Korean Food

[Kurosaki]

Yeah, not following that logic either.

Jordan is a bigger foodie than 95% of this forum both in restaurant experience and cooking himself. I trust his opinion on all kinds of food way more than most.

But I'll keep that in mind because he's white and jewish, so his opinion is only valid to a certain extent.

 

[dravnx]

Authentic doesn’t necessarily equate to good either.

 

[Abacinator]

Yeah, not following that logic either.

Jordan is a bigger foodie than 95% of this forum both in restaurant experience and cooking himself. I trust his opinion on all kinds of food way more than most.

But I'll keep that in mind because he's white and jewish, so his opinion is only valid to a certain extent.

Careful what you say or he'll space-laser you!

 

[AdamFiveFive]

Authentic doesn’t necessarily equate to good either.

I went to an "authentic" restaurant. It was full of people from that part of the world. Food was eaten with hands, not utensils. Fish still had the scales. The person who hosted the meal was upset that I did not appreciate her cultural offerings. I suppose I would have more of an appreciation for that meal if I grew up in that culture, or spent a reasonable amount of time in that culture. I just was not qualified to say if that food was good or bad.

 

[Kurosaki]

Well that's on the restaurant. If you weren't really clear on how the food is traditionally eaten, the service staff can help more and keep their disappointment to themselves. A restaurant isn't your friend's parents' house. If I want to go to an 'authentic' ramen restaurant and eat my meal with a fork instead of chopsticks, the service staff can shut up if they don't like that, and I'm pretty qualified to appreciate ramen. Restaurants have to assume that they are going to have people come in that are not that familiar with the old school traditional ways. If they're passing off negativity on you because of it, I call that bad service.

If the food tasted good to you, then it was good food. If it tasted like shit, then it's not good food, for you.

Still don't understand all this "not qualified" stuff. If you eat at a restaurant where you don't know the customs, after one time guess what? Now you're qualified because you know. No one is required to like all the food from their ethnic background and it's not a requirement to be of a certain ethnic background, or spent a considerable amount of time in it, to be qualified in appreciating the food.

A lot of my friends are Filipino immigrants or grew up in that culture and they hate balut... because the shit is gross.

 

[TylerW]

Here's a tangential question that folks maybe hand an answer to: There was a period in my life for a year or so where I was going out for Korean pretty often, maybe once a month or so for 1.5-2 years. I had half a dozen restaurants in my rotation.

And almost every time they would serve me a spicy tofu soup in addition to my order - but I didn't order it and it didn't come with my meal. It was an item on the menu that I could have ordered, but didn't - and they didnt charge me for it either.

It was delicious and I appreciated it every time, but I never understood why I always got this service. Did I just look like a gringo who needed more spicy soup in my life?

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

I'm going to the de Young museum this Sunday and have a hankering for Korean food. Any recommendations, hopefully convenient to the museum or at least somewhat north of there so we can stop on the way home to Santa Rosa.

Yoyoyo, so, disregarding the distractions, how was the museum and the visit and the food?!??

 

[mitanokaseifu]

Multiple trips to Japan in the last 20 years, I consider ramen, sushi, etc. AS authentic-lite. You can't really pull off the experience he experience here. It gets obvious when people come back from a Japan trip raving about 7-11 takeout.

 

[dravnx]

The Ramses II exhibit was jaw dropping, brain exploding, fantastic. To see artifacts and intricate art from 3300 years ago was amazing. Calling this a Ramses II exhibit is a bit of click bait as the Ramses tomb was plundered and only a few small artifacts that were found in hidden niches exist. There were plenty of other artifacts related to Ramses II, his family and dynasty on exhibit to see and gawk at though. What I found interesting is that there was only a short video about the moving of the Ramses II temple when the Aswan dam was built. This was a major undertaking in the 1960's. I remember reading about it in Nat Geo when I was a kid.

Because we had a handicapped placard, parking was easy in the museum garage. We got there early so we had time to have cup of tea in the cafe.

