JIN JOO KOREAN BBQ OPENS IN GLORIETTA 4

I was invited to an exclusive pre-opening event of Jin Joo Korean BBQ's newest branch at Glorietta 4! During my first visit to Jin Joo at Podium, I managed to try their unlimited samgyeopsal offerings. This time, I got to try their ala carte dishes, and I was immediately blown away with how amazing their food was!

Jin Joo Korean BBQ Ground Floor, Glorietta 4

Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex 

Makati City

BONCHON'S NEW KOREAN BBQ BIBIMBOWL!

           From its K-Dramas, to its music and now its food, the Philippines has been quite captivated with Korean Culture for quite some time now. I must admit, I myself am a fan of Korean Food, and with the explosion of Samgyupsal restaurants around Metro Manila, I often find myself craving a meal comprised of those delectable slices of Pork Belly.

                As I was walking around the mall with my family, I chanced upon Bonchon – which has been one of my go-to restaurants when I’m looking for a dependable, delicious meal, that is affordable. Given that Bonchon is always finding ways to innovate their lineup of dishes, it came to no surprise to me that there was a new item on their menu.. The Samguyupsal-Inspired Korean BBQ Bibimbowl!

                Naturally, I had to stop by to give it a try!

FROM CALI TO MANILA: GEN KOREAN BBQ HOUSE

  The last time I was in the US was back in 2014. Even though it was a little over three years ago, there was a place that I had eaten there that I really enjoyed and never forgot. I was amazed because, even though we were in the United States, it was probably one of the best Korean Restaurants that I had ever tried, and I couldn't help but wish that they would open up a branch in the Philippines someday. 

          Last August, that wish came true, when Gen Korea BBQ opened it's doors to the Philippines at the Mall of Asia Complex. 

I AM KIM: BAPS SO GOOD, YOU'LL FORGET YOUR NAME

Thanks Hefty Foodie for the picture!

         Chef Him Uy De Baron is perhaps one of the most Avante Garde Chefs in the country today. To Chef Him, it never seems to be just about creating delectable dishes that will take your taste buds for a ride. Chef Him also takes pride in creating a unique dining experience for his customers unlike any other that they've had before. In a country where Ramen restaurants are popping up left and right, all claiming to have the most authentic recipe, this side of Japan, Chef Him boldly conceptualized "Nomama", an artisanal ramen restaurant, wherein his concoctions where limited only by his imagination.

       If Ramen was the spotlight of Nomama, Chef Him's latest concept, I Am Kim, focuses on his fascination with the Korean staple, Bibimbap. However, what I am Kim does is take the dish to dazzling new heights, and open your eyes up to a world of possibilities that this one dish can offer.

SARIWON: A TASTE OF KOREA IN THE PHILIPPINES

            I may not care for their hairstyles or their music (With the "Sistars" being the sole exception, that I watch on mute), but I must say that I quite enjoy Korean Cuisine - Especially when it comes to their Barbecue. Though I had heard of Sariwon numerous times through the foodie grapevine, I had yet to try the dishes that they had to offer. 

         One fine day, I tagged along with some of my blogger friends to visit Sariwon's newest branch in Greenhills, to see how it compared to the other Korean restaurants I've been to in the past. 

        

        It took only one visit for me to feel silly for not going there a lot earlier. 

THIS IS A HOLDAK!

         Among the cities in the Metro that I would love to explore further, Quezon City would definitely be high up on that list. I know it's not exactly far away, but the sheer size of the city leaves so many restaurants just waiting to be discovered. It's almost unfair because over ten years ago, I was a resident of Quezon City.. and back then, I assure you, it wasn't the restaurant haven it is today. In fact, I was kind of bummed to find out that the exact spot where I used to pick up my ex girlfriend during my college days- The spot that back then, only had McDonald's as a decent place to eat - has been turned into a condominium called "Mezza Residences", and is now filled with intriguing restaurants! The one that caught my attention the most was Holdak.  

          Apparently, the word "Holdak" in Korean stands for, "To fall madly, and deeply in love with Chicken". In all my years as a lover of food, I've never had a fried chicken that had me hearing the music of "Savage Garden" in my head. It seemed like all that would change once I got a bite of Holdak's twice fried chicken. 

SMOPER CHICKEN: THE KOREAN CHICKEN CRAZE CONTINUES

           I still remember when Rina and I first got bitten by the Korean Chicken craze. The lines for the popular twice fried wings were ridiculously long, yet we braved it. And funnily enough, we continued to do so, until we eventually got sick of it. 

         Truthfully, when all was said and done, 90% of the goodness came from the crispiness of the skin. I found the meat itself lacking in flavor, which is why I stuck to the wings and stayed away from other cuts, such as the drumsticks, chops, or even my beloved thigh. 

         Though my taste buds enjoyed the skin of the Soy Garlic, I couldn't help but think that the chicken meat itself could use some sort of a diping sauce.   

       Years later (Possibly due to a chicken overload), my love for Korean Twice Fried Chicken has tempered. I don't look for it the way I used to. 

      That all changed the moment I walked into Smoper Chicken  

NEW BARBECUE SPECIALS FROM BULGOGI BROTHERS! -RinaZ

        I have a confession to make…

         I like watching Koreanovelas. Specifically the romatic-comedy ones. I think they write great plots and I get so kilig with those kilig moments. Kilig to the point that I have to cover my mouth with a pillow to scream. (I know). 

