Seoul Garden: Great All-Around Ktown Restaurant

Seoul Garden

34 W 32nd St [32nd btw 5th & Madison]

Second Floor

New York, NY

http://seoulgarden32.com/

Should you try? It doesn’t specialize in any one dish, but a great restaurant overall.  So yes.

Banchan

If I’m looking for a solid Korean meal (ie not BBQ at Don’s Bogam or Noodle Soup at Arirang), I come to Seoul Garden. The wait is always minimal, and not because the food isn’t good but because the restaurant is large. They offer great service, and continually bring out banchan (small, complimentary dishes) as soon as you sit down. I’ve also found their banchan is more diverse than other restaurants.

The Oh Jing Uh Bokeum (stir-fried sliced squid, noodle and asoorted vegetables in a spicy sauce; $18.95) was delicious. There was a ton of squid, and the sauce was tasty with a little kick.

Oh Jing Uh Bokeum

The beef short rib came as a combo of Tofu Soup + Beef Short Rib (Choice of combination/seafood/kimchi/soybean paste/vegetarian for Tofu with beef short rib; $18.95). The soup is loaded with flavor, and I would recommend getting the silken tofu.

Beef Short Rib

If you’re with a large group, I would get one of their casseroles. Last time I tried the Bul-Go-Ki Jungol (marinated rib-eye with mushroom and noodle; $49.95), which had a really tasty broth.

Haemool Jungol

I’ve only had Gal Bi Chim (steamed beef short rib; Small – $16.95; Large – $26.95) once, but the dish is really tasty. There isn’t a ton of meat and the meat that is there is fatty, but the sauce has that savory and sweet flavor. I would give it a go.

Gal Bi Chim