So Im chillin, post mulching, on the stoop with some of my neighborly Belmontonians the other day, watching Brick and Berries teach his Most Excellent Hound to catch frisbees. Grandfathers ChiHooaHooah, Cocopuff, is too small to get in on the game, but you know, he had to try. All in all a lovely spring afternoon.
Now my man Brick and Berries is a man who loves his food. Fairly soon, he will be in my yard consuming cherries at a rate that is most inhuman. Hell, he has even taught his Most Excellent Hound to enjoy such fruits. He has concocted salsas from the Yo Tomato and Pepper Patch that would make you weep. He may not be a butter obsessed cocoNUT, all well schooled in the Culinary Arts of Goddamnit I Know What Im Talking About, My Parents Had Tall White Hats, nor does he have the Yellow Belt in Free Liquor like señor Francesco, but he is a man among men, and as he is my bud, I trust his buds, tastewise – dig?
So when Brick and Berries starts waxing about “one of the best meals he has ever had in his life”, my lobes were knocked akimbo. Then when his discriptives trend toward “30 different distinct spices and flavors dancing around in his mouth in a distinct yet harmonious manner”, I am like a corn field, baby, all ears. By the time he gets around to the “nicest family and service and presentation and overall happy eating experience” I am waiting for the end of the bible – thats right – revelations! Where is this culinary mecca? And so he told me…
KOREAN HOUSE!
I had seen it before, sandwiched between the strange redneck bar and the discount bun shop, across the tracks from Suds Stampede. I probably would have never given it a second thought, so non descript is its exterior. But with such a glowing rep from Brick and Berries, it was now lodged in my bean. So last night, when myself and the lovely Fifi Le Grande were scoping for a place to sate, I dropped the suggestion. Turns out she is a huge fan of Korean food, so off we went. It was late, but the sign said open, so in we went.
Now the interior lacks the fine accoutrements of many of the wicked overhyped eateries I have seen pass the ascii boxes of this site… were talking folding chairs and pick-a-nick tables. One wall is gayly decked out in surplus soda crates. The art on the wall is basically pictures of the food. But… but… BUT my fine fellow villains, kick your dried apricots my way and listen up – do not let this stop you. Give it not a second thought. Not one, understood? Good.
The family working there is soooo nice, and so proud of their food. I have not had this kind feeling of welcomeness from ANY other restaurant in town, and I think they should be taking notes. Everything is made fresh from scratch, and can be made to accommodate any dietary restriction. Any dish can be modified to suit your desires. All meals come with all sorts of pickled extras – from Kimchee to little dried baby sardines which I was told very enthusiastically would make me “very strong”. I have not had Korean since I left the Pacific Rim, but Fifi LeGrande assured me that the Kimchee was on par with any she had had. I ordered the spicy squid with rice, and chatted with the awesome waitress about the joint. Turns out the hours posted are relative…. basically if the open sign is lit, come on in, they’ll be ready. Good to know.
Surprisingly quick owing to the from scratch cooking, our food arrived. Oh. My. God. The dish I had was easily the most delicious complex and wonderful food of any kind that I have had since moving to virginia. Brick and Berries was absolutely right. Flavors dancing all around like the fucking ballet. I am not a foody, but if such things are possible, perhaps I should be. Good god. Sitting here in my cube I can conjure the experience in my mouth and it makes me drool. And the portions! My god they were huge! HUGE. I kept eating until I was in pain, and still went home with a lunch sized left over. Fifi had sea food soup and it came in what amounted to a mixing bowl. She ate her fill, and went home with a full sized to go order container filled to the rim. This plus all you can eat little binky bowls of various savory extras (”let us know what you like out of all of these and we will bring more!”), plus barley tea that starts hot and is served gradually cooler as you eat the spicy food – and what was the final damage? 23 bucks. Yup. Twenty three american dollars. Are you kidding me?
Please for the love of god, if you have not tried this joint, do. You all know me, I dont go off about restaurants ever. This is amazing. The food is amazing. The people are amazing. The deal is amazing. I would really love to see this joint survive, thrive even – which is why I am trying to steer some business their way. Become a Seoul Brother today, I beseech you.
