I brought the chicken home to Moon and, luckily, he hadn’t eaten. I expected him to eat a couple of pieces (he’s a manorexic), but he couldn’t stop. According to him, it is “the best Korean fried chicken I have eaten in Atlanta. The hot sauce is flavorful and complex.” He also added that he liked that there were lots of boneless pieces making it easier to eat. I had some a few hours later and it was still crunchy and juicy thanks to the box design. Excellent flavor on the crust too. It was also crunchy the next day and the next. Props for the Coke and other goodies in the box. We consider it a destination. So should you.

A few years ago, Korea-based fried chicken joints blew up in Atlanta. Seriously, it seemed a new one opened every month. As the trend died, many closed, but BBQ Chicken (3473 Old Norcross Road, Duluth, 678-417-6464, www.bbqchickenatl.com) has managed to hang in there. BBQ Chicken (aka Chicken & Beer) — no relation to the Ludacris album Chicken N Beer — is a Korean megachain with 1,900 restaurants scattered throughout China, Japan, Spain, the U.S., Vietnam, Australia, Mongolia, Malaysia and Singapore. Despite its ubiquity, BBQ Chicken doesn’t feel like a fast-food restaurant. And considering the house specialty is fried chicken, it seems downright swanky.

The BBQ in the name stands for “best of the best quality chicken.” It’s a lofty claim, and they have it plastered everywhere, including an enormous poster featuring an attractive Korean superstar giving her endorsement. Korean culture is obsessed with health and wellness, so BBQ’s chicken is fried in 100 percent olive oil because of the purported health benefits. Its website also makes the far-fetched claim that it uses “special sauces and spices developed by our food scientists that cannot be found at any other restaurant or cuisine.”

Because Korean fried chicken (or K.F.C.) is fried twice to achieve a greaseless crust with scores of crunchy nooks and crannies, it can take a good 20 minutes or so to make it to your table. The wait is arguably worth it. The interior is super juicy and fresh-tasting, although the olive oil imparts a unique taste to the original olive chicken that’s more Italy than Korea. Opting for a flavoring mutes any of the residual olive notes. The sweet and spicy chicken has a respectable amount of heat and enough stickiness to make it pleasantly sloppy. Just eat it quickly because the sauce can make it soggy. The wings — especially the über-crunchy and hardcore-spicy “wings of fire” — are more consistent.

Click here to read the rest…

We went to the newly opened Raku Ramen + Tonkatsu, which is located next to the Super H Mart on Pleasant Hill. Being a ramen-otaku, I was super excited to eat there (especially considered the lovefest happening on other Atlanta food blogs), but our meal fell incredibly short of my expectations. Scattered service–like my husband’s ramen just never arriving.

Weak and watery broths across the board.

My ramen.

Moon junior’s ramen.

Thick tonkatsu with no flavor.

The dumplings were the only redeeming part of our entire meal. I’m sad to report that, as of today, this is not a destination. I was actually so dissatisfied with my meal that I went to Dan Moo Ji afterwards to grab some spicy rice cakes. Win.

We visited Kaleidoscope Bistro after reading a very favorable review by Christiane Lauterbach, the only person whose advice I follow when it comes to restaurants. Seriously, the woman is a goddess. I was especially intrigued by her mention of the incredible burger (big surprise). Before the burger, a little ambiance.

Berkshire pork rinds. Good form.

Really good chicken wings made with Springer Mountain Chicken and a homemade sauce that was kick-ass. I love the smattering of blue cheese just applied directly to the wings. Only downside was finding a few wings to be very undercooked.

My burger, which was honestly just okay. The meat tasted kind of like a hotel room service burger and was underseasoned. Definitely not splurge-worthy like Bocado or Five Guys. Yeah, I said Five Guys. Fries were kind of meh–definitely frozen.

Moon’s fish and chips, which he declared excellent.

Verdict: Not a destination, but I can see it why the restaurant appeals to people. It’s quirky spot with a nice patio and an interesting–although almost weirdly 90′s–menu. Can’t say I’ll be back though.

I’ve also been to Delia’s Chicken Sausage Stand a few times recently, but I am holding my tongue for my review, which will come out in Creative Loafing eventually.

