I think there's only of its kind in Berkeley.

Does Oakland's Koreatown count as Berkeley?

Steve's . . . (ducks)

Does Bowl'd on Solano in Albany count?

KoreAmBear;842086144 said:

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I think there's only of its kind in Berkeley.

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I just ate and those pics made me hungry again.

Cha Chang mein and Cham pohng. So damn good. Hungry now

Looks good!

Chef Yu's (Yuyu Za Zang) on Telegraph

They got the Za Zang Noodle, Cha Chang Myun, Cham Pong, Mandoo, Tang Sue Yuk, Gan Poong Ki, etc (sorry for misspellings)

How about Mondu Gook? --- does anyone have a restaurant suggestion for this tasty dumpling soup --- spent a looong, cooold winter in Seoul and this stuff was a God send --- have not had a good bowl since

I apologize in advance for crashing this thread and including the City as well but I feel the time is right to figure out what I may have missed when I was at Cal (22 years ago :cry I'm hoping some of you can educate me so I can do better next time I'm in the Bay Area...

i) I'm not Asian so King Dong's Mongolian Beef on Shattuck was the shizzo to me (still is :p)

ii) Yokahama Station's white rice with Teiyaki Sauce got me through finals until the emergency student loan kicked in. (Papa liverfluke's slush fund was drained many weeks prior to the end of the semester at either Kips, Raleighs, Bears Lair or Henry's). IIRC, Yokahama had $3.00 rice bowls and if you were a regular starving student like me, they'd pour the sauce over it for free...

iii) Despite wherever I was advised to go in Chinatown when in the City, all decisions then were based on who would serve Tsingtao to me with only my social security card as ID. I'm pretty sure I went to some bomb *ssed places in the City but I don't recall where I went (or how I got home).

So...where should a Cal grad dine at now to experience the best Asian cuisine-be it fusion or a specific ethnic group? I recognize that many ethnic groups constitute many peoples idea of "Asian cuisine" and it's probably not the best label to assign such a diverse group of fine dinning experiences so I'm open to a lot of suggestions. Assume one who has both the interest and means to make it happen these days. I don't want discount hole in the walls, I want some top shelf food and liquor. Thanks in advance...

-drunky bear

liverflukes;842086217 said:

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I apologize in advance for crashing this thread and including the City as well but I feel the time is right to figure out what I may have missed when I was at Cal (22 years ago :cry I'm hoping some of you can educate me so I can do better next time I'm in the Bay Area...

i) I'm not Asian so King Dong's Mongolian Beef on Shattuck was the shizzo to me (still is :p)

ii) Yokahama Station's white rice with Teiyaki Sauce got me through finals until the emergency student loan kicked in. (Papa liverfluke's slush fund was drained many weeks prior to the end of the semester at either Kips, Raleighs, Bears Lair or Henry's). IIRC, Yokahama had $3.00 rice bowls and if you were a regular starving student like me, they'd pour the sauce over it for free...

iii) Despite wherever I was advised to go in Chinatown when in the City, all decisions then were based on who would serve Tsingtao to me with only my social security card as ID. I'm pretty sure I went to some bomb *ssed places in the City but I don't recall where I went (or how I got home).

So...where should a Cal grad dine at now to experience the best Asian cuisine-be it fusion or a specific ethnic group? I recognize that many ethnic groups constitute many peoples idea of "Asian cuisine" and it's probably not the best label to assign such a diverse group of fine dinning experiences so I'm open to a lot of suggestions. Assume one who has both the interest and means to make it happen these days. I don't want discount hole in the walls, I want some top shelf food and liquor. Thanks in advance...

-drunky bear

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Liverflukes -- funny you mention King Dong because that is (at least when I was going there) the only place in Berkeley that has Chinese-Korean cuisine. It is a particular kind of Chinese food that most Koreans grow up with as comfort food. Yes, and I have had their Mongolian Beef there and it is super tender goodness with green onions sprinkled around it.

