jschyun

Alright then, looks like we'll be going to the OC branch of Shik Do Rak for dinner this Saturday! ErinB, perhaps FoodZealot might be able to carpool with you, as he is right in your area. Maybe you can ask him about it. Actually, I just went there tonight, having decided against going to Soot Bull Jeep due to traffic and the fact that I had to be home in time to watch Charmed at 10pm. I've been there recently, but what the heck. Actually, I said before that the panchan wasn't good but now that I have eaten it again and remember why I thought that, so I should explain. They make the oyster kimchi that I don't care for. Chosun makes the classic, old fashioned kimchi that I grew up on. Thus that style tastes better to me. There's so many different kinds of kimchi, there's something for everyone. Also, I think I just prefer the style of food that Chosun makes, although I always thought Shik Do Rak was really good in its own way. Shik Do Rak's galbi is leagues above Chosun's, at least the version I got today. But normally, we never get galbi (beef short ribs) at Shik Do Rak, and neither does anyone else I know. We usually get thinly sliced angus beef and cook it over the gas grill, maybe some pork. We also get some chigae (uh, basically hot soup with stuff in it, eh bad explanation) So here's the itinerary. Please let me know via pm or on this thread how many people you're bringing. Saturday December 13th Dinner 6pm Shik Do Rak People attending so far: Me (3), Maison Rustique (2), FoodZealot (1), ErinB (?), grandcru(?), tejon(?) anyone else? Please note the address mentioned a couple posts back is INCORRECT. Apologies. Shik Do Rak 9691 Garden Grove Blvd (cross street Galway) Garden Grove 92844 714-534-7668 (won't do you any good, they don't speak English)

Soooo..... when are you coming to L.A. next? Just kidding. Well,then again...

Hmm, if it really was a bomb, I think the last thing they would want to do is beat on it.

Shik Do Rak 9691 Garden Grove Blvd (cross street Galway) Garden Grove 92844 714-534-7668 (won't do you any good, they don't speak English) It's right off the 22 freeway, between Brookhurst and Magnolia exits. Should be about a 20 minute drive for you. --edited to get rid of wrong address for Shik Do Rak. I think I used the wrong, earlier version of the article.

Yeah, sounds like dinner. Also, it sounds like if we are going to include as many people as possible, Shik Do Rak sounds like the frontrunner choice, because it's at a halfway point. It's good to see some OC people in here! But I'm still going to Soot Bull House tonight. I tend to eat earlier, say, 6pm, but what do you guys prefer? Parking is usually better earlier in the night. So basically the plan is: Sat, Dec 13th Dinner Time: to be determined Place: Shik Do Rak (due to location), Chosun (due to being a good restaurant overall), Soot Bull Jeep (due to meat) There are some other good places, but we can branch out later.

Can you only do places near the mall? --edit Another place that's within walking distance of the mall is that Indian restaurant Royal Khyber. They do a great, if expensive (I think it was $15) Sunday brunch buffet that is one of my favorites. I also like having dinner there, but it's more of an upscale Indian dining experience. I second the Back Pocket. --end edit Costa Mesa has a lot of little funky ass places but they're closer to the beach than the mall and you would need a car. If you have one: Irvine, Korean, soondubu: Gaju Soft Tofu restaurant in Irvine has the best soft tofu around, I think. The original restaurant is in Garden Grove, but when they opened the new one, they took all the good people with them. Irvine, Chinese, dim sum: China Garden in Irvine is the only decent dim sum in all of OC. I think the dan tat (egg custard tarts) are among the best, and when I say that, I include San Fran dim sum restaurants in the comparison. Costa Mesa, Japanese, sushi: I Love Sushi, on Harbor Blvd, is the only decent sushi place in Costa Mesa, that I have tried, but it's a couple miles from the South Coast Plaza mall. I was surprised by how good it was because it looks like a craphole to me. It's not as good as some of the L.A. places (I'm thinking Hirozen Gourmet) but it's good for Orange County. Tustin, Japanese, sushi: Wasabi. This sushi place is hella expensive (2 people usually $70 for me) and it's in a tiny strip mall, small portions, but it's probably the best sushi in Orange County. I do think it's excessively expensive, and it's omakase which I believe translates to "Screw you, you'll eat what I say you'll eat". There is no really good Thai place in OC. You have to go to L.A. Friends took me to a place in Dana Point, and it was good, but not good enough to drive to Dana Point. Westminster, Vietnamese, sandwiches: Lee's Sandwiches is like a beacon in the night for hungry nightcrawlers. Open 24/7 from the to-go window. There's a place that has better bread according to my Viet friend called "Chegali" (she pronounced it "Chay-gah-lee") but Lee's is pretty damn good. Westminster, Vietnamese, pho: Pho 79 has good pho, but my favorite is one my coworker took us to. It was called Pho Thanh Long. They give you the sawtooth herb and everything. But there's been a bunch of new places opening, according to said friend, and I haven't had a chance to try them, so there may be better ones. Irvine, American, burgers: Fatburger is a SoCal institution. I was too young for this, but my best friend remembers a time when Fatburgers had the grease spooned back over the patties while they cooked, before they were arrested by the nutrition police. Newport Beach, French, desserts/cheese/Frenchy stuff: Pascal's Epicerie. Pascal's is good too, or so I hear, but I can never get past the epicerie where I usually load up on the miniature pastries. If you get the raspberry tarts, make sure yours has fresh sugar on them. If the sugar has melted, it is stale. I don't like the Pascal's Cafe in South Coast Plaza. Everything is tired there. They also have an excellent assortment of cheeses. I don't like the Crab Cooker. But maybe it's because I usually get the manhattan clam chowder or fish, instead of crab. I can get crab cooked for me at 99Ranch, so what's the point of paying the Crab Cooker to do it for me? That's all I can think of right now.