In other news, according to the Georgia Asian Times, Nam Phuong (one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants) is slated to open a second Atlanta Location on Buford Highway sometime in April. Moon also spotted a new Thai restaurant called Thai Pointe on BuHi, which we will be visiting as soon as they have had time to settle in.

The walls of room number No. 13 at Song Do Korean BBQ (3616 Satellite Blvd., Duluth, 770-497-9799) are covered in mirrors, creating that mesmerizing effect that you’re in a room with hundreds of people rather than the 15 the space actually accommodates. The long table has four sunken charcoal grills and two massive exhaust fans so the room doesn’t become too smoky. Like many Korean barbecue restaurants, Song Do offers all-you-can-eat barbecue, but its offerings are competitively priced, more varied and rounded out. At some barbecue restaurants, you just get a little salad, a couple of plates of banchan (side dishes) and some soup. Song Do ups the ante with a self-serve bar stocked with 14 bins overflowing with an ever-changing assortment of banchan. Basically, come hungry.Song Do’s premise is simple: Choose from one of four all-you-can-eat options named after precious gems and metals (the Ruby, Silver, Gold or Diamond). The base package, the Ruby, comes with pork belly, beef brisket, pork neck and Korean “fire meat” bulgogi. It costs just $12.99, and it’s an even better deal at lunch when it’s priced at $9.99. As you move upward on the price scale, the meat options increase. The most expensive, the Diamond, costs $24.99 and includes short rib “ma po style,” rib-eye steak, flap steak, short rib meat, pork neck, pork belly and beef intestine. Keep in mind that at most Korean barbecue joints, just one kind of meat can cost upward of $20.

After settling on a package, you can hit the banchan bar. The quality of the banchan is a mixed bag depending on what you choose. Spicy pickled cucumbers were crunchy and delightful, and the chili-laced bean sprouts tasted incredibly fresh. The chunks of daikon radish, however, were overmarinated and soft around the edges like they’d been sitting around for a while. If our party of 13 was an indication of how much banchan is consumed, the restaurant goes through a lot — freshness shouldn’t be an issue.

Click here to read the rest…

Photo courtesy of Sarah Woods

I’m wet, naked and gripping the vinyl-wrapped table I’m lying on so I don’t slide off. Rows of other naked women are doing the same white-knuckled maneuver, as middle-aged Korean women in see-through black lingerie toss them around and scrub hard, sloughing away dead skin cells and dignity. Really, though, any shred of modesty disappeared the minute I walked into the women’s locker room at JeJu Sauna (3555 Gwinnett Place Drive, Duluth, 678-336-7414, www.jejusauna.net). It’s a very naked place.Nudity aside, JeJu stands apart from other Atlanta spas. The extremely popular — and pristine — Korean-style sauna is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Twenty-five bucks buys you unlimited access to the sauna’s many no-frills facilities, a roomy thick cotton uniform of shorts and T-shirt (pink for women, mustard yellow for men), and a disposable toothbrush. Men and women have separate changing areas where there are various Jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms, standing and seated showering areas, and the aforementioned out-in-the-open treatment areas where you can sacrifice a little pride for baby-soft skin. After a relaxing time in your birthday suit, throw on your outfit — don’t forget your key/electronic identification bracelet — and head out to the clothed common area where men and women mingle. There are various coed saunas located in rooms and domed mini-buildings within the common area. Each sauna has a different composition and purpose: rock-salt lined walls to strengthen your cardiovascular system, a charcoal room to clean out those pesky toxins, imported jade to speed up your metabolism, and many more.

It’s easy to lose yourself inside JeJu for an entire day. In fact, many people head over to the spa after pigging out at nearby restaurants to use the communal sleeping rooms where pillows, blankets and mats are provided. It’s the cheapest and coolest makeshift hotel ever. If you are going to spend any amount of time at JeJu, you’ll most likely get hungry and that’s when the “food court” comes in handy. While food isn’t destination-worthy considering all the superlative spots nearby, there’s good stuff to be had. And you can’t beat eating barefoot on the floor in a jammie-esque ensemble knowing there’s a warm place to cuddle up immediately after stuffing yourself full of home-style Korean food.

