dove right into the kimchi first. I know it can be quite spicy, but I love the initial taste and texture it provides. Just thinking about kimchi makes my mouth water!
The star of the meal, for me, was the bossam, which I don’t think I’d ever tried before, likely due to my limited experience in K-town. The dish consists of steamed slices of pork wrapped in leafy greens with a bit of pepper. The pork was tender and slightly fatty, and I probably ate more than I should have.
The pajeon, or pancake, was also quite good, and I believe it was a seafood variety. I’m not a fan of the chewy texture often found in pancakes, so I doubt this dish would appeal to mainstream American tastes. Personally, I prefer simpler kimchi pancakes, which happen to be one of my favorite dishes. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience."
