So I made the trek over to Korea House last week. Work has kept me from buckling down with an adequate review on the joint. With that in mind, allow me to issue a disclaimer: this is a half-ass review of a better-than-okay experience.
My wife asked a Korean coworker, on my behalf, to disclose the best-of list of Korean restaurants in the Nashville area. He quickly named three, and then reluctantly suggested a couple more. Now, I'm not going to repeat the names or order at this time (find your own source), but I will say that I crosschecked them with Nashville Scene (the end-all, be-all of good advice ;>) and found more than one similarity. One restaurant rightfully not on the Scene's list was Manna Korean Restaurant; but more on that later.
Anyhow, so I drove about 7 miles out from downtown to a small strip mall on Charlotte. Every foody knows that the best ethnic cuisines are located in strip malls... and no, I'm not kidding; but I digress. I grabbed a seat at one of the twelve tables and soaked in the atmosphere that I can only describe as "asian diner". The TV was broadcasting Korean news while the in-wall speakers blared Celine Dion. I immediately took note of the framed certificate from the Nashville Scene for being Nashville's best Korean food of 2007. These guys know they have a reputation and they want you to know too. But the atmosphere isn't always the most accurate indication of a good restaurant. No, it is the menu. Is it too short (signifying that no one in the area wants what they serve)? Is it too long (indicating that they really don't have a specialty, but rather do everything "just ok")? No, this menu was just right, offering a varied, yet focused, selection.
I ordered the bibimbap, which literally means "mixed rice". As with many Korean dishes here, you order it "regular" or "spicy". This simple dish is basically a half dozen chilled vegetables sliced up over warm rice, served with an egg on top (sometimes fried, sometimes raw). If one desires, they may elect to add beef, chicken or tofu to the mix. The dish is simple, and so too my review shall be. The bibimbap was good, meeting every expectation. In a dish as simple as this, all ingredients must be fresh... and they were. Bibimbap is a perfect antidote for someone craving a lot of flavor without that heavy feeling. I will order it again.
My experience with Korean food is abundant. I have had the pleasure to share the table with some fantastic Korean cooks who take their food seriously. There are differences in quality that can be seen even in Nashville. Manna Korean Restaurant, for instance, was my first taste of Nashville's Korean representation. I regretfully admit that the entire experience was a disaster. Putrid smells, poor service, and lack of fresh ingredients made for terrifying first impression. However, after my visit to Korea House, I am proud to say that good Korean food does exist in Nashville.
There's no need for a sales pitch. Korea House has a great reputation both inside the Korean community and out. Go pay them a visit and try something new.
Korea House
6410 Charlotte Pike # 108
Nashville, TN 37209
So I made the trek over to Korea House last week. Work has kept me from buckling down with an adequate review on the joint. With that in mind, allow me to issue a disclaimer: this is a half-ass review of a better-than-okay experience. 
3 comments:
will they roll it up in seaweed if you ask them?! i like my bibimbop to go.
good call on the best foreign restaurants in strip malls. i guess they're just more affordable (usually a mandate if you spent all your money to emigrate) and the only property that a chain hasn't already been plopped down on(mcdonald's doesn't like to share their parking lots).
i'm pretty sure knoxville's only korean rest. is located in strip mall next to a regular mall. it must be amazing.
You're right. Knoxville has Kaya over by West Town Mall. All the Korean grad students took me there a couple times. I should also mention that you get a two-for with the asian market in the same complex. You can buy some seaweed for your bibimbop wrap. I did a quick search and found another one in Knoxville, ironically called "Korea House" at 1645 Downtown West Blvd Ste 37... wherever that is.
hey i just found your site. where have i been? i dont know.
great coverage of the korean restaurant. did you get any soju? how much was it? im so pumped to go to an american korean restaurant and drop 'annyong haseo on them'
im also pumped about this site!
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