Click here to read the rest…

We started with some dumplings, which were good, but a little greasy. No matter, we were here for the cue.

We tided ourselves over with some spicy pork-belly while we waited for our main meal to arrive. It was awesome. So awesome my friend and I ended up fighting over the last bits of pork.

Wait, did I mention they serve CHARCOAL barbecue?

It was finally time. We chose an unmarinated version and a marinated version.

Both cuts were excellent. The meat had plenty of flavor indicating it was allowed to soak up enough of the homemade marinade. A word to the wise: your waitress, while very nice, may leave your meat on way too long. Don’t be afraid to take it off before it gets too cooked (observe below).

Verdict: Delicious charcoal barbecue that’s worth a visit if you are in the area or just a little out of the way. I really need to go back for one of those family dinners and some more of that pork.

I forgot how much I loved smoking in restaurants until I visited Cafe Todahmgol (2442 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 770-813-8202). Going to this tiny Korean strip mall spot feels like you’ve traveled back to that time when you could light up without any nasty, judgmental looks from fellow diners. Remember that? I bet the fact that smoking is allowed will deter most of you. However, the rest will get to see the ironic beauty of Korean culture, which is health-obsessed but also completely unapologetic about its alcohol and nicotine consumption.

Cafe Todahmgol is, in fact, a tavern of sorts, which is why smoking is permitted. People of all ages come here to eat, but mostly drink and shrug off the shackles of the workweek. Most of the restaurant’s seating is in private cubbies where you can lean back without a care and do whatever you wish — be it get blindingly drunk (you won’t be the only one) or eat much more than you should. The ceiling is cluttered with hanging plastic grapevines, ivy, fake flowers and glowing lanterns wrapped in natural rope. Wallpaper filled with Korean characters covers most of the space. It’s all very rustic, yet the bouncing Korean pop music brings everything up to date.

A gaggle of women servers in a range of ages buzzes around the restaurant while simultaneously tending to your table, shouting a chorus of affirmations every time someone presses the service button at their table (best invention ever), and loudly greeting every patron. There is no English menu and few of the waitresses speak English fluently. Therefore, ordering anything you can’t point to (check the walls) is practically impossible. There is, however, the option of all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue, an increasingly popular trend, which is both easy to order and super cheap at $16.99.

Click here to read the rest…

I went to Miller Union with Moon before a show at the Tabernacle last week. Since the weather was cooler, we sat out on the patio, which is glorious at this time of year. Moon got the feta snack appetizer to start.

I got the egg baked in celery cream, which I have touted before on the blog. If you still haven’t tried it, this is your directive–assuming you are an egg lover like me.

I got the duck breast over a buttery succcotash for my main and Moon ordered a pan-roasted chicken breast. Both were excellent. Miller Union knows how to satisfy and remain consistent. A+ in my book.

We had Eat, Drink, Man and wife over for dinner that Friday. I’d found a chicken in Reisling from Gourmet I’d be dying to try and took the weather as a sign it was time.

I tweaked it a little by adding some mushrooms I sauteed in butter at the last moment and a dab of dijon once I added the cream. Just a note if you do make this dish: it needs about 30 minutes more cooking time than the recipe says. I really loved it. It’s kind of a quicky weeknight coq au vin. Served with a green salad in shallot vinaigrette and some 2009 Beaujolais Moon picked up at Green’s.

2009 was the best year in recent history for Beaujolais. It’s a great wine to have on hand and inexpensive to boot.

Moon had to work the next day so I took myself on a date. I went for an hour-long $25 foot massage at the spot next to Bo Bo Garden and then a sizzling Dolsot bibimbap at So Kong Dong, which I swear has gotten 200% better since the latest change in ownership.

It is also quite the hotspot for Korean teens and young professionals on Saturday. The place was packed and everyone seemed to know one another. Funny.

I had to go to the Ritz Carlton in Greensboro for a conference and ended up dining at the Georgia Grill one evening. I have to to give the place props for sourcing as many local ingredients they can even if they aren’t exactly seasonal–see the sweet pea filled pasta underneath my perfectly grilled lamb.

This was my first time at this property, but the service was excellent and I can see myself going back there for a mini summer lake vacay since it is only about and hour and half from Atlanta. Since we were on the road, I just had to get:

Mmmmm. Bojangles.

