Tag Archives: korean cuisine

Dining, Reviews

AYCE Korean BBQ Faceoff

This has taken awhile to germinate, but I think it’s about time I weighed in on the two Korean BBQ places I’ve visited in the first half of 2010.

Omi Korean Grill and Bar

2625 Old Denton Dr
Carrollton, TX 75011

Omi has a few things going for it. It’s perfectly located in a busy Asian strip mall. It’s also relatively new, meaning spacious, pretty and clean. My dining partner and I checked out their AYCE barbecue buffet, and we were mostly satisfied by their selection, though their options leaned toward more pork than beef or chicken. The panchan was a mixed bag, mostly forgettable. Service and pacing was typical for this kind of dining, meaning inattentive and inconsistent. Despite the giant vent hood over the table, I still walked out of the restaurant smelling of smoke, but I was pleased Omi had the grill built into the table, unlike some other places. Will I be back? Probably…they had an extensive menu of options that I’m willing to explore. And Omi provides a good setting for celebrations, entertaining friends and out-of-town guests.

My rating: 3.5 stars
***1/2

Blue House

2540 Old Denton Rd Ste #300
Carrollton, TX 75006

Blue House is in an older building and setting across from the busy Korea-town strip mall from Omi. As part of our dining adventure, we sampled the AYCE bbq buffet. While the tables here were designed with built-in grills, it seems that the portable table-top burners were the grills of choice here. The fiance and I were pleased with the mostly beef offerings, and the banchan tended to be more memorable than previous places (including the large salad plate). Service here was just as comparable as other Asian establishments, meaning the staff was as accommodating as most places (though we were lucky to be visiting when we were one of two parties in the entire restaurant). Blue House had a nice sized Korean and Japanese menu, and I was almost persuaded to order off it, had I not the mission of checking their buffet. Worth another visit? Most likely! But I would be less likely to share this place with others; Blue House is more of a guilty pleasure than a must-go destination.

My rating: 3.5 stars
***1/2

Dining, Reviews

A trio of Asian eateries reviewed

B.B.Bop Rice Bowls

2460 Lacy Ln Ste 102
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 620-9700

Excellent customer service. The b.b.bop guys were enthusiastic about their place and the food they served. I got a thorough rundown of the counter options, from the 3 types of rice, 3 meats (or 2 extra veggies), to the various veggie and sauce options. I ordered the spicy pulled pork with fresh spinach, steamed broc, and green onions (minus lettuce or cabbage offered), topped with their Chiang Mai Chili sauce. Their regular sized order was nearly too big of a lunch portion for me…I cleaned up every last bite. One thing to note: I did not get the signature plastic bowl that other reviewers have mentioned—they stuck my meal in a foam box. Clean and quiet place, more appealing to the fast-casual lunch crowd, not really a place I would linger in over dinner. Good food, casual digs, great price!

My rating: 3.5 stars
***1/2

Japan House

300 W Plano Pkwy
Plano, TX 75075
(972) 633-8000

Nothing truly stellar about this all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. The sushi seemed buffet-grade so their freshness is questionable. This is the only place in the area I’ve visited that offers a conveyor-belt for their specialties, handrolls and house sushi/sashimi. There seems to be more Korean choices on their hotbar…though I wished their kalbi wasn’t overcooked and their other offerings spicier. The most memorable food on their spread are their desserts…I’ve been pleased to see sticky rice covered in peanuts and sesame puffs offered amongst the Western-friendly selections like pecan pie and cheesecake–though I can’t imagine anybody enjoying the basil seed jello! The hostesses here were cheery and inviting, but quick to usher you out once they closed down for lunch. I’ve visited Japan House several times for lunch and it seems their prices are on the rise, while their quality continues to diminish. I’m not sure that I’ll be revisiting them in the future unless their food improves.

My rating: 2.5 stars
**1/2

Tokyo Teriyaki

1630 Valwood Pkwy
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 620-0211

Standard fast food Japanese eatery offering meats with rice. The menu caters to the business lunch crowd from the surrounding warehouse area…so the flavors are simple. You can’t really go wrong with chicken, beef or pork teriyaki. For the adventurous asian-food neophyte, the gyoza plate beckons. On my last visit I ordered a house special of beef and chicken and requested it spicy…which arrived as ordered with lettuce and steamed rice. I’m not quite sure that I enjoy the jerky-like texture of the beef…but then again, I’m not paying for prime grade steaks either. I also could have done without the lettuce medley, but I suppose that I really didn’t have many choices for veggies. Teriyaki sauce came tableside, in a squeeze bottle, along with the usual condiments: soy sauce and sriracha. Hard not to like this place for what it offers: the place was clean, service and food okay.

My rating: 2.5 stars
**1/2