Sammy B.
Yelp
These days Korean dramas and shows are becoming more common in the US than ever before. I remember the days when I had to go to the local Korean video rental shop and get whole series on 10 VHS cassettes or finally when we went digital, 10 DVDs haha. As times have changed it's gotten easier to access Korean media and with that, more people are getting exposed to the Korean food I loved growing up. You might have watched shows like Running Man or Run BTS and seen how coveted a food prize was. The slurping of jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) or highlighter yellow pickled radishes served with kimchi to add texture and flavor on the side. Food is such an important part of Korean culture and it's no wonder a place like Hsiang Yuen stays on my mind when I think of excellent Chinese Korean food; it's been there since I was a kid.
Backstory about Chinese Korean Food
There's been a lot of theories on how the specific type of Chinese food Koreans love was created. Some people stated it was Chinese cuisine created by Koreans which is why it's so different than the Chinese food you see from China or other parts of Asia. For a long time that's what I thought too, but I remember going to these types of restaurants and though the aunties and uncles who worked there spoke Korean I remembered they also spoke fluent Chinese. This is the reason why I believe in the second theory: this style of Chinese food is from a specific part of southern China that became popular when it arrived to Korea and has been adopted as Korea's version of Chinese food ever since.
Food
So what attributes does Chinese Korean food taste like? It is a bit sweeter, less spicier, and leans more towards the balance between the two. That's why items like jjajangmyeon has a more uniform black bean sauce than the type you might get from a Chinese or Taiwanese restaurant. It is smooth in texture with only the diced cucumbers, onions, and beef mixed with the noodles. The deep fried dumplings were always a favorite of mine. Fried to a crisp the interior is still moist, hot, and has a bit of chewiness left over from where the fried exterior and meaty interior meet. The sweet and sour pork is completely different than the ones you get at fast food Chinese restaurants like Panda Express. No hyper pigmented colors of pink or red for the sauce. Instead, the pork is coated lightly and deep fried separately and then a clear sauce with pineapples, mushrooms, onions, and carrots is poured over. It is one of my favorite things with the crunch of the pork bursting with the flavor of the sauce. Matching that with kimchi, pickled radish, and rice is a perfect combo. Though other outstanding food comes to mind (like their deep fried hot and sweet shrimp) it's the three above that stands above and true in all Korean hearts when it comes to Chinese food.
As far as the ambience goes, the dining room is small and feels like a mom-and-pop shop, as it has been for decades. Nothing there feels flashy or ornate. It's the kind of place you know Koreans have gone to forever and it'll probably never change.
For service, like most Korean restaurants grab the attention of the servers when you're ready to order and don't be afraid to speak up if you need anything.
All-in-all, if you want to live out your favorite K-Drama moments or eat like your bias' from Twice or Stray Kids, Hsiang Yuen is a perfect place to live out those dreams. Make sure you bring friends or family with you to really get the family style dining experience and don't be surprised to take home lots of leftovers after for second dinner.
