Just when you think you’ve tried the best, another place comes along.
Since I frequent the Katipunan area in Quezon City, I do my usual food exploration around the Kalayaan, West Avenue, C-5 or Tomas Morato areas. The place must be one I’ve never visited before, unless I have a craving for a particular kind of dish.
In my many drives, I’ve noticed many Korean groceries and restaurants sprouting all over. Along Kalayaan in QC, near city hall, there are now a handful of Korean establishments. You’ll be surprised at what you will find in these places. Most of them sell kimchi by the kilo. But not all of them are the same. Each Korean home has its own recipe of this national dish—just like our adobo.
I have also discovered nori or seaweed snacks. These are sheets that you munch on individually, or sometimes eat with a spoonful of rice or a piece of fish or chicken. I have also discovered that like Japan, Korea makes a lot of ice cream bars and fantastic candies.
Frozen delights
Most of the groceries have a chiller full of these frozen delights or a whole isle of sweet tooth magnets. I try to sample each one of them, or ask the tindera which ones are the bestsellers. I also inquire and experiment on the instant noodles that are popular with the Korean nationals, only to find they are so spicy. And I love it.
My son Arturo has also introduced me to an orange drink only found in these stores. It is a pulp-laced drink which, when chilled, is a perfect thirst buster.
One of my past discoveries was a restaurant along the Kalayaan area. I went back alone to that place four or five times, focusing on a healthy dish I once tried and had fallen in love with. But one particular day, my partner Ding and I were driving along C-5 on our way to Eastwood when we spotted a newly renovated Korean restaurant called Jang-Gun.
Healthy dish
As soon as we drove by, the picture of hoe doyp bap came to mind. Lately, I have been craving for this healthy dish. Each time I try a new Korean place, there are two dishes I must have: Hoe Doyp Bap and pajeon. The first one is an extremely healthy dish made of julienne strips of carrots, lettuce, radish, jalapeño, sili, leeks and, believe it or not, pears. Arranged neatly over steaming hot rice, topped with chunks of salmon sashimi and laced with a Dup Bap sauce or red chili sauce, this dish has got me big time.
You mix the entire dish until it becomes one color and pick up the combination with chopsticks. I love the burst of flavors in the mouth. You taste the freshness and the crunch of the veggies, plus the heat of the sauce, the sweetness of the pears and, once in a while, the spiciness of the jalapeño.
I usually have this with Pajeon or seafood pancake with its dipping sauce. Healthy na, sarap pa!
At Jang-Gun, I also sampled a few other dishes like the grilled oyster blade beef and the chicken. These you wrap in lettuce leaf with a slice of fresh garlic. Then, dip this in fresh sesame oil sprinkled with pepper, and hot dipping sauce. Also very good.
As soon as we sat down, we were immediately given a variety of appetizers. There were an assortment of marinated veggies. Among these, I loved the resto’s version of dry spicy alamang, called sewn muchim. It was a wonderful accompaniment to the seafood pancake.
From my experience, desserts are not something to look forward to in Korean dining places, so we didn’t try.
There are many other Korean restaurants all over and I intend to visit each one. So far, Jang-Gun is at the top of my list. Who knows which new place would dethrone it someday?
Happy Eating!
Jang-Gun is at C-5, No. 7 E. Rodriguez Ave.; tel. 6558566.