Oh and protip: I didn’t try any of the meaty dishes, but supposedly chicken is their magical specialty, so any of you bird eaters, this may be your place.
Related posts:
- The Upstairs Restaurant Review
- A Review of Charlottesville’s Si Tapas Restaurant
- The Local Restaurant Review
Okay, I’m sold. Can you give better directions?
Yay!
http://www.thekoreanhouse.com/515141.html
it’s a good secret, use it wisely.
@1 meade between beer run & aqui es mexico, right by 2 sides.
@1 Sure.
Keep in mind, I am not a foody. I have never reviewed a restaurant before. Your milage may vary. I was just very blown away by my dinner, and thought folks would not ever hear about this place unless I spread the word. I certainly wouldn’t have.
B yo, you didn’t describe what you ate. Can you give more details?
Awesome, tell us more.
Someone needs to do a very thorough review of The Bamboo House on 29 North. I’m a foodie too but I hate that term “foodie”. Makes me want to pee on Anthony Bourdain’s pillow.
I am not very good at describing things that are occurring in my mouth, which, upon reflection, is a sentence that sounds peculiar out of context.
Um… OK, put it this way. Sometimes any given dish will just have one taste and there it is. It may be good, but you know, it is what it is. Or sometimes, like with chinese food, there will be several things going on, but you dont like all of them…. I always steer around bamboo shoots and water chestnuts for example. I had spicy squid. It was spicy. Its was hot. It was sweetish. I could taste the squid, the veggies… I could taste spices which I could not identify. Thing was, they were separate but they all worked together in perfect unity to create this one sensation… That is why I was so blown away… It was like a little song in my mouth and I suddenly understood what butterboy and the lot have been going on about. Apparently my neighbor, B&B, had the same experience. I dunno. I guess thats not really helpful. I’d be interested to see if more culinarily educated people get the same effect. Perhaps I am just insane. A distinct possibility, to be sure.
The food, and the experience, made me… well… happy. That just doesn’t happen to me very often, foodwise.
i have had food at Korean House as well, and for not being around any reasonably large sized local Korean population, its food is pretty good. isn’t there another Korean place in cville, the bamboo house or something with stuffed animals?
I ate their once and thought it was ok.
I too am curious as to what dishes you ordered.
There is Arirang (sp?) that is in the old ludwig’s over Fontaine way. I went there once with a Korean dude and he said Korea house was better.
The kimchee soup is amazing. The pictures on the wall are all of the dishes they serve. Hands down the best wait service in town. I agree with byo that the whole experience makes me happy.
I’m pretty sure the bamboo house is closed.
The Bamboo House’s sign was lit and cars were in the lot last night….
I too am curious as to what dishes you ordered.
Spicy squid with rice. That is a picture of the actual dish up there, the very dinner in question. The little dishes are all kinds of little bonuses that just… arrived.
Oh, and once the older woman that works there smiles at you… you stay smiled at. Awesome.
Damn, the secret is out now…
The Bulgogi at Korean House is fantastic. Incredibly simple dish– greater than the sum of its parts. For anyone trying Korean food for the first time, bulgogi is a good first-time dish.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgogi
Very very nice staff. Always a lot of extra food to take home. Watch some of the soups though– no overly vigorous slurping! A friend of mine almost choked to death on a bit of incendiary pepper in his, and he loves the hot stuff. We actually thought we were going to have to call an ambulance.
Think we should have a cvillain meet and greet at the bamboo house.
Wow…thanks for this. It will be the next restaurant I try.
Yo, as eloquent as you usually are, you have outdone yourself. I not only feel like you adequately described the “mouth-rapture” that you experienced (another interesting phrase out of context), but you have now made me hungry for a type of food that I’ve never had. I will definitely be trying this place out.
Hey — I too Haven’t been there. It sounds like you are describing a dream; whether you’re right or wrong, I want in. ‘Specially for 23 bucks?
Props. You have a new career. And thanks for the information.
I still want to go to the Bamboo house no matter what…. Who’s with me?
I’m not allowed. I’d probably get drunk and try to kidnap the stuffed animals.
You see, Bamboo house requires driving, so Im gonna have to pass.