As for good Chinese -- I am sure the whole board can chime in to help you. When I come to the Bay Area, I usually try and go cray cray on fare I cannot find on the island or that is terrible here (like Mexican). Asian food is generally very good here. The sushi is terrific and I wouldn't now know what to do if I couldn't have poke for like a month or so.

And yes, I must have spent hundreds of dollars in total at the Asian Ghetto Durant food court. Japanese Snacks and Yokohama Station were my two favorites. Steve's was also pretty awesome but I didn't go that much because I felt like it was just like my mom's cooking or something, nothing I couldn't get from home. But since I was far from home, at times, I would go back.

@Scooterville -- I forget, doesn't Steve's serve mandoo guk? It's not really that hard to make and most Korean restaurants have it. Maybe find the best Yelp rated Korean restaurant in Oakland and go get it. Again, because it's such a homemade type soup, I rarely order it at Korean restaurants because it's something my mom makes all the time. I buy it out here because my Chinese wife doesn't know how LOL.

KoreAmBear;842086228 said:

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Liverflukes -- funny you mention King Dong because that is (at least when I was going there) the only place in Berkeley that has Chinese-Korean cuisine. It is a particular kind of Chinese food that most Koreans grow up with as comfort food. Yes, and I have had their Mongolian Beef there and it is super tender goodness with green onions sprinkled around it.

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Yes!
:bravo:bravo:bravo:bravo

I just spoke with my buddy and he reminded me that we actually ate a lot of Tokyo chicken (extra hot) when in the Asian Ghetto and that it was actually $2.75 or whatever we had close to that in our pockets at the time. We then spoke about Rare interrupting our fine dining experience back then :rollinglaugh:

KoreAmBear;842086228 said:

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Liverflukes -- funny you mention King Dong because that is (at least when I was going there) the only place in Berkeley that has Chinese-Korean cuisine. It is a particular kind of Chinese food that most Koreans grow up with as comfort food. Yes, and I have had their Mongolian Beef there and it is super tender goodness with green onions sprinkled around it.

As for good Chinese -- I am sure the whole board can chime in to help you. When I come to the Bay Area, I usually try and go cray cray on fare I cannot find on the island or that is terrible here (like Mexican). Asian food is generally very good here. The sushi is terrific and I wouldn't now know what to do if I couldn't have poke for like a month or so.

And yes, I must have spent hundreds of dollars in total at the Asian Ghetto Durant food court. Japanese Snacks and Yokohama Station were my two favorites. Steve's was also pretty awesome but I didn't go that much because I felt like it was just like my mom's cooking or something, nothing I couldn't get from home. But since I was far from home, at times, I would go back.

@Scooterville -- I forget, doesn't Steve's serve mandoo guk? It's not really that hard to make and most Korean restaurants have it. Maybe find the best Yelp rated Korean restaurant in Oakland and go get it. Again, because it's such a homemade type soup, I rarely order it at Korean restaurants because it's something my mom makes all the time. I buy it out here because my Chinese wife doesn't know how LOL.

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Any idea where there's good Seolleongtang in SF or East Bay?

StillNoStanfurdium;842086256 said:

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Any idea where there's good Seolleongtang in SF or East Bay?

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Yeah good sullangtang in the city would be a good recc. I don't feel so good some mornings on trips to SF. A quality 24 hr joint would be priceless

Anyone remember Koko House way down Telegraph in Oakland? That place never EVER carded and was always full of underage Cal students, mostly Koreans. Word spread and they finally lost their liquor licence...twice, IIRC, and the place was gone by 2005.

Oddly enough, I don't remember how the food was... :beer:

moonpod;842086258 said:

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Yeah good sullangtang in the city would be a good recc. I don't feel so good some mornings on trips to SF. A quality 24 hr joint would be priceless

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I don't think of SF as having good Korean. I bet Oakland would be easier to find. There's nothing like the sulleontang specialty houses in L.A. Plus the kakkdoogie is usually just exquisite.

I believe this one is best in L.A.:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/han-bat-sul-lung-tang-los-angeles

There were 3 places I'd eat Korean on a normal basis when I lived in the city.

