» Kang Suh

Kang Suh

Posted on January 16th, 2009 by admin

1250 Broadway at 32nd. St. (Midtown West / Koreatown)

Varied Appetizer Dishes

This huge bi-level K-town destination is a favorite among Koreans looking for reliable traditional Korean staples done right and with few surprises. It’s also popular among non-ethnic seasoned and newbie eaters of Korean who want to soak in the all-sensory experience of Korean they’ll get from the flavors, language through the servers and clientele and generous and varied spread of hot, spicy appetite teasers that precede a meal here.

The colorful array of appetizers to which a Korean friend and I were recently treated at Kang Suh were comprised of many of the usual dishes, including kim-chi, pickled radishes and eggplant salad as well as milder ones that fried cod, spinach salad and a refreshingly sweet apple, potato salad in a mayonaisse sauce. They were all savory and enjoyable with slight exceptions in the cases of the cod, which was mildly soggy and the kimchi, which was somewhat hard and not fermented enough.

Gopdol Bibim Bob

I ordered my favorite of dish of Gopdol Bibim Bop. Teeming with shredded vegetables, tasty ground beef and strands of dried seaweed, and a soft fried egg, this stone bowl specialty was fresh-tasting and deliciously filling. Although I would have preferred a heavier, starchier rice that would have adhered more to the sizzling bowl to form a thicker crust, it is definitely something that I’d order here again.

Duk Mandoo Gook

My friend ordered the Duk Mandoo Gook, rice cakes and Korean vegetable dumplings in a beef broth. The large bowl was served hot and was deeply flavorful. My friends only complaint was that there could have been more rice cakes. But she was overall was pleased with it, and would definitely order it again.

The quick and efficient servers were quick to respond to our empty bowls and resting chopsticks by bringing us a plate of sweet refreshing orange wedges.

While I cannot speak to the quality of the sushi at Kang Suh, and probably would not rush to go there for it either, since I don’t see the logic to eat Japanese food in a restaurant that is unmistakably primarily Korean, as Kang Suh is, it’s a great place to enjoy bulkoki and Korean barbeque. Moderate prices (most dishes are under $20) make it a great place to bring the entire family.