Desiree L.
Yelp
Kobi-Q has been one of those places where I think, "Maybe next time, I'll check this place out." Well, today was that day, and I would have been fine if that day never came at all. This is not to say I had a bad experience, it was a mix of nice and...meh. Overall, mid. It's crazy because I've heard good things from others.
I normally only order a single entrée if I'm eating by myself, but I'm a fiend for crab rangoons and couldn't pass it up. They came out less puffy and crispier than the average crab rangoons--which I appreciated. The sauce that came with it had a yellower hue than the usual orange, and the flavor held a tang that left me wanting more. I think the sauce complimented the cream cheese very well!
For my main dish, I was super excited to try their tofu stew (soondubu jjigae). I chose the beef option! It came out...not how I was expecting. You know how tofu stew is served in those stone bowls that retain heat so well, the dish is still bubbling and boiling as it's being brough to the table? Not this stew. This stew was stagnant in its stone (?) bowl. Okay...what about the flavor? I knew it was going to be spicy based on color and past tofu stew experiences, but I was surprised by a flavor profile similar to that of a Chinese hot and sour soup. Not a traditional Korean taste.
The tofu stew was accompanied with a small bowl of rice, which is essential. However, the rice to stew ratio was far too wide, and I found myself for want of more rice only after getting through 1/3 of the stew!
This is where my biggest disappointment developed, not just in the lacking of rice, but in the lacking of service. At 8pm on a Tuesday, the restaurant wasn't all that busy with maybe 4 tables occupied and 2 servers available. Between me (solo dining) and the tables I was sandwiched between (couples dining), the servers would ask the classic, "How's everything going?" to all but my lonesome self. Yes, I could have spoken up for myself if I so desperately wanted more rice, but the stew was already a whopping seventeen bucks. If I had to muster the energy to ask for more rice and end up being charged even more...the despair. I'd much rather be paid attention to as a customer and be satisfied enough from that interaction to indulge in more rice.
The one time my server did loop back around for me was after I ate the rest of the riceless tofu stew. He filled my water! Thanks! It was time for the check by then.