My Tofu House (outer richmond) has awesome soft tofu soup. It's a drive if you don't live in the city. It can get pretty busy during peak times as its highly regarded.

Brothers (1 or 2) in the Richmond for Korean BBQ. Your clothes will smell like BBQ afterwards.

Seoul Garden in Japantown. Decent Korean restaurant good for an all-around sit down dinner.

I have to agree that outside the Richmond district in the city, the other place that has good Korean is Oakland.

+1 for Kim Dong for when you want to get your champong on!!

And yes SoCal has the most legit Korean restaurants outside of SKorea. Come down Koreambear!

freshfunk;842087139 said:

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There were 3 places I'd eat Korean on a normal basis when I lived in the city.

My Tofu House (outer richmond) has awesome soft tofu soup. It's a drive if you don't live in the city. It can get pretty busy during peak times as its highly regarded.

Brothers (1 or 2) in the Richmond for Korean BBQ. Your clothes will smell like BBQ afterwards.

Seoul Garden in Japantown. Decent Korean restaurant good for an all-around sit down dinner.

I have to agree that outside the Richmond district in the city, the other place that has good Korean is Oakland.

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When I lived in SF Seoul Garden and Brothers were my go to spots. Dependable and good but not great. There used to be a little hole in the wall (can't remember the name) in the outer Sunset that was awesome. It's been 15 + years since I've been there though and it may be long gone.

LA is the spot. My mother (who's Korean) says that the food there is better than in Korea because the ingredients are superior. There is a place in LA called Parks that has insanely good Kalbi. I always try to go when I'm back there visiting.

Couple of weeks ago had to go to Santa Clara for a mtg and ended up at a ramen noodle joint (Orenchi) off Homestead Rd for lunch - had to traverse El Camino Real in the vicinity of Lawrence Expwy and passed 8-10 small Korean restaurants along the way - didn't realize there was a Korean colony in that area - are any of the restaurants worth trying? - still trying to find Seoul quality Mondu Gook in the Bay Area

I was looking on Yelp and there's a place on Telegraph in Oakland called Koryo JaJang. Anyone been? 4 stars and good reviews.

KoreAmBear;842087107 said:

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I don't think of SF as having good Korean. I bet Oakland would be easier to find. There's nothing like the sulleontang specialty houses in L.A. Plus the kakkdoogie is usually just exquisite.

I believe this one is best in L.A.:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/han-bat-sul-lung-tang-los-angeles

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I've always wondered if this was related to the Han bat in NYC by the Empire State tower

NYCGOBEARS;842087162 said:

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.

LA is the spot. My mother (who's Korean) says that the food there is better than in Korea because the ingredients are superior. There is a place in LA called Parks that has insanely good Kalbi. I always try to go when I'm back there visiting.

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This. I haven't been back to the mother ship in over a decade but as a life long LA dweller I gotta agree with this

moonpod;842087184 said:

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This. I haven't been back to the mother ship in over a decade but as a life long LA dweller I gotta agree with this

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I know Hanbat here in NYC. Have you been? Any good?

Not in Berkeley but Richmond's Daiso in the Ranch 99 plaza is really good for just Chinese food.

OB Chicken on Telegraph Oakland is good for Korean

Ranch 99 is ill. On iPhone so this link won't work but it is a NYT article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/us/22bcintel.html?_r=0

Scooterville Gau;842087169 said:

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Couple of weeks ago had to go to Santa Clara for a mtg and ended up at a ramen noodle joint (Orenchi) off Homestead Rd for lunch - had to traverse El Camino Real in the vicinity of Lawrence Expwy and passed 8-10 small Korean restaurants along the way - didn't realize there was a Korean colony in that area - are any of the restaurants worth trying? - still trying to find Seoul quality Mondu Gook in the Bay Area

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Two best Korean Restaurants are Jangsujang at Lawrence Plaza (Lawrence EXPWY and El Camino Real) and Kunjip at Kiely and Benton in Santa Clara. Jangsujang is a more traditional Korean restaurant that is always crowded, especially the dinner time. There is also a branch in Milpitas under the same name that just opened last month.

