Food on Wheels, Chapter 2 [DC Summer]

To continue this summer's Food Truck adventures, I met Julian, Faith and a few of Julian's co-workers for lunch last Friday and decided to try out the Kimchi-BBQ Taco truck. Although Kimchi had one of the longer lines in Franklin Square that afternoon, it was well worth the wait. 

Here's what I went for...

Spicy Chicken Kogi (BBQ) Box with white rice, salad and vegetable dumplings.

The rice and salad were nothing out of the ordinary - but it was KimchiBBQ's spicy chicken that made this meal particularly memorable. The chicken was packed with deep flavors, a mild spice and was extremely tender. Complimented by crisp, fresh dumplings, this BBQ box really hit the spot.

If you're not in the mood for one of their BBQ boxes, I'd suggest trying out one of their Burritos, filled with your choice of Kogi (Pork, Short Rib, Beef or Chicken), Kimchi and rice. Or opt for their three taco deal and choose between three of KimchiBBQ's delicious homemade tacos.

Most meals range between $8-10, an incredibly reasonable deal for the amount of and quality of food you're getting. Another great food truck to add to this growing list of DC eats.

 

Follow on KimchiBBQ on Twitter @KimchiBBQ to see where they are located today!

Feel Like an Iron Chef [NYC edition]

Despite a short two-week visit home in between Ann Arbor and my move to DC for the summer, I managed to find some time to make it into NYC to check out my favorite city's cuisines. 

Located at 35 W. 35th St., Madangsui was just the place I was looking for. My brother and dad had been there once before and sent me pictures of the amazing Korean BBQ that Madangsui has, but it was only necessary that I checked it out for myself. After a long day of trekking through Chinatown, Little Italy, and SoHo, my brother and I headed back to Midtown with eager appetites. 

Korean BBQ is an eating experience unlike any other. A few months ago I visited Maru in Ann Arbor and was greeted with a variety of traditional Korean dishes. Like Maru, Madangsui served up a variety of small appetizers, including kimchee and marinated seaweed; however, the best part about Madangsui was having our main dish cooked on the BBQ in the middle of our table. 

Here's how we did Madangusi:

Fresh Butterflied & Korean Style Marinated Short Rib

Blue Crab Soup in a Spicy Broth

Cost? Depends. Most of the BBQ entrees range from $26-32, however, this includes all of the appetizers and there's enough meat for two hungry diners. The entree soups are less steep in their prices and range from $11-15. Other noodle and rice entree dishes range from $12-18. 

Atmosphere? Inviting for both small and large groups - I'd highly encourage trying this place out with a group of adventurous eaters who are looking for a different kind of dining experience. The atmosphere is very casual and cozy - if you're looking for something more upscale however, this isn't your place.

Best dish? What would a Korean BBQ be if their best dish wasn't the BBQ itself? When you go,you MUST get the Marinated Short Rib - tender and full of flavor, this dish is an easy winner (not to mention what's better than having your food cooked right in front of you?)

If you want to check out their menu before heading over: http://www.Madangsui.com/Madangsui/Productlist.asp?CK=7857 (call ahead on weekends to make a reservation).

Location: 35 W. 35th Street, New York, NY 

For a snowy Ann Arbor day…

Since starting University Meets Food Diversity about a year ago, I’ve come to realize what it is that truly makes Ann Arbor a foodie’s paradise. From upscale Asian Fusion to inexpensive Jamaican jerk, quick order omelets to cozy comfort vegan food – Ann Arbor covers all territories, leaving no cuisine without representation.

Last Saturday, Sarah and I made yet another adventure to a restaurant that offered us some exotic cuisine. I had been to two other Korean restaurants around Ann Arbor, but Maru – located at 414 E. William St - was by far the most authentic and the most flavorful option of them all. Although Maru doesn’t look that impressive, it’s the perfect fit for any college town – especially in the restaurant haven that is Ann Arbor. Inexpensive, quick and filling Maru is certainly worth the trip.

Before getting into the two dishes we ordered, I have to mention that their sides are unbelievable and could be eaten on their own with a side of rice. The sides are served to you immediately after ordering your meal and they are happy to replenish any of them once you’ve finished (trust me – you’ll be wanting seconds of all of them).

The sides ranged from fresh kimchi (a spicy fermented cabbage dish) to marinated bean sprouts, potatoes and cucumbers. My personal favorite was the marinated seaweed, though all of them were incredible.

Now onto the main course…

Typically, I would not consider soup filling enough to be a main course but at Sarah’s suggestion I steered away from the entrees and chose from one of the dozen options of soup Maru had to offer.

Sun du bu jjigae. Hot & spicy silky tofu and seafood pot.

Duk Gook with mandu. Rice cake soup with meat dumpling.

Although many of the flavors in the dish were somewhat foreign to me, I’d be quick to go back again and try another soup especially as the weather gets colder.

Cost? Most soups and entrees are around $8-9, and this includes unlimited sides.

Atmosphere? Don’t expect too much of a cozy atmosphere…or the fastest service, but the food makes both worthwhile.

Best dish? Of the two we had it was too difficult to decide – the rice cake soup had a simpler flavor, but the rice cakes were an interesting additional. Not at all like the American version of a rice cake, these rice cakes were dense and flavorful. The seafood soup is a great call for seafood lovers, but I’m still eager to try the other soups the next time I go back.

MARU – 414 E. WILLIAM STREET ANN ARBOR, MI