After the museum we drove to Mugaboka. The staff were great, the portions large and the price reasonable. We ordered a huge amount of food so we had plenty to take home. And yes they brought us the "on the house" bowl of spicy tofu soup.
The Banchan (side dishes) were pretty standard. My dinner guests have never eaten traditional Korean so it was fun watching them explore and have a good time. My girlfriends 84 yo friend had eaten a gummy a couple of hours before we had dinner so she was giggling like a little girl. It was so cute.

The food was so, so. I've eaten a lot of Korean food and I thought theirs was a bit bland. The Bul Go Gi was tender and sizzling but bland. The seafood pancake was standard and the veggie pancake was under cooked. The stand out of the night was a spicy prawn dish. Just enough spice to make it interesting with big tender prawns swimming in a red chili sauce.

I probably won't go back unless I'm in the neighborhood because Mugaboka didn't have the pizazz that I was looking for.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Yeah, not following that logic either.

Jordan is a bigger foodie than 95% of this forum both in restaurant experience and cooking himself. I trust his opinion on all kinds of food way more than most.

But I'll keep that in mind because he's white and jewish, so his opinion is only valid to a certain extent.

Thanks that is a real compliment

Careful what you say or he'll space-laser you!

You guys want some space-blintzes?

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

The Ramses II exhibit was jaw dropping, brain exploding, fantastic. To see artifacts and intricate art from 3300 years ago was amazing. Calling this a Ramses II exhibit is a bit of click bait as the Ramses tomb was plundered and only a few small artifacts that were found in hidden niches exist. There were plenty of other artifacts related to Ramses II, his family and dynasty on exhibit to see and gawk at though. What I found interesting is that there was only a short video about the moving of the Ramses II temple when the Aswan dam was built. This was a major undertaking in the 1960's. I remember reading about it in Nat Geo when I was a kid.

Because we had a handicapped placard, parking was easy in the museum garage. We got there early so we had time to have cup of tea in the cafe.

After the museum we drove to Mugaboka. The staff were great, the portions large and the price reasonable. We ordered a huge amount of food so we had plenty to take home. And yes they brought us the "on the house" bowl of spicy tofu soup.
The Banchan (side dishes) were pretty standard. My dinner guests have never eaten traditional Korean so it was fun watching them explore and have a good time. My girlfriends 84 yo friend had eaten a gummy a couple of hours before we had dinner so she was giggling like a little girl. It was so cute.

The food was so, so. I've eaten a lot of Korean food and I thought theirs was a bit bland. The Bul Go Gi was tender and sizzling but bland. The seafood pancake was standard and the veggie pancake was under cooked. The stand out of the night was a spicy prawn dish. Just enough spice to make it interesting with big tender prawns swimming in a red chili sauce.

I probably won't go back unless I'm in the neighborhood because Mugaboka didn't have the pizazz that I was looking for.

Nice review

So I haven't been to this "Mugaboka", but judging by the pictures, it seems to be a real neighborhood value type of place.
I'd still go to.thr aforementioned (by me) "Han Il Kwan", coincidentally on the same avenue...if I had to choose. Might be a bit yummier

 

[lizard]

Multiple trips to Japan in the last 20 years, I consider ramen, sushi, etc. AS authentic-lite. You can't really pull off the experience he experience here. It gets obvious when people come back from a Japan trip raving about 7-11 takeout.

Not sure what you’re saying here but I think I understand(?).

Of the 41+ countries I have visited, Japan is the most fascinating. Been there several times. There is more to Japan cuisine than ramen and sushi (I think that’s what you’re saying). Rolls are like burritos - if you know what I’m saying then you know.

7 Eleven in Asia is man-heaven. Same with Lawson in Japan. Eat a strawberry from a Takayama 7 Eleven and you’ll taste what God intended fr strawberries.

Then there’s random vending machines on the side of the road. Random. Hot corn soup. Life is good!

Feel free to quote and flame me.

 

[Kurosaki]

Not sure what you’re saying here but I think I understand(?).

Of the 41+ countries I have visited, Japan is the most fascinating. Been there several times. There is more to Japan cuisine than ramen and sushi (I think that’s what you’re saying). Rolls are like burritos - if you know what I’m saying then you know.

7 Eleven in Asia is man-heaven. Same with Lawson in Japan. Eat a strawberry from a Takayama 7 Eleven and you’ll taste what God intended fr strawberries.

