Meat, Meat, and More Meat.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 7:00AM With a side of meat. :)
I was first introduced to Korean BBQ (REAL Korean BBQ, not the chain stuff) by my friend Goober about a year and a half ago. We hadn't been on a KBBQ outing in a long time, so we were due! Last weekend we went to our favorite spot: Hai Woon Dae. It's in a strip mall, and the proprietors are incredibly nice - and then there's the food...
When you arrive, firstly, I recommend leaving your coat in your car. Korean BBQ is smoky smoky, and will make you smell hilarious, so leave anything extra in your car. We were a large enough group that we were afforded a private room, which was so nice - also meaning that we needed to go shoe-free.
Goober has cute shoes.
Somehow Goober often ends up in charge of ordering for everyone at dinnertime. Basically, the rule is to just eat whatever Goober tells you to eat because it will be delicious.
See! We don't even bother looking at the menu.
Korean BBQ can involve lots and lots of meat!!! Goober ordered pork, chicken, beef, short rib, shrimp, and squid. Mmmmmm good.
In Korean BBQ, each table is set with mini grills, so that you cook up your own meat.
You also receive many small plates of condiments/side dishes. Lettuce for wrapping, bean paste, bean sprouts - the list goes on an on. Hilariously, the potato salad is most popular.
Spicy noodles!
Here is where I need some clarification - as far as drinks, we order O.B. beer, which is kind of like PBR, but Korean, and we love it. It comes in a forty size, which is perfect for us. Also, you can order this potato alcohol which is a cross between vodka and sake. It's potent. It's delicious. Be careful, son.
We toasted at every opportunity with it! I can't remember the name - I'm sure one of you knows, so put it in the comments!
Two of my sisters are South Korean, and so growing up we always had kimchi around our house. Somehow I never tried it myself!!! Tonight was the night.... and I actually really enjoyed it.
I cannot express to you the crazy amount of food we ordered.
It was K-Spice's birthday celebration - say Happy Birthday!
Happy to have gorged myself on BBQ.
Lots of laughing and fun!
This picture sums up about how we felt after two hours of eating!
There's just something about communal eating experiences that's different from restaurants where everyone orders their own meal. Sharing the cooking/eating/sampling of all kinds of food is just special. We had a great time, and I highly recommend Hai Woon Dae if you're in Chicago... And be sure to wear your eating pants!
Food, Friends, Life, Restaurants, Reviews
Reader Comments (3)
It will make you smell hilarious... LOL! And oh so true! Everyone needs a Goober in their life! You're making me huunngggrry!
YUM - I love Korean food (and I grew up in a town with tons and tons of it!). Looks like a fun time!
Okay...first off...how awesome is Koeran food? Seriously...I love it! It's sad, but true..I grew up with only kimchi as my taste of Korea...that's it. College hit..and BAM! I am introduced to things I would have never have eaten before...Pot stickers, Bulgolgi, Sushi, and yes...octopus....I am glad you had that experience too! =)