Derek W.
Yelp
I've known about Marinate for a while, but didn't even bother to bookmark it until a Yelp friend, Eunhae H, posted her review and photos of the Korean BBQ spot located inside The Hangar @ Long Beach Exchange (LBX). In my quest to eat healthier, I didn't think Marinate would be an option until I noticed the last word in her review: Salmon.
My group at work decided to venture out to the Hangar for a lunch gathering. 2/3 of the group went to Ike's on the other side of the Hangar. One person in our group had already ordered the Bulgogi Burrito from Marinate while another was about to step in line. I let her go first so I could see what the ordering process was like before I actually place my order.
The girl who prepared my bowl was very pleasant and welcoming to me, exhibiting a great deal of exuberance in serving me. Since I hadn't been before, I asked a handful of questions, and she was real patient with me.
For rice, you get a choice of white rice, brown rice, or multigrain rice. I chose the brown rice, which doesn't incur an upcharge.
When she asked me what toppings I'd like to add to my bowl, I noticed something odd. There was an upcharge for stir-fried kimchi, and there was kimchi aloof from the other premium ingredients. When I asked about this, she confirmed the kimchi at the start of the line was *not* the premium kimchi I was thinking of. She also confirmed that I could add as many toppings as I'd like without incurring an upcharge, like at MOD Pizza nearby. If you know me and BYO pizzas, I like to pile my pizzas with all the good toppings, and since all of Marinate's toppings looked good, I wanted to make her job easier by saying, "I'll have all the toppings!" lol.
The toppings were not labeled. I didn't even recognize some of them, but she was patient enough to tell me what they were. I think two of them were actually fruits: mandarin oranges and half grapes. Seemed kind of odd, but why not?! lol
I also asked about Ssamjang since I didn't really know what soybean paste was. She said it was comparable to a spicy mayo and recommended it, so I went with that even though I'm not totally sure how it is pronounced lol. She asked if I wanted it on top or on the side. I initially said on top, but with how large the bowl was, I could foresee myself enjoying the top half, but not so much the bottom half. I asked if I could have some sauce at the top *and* on the side. It was not a problem at all, and I highly recommend doing this since the bowls would have been pretty dull and dry without the sauce.
When I went up to the register to pay, my co-worker had already paid for her bowl of chicken with a fried egg ($1.50 upcharge) and a bottled water. I had to wait a few minutes for my bowl to be ready. I asked for a water cup and was given one without hassle. Our bowls were placed inside takeout bags alongside a fork and a handful of napkins.
What protein did I choose that caused the extended wait? Read the last word of the first paragraph.
I filled my water cup with what I thought was water since the tab showed a water drop. Little did I know it was sparkling water! Oops? lol but I kept it anyways. I do wish they labeled it better to reduce confusion, however.
We sat at a table just outside the Hangar where most others enjoyed their sandwiches while I enjoyed my bowl. The piece of fish perched on top of the bowl was nicely cooked, though it could have used more flavor. Not to worry, the extra sauce I asked for on the side came in very handy! And everything else in the bowl tasted so fresh! All the vegetables in my bowl worked well together, and they included a lot!
Yes, it's pricey, but what isn't at the Hangar? For such a large bowl, and the generous size of protein that spanned nearly the diameter of the bowl, I was one satisfied customer! But now, I wish I had tried their Bulgogi Burrito before making the tough decision to abstain from red meat for the time being. Oh well, all the more reason to make a return visit!
If you're not sure what bowl to get at Marinate, they have four different recommendations:
1) Bulgogi, White Rice, Yuponzu Sauce, and Ssamjang Sauce
2) Spicy Pork Belly, Brown Rice, and Ssamjang Sauce
3) Chicken, Brown Rice, Yuponzu Sauce, and Ahi Verde Sauce
4) Salmon, Multigrain Rice, Yuponzu Sauce, and Pesto Sauce
The premium toppings are fried egg, avocado, and stir-fried kimchi, all of which would be $1.50 extra.
But really, I don't think you can go wrong with any bowl if what I had was truly representative of how fresh their entire menu offerings are. The choice of protein is denoted by a colored sticker on the side of the bowl.
The only thing I don't recommend is scoring a free fountain drink by writing a Yelp/Google review since there's a stipulation that prohibits acceptance of freebies in exchange for a review. Just do what I do and get a complimentary water cup instead. Other than that, I recommend Marinate Korean BBQ!