Then there’s random vending machines on the side of the road. Random. Hot corn soup. Life is good!

Feel free to quote and flame me.

I'm way less traveled than you and many other BARFers. I can't speak for any restaurants in Japan since I've never been there but a few of my neighbors in the apartment complex in college were Japanese exchange students. Or at the very least if we went out to eat I'd take their advice "go here, don't go there." We'd hang out often, they'd help me with studying Japanese, I'd help them with some of the stupid nuances of English like why 'live' and 'live' are two different words. We were friends outside of that but anyway...

We'd cook every so often. Sometimes dishes my mom taught me. Sometimes dishes their parents taught them. Things I'd never heard of or could order at any Japanese restaurant I've been too. Some great some decent on both sides. The food we both cooked was mediocre but the words authentic and qualified apply on both sides.

On a separate note, to A55, I have nothing against you personally, brotha. But I feel you gotta really get out of many of your preconceived beliefs. You ever been to an authentic black soul food restaurant? I mean real authentic, not poking fun at you, but a legit non-commercialized soul food restaurant.

 

[lizard]

On a separate note, to A55, I have nothing against you personally, brotha. But I feel you gotta really get out of many of your preconceived beliefs. You ever been to an authentic black soul food restaurant? I mean real authentic, not poking fun at you, but a legit non-commercialized soul food restaurant.

Does one exist in the Bay Area? I would really like to try one.

My Homestyle Café is close to my office. I have yet to try it. Don’t go by their menu because she often advertises a special menu of the day written on a sign she places on the sidewalk.

http://myhomestylecafe.net/

 

[Kurosaki]

I can't speak for bay area soul food since I've never lived there and wasn't looking for it anytime I've visited as an adult.

If you're really interested, I could ask my mom. She'd probably remember, either yes or no, assuming any place is still open. Her side of the family is from Oakland but as a kid, we spent most of our time at my grandmother's house with home cooked meals.

 

[Eldritch]

Did I just look like a gringo who needed more spicy soup in my life?

Context is irrelevant, you so light skinneded that answer to this is always yes.

 

[lizard]

I can't speak for bay area soul food since I've never lived there and wasn't looking for it anytime I've visited as an adult.

If you're really interested, I could ask my mom. She'd probably remember, either yes or no, assuming any place is still open. Her side of the family is from Oakland but as a kid, we spent most of our time at my grandmother's house with home cooked meals.

You’ve never lived in the bay area? Nor Japan? Weird. My decade-long perception of you was/is you’re a bay area AA who lived in Japan. Weird.

Yeah, please ask your mom.

 

[Kurosaki]

You’ve never lived in the bay area? Nor Japan? Weird. My decade-long perception of you was/is you’re a bay area AA who lived in Japan. Weird.

Yeah, please ask your mom.

I'm surprised you didn't know this. The closest I've lived to the bay is Sacramento. I just really like you people and I've met a bunch of BARFers in my time here.

To the other point, my nihongo is shit at this point. If you don't you use it you lose it, right? But I can still hear it... Especially at Japanese restaurants when people are talking about the black guy and they think I can't understand them. A simple anato wo wakata, (I understood you) shuts them the fuck up. or if I'm feeling more polite in a vindictive way with a smile, wakarimashita...

We're off on another tangent now... Wouldn't be a sink thread if that didn't happen though... amirite?

 

[lizard]

I'm surprised you didn't know this. The closest I've lived to the bay is Sacramento. I just really like you people and I've met a bunch of BARFers in my time here.

To the other point, my nihongo is shit at this point. If you don't you use it you lose it, right? But I can still hear it... Especially at Japanese restaurants when people are talking about the black guy and they think I can't understand them. A simple anato wo wakata, (I understood you) shuts them the fuck up. or if I'm feeling more polite in a vindictive way with a smile, wakarimashita...

We're off on another tangent now... Wouldn't be a sink thread if that didn't happen though... amirite?

Sacratomato? Really? I had no idea.

My go to is “so kweh, anata o ki na, JORO!!!”

 

[mitanokaseifu]

I think Sam Jordan's may have been the last. I was doing some accounting work for them and kind of salivating as I crunched numbers, thinking I need to make it over to HP.