Kunjip restaurant, in the middle of Koreatown, is always packed at lunchtime, but that’s all right because the service is fast. As soon as you sit down, there’s an array of marinated vegetables and things to keep you busy while you wait for sizzling tofu stew or kimchi casserole, or, even better, bibimbap (my favorite). Here’s a recipe for it that I like from the New York Times—but without that sizzling stone bowl experience (unless you have more equipment in your kitchen than I do).
Yummm...one of my favorite all time 'ethnic' places to eat in the city, as you know. Can't beat the price and the authenticity of the place. And the fact that 90% of all diners are Korean, whether westernized (as yours truly) or newly landed in the Big Apple says volumes about the food. The long waiting lines winding around the dining area and often spilling out onto the sidewalk is another good indication...
ReplyDeleteHey Juli: And I owe you a thanks for introducing me to this place (I think). I've been going there so long I can't remember my first time.
ReplyDeleteI've always wondered about that: it's comforting when a Korean restaurant has a lot of Koreans eating there, when a Japanese restaurant is filled with Japanese, Italian restaurant with Italians, etc. But does it really hold up? McDonalds is often filled with Americans (both here and overseas). Also, in places where there is little foreign food, the people most familiar with that food still congregate in their own ethnicity's restaurants, even when it's bad.
ReplyDeleteBut better to eat in a Korean restaurant with Koreans than without, no?
ReplyDeleteDan, the difference in the city is that there are Dozens of Korean restaurants that are empty, one can see the cavernous empty places as we pass by on our way here - while this one is always full of waiting people. Don't get me started on McDonalds.... isn't 'McDonalds Restaurant' an oxymoron?
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