Kunjip is more focused on serving hot soup style dishes like Seolongtang, Gomtang, etc. This is my favorite Korean restaurant in San Jose. They sometimes do not want to serve some dishes if they do not like the quality of meat at a certain day.

In Oakland, the best one is Ohgane Korean BBQ Restaurant (3915 Broadway, Oakland). It has also a branch in Dublin under the same name. The owner of Ohgane used to run Koryo Sutbul restaurant in Telegraph avenue.

KoreAmBear;842086228 said:

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... I didn't go that much because I felt like it was just like my mom's cooking or something, nothing I couldn't get from home. ...

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...and post some of your Mom's recipes you like most.

:beer:

I"ll check them out - appreciate the tips

FirstBear;842087204 said:

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Two best Korean Restaurants are Jangsujang at Lawrence Plaza (Lawrence EXPWY and El Camino Real) and Kunjip at Kiely and Benton in Santa Clara. Jangsujang is a more traditional Korean restaurant that is always crowded, especially the dinner time. There is also a branch in Milpitas under the same name that just opened last month.

Kunjip is more focused on serving hot soup style dishes like Seolongtang, Gomtang, etc. This is my favorite Korean restaurant in San Jose. They sometimes do not want to serve some dishes if they do not like the quality of meat at a certain day.

In Oakland, the best one is Ohgane Korean BBQ Restaurant (3915 Broadway, Oakland). It has also a branch in Dublin under the same name. The owner of Ohgane used to run Koryo Sutbul restaurant in Telegraph avenue.

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KoreAmBear;842087107 said:

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I don't think of SF as having good Korean. I bet Oakland would be easier to find. There's nothing like the sulleontang specialty houses in L.A. Plus the kakkdoogie is usually just exquisite.

I believe this one is best in L.A.:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/han-bat-sul-lung-tang-los-angeles

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KAB, shout out. Am on the Big Island and need to upgrade my Korean food experiences from nil to novice. Where should I go and what should I start with?

Can't tell you where to go but start with Kalbi. BBQ Korean short ribs. Everyone loves that. Are you in Hawaii now. If so, I'm jealous. :-)

Dang, I already knew about Han Bat. That place is legit. It's actually the first place I had seoulleongtang.

Scooterville Gau;842087169 said:

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Couple of weeks ago had to go to Santa Clara for a mtg and ended up at a ramen noodle joint (Orenchi) off Homestead Rd for lunch - had to traverse El Camino Real in the vicinity of Lawrence Expwy and passed 8-10 small Korean restaurants along the way - didn't realize there was a Korean colony in that area - are any of the restaurants worth trying? - still trying to find Seoul quality Mondu Gook in the Bay Area

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Oh yeah I forgot to mention that too. I used to live in Santa Clara and there's a small community with a number of restaurants in that area (El Camino and Lawrence). I've eaten at a number of decent Korean and Japanese places in the area.

No places off the top of my mind but finding a place off of Yelp would probably be pretty solid.

FirstBear;842087204 said:

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Two best Korean Restaurants are Jangsujang at Lawrence Plaza (Lawrence EXPWY and El Camino Real) and Kunjip at Kiely and Benton in Santa Clara. Jangsujang is a more traditional Korean restaurant that is always crowded, especially the dinner time. There is also a branch in Milpitas under the same name that just opened last month.

Kunjip is more focused on serving hot soup style dishes like Seolongtang, Gomtang, etc. This is my favorite Korean restaurant in San Jose. They sometimes do not want to serve some dishes if they do not like the quality of meat at a certain day.

In Oakland, the best one is Ohgane Korean BBQ Restaurant (3915 Broadway, Oakland). It has also a branch in Dublin under the same name. The owner of Ohgane used to run Koryo Sutbul restaurant in Telegraph avenue.

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Oh man I remember Koryo Sutbul! My parents and I would go there a number of times when they visited me when I was at Cal. Did the place close?

There are some authentic and very good Asian restaurants in the Ranch 99 complex next to Albany Hill. My Chinese wife loves the large dim sum restaurant there. But it's always crowded with Chinese families so reservations recommended.