Korean food long has been popular in Duluth, but now kimchee is just about as common as cornbread throughout metro Atlanta. Here are five dishes that epitomize the best of Korean cooking in the city.
Dolsot bibimbap at Woo Nam Jeong Stone Bowl House
The simple pleasure of bibimbap — a bowl of rice, veggies and egg — is given a magnificent touch at Woo Nam Jeong. The stone bowl arrives smoking hot, the rice still sizzling and frying to a crisp at the bottom. Around it, a half-dozen bowls of crisp, flavorful banchan are delivered, either to be added into your bowl or eaten on their own.
Woo Nam Jeong Stone Bowl House, 5953 Buford Highway, Doraville. 678-530-0844, Facebook: Stone Bowl House- Woo Nam Jeong.
Korean fried chicken at Bon Bon
The super crisp rice-flour batter on the piles of spicy-sweet fried chicken served with pitchers of beer at this Suwanee restaurant will explain why Koreans have their own word — chimaek — for chicken and beer.
Bon Bon, 3131 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, Suwanee. 678-482-7555, bonbon7.com.
All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue at Breakers
The never-ending procession of bulgogi, brisket, pork belly and other meaty delights, cooked over a tabletop grill, might be the most common and popular way to learn about Korean food in Atlanta. For some, it is like a gateway drug leading to gochujang and other rich Korean flavors. Breakers offers one of the most reliable renditions in town.
Breakers Korean BBQ and Grill, 3505 Gwinnett Place Drive, Duluth. 770-946-1000, breakersbbq.com.
Andong jjimdak at Yet Tuh
Chicken stewed down in a salty, rich sauce over chilies, onions, scallions and sweet potato noodles is a dish worthy of the holidays, a special occasion feast originating in the town of Andong, Korea. The umami-rich platter is such a comfort food that it can remind anyone of home.
Yet Tuh, 3042 Oakcliff Road, Doraville. 770-454-9292, Facebook: Yet Tuh Korean Restaurant.
Spicy Korean pork sandwich at Heirloom Market BBQ
Is this barbecue sandwich Southern because it puts pork shoulder and cabbage on a bun? Or is it Korean, because what is more Korean than pork and gochujang and kimchee? It doesn’t matter, because it is delicious. There’s no better example of the way Atlanta and Korean foods have become indivisible than this sandwich.
Heirloom Market BBQ, 2243 Akers Mill Road, Atlanta. 770-850-1008, heirloommarketbbq.com.
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