Years ago, I used to dream about schlepping a totonno's pizza onto the plane (wouldn't last the flight) back to CA, but now I hear it's not even worth schlepping anymore. How sad.

It's the 13th because I'm coordinating and I can't make the 14th. What do you guys think about a lunch outing? I'm thinking about parking and such. I'm going to go to Soot bull definitely this week. If I remember correctly, I think you guys might like that place.

Hehe, I remember Fedco, from my youth spent in Orange County, CA.

I sense that you enjoy torturing us.

Hmm, how far north can you go?

The Coffee Klatch in San Dimas is a little far, but they've won awards for their coffee Article in San Dimas News --i believe the barrista was something like 19 years old when she won an international competition for her espresso pulling. I'm in a hurry, so you'll have to google for that info.

hehe, relax mongo_jones. you are among friends here. We'll figure out where to go eventually. --yeah, kimchi is the test. If you eat it, you must be okay... hehe

mongo_jones, I must say, it is really nice to see your passion for Shik Do Rak. I really like that place, and if people aren't concerned about it not being particularly English friendly, then I would consider bringing the group to the OC branch. It's been hit or miss when I have brought non-Koreans there, and I don't think their panchan is all that great. I like their freshly shaved Black Angus beef, although it has a tendency to overcook in my hands. Also, they have pork belly (I think) and trying to wrap your little rice roll into something that won't fall apart before it hits your mouth, is always fun. I'll try to go to Soot Bull before Sat and then we'll decide for sure. Well, it's the final week before the actual event. Stay tuned!

The L.A. Shik Do Rak is not as good as the OC one. --edit Food's the same, but it's kind of ghetto compared to the OC one. I don't know if I feel comfortable taking a group there.

I have to say the OC branch of Shik Do Rak is great, and yes they do that dduk bo sam thing which is cool. Ever since it opened (I think it was) last November, my friends and family have favored it over any other bbq house in OC. Frankly, I can't imagine going anywhere else for Korean BBQ in OC unless I have to. However, I think for this outing, I think Chosun would be a better choice because it's block from the Galleria, and if we so chose, we could stroll over there after lunch/dinner. Also, the new Chosun is a beautiful restaurant and part of the pleasure of dining is being able to eat in comfortable surroundings. In fact, it reminds me of some of the places my family took me to in Seoul. Lastly, most of the diners are non-Koreans, and Shik Do Rak help staff speak very little English. At Chosun the the prices are roughly between $10 - $26, with the galbi . We could get 4 dishes for 5 or 6 people and still come under $20 per person. We could also go at lunch time. I might drive back up to L.A. and go to Soot Bull Jeep again, to refresh my memory. Chosun's bbq isn't the best I've ever had so if Soot Bull is still as good as it used to be, where, after your visit, the overpowering smell of garlic and meat covers you like plastic film for days. Then maybe we'll switch to there. Also, most people seem to be coming from L.A. or Long Beach, and although I'm in Irvine, I want to make sure we collectively do as little driving as possible. What do you guys think? Where are you guys coming from? So far it sounds like me (plus one), FoodZealot, grandcru, and ErinB. Let me know if I missed someone.

