Foodie Restaurant Diary: Korean

I decided to start writing about restaurants. Since my recent lifestyle change, I figured that if I can't eat everything I used to, I'd at least write about it. I love food, what can I say? I love going out to eat food, socialize with food, drinking with food, cooking food... you get it, right? So, this first entry will be dedicated to my first love: Korean.

Jong Ga House: 372 Grand Avenue, Oakland, Ca. This place is my new favorite place. The side dishes, (banchan), are excellent. If the banchan is good, there's a better chance that the entree's are good. Dol Sot Bibim Bap is always a hit, but I love the Bo Saam. Warning, you've really got to love pork and oysters to love Bo Saam. Otherwise, the Sauteed Calamari is also a yummy item.

Sahn Maru: 4315 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, Ca. I come here because it's also good, the ingredients are fresh, and flavors are pretty spot on. They make their own sauces (red paper paste), and noodles. So try their noodle soups (Kal Gooksoo), and the seafood pancake appetizer. Their Bo saam is good here too, but most all their dishes are pretty good.

Pyung Chang Tofu House: 4701 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, Ca. The BEST soft tofu house. I have been to many others, but this is by far, the best place. I was a little worried because they changed owners a couple years ago, but hope was not lost. It's still F'in good.

Sam Won: 2600 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, Ca. The ambience here sucks... there are no windows. But, if you really want some good ass Korean BBQ, come here. They are the Brothers (in San Francisco) of Oakland. I never really liked their banchan though. But their cold buckwheat noodle soup (naengmyun), and BBQ is hella good.


++Rule of thumb++
Korean restaurants are notorious for bad customer service. Fortunately, most of these restaurants are not that bad. If you want something and it's taking forever, just call and wave at the waiters.... it's no big deal. If you go to a place like Sam Won where you literally BBQ your meat at your table, be prepared to reek of BBQ when you leave. It'll be embedded in your clothes and hair. Otherwise, enjoy.... you won't ever leave hungry.