Sam Wong's Garden

[stephendare]

over on University Boulevard near Hala's Cafe.

Amazing food, simply amazing and authentic.

It is Korean cuisine, although they do offer Japanese and Amerasian dishes.

One of the defining elements of the Asian cuisines are the various rices, and Korean food is very similar in its ambitions to the southern aesthetic.  Sweet and Spicy, strong flavored, with lots of comfort food.

In a Korean kitchen, the steamed rice, especially the sushi rice is sweeter and at the same time more savory than the Japanese or Chinese equivelent, and at Sam Wong, the rice is prepared perfectly.



Korean meals are served with a complimentary set of small appetizer dishes that are placed in the middle of the table for communal eating, and they are spicy, garlicky and sweet, and our meal was very bountiful with the extra dishes.



I ordered my favorite dish, Hwae Dup Bap (hway doop bap), which is kindof like a gigantic sushi salad.  In a bowl, there is a base of the wonderful korean style sushi rice topped with freshly cut salad greens, shredded radish, cucumbers, an assortment of other fresh vegetables and a variety of diced, raw fish.

Sesame Oil has been drizzled over the entire dish, and korean garlic chili sauce is served as a side.

It was simply amazing.

Because the rice is so full flavored, the sesame oil is a perfect grounding balance to the sweet undertones and the crisp texture of the fresh greens.  A little sharp spicy sauce and a splash of the excellent soy sauce and the meal was perfect.

Like most of the local asian restaurants, there are two menus:  One for the americans, and another for the nationals of the restaurant.  Hwae Dup Bap is one of those dishes that you have to ask for, as it isnt usually on the american menu---and if you are a sushi fan, it is an amazing dish. 

Sam Wong Gardens is also set up for a bit of asian karaoke, and the host and proprietor will break out the microphone and crank up the video screens if you ask (since I was dining with John Allen, we did)

This restaurant is one of the most consistently best and most unknown restaurants in the city and its a shame.  In many ways korean cooking techniques are far superior to the better known japanese versions---at least from a southern perspective, and this kitchen prepares the finest korean food in the city.