hehe grandcru *shudder* Just came back from Buga (now Seoul Oak BBQ). Short version: Had galbi, liked it better than Chosun's version because cut across the grain (probably just picked it up from the supermarket and hacked it to pieces) and had more grill flavor. However, didn't like panchan given. Chosun's panchan far outshines Seoul Oak in quality, if not in quantity. I say we go to Chosun. It seems like the best choice for an all around comfortable restaurant with bbq and whatever else you want that has garlic and pepper in it.

I am also biased towards Peets but I will say I had what i thought at the time was a decent cup of decaf at Polly's in Long Beach. However, the decaf had enough caffeine left in it to make me totally wired for the rest of the day. I thought they had made a mistake...but they hadn't.

I will never again slice celery without putting my fingers under my knuckles, thereby slicing off the end of my thumb. Luckily it was only skin and blood and it's growing back....

alright, I went to Buga and Chosun Galbee. Buga is now Seoul Oak Korean BBQ restaurant. I passed it several times thinking I was at the wrong address. Unfortunately, because I was alone, I was passed over for at least 15 minutes in the lobby. I think they thought I was waiting for someone and I am weirdly shy about yelling for a table. As I waited, I checked out the dining room. It was 8:30pm, and only a few groups were present. The place hasn't been remodeled in at least 10 years, but that doesn't mean anything, in terms of the food, of course. I talked to a girl who said her mother had recommended the place. I counted 3 groups at the tables, but I saw about 6 cars in the half empty parking lot adjacent. For the hell of it, I left and drove over to Shik Do Rak down the street for comparison. About 3/4th full, with lots of children in the playroom. So nice, I almost went in. But no, I had work to do. I drove to L.A., down Western until I hit what I had as the address of Chosun Galbee. As soon as I saw the dark, obviously closed restaurant I realized I have been there before, contrary to what I told you guys. See that's the problem with not speaking Korean really well because my friends and family always pick the place and order. I just eat. Also, I was pissed because it was obviously not the right restaurant. They must have moved. I turned around and drove down another street so I could make another loop around Western when I accidentally drove by the new location on Olympic Blvd. It's stunningly beautiful, with slate walls little fountains and valet parking filled with cars nicer than mine. I got an order of the "Chosun Galbee" to go, after they counter lady told me that the Galbee Jumuluk wouldn't travel. After I got it home, I found I liked the seaweed soup ( miyoguk) better than my mom's. I don't remember eating it there before. I liked the panchan they gave me too, but it was a small portion of what I would have probably gotten if I had eaten at the restaurant. The "Galbee" or short ribs cut off the bone and marinated in a sweetish, garlicky soy sauce was too sweet and not garlicky enough for me. But then I always say that. I also think they should pound the meat or whatever it is they do to make it really tender, but I did eat it cold at home. Overall, it was pretty standard galbi. I can see why all the magazines focus on Chosun. It's much nicer than the other barbecue restaurants. And the food is still pretty damn good. I would feel comfortable bringing a group here. I still might go to Buga for lunch tomorrow, if I have time. It smelled pretty good in there, and lunchtime might be better for a single or duo. I'm more interested in going to Soot Bull Jeep though. My cousin said they have better meat than Chosun. Probably how they grill it. However, she did say that her favorite BBQ restaurant in general was Chosun. She's a well traveled, well funded eater, so I trust her judgment. If L.A. wasn't an hour away, and my schedule not so hectic, I would have eaten here a long time ago. So what do you think?