The next day I met my friend for a little late lunch at Souper Jenny.

God, that woman makes some of the best chicken soup in Atlanta.

I met another friend at Dynamic Dish for lunch later that week. Owner, David Sweeney, had the most amazing main of white beans cooked in some very flavorful stock, quinoa, greens, and some creamy feta. Very satisfying as usual.

After receiving a tip from a reader about a new-to-me Korean BBQ restaurant (full review coming later), I dragged my friend for a second lunch of ramen at Waraku (a place Eat, Drink, Man had told me he heard has good ramen).

I got the tonkotsu of course. Decent ramen, but it was all a bit sweet. The place seems like a seriously solid neighborhood spot if you live in Suwanee though.

Found this place called BrainFreeze a few doors down from Waraku. The windows are covered in white writing advertising snowballs, jambalaya, gumbo, poboys, etc. How could I resist? It’s super cute inside. Love the pastel vinyl seating everywhere.

Since I was pretty full, all I could fit in my belly was a snoball flavored with “hurricane” syrup. They take the New Orleans theme seriously. My friend got one that was covered in condensed milk. Heaven. Well, condensed milk does make everything awesome.

Turns out they have some sort of eating contest. Well, a snoball/ice cream creation that’s 64 ounces. You have to finish it in 30 minutes or your photo ends up in the “hall of shame” instead of the “wall of fame.” This is some “Man versus Food” kind of eating. Are you man enough? I’m definitely not.

I was fortunate enough to go to the debut dinner of the Spice Route supper club, a new supper club with a focus on Indian food cooked by Kerala native Asha Gomez. Isn’t she cute?

My friend gave me a seat as a birthday present. It was amazing! Stay tuned for my report on this and that new Korean spot this week. Until then…happy eating!

“Grandma” shuffles up to our table enveloped in a halo of modesty and pride. The apron-and hairnet-clad sliver of a woman acts as the owner and head chef of Woo Nam Jeong (5953 Buford Highway, 678-530-0844), a restaurant that you need to make your top priority the next time you have a hankering for Korean food. Woo Nam Jeong, or Stone Bowl House as many people call it, looks like your typical modern Korean restaurant — floor-to-ceiling blonde wood, private cubbyhole dining areas, and a flurry of scurrying, super-attentive servers. However, Woo Nam Jeong is a little different from most Korean spots. Grandma is an insanely talented chef who makes everything from standard gut-busting Korean comfort fare to a 12-course tasting menu.

The tasting menu — which costs $59.95 for two people — is a great opportunity to jump headfirst into Korean cuisine. Grandma mixes up more obscure dishes and an impeccable assortment of banchan — such as smooth, white pine nut porridge and battered and pan-fried Korean squash — with more novice-friendly dishes, such as puffy fried filets of pollock drizzled with a spicy sauce, and sesame seed-encrusted drumsticks of Korean fried chicken. The meal finishes with a glutinous, flat rice cake and one final taste: a shallow bowl of cinnamon-infused water.

Click here to read the rest…

The heat intensifies with every bite of dduk bok gi. Beads of sweat form on my brow, my nose runs and my mouth begs me to stop. I can’t. The thick red spice paste that coats each chewy fat noodle, glutinous cylinder of rice cake, cabbage slice and triangle of fish cake beckons my chopsticks back. This fiery street food dish — like many others on the menu — contrasts the chipper and deceptively innocent energy at Dan Moo Ji (3230 Steve Reynolds Blvd., Nukoa Plaza, Duluth, 770-814-2310).

Entering the colorful restaurant feels like you’ve accidentally stumbled into a teen girl’s bedroom. The walls are covered with hearts, cartoon faces drawn in marker, narrow Polaroid photos of cute girls posing with friends, and clusters of neon Post-its doodled by happy customers. Waitresses bounce around the room in microscopic jean shorts and tight white tees never missing an opportunity to shout out the traditional Korean welcome — “Anyong haseyo!” — when anybody walks through the door. An endless loop of Beyoncé, the Black Eyed Peas, and Korean pop videos layers with the sounds of sizzling, slurping and chatter to create a unique soundtrack.

Click here to read the rest…