Family dinner scene from Golden Bride

From Full House. Rain eating kimchi rice straight from from a huge bowl

       Anyway, whenever I watch these koreanovelas, there are a loooot of dining scenes. And for me, how they eat is so appetizing. Like what they’re eating is really really good! They never fail to get my tummy rumbling! Especially how they eat steaming white sticky rice with that long spoon. Oh my golly! Really has a effect on my tummy!

Bulgoggi Brothers in Mall of Asia

              So when I went to Bulgoggi Brothers, I was so into the long-spoon-and-rice scenario that I ate 3 cups of rice!!! (No judging please hehe) Well, technically it was 2 and a half because I only finished half of my third bowl. But really, aside from the fact that I was having fun envisioning myself in Korea eating a lovely meal with steaming hot rice using a long spoon, the real reason which made me ate so much was their new Barbecue Specials Menu!

YOOGANE, YOU GOT IT BAD...

        I first heard of Yoogane from my blogger friend Richard, the man behind the food blog, Tales From The Tummy. During a trip to Korea earlier this year, Yoogane was one of the places that he had visited, and mentioned that they would be bringing their famous signature dish, "Dak Galbi" to the Philippines. 

       A few days after they opened their doors to the Philippine public, my blogger buddy Glenn Ong asked if I wanted to join him and other bloggers for a taste of what Yoogane had to offer.

      I hadn't had Korean Cuisine since my delicious trip to Bulgogi Brothers , so I was more than happy to go! Not to mention I had never been to Il Terrazzo, and I was hoping to add more entries to my "Quezon City" Label..

      And I wanted to make my mom, a Koreanovela fanatic that made her obsessed with anything to do with the country, jealous hehe.. 

       

MAKING PEACE AT BULGOGI BROTHERS

        Over the past couple of years, I've shared with you my love-hate relationship with "The Bistro Group", the organization that has brought to our country some of the best restaurants chains from around the world, (Fridays, Italianni's, Fish and Co.,  etc..). 

        My love for them springs from the quality of their food and service. I can safely say that I haven't had any major standout problem with either. In fact, I would rate their service of their many restaurant as consistently excellent, and food.. well.. their restaurants would not have been successful had they been serving turds on a plate, right?

       The "Hate" in our relationship, comes from me hating the fact that I never got my hard card when I signed up for membership of the "Bistro Frequent Food (BFF)" discount card. Despite numerous follow ups via email and phone calls, I was forced to use a tattered up piece of card board for a year. Though they honored it just the same, I did feel a tad bit short changed  because I never received the actual card. 

       After the card expired, I didn't renew. Instead, I stood at the tip of a mountain top in the dead of the night and screamed at the food gods, swearing I would never EVER return to a Bistro Group restaurant until I they explained to me what happened to my card. 

         

         Yeah, that really didn't work out. 

      Much to the hilarity of the food gods, during the duration of my "boycott", I ended up going to each and every one of those restaurants at one point or another. Sometimes unwittingly (Pig Out, Ma Maison, Stock Market Cafe, Krazy Garlik), and the rest, it was more like.. After seeing a picture on display at the mall.. "Ah screw the boycott! I'm hungry!" (Italianni's, Flapjacks).  

            I recently found out that the Korean BBQ place I had been eyeing in Greenbelt 5, "Bulgogi Brothers", was also part of The Bistro Group. So as my way of "saving face", no matter how enticing the thought of their BBQ would be, I decided that would be my final hold out until I hear an explanation from them.  

     
         Man, was it worth the wait. 

THE KOGI BULGOGI INCIDENT

Not to be mistaken for..

          The first time I saw the sign for Kogi Bulgogi in Eastwood some time last year, when the restaurant itself was still under construction. I went with Rina to meet up some of her high school friends at The Coffee Bean, which was on the ground floor of the next building (across the new Eastwood Plaza). While Rina was sipping on her favorite "Frozen White Chocolate Dream" while swapping stories with her friends, I was looking out the window for a place to eat.

           Rina says I have an uncanny ability of spotting signs on the road of new menu items from fast food places, so with my eagle eyes, I scanned the area and saw the "Kogi" sign. Instantly it caught my attention. Not because i'm such a Korean food lover (I'm not, In fact apart from Kalbi, Bulgogi and Bibimbap, I don't know any other Korean dishes) but because "Kogi" is the name of a very popular Korean BBQ food truck in LA, that I've been dying to try ever since i've heard of it! In fact, my Ninang Pochay in L.A. got me a shirt!

...The original.

         As soon as I saw it, I sprinted to the second floor of the other building, leaving Rina and her baffled friends behind. I was heartbroken (not to mention exhausted) when i got there and realized it was just another Korean Restaurant that ripped off the logo. And though they removed the "flame" from their logo now, I can assure you that their logo on the "Under Construction Tarp" had it, making it look nearly exactly like the Kogi BBQ truck logo (I can't find the pic I took, darn it).

          Since I couldn't forgive their earlier attempt at deceit, It took me a while before I finally agreed to try the place. It was only when I realized that they removed the flame from the logo that I decided I'll try it. And when we took Schatzi out to Eastwood, it was the best time to go on our first Korean adventure.