Ritodhi C.
Yelp
My experience with Korean food is admittedly limited, not extending beyond mainstream favorites like bibimbap, galbi, and Korean BBQ/fried chicken. But Dallas supposedly has some of the best Korean food in the U.S., so we set out to K-town to see for ourselves. Dal Dong Nae popped up several "Best of Dallas" lists, so we decided it would be a good bet. The no-frills family-run establishment is located in a small strip mall. The interior was unassuming and, notably, filled with almost exclusively Korean-speaking patrons. After being told that there would be a bit of a wait, we hopped over to the Karaoke bar next door for a few rounds of soju until our table was ready.
The home-style dishes here are meant for sharing, and the servings are gargantuan, not to mention the accompanying banchan, which are traditional side dishes such as pickled daikon radish, steam egg, assorted greens, and kimchi of course. The seafood pancake, which was large enough for six people to have a sizeable slice each, was excellent, crisp but chewy with a sweet and savory flavor accented by plentiful scallions. The Duk Bok Yi, doughy cylindrical rice cakes stir-fried in gochujang, the spicy-sweet fermented chili paste nearly ubiquitous in Korean cuisine, was a treat as well. The Galbi, the sticky sweet marinated short ribs, were pretty good as well, particularly the fattier bites. The centerpiece of our meal was Budae Jjigae, a giant helping of hearty "army stew," replete with ham, hot dog chunks, ramen noodles, veggies in a simmering red broth. While immensely satisfying and rich, I think if I had a second chance, I would go for the seafood soup...one can only eat so much hot dog.
Dal Dong Nae did not disappoint as a deeper dive into the wonders of Korean cuisine. Next time I return, I look forward to trying some of their more adventurous offerings such as oyster kimchi, sea squirt, or braised pig's feet.