Best Korean 2012

GOLD: HANWOORI

Silver: Jang Mo Jib  |  Bronze: Sura Korean Cuisine |  Honourable Mentions: Seoul Doogbaegi & Insadong

At Hanwoori (Gold) you’ll find “classic homestyle Korean, and never mind if it’s next to a car repair shop!” Big booths and private rooms beckon “for hearty plates like oxtail soup, slow-simmered to perfection, and the iconic jejuk bossam—a cabbage wrap with oysters, kimchi, and lusciously tender pork belly. The service is genuine and thoughtful, helping first timers navigate the menu.” Our judges loved Silver-winner Jang Mo Jib for the goon mahn doo dumplings stuffed with ground pork and scallions, mammoth seafood pancakes, and delicious jab che of sweet potato noodles tossed in sesame oil, vegetables, and thinly sliced beef. Sura (Bronze) offers a more upscale experience with cleanly wrought cooking and beautifully presented food—“It’s a welcome dose of maturity and sophistication in the local Korean restaurant scene.” Honourable Mentions to Seoul Doogbaegi for its excellent soondubu, a hearty broth of soft tofu and seafood, and to Insadong, “a great place to take a crowd for barbecue. Don’t miss the marinated kalbi ribs and spicy pork bulgogi.”

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