Houston’s All-You-Can-Eat Dookki Tteokbokki Is a Multi-Part Korean Dining Experience | Eater Houston

"I decided to venture out to try Houston’s Dookki, the first U.S. location of a Korean chain with more than 350 outlets, and what I encountered was a 90-minute all-you-can-eat, modern take on tteokbokki that emphasizes DIY table cooking. The experience begins at an ingredients bar where you load a medium bowl with a dozen-plus options—ramen, various tteok (round-shaped rice tteok, thick wheat noodle tteok, fish cake noodles), fried tofu, cabbage, and proteins like meatballs, shrimp, and fish balls—then pour them into a simmering, spice-laden red broth at your table, stir, and let the noodles soften and the sauce thicken. A separate buffet of hot fried items—fried chicken, fried dumplings, seaweed rolls filled with noodles, corn cheese balls, fried sweet potato cakes, and fish cakes on a stick—are perfect for dunking (and there’s an optional cheese dipping sauce for extra creaminess). The name Dookki, which means “two meals,” reflects the dual dining experience: after the soup you preserve some broth and cook kimchi fried rice at your table with mix-ins like ham, sweet corn, onion, seaweed flakes, and scoops of kimchi, frying it until the bottom crisps for extra flavor; there’s also a ramen bar, bulgogi station, and a self-serve ice cream freezer to extend the AYCE run. I initially felt intimidated by all the steps, so the server’s instructions and the paper cheat sheet were helpful, and owner Steve Hong—who opened the Houston restaurant with his wife Sunny in early August using social media and word-of-mouth—says the busy turnout reflects growing U.S. interest in Korean culture driven by K-pop and other Korean media; Korean food has long been visible in Houston, particularly in areas like Asiatown. Overall, it’s a hands-on, social, multifaceted experience centered on chewy rice cakes, customizable broths, and a savory finish of kimchi fried rice." - Brittany Britto Garley