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Tag Archives: Galbi

Gen Korean BBQ

26 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by yummcha in Food, Korean Food

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Tags

Bulgogi, Galbi, Jap Chae, Japchae, Korean BBQ, macaroons

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It must have been at least a few years since I was last at an Korean BBQ restaurant. Don’t get me wrong, I love Korean BBQ, so much so that when I was in college, I was frequenting a Korean BBQ restaurant at least once or twice a week.

Those days are gone though, partly due to the fact that my lungs are not enduring the heap of smoke and fumes from these places too well. I would feel some chest congestion and would be coughing for quite a few days afterwards. The possible harm from eating too much red meat would also loom in the background while I would gingerly scrape the blackened, burnt crust off the meat.

However, with the assurance from a trusted friend that the place is smokeless and that one did not need to wash the hair immediately after eating there persuaded my reluctance. I boldly ventured into the neon lighted, discotheque/bar decor of Gen BBQ.

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The place really did resemble some of the dance places I had been in back in the 90’s. Being that the restaurant is fairly new, it is very clean and we were seated in a large table with long comfortable booths.

Being that it was a Sunday afternoon, we were told that it would be the dinner price all day.

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We were allowed to order up to 4 different items at one time. So I ordered the Spicy Pork Bulgogi, and a double order of Jap Chae(mixed vegetable with glass noodle), while my friend ordered Beef Bulgogi and some kind of chicken.

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The meat were all flavorful and tender, my friend and I enjoyed the Jap Chae (stir fried sweet potato noodle with vegetables), and ordered more later. For the second round, I tried the Galbi, and shrimp for my companion. No complaints about the food, everything tasted good, and I especially liked wrapping all the meat with the large slices of radishes.

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One can also purchase a variety of macaroons in the little freezer near the front of the restaurant on the way out.

However, being that my lungs are so sensitive, they did not feel well for a couple days afterwards, and I was coughing slightly as well.

As much as I had relished the taste and the cook-it-yourself experience, it will be a little while before I will undertake another culinary adventure into the world of Korean BBQ.

Gen Korean BBQ – 24301 Crenshaw Blvd. Torrance, CA 90503  Tel: 424-328-0388

Lunch: $14.99 Dinner: $19.99

 

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Mountain

22 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by yummcha in Food, Korean Food, Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Abalone, Bibimbap, DolSot Bibimbap, Food, Galbi, Galbitang, Restaurant, Rice

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“Please come in and try our food”, with the assured enthusiasm of someone who knew whatever he was offering was worthy, the young man urged us to go inside. This was about two years ago while we were walking by the newly opened restaurant inside a strip mall in Gardena. My companion and I were on our way to another restaurant in the same mall when we were intercepted.

At the time, there was nobody inside this seemingly spacious and clean restaurant. We were a bit reluctant to try, but did not have the heart to turn down this young fellow with the hopeful smile. “OK, we will try, you said it is good, right?”, I wanted to have his affirmation. “Yes”, excitedly he said.

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The menu was very clear with photos of all the dishes. He proceeded to recommend the Abalone porridge, DolSot Bibimbap (Rice with meat and vegetables on Hot Stone Bowl), and Galbi-Tang(short-rib based soup). I finally settled on the Abalone Porridge, while my companion ordered the combination of Galbi and DolSot-Bibimbap.

There was a rectangular box on each table that held the stainless steel spoons and chopsticks that one could help themselves to. The banchan (side dishes) here were much bigger in portion size than most of the other Korean restaurants. I especially liked the cube sized soy sauce beef, it was so tender and tasty. The potato salad was moist, mushy, a bit tangy, I asked for two more refills later on.

The porridge was served in elongated oval shape shallow bowl with a raw egg yolk on top. I gave the raw yolk to my companion, and dug into my porridge. The flavor of abalone was mild but I did find tiny pieces of abalone inside. It was not enough food for me, so I had some of my friend’s bibimbap and galbi. The galbi was cooked just right, with a slight sweet flavor.  While the mixed rice on hot stone bowl would be good on a cold evening, I preferred the regular version with the rice not burnt.

 

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After not having been there for quite some time, I decided to have lunch at Mountain this past weekend. I ordered the Soon Tofu with seafood, while my son had the combo of bulgogi and soon tofu with beef. The amount of tofu had decreased substantially, as well as the portion size of the bulgogi. I was quite disappointed. The only constant was the banchan, the selections were still enjoyable, so I filled myself up with the soy sauce beef and potato salad. While this restaurant cannot compared to some of the best ones in Koreatown, it does offer a relaxing atmosphere, comfortable seatings because of the spacious booths, a shorter drive from home, and ample parking spaces.

Mountain Restaurant: 15460 S. Western Ave. Ste 101, Gardena, CA 90247  Phone: (310) 327-8494

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Genwa Korean BBQ- Best of All Worlds

23 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by yummcha in Food, Korean Food

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Tags

Beef, Bibimbap, Bulgogi, Galbi, Korean barbecue, Los Angeles, Meat, Wilshire Boulevard

genwa

Back in the carefree days of my senior year in college, my friend and I would venture out to Koreatown at least once or twice a week to have a barbeque dinner at The Corner Place. She would always ordered the Galbi (marinated beef short ribs), while I persisted with my Bulgogi (marinated beef). We had such a wonderful time wrapping the meat with the lettuce, adding the different varieties of bachan (side dishes) to the wraps and devouring everything in sight. One might have thought we were starving art students.

The only complaint I had those days was that once we came outside, got into the car, I could smell the smoke and sweat on my T-shirt and on my hair, pretty much all over. As I arrived home, I had to make the difficult decision of whether or not to wash my hair even though it was not my normal hair washing day.

Fast-forward to present day at Genwa. Imagine my relief and joy when I realized that I will no longer have to suffer neither the inhalation of the smoke, nor the lingering odor, when I do decide to have a good Korean barbeque – actually, I meant to say the best Korean bbq.

The modern interior with the contemporary wooden furnishings is quite atypical of Korean barbeque restaurants in LA. There is a full bar along one side of the restaurant. The service was impeccable, the attentive young waiters patiently answered all my questions about the menu, and later even asked if we wanted any refills when the dishes became empty. I was impressed.

The twenty or so tiny dishes of bachan were spread around the “smokeless grill”. I was excited and ready to try each and everyone of them. Luckily there were only two of us at the table; I could not imagine a big party sharing such tiny portions of the side dishes despite the abundance of varieties.

We ordered the Prime Galbi (marinated prime short ribs) and the Vegetable Bibim-Bap (mixed rice with vegetables). There are set courses that one can order for 2 to 5 people that come with a House salad, and choices of items which might include Soon Tofu, or Japchae (a clear noodle stir fried w/vegetables and beef), or Kimchee Jigae (kimchee stew), and varieties of different meat.

The prices are not cheap, but the quality of the meat is superb. The prime short rib slices were definitely well-marbled, and the texture could not have been more tender, it absolutely melted  in my mouth. For someone like me who don’t consume much beef anymore, I certainly did not hold back with this meal. I also adored these thinly sliced radishes that one can wrap the meat in, it seemed to help in balancing the fattiness of the beef.

The Bibimbap was served in a sizzling stone pot mixed at the table . The flavors and consistencies are similar to most of ones I tried else where. It was not as impressive as the meat dish.

Genwa Korean BBQ: 5115 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036   Phone: 323-549-0760

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