Belmont Yo, I’ve met you and will drive you man…
Bamboo House is where Greene County Shiflets/Shiffletts/Shifllets/Shifflletts go to celebrate the birth of yet another cross-eyed baby with fucked up DNA.The silverware is specially sized for the overly be-fingered.
dammit. this place was supposed to be a secret.
B-yo, if memory serves, you are a vegetarian, no? Regardless, were there some veggie-only options? My one experience eating Korean fare in NoVa led me to believe there wasn’t much there for the herbivores, but I’m only too willing to have my Personal Cuisine-Stereotype Bible updated.
Holy Shit…. it’s Easter and Stanley has risen.
Oh, hush.
This is, and has been, my favorite restaurant in CHarlottesville for a long time. I tell everyone I know about it and am THRILLED that it was reviewed here. The dak bulgogi is amazing and I get the dolsot every time. The family IS so friendly and helpful. All must go. Take it from this Korean. The best Korean food in town. Arrirang and Bamboo House are nothing.
I went there yesterday. The beaming old lady insisted on carrying my large box of food to my car, then got INTO my car and rearranged all the piles of books and shit on the back seat so the box would sit level. Class. I have no idea what I ate, but whatever the spicy hot red thingy was, it was top notch.
Co-inky-dink. I also got carryout yesterday, but without the curbside service. However, the service was warm, the prices reasonable, and the food was delicious. yo speaks the truth.
@32, this seems like the perfect opportunity for Shen to say your books were all about vaginal dryness, and that the lady carried out your food b/c you are all arthritic, etc.
/I’d never say that, though.
//Is Shen ok?
Flooze doesn’t need books on vaginal dryness, Tuff. She told me she just thinks about you and she’s good to go.
So I just follow the snail trail from Korean House and I’ll end up at Floozy’s place?
Good sleuthing, Tuff. Thanks, Shen.
Don’t knock it Tuff…. many have utilized The Floozy Highway to get down Carlton to Beer Run 2 mins before closing. Admittedly, as soon as they get to the tracks they are on their own but I’m happy to think I have enabled many a pisshead to grab a last minute 6 pack of Smuttynose, when the only alternative would be a trek down to BP for a half dozen bottles of Tasteslikemyownurine… and there’s the concomitant risk of them waking up Byo on the way past Casa Notso Grande.
For a primer on Korean food, I’d suggest the following:
http://beiderbecke.typepad.com/tba/2006/01/seoul_food.html
What Korean House lacks in interior decorating and atmosphere — which is to say, everything — it more than makes up for in food. It’s the best Korean food I’ve had outside of Korea and is much, much better than Arirang in Fry’s Spring. If you’re new to Korean food, I’d recommend dolsot bibimbap, which is a combination of rice and vegetables (and one fried egg) served in a blazing hot black bowl. You then mix in kojuchang, or red pepper sauce, to your taste, and eat it with a spoon. Regular bibimbap is the same dish without the heated bowl, but I love the way the rice on the bottom gets crunchy. (The sauce is not TOO spicy, by the way.)
For meat lovers, try the spicy dish dweji bulgogi or dakk bulgogi. The former is pork, the latter chicken — marinated and cooked with vegetables and served with a cup of rice. It’s recommended you take a spoonful of rice and add a bit of meat to it. The spice is not the burn your tongue off spice, but it will make you sweat. The Koreans love to sweat.
Finally, the side dishes are an intricate part of the meal. They’re variations on kimchi, the national dish of Korea — pickled vegetables, mostly, some spicy (like kimchi’d cabbage, better known as just kimchi), some not. The table shares and the folks at Korean House are generous about bringing out more. In fact, if you really want the Korean experience, then I’d recommend getting a couple of dishes for the table to share. That was somehow key to the experience of eating in Korea, for me at least. We all ordered together and ate together. I loved it.
Charlottesville is really lucky to have this place.
Am in the twitching throes of the aftermath of an unbelievable foodgasm.
My first time with Korean…I’ll always remember it.
/really…now only if I had a tall, cool glass of strong and handsome for dessert this will have been a fabulous day.
Dined there last night for the first time. A little pricier than I expected, but very very good with excellent service and a real eating-in-the-kitchen feel.