koryo kalbi korean bbq

this used to be our usual kalbi place for last several years. however during the last few visits we had experienced some poor food quality(kalbi rib meat was rubbery and chewy, and the octopus in the seafoodhotpot was very hard to eat)and not so friendly service(it was a challenge to communicate with waitresses which caused some miscommunication). however today’s encounter topped the most ridiculous experience ever for us. we were asked to leave because we did not order enough entrees but got some free miso soup per manager sam. i have ordered marinated kalbi rib($21.95)(wanted try it again), seafood tofu soup($10.99)seafood pancake($12.99) and tried to order the steamed egg. we planned to eat relatively light tonight after having pilates. the waitress was very rude and indifferent and expressed unwillingness to order the steamed egg and we did not understand why. later the manager sam came to tell us that because we did not order enough entrees to order side dish(steamed egg)??. i agreed not to order it then. after that he looked our table and asked if we know that we can only get one complimentary soup per entree order. i said we did not know this. is this new rule? we have dined here for years. he said it has been some new changes since he became manager. then i questioned him that why he did not tell us last time we were here. he answered he was too busy and overlooked. then we asked him if he mentioned that rule to other customers there. he said he has not yet. so i questioned if he is discriminating against us. he immediately said he would like us to leave. we traveled a lot all over the world and dined at a lot of restaurants, this has been the strangest experience so far. for sam, i don’t think he cares at all about your dining experience, customer service, all he cares is how much you order. you might be busy enough now and do not care about losing some customers. in the near future: poor food quality + rude service = no more businesses. if you want to enjoy your meal(not in a smoky environment) with good service and quality food, go somewhere else!

this place is always packed whether it's a weekday lunch or dinner. the bibimbap is excellent as always. everything comes out sohotfrom thehotstone bowl. the la beef was fab - m 10 yr old are it by himself ($24 😂). pork donkatsu like the japanese tonkatsu is massive enough for my other two kids to share. they didn't like the sauce though... overkill. spicy noodles is yummy -- hit the spot. we asked for a drink that's similar to sake and the server directed us to shoju -- it was pretty harsh. more like vodka than sake so we brought it home to make cocktails instead.

grilled meat over real charcoal, not gas. the moment the server brought over hot, glowing coals and placed them in the grill built right into the table, i knew we were in for something very special. as an aficionado of korean barbecue for over twenty years, i have only seen that at two other places in the u.s.: soot bull jeep in los angeles, and brother's in san francisco.

it's an important distinction, because charcoal sears the meat and locks in the juices without adding the chemical aftertaste of gas. instantly, you know this meal is going to be a treat---and very authentic.

get the barbecue. what followed was a parade of high-quality meats, achingly tender and rich. the kalbi (short ribs) were among the best i have ever eaten. they are accompanied by a sesame dipping sauce, though i prefer to eat them piled in lettuce wraps imbued for gochuchang, korean sweet/hot sauce (request it).

korean meals always come with banchan, numerous small dishes of pickled or steamed vegetables. kimchee, fiery marinated cabbage, is the most well known. the others range fromhotto cool to give you palate a rest. the bean paste served here is an insanely good version of that condiment (was that a touch of miso paste in there?).

overall, a stunning find in dallas, and a rare gem among korean restaurants.

very good food. the service is meh. the servers didnt explain much but it was 9:30p so maybe thats why.
started with the tofu appetizer which is phenomenal, rivaling any good agedashi tofu but with veggies and teriyaki sauce on it.
the bulgogi beef just great all around. tender, moist and sweet.
skip thehotbowl bibimbop though - not much flavor and low in meat content.
would love to go back for even just the tofu.

authentic, friendly, fantastic. i lived in korea for a year, and this is by far the best korean food dfw has to offer. we have driven to dallas over 3 hours away just to eat here. seriously. it is that good.
like most traditional korean restaurants, you can cook at your own table or have the kitchen prepare it for you. the banchan that come with the bulgogi are always different, but always spicy and good. the soups are good, and stayhotfor a long time. i usually have to drop a couple of ice cubes in mine.
finish up with the cool ginger tea...it helps to settle the stomach and aids in digestion.
the ladies who work here are very friendly and have lots of interesting stories, altough if you don't speak hangul it is kind of hard to communicate "in depth" with some.
this place is definitely worth the drive from wherever you are.