Restaurants
Kimchi Korea House
Kimchi Korea House, on the south side of Dundas near Bay, is situated in a prime spot to take advantage of this bustling downtown neighbourhood. At only a couple weeks old, the new restaurant is already garnering plenty of foot traffic from the nearby Ryerson campus.
The formerly vacant and dilapidated storefront has been given an extreme makeover and now sports casual, modern decor that appropriately draws from Asian influences. Designed by Koryo Interior, the new look incorporates dark woods, rice paper screens, and bright red, vinyl banquettes.
This is a restaurant from a veteran of the service industry, and here, a convivial atmosphere takes precedence over trendy fare. Owner Michelle Lee tells me about her lifetime of experience working in hospitality and service for the Western Prince Hotel and Niagara Fall's Captain Murphy's Restaurant, and how she is proud to now have the opportunity to show off the Korean comfort foods that are close to her heart.
Prices are not especially cheap, but the portion sizes are generous. The Sweet & Spicy Chicken ($15.95) delivers exactly what it promises via chillies and pineapple slices, and is served with sides of traditional Korean garnishes like kimchi, bean sprouts, pickled radish, cucumber and eggplant.
The Hot Stonepot Bibimbap ($10.95) arrives sizzling in heavy stoneware. The pan-fried egg sits on top of colourful veggies, slow-cooked beef, and soft fluffy rice that is seared to the bottom of the dish--a positive in my mind.
The Kalbi Ribs Soup ($10.95) is another hearty dish featuring slow-cooked beef ribs and tender cubes of carrot and radish in a rich, beefy broth.
Tonight, I'm grateful for the unlimited green tea, but on the drinks menu, options include beers and wines, as well as Sake, plum wine and soju (a distilled, vodka-like beverage with 35% alcohol that is native to Korea).
Currently, the restaurant is open from 11:30am until late, but there are plans to stay open until 4:30 am on the weekends. Lee insists that "Korean food is great hangover food," and is confident that she's found a prime location in which to dish it out.
Photos by Morris Lum
Discussion
12 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
That plate of Chicken doesn't look like a generous size. And if we start paying $15.95 for it, then there won't be anymore cheap restaurants in this city anymore...Or we'll have to stick with Chinese and Vietnamese being the ONLY options.
Checked out the place last week and went again yesterday. Prices are definitely not as steep as other commenters are making them out to be-- actually, prices are in the same range as most Korean restaurants in Koreatown/Chinatown with the exception of a few items.
Ordered Pork Bone Soup ($8.95), Seafood Soft Tofu Stew ($8.95) and Dwen Jang Chigae/Soy Bean Stew ($8.95). These dishes are basics in every Korean restaurant, and as a Korean I've been to enough places downtown that it's easy to tell immediately if a Korean resto has got their stuff together. Really good flavour, good portions, attentive service (the lady running this place is absurdly friendly). The spicy sweet potato banchan was really addictive, I asked for thirds and my server happily complied.
I'd say this place is much better than most (key note, MOST) places in Koreatown and on par with joints like Seor Ak San. I'll be coming back, as it's definitely a solid option for good Korean nosh in that neighbourhood.
fast service, generous portions. 10/10 would return.
I don't get the comments saying it's too expensive... These dishes are at standard prices, maybe a few items are 1-2$ more than some places in Koreatown. But the food is obviously better quality, at least the 5-6 times I've been there. AND it's consistent, which is more than I can say for most places in K-town.
information you’ve gotten right here on this post. I might be coming back to your blog for
extra soon.