Miguel R.
Yelp
My friend Conrad and I went to a nearby Korean bar that had an insane wait. I mean, we just assumed that the wait was insane. We could not find a parking space inside the lot, and people were waiting outside, lots of people. The wait was not for us, not this time. Right on the opposite corner of this place was Chi Chi. We just walked upon it and it was a party that awaited us, with some really good food. It was what we were looking for this evening, and we found it when another place would have us wait too long. Although, this place took us in, and gave us confetti vibes and delicious fare, we were seated where we should have been: the very last table in the back. More on this later but for now, let me start from the moment we entered the room.
So Conrad and I entered, and the head bopping music and crowd noise was immediate, it could not be escaped. What I liked is that the party was not just loud because, bare with me, there is a notion that supports the flawed belief that noisy claps and overtop hoots make a crowd fun, instead of just loud. But, the party was contained yet still in a cool uproar, it had the balance of audacious fun and respectful order which makes joy not be intimidating. This central area had a large television. In a video I catch the television showing a DJ spinning records. The television pulsated song and moment into the crowd. I could not wait to be part of the revelers. But I had to, I was informed that there was a 15 minute wait.
Conrad and I went to the second section of Chi Chi which had video games, kind of like Chuck E Cheez. But do not imagine Chuck E Cheez games or Dave and Buster games, because Conrad and I played these games. I was taking it all in, and kind of like over stimulated by the sounds and sights and people that were now all movement all around me. Then, I found a room that allowed Conrad and I to escape to our own mini moment of exhale: the place's Photo Booth. The price for a picture was 12.00 dollars, which is steep, especially since both Conrad and I have smartphones. But, the moment required funds to materialize. So we paid the 12 dollars, and we went through screens to select our color combinations and motif. For one of the squares, I went noir. Eventually, we got a printed out square of four square pictures. Another patron gave us the second. I thought we got a print, it turns out you get two. I put them inside my wallet and then I lost them. I did take a picture of them for memory's sake, and that frankly is worth more than 12.00 dollars, maybe not to all, but for me on this night, it was. That is why it stung to loose the prints.
Eventually, Conrad and I sat outside. I got a lemon soju, that was 19.00 dollars. I could not drink it, in gulps, I am not sure if you are suppose to take it as shots, or sip it. When I was in the table, I mixed it with Sprite and it was too hard of an alcohol for me to join. As it reads, I am not too familiar with Korean liquor and how it should be imbibed. Then finally, a co-worker noticed that we were sitting waiting, and then they took us inside--- to the last table before one can go out into the patio. I asked if we could sit somewhere else, they practically laughed in my face. I understood that if I wanted a better sit, then I needed to come early.
The food was great--- flavorful, inventive, engaging, and it stands out even to an eater like me, who has enjoyed Korean fare throughout the years in many different form. What I appreciated the most was the Korean Rice Cakes with mini sausages, skewers. A Korean fried rice cake is both chewy and fried just slightly. It tastes like a cracker that is still baking---- that is the best way that I can describe it. The sweet sauciness of the sausages was a break from the savory spikes of the sausage and the rice cakes. We got water, in like a baby bottle looking container without the part where baby's suck on it. It was water but, super cute container. I got cheese on top of corn niblets. Those were good too and proof of the diversity in the menu. We also got fried chicken chips, and they were crispy but also had some meat on them. So do not imagine a chip made from chicken skin, more like a chip with some meat inside--- so it looks like a chip, and has chip consistency, but the ruffles have something in between them, like the goose feathers in certain pillows. Conrad reported that his cheese ramen was also delicious. The food, how it came, what we ate, everything was just a super experience, I want some more after writing this review and I am not just saying that to sound cliche. I want to sit in the party section, be fed while I vibe to Kpop, and know mirth from that place.
Also, Conrad and I had a blast on their provided screens. In these, one can play with other guests, text other guests, and in general order and tip, and do more. It was a lot to take in, and I think, I need at least 4 visits to know what is what, cause they also have an upstairs.
