Barbara P.
Yelp
This is exactly my favorite type of place -- a mom and pop, no-frills kind of restaurant that specializes in a certain type of food.
Years ago, I saw a review for Asiana that said you felt like you were eating food cooked by your grandma. I would agree (if your grandma cooked Korean food). It feels very homemade.
Last night the weather was cold and rainy, and my husband and I stopped in to Asiana. Half the place is a small Korean grocery, and half is a casual restaurant with a few tables.
We were invited to sit wherever we wanted. The menus are taped to the wall, and the cooks will come out and ask what you want to order. My husband ordered bibimbap, and I ordered the beef and soft tofu soup.
First they brought out water and banchan (small side dishes that you can snack on before the meal and/or eat with your meal). Last night it was cabbage kimchee, radish kimchee, cucumber kimchee, and a mild flat noodle of some kind. All were tasty.
My husband's bibimbap was delicious. The only difference I noticed is that usually I've seen bibimbap served with strips of beef, and this was made with ground beef, but he really enjoyed it anyway and the portions were good. Sometimes bibimbap is served with a raw egg on top, and you mix it in, because the food and the bowl is so hot. However, this came with a fried egg on top, which was also fine. Very tasty and filling dish.
My beef and soft tofu soup was also delicious. Lots of substantial chunks of beef, lots of tofu. The broth was spicy and very salty (in a good way). They gave me a side of rice, which I mixed in a bit. Again, good portions.
I hate to compare this wonderful homemade food with the food at Shila (a Korean BBQ AYCE place) but it might help to know: If anyone is a fan of the tofu soup at Shila, this soup was similar, with similar flavors, but it was a lot better. (And instead of mushrooms, there is beef.) We always get the soup at Shila and it's a highlight for us -- so to say that this soup is better is a big compliment -- but again, it's the homemade-ness of the food that is the big wow factor here!
After dinner, we also shopped at the store and got a large container of their cabbage kimchee. Their kimchee was so delicious that we had to take some home!
As we were driving out, in the pouring, POURING rain, the very nice and very busy guy from the restaurant -- one of only two people working -- ran out to bring my husband his hat and phone, which he'd left behind on the table. So nice of him!
Great food, a great experience, and very reasonably priced too. This meal cost less than the last time we went to Arby's -- and it was infinitely better.