July 27th, 2013
I have 29 food allergies or food sensitivities. I always have had tummy trouble, eating peppermints and raw ginger, drinking teas to soothe stomachs, even taking Tums and other stomach digestive aids. One day I had had it, and I was not going to suffer anymore. Went to a food nutritionist and i was tested for over 60 different foods and vitamins and 29 food allergies of them came back as an allergy. (tomatoes and peppers have too many varieties to name them all so I quit at 29).
Eating out is not an option for me anymore, everything from the bread basket or chip n dip they put on our tables, to the dessert I'm doomed to be allergic to something.
So I was very excited to get invited to MooDaePo Korean BBQ in Rowland Heights, CA and experience their new lunch menu, and some items from their all you can eat menu. MooDaePo's one year anniversary is on August 8, 2013, and they were trying to get the word out about it, by inviting local bloggers, yelppers, and business owners.
When I arrived, we were set up in their banquet room, and each place setting has this waiting for us:
Here is my confession, I have NEVER eaten Korean BBQ before, this was my first time and I was so excited!!
BANCHAN (SIDE DISHES)
Banchan refers to small dishes of food served along with cooked rice in Korean cuisine. Banchan are set in the middle of the table to be shared. At the center of the table is the secondary main course, such as galbi or bulgogi, and sometimes a shared pot of stew. While the main course of the meal is sticky rice. Bowls of cooked rice and soup are set individually. Banchan are served in small portions, meant to be finished at each meal. They can be replenished during the meal as they are finished.
Left to right / top to bottom:
Sigeumchi Namul - Spinach Dish, Cooked Zaccuni in a spicy sauce, Potato Salad with Macaroni, Ggakdugi - Radish Kimchi, Kongnamul - Soybean Sprouts, Kimchi Fermented Cabbage
I completely fell in love with the potato salad with macaroni, it had sliced apples, peas, cucumber slices, and bits of carrots. I ate the whole mini dish plate and didn't share with my table mates. Sorry gals!
First Course: Salad
Second Course: Bulgogi Soup with Rice Cakes & Vegetables
Third Course: Teriyaki Chicken
Fourth Course: Galbi (Beef Rib) Soup
Fifth Course: Kimchi Bokumbap (Fried Rice)
Sixth Course: Korean BBQ: Prime Beef Brisket, Prime Marinated Short Ribs, Flower Steak, Tiger Shrimp, Prime Pork Cheek, and Miso Pork Belly
My favorite entree was the Galbi (Beef Rib) Soup. After even just taking one taste I spoke up and said, okay I want the recipe for this. The broth was buttery and very mild. I tasted onion, beef short rib, it was a clear broth, and I was told by my table-mate this was a common "basic" broth that most Korean's use, probably similar to my chicken stock that I make by boiling the bones. Well I ate the other items, that were good, but was "heavenly". They took the big bowl away to make room for the other food, but I would be completely content with a huge helping of just that and the all you can eat meat for lunch or dinner anytime...
**Hint** to anyone who wants to come over and make me a big pot of this in my kitchen**
Next up my next favorite was the Miso Pork Belly, I'm amazed being the carnivore that I am that I don't recall ever eating this before... maybe I have been served it before, but no one told me what I was eating. Anyhoo, I could have eaten it all day long. It too was buttery, melt in your mouth. It looks like a pure fat meat, and then you put it in your mouth, and the world stops while the flavors burst into mini fireworks of flavor in your mouth. (Salivating right now as I remember how yummy it was). Our server Suzie, while very friendly and informative could not describe how it tasted, she basically told us we need to try it because it is "beyond" words, and I have to agree with her. I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my face because it stopped my world from moving.
Their menu here. They do have lunch menu prices at the $7.99 price point, and their lunch times are 11:00 am-2:30 pm. (Monday - Friday) They told us they understand about people's lunch breaks, and can speed up their stellar service to accommodate lunch schedules. I remember working in the corporate world and what a big deal it is to be back on time from lunch break. So I thought that was thoughtful, although I can see how easy it would be to stay there all day and eat. I got there 11:15 am, we started being served about 11:45 am, and we were done eating by 2 pm, but after milling around, and taking pictures and such, it was almost 3 pm before I was out the door.
My meal came from A2 - All you can eat $25.00, I will defiantly be coming back. Our servers were informative, and patient. They were all wearing headsets so they could communicate with each other, and better serve us, plus there was a button on the wall they we could ring if we needed anything, but I feel we were well taken care of.