I have had problems with products, and services after payment by credit card. My company has always sided with me, until the problem was resolved. woodburner I was surprised to find out that credit card companies do more than just take your money. I was always told "buyer beware", but this isn't necessarily the case. I know with platinum cards, you are afforded some protection, but apparently Fowke's case can go his way via the credit card company. I called my credit card company and the dispute resolution person there told me that to dispute charges, first you have to send in written documentation about what happened, and any other documentation that you can find, like the bill and Fowke's letter to the management, their reply. Then what they do is charge the restaurant back and see if they dispute it. If the restaurant decides to dispute the chargeback (is this a word?), then they wrangle for a bit. If they can't resolve it, then the dispute goes to Visa. If it gets to Visa, then there are substantial charges involved, and if you lose, you pay more (I didn't get all her jargon, but I understood that losing the dispute meant paying charges). Over a $22 meal, she said they wouldn't even send it to Visa if the dispute could not be resolved by the credit card company. She said that in the situation I outlined (basically C. Fowke's experience), the chances are about 50-50 that the dispute will go his way. She said that his case would have been stronger had he walked out on the bill. Also, she asked how much of the meal was eaten and when (before or after the complaint). His case is stronger because he didn't eat after the complaint. He didn't eat right? The lady talked fast so I hope I got everything. Crap, i just rememberd that i forgot to tell her, he only talked to the waitress not the manager. --edit Just remembered that she said they get about 300 calls a day (I use a small credit union's credit card) about this very thing. She said to send in your documentation and see what happens. --end edit

Hmm, I didn't really intend to say that you should embarrass the restaurant but to encourage what you've already been doing, which is to talk about it. I just said it in what I thought was a humorous way, and I apologize for the misunderstanding. Here, you are resolving the issue (in a fashion) by letting others know about these issues. Heck, maybe someone here can actually do something about it. Basically, it doesn't sound like there really was anything else you could have done at the restaurant. If the total meal was $22, and it was vacation time, I would have done the same thing. If the management isn't interested in consumer feedback, that's really not something you can control, except by not visiting.

You could dispute the charge on the card, but since you got the meal and chose to pay for it, you probably wouldn't get any help from the credit card company. I loved visiting Canada, especially Vancouver, and I am sorry to hear that you had a bad experience here in So Cal. When you're a nice guy and you have your wife with you, also tired, it's a hard call. Make a fuss or not? Here's the problem with being a nice Canadian guy in America. You get a bad meal and you start looking at what you've done wrong. Hmm, that lamb was just $22 so maybe that's why they're treating me like dog dirt. Hmm, maybe I looked like a weary vagabond. Dude, you're not in Canada anymore. Paying more doesn't guarantee anything. Why, you can get crap meals here for $100 without trying! And in So Cal, esp. near the beach, nobody notices how you look, unless you're naked. You know in your heart, those things have nothing to do with your bad experience. That restaurant sucked hard. You should have more confidence in yourself, or is it a Canadian thing to be so humble? Since you've already paid, and the management has made clear they'll do nothing about your bad experience, I think the best thing you can do is let it go, but make sure that everyone knows about it. Everyone.

What does he consider mid to lower priced? For seafood, we just had Joe's Crab Shack on Fisherman's Wharf. It was surprisingly good, since the Newport Beach location that I've gone to previously is crap. Expensive for crab ($23-27), but they have a variety of dishes in the $5-12 range, like a pretty decent if small clam chowder in just okay sourdough. I feel kind of weird recommending it but what the hell. There's also coupons on the internet for free appetizer, and if you're a AAA member, you get 10% of total bill. I had the Dungeness crab platter ($23) with 1.25 pounds of crab, half of which was done in garlic butter and the other half in some mesquite barbecue thing. Garlic was better because the bbq is very salty. They really push the mesquite bbq though. Swan Oyster Depot is also another choice, but I haven't been there so can't comment. It's touted as an inexpensive place for good quality seafood. Ton Kiang is okay, but the portions are tiny and the line is unbelievably long if you don't get there right when they open. Also, parking is horrible in the area. If you want dim sum, I would rather go to Koi Palace. About the same price, but I think the food is so good, and in reasonable sized portions. Be sure to call ahead for a "number" and then when you arrive at the time specified, you check in and wait 15-20 minutes. If you don't call ahead, you could be waiting for an hour or more. Parking is bad, but better than Ton Kiang. Koi Palace is a little south of SF, so you need a car. --edit Boudin Bakery on Fisherman's Wharf used to have good clam chowder in a sourdough bowl. I like their sourdough. Very inexpensive, I think $6 or $7 for a large portion. I haven't been there recently though.

Hehe, yes I did start the thread. I would love to have this in my lap actually. I just forgot all about it. Isn't that horrible? Good sampling? I'll look at the combo meals then. You pay a set price, say $59.99 to $100something for some sliced pork, shaved Angus beef, and maybe shortribs or something. It sometimes comes with soup and of course it comes with panchan. I'll look for a combo meal with the most variety. I should stop by Soot Bull Jeep too, but only if I have time.