when i first heard about leann's teahouse, i expected it to be one of the many other chinese restaurants in quezon city. but big surprise— they actually serve korean food. and not just korean barbecue, mind you. they've even got classics like bibimbap, kimbap and japchae, just to name a few.
unlike most instagrammable restaurants, leann's teahouse features a simple, no-frills interior much like the cozy ones back in korea. but while their humble appearance may not be a stunner, they make up for it in leaps and bounds with their accommodating staff, hands-on owner and most importantly— the food.
one of the rare few to use good quality meats, leann's teahouse proudly offers meltique— australian marbled beef that's tender when cooked right. other than that, they have classics like the samgyeopsal pork belly and woosamgyeop beef belly, which are sliced thicker than other cheaper bbq joints.
side dishes may be few, but they've got the basics— peanuts, mung beans (touge), and kimchi (which really had that spicy-sour kick that i miss from the authentic stuff back in korea). and what i do love about leann's is that they offer cheese— actual gooey, salty cheese— and corn to go with those grilled meats.
ala carte dishes that caught my fancy include their spicy dak gui— pieces of chicken swimming in a bright red, sweet and spicy sauce, topped with cheese. their hameul pajeon, or seafood pancake, is a crispy one filled with tons of squid and aromatic spring onions quite different from the usual egg-tasting variants. and it tastes even better with their tangy dipping sauce. girl's gotta stock up on non-beef options in a restaurant that prides itself on beef after all. 😂