Oncheon - Review - Koreatown - New York - The Infatuation
"Oncheon is a hot spring-themed Korean restaurant, which means it has large TV screens in each booth playing snowy spa scenes, and a water feature covered in fake snow in the front window. It doesn’t fully transport you out of Koreatown, but still—the room is certainly relaxing, and the beautifully presented Korean-style shabu-shabu is rich and seemingly never-ending. Broth options include signature doenjang and spicy, and they arrive alongside banchan, vegetables, thinly sliced meat, and freshly made kalguksu noodles, all arranged in stacked wooden boxes. Ask for a booth—they're high enough that they obscure the street and all your fellow diners, so that even just for a second, you'll feel like you’re at the snow-covered noodle spa. Food Rundown Bulgogi Gujeolpan If you get a starter, make it this one. This traditional Korean dish has jeon in the center surrounded by matchsticks of vegetables, egg, and bulgogi. Pile a chewy pancake with all the toppings and then dip it in the hot mustard provided. Spicy Curry Shabu-Shabu This thick, dark brown curry is laced with warming spices like cardamom and cinnamon, with just a hint of sweetness, and only a touch of spiciness. You’ll probably want to eat it plain, but don’t ignore your thinly sliced beef, and all of those dusted-in-flour kalguksu noodles. Beef Steak Chanhap Meal Box This steak over rice is arranged so beautifully it looks like a jewel box. Except instead of precious stones, there’s perfectly pink steak, a soft-boiled egg, raw onion, and more. Still, even though we like this dish, you should always prioritize the shabu-shabu." - Willa Moore
