melanwhip
A new Korean restaurant opened in Kitahara Shopping Street. It was created by downsizing the existing Korean shop DAMOA in the area, and now serves as a lunch spot during the day and an izakaya in the evening (day drinking is also allowed). Despite the bad weather, the menu board outside caught my attention, but I quickly entered the restaurant. The shiny interior had about 5 tables, which was more spacious than I expected. There were two types of menus available - the grand menu and the lunch menu, with a wide variety of lunch options to choose from. I decided to order the "Iron Plate Bulgogi Set" and the "Iron Plate Samgyupsal Set". The menu also included rice bowls and bibimbap, but I wanted to try something less common (as bibimbap is usually available at barbecue restaurants). While ordering, I noticed the Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) at the bottom right corner of the menu, which I overlooked. I wonder if the term Samgyetang is commonly used in Korea as well. The waitress, a single female staff member, managed the hall alone, while the kitchen had a separate cook. There was one customer before me and no one after me. The meal started with three side dishes, soup, and rice - kimchi, namul, cold tofu, and egg soup. The kimchi appeared spicy but the other dishes were not. The soup was not the typical sesame oil-based soup found in Korean cuisine, but rather an egg soup. The rice was served in a Japanese-style tea cup. The main dishes were served on iron plates, with the Samgyupsal consisting of pork belly, onions, and leeks with a delicious sesame oil salt flavor. The portion seemed small, but the thick slices of meat were just right. The Bulgogi, on the other hand, was not spicy and had a taste similar to sukiyaki with meat, vegetables, and mushrooms stir-fried together. The bill was cash only (they mentioned that they may add cashless payment options in the future). The prices on the menu were excluding tax, which I realized only when I checked the menu again. They also gave me Korean seaweed at the end. There are Korean restaurants in Nogata that offer takeout and evening service, but I feel like there aren't many places that serve lunch, so I was happy to find this spot. It's conveniently located and seems like a good place for a casual drink (although I always say this without much experience). With the rainy season starting, I look forward to returning on bad weather days.