update on han il kwan

(posted on chowhound - http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/325773)

update on a recent visit to han il kwan last weekend...

4 of us arrived on a sun evening around 8pm to a pretty open restaurant, only 2 or 3 tables but a large party in the private room. we opted to bbq at the table (i like to come out smelling like meat;) ) and ordered a plate of galbi and daeji bulgogi, the cod fish jigae, and chop jae. i think i counted 12 or more dishes of panchan, the fishcake and marinated cucumbers being the favorites of the night.

the galbi was good, the rib bone even better, and while the marinated pork was fine, it lacked some assertiveness in spices compared to K-town examples. then, the waitress brought out, on the house, a small, piping hot clay pot of egg custard! she said it'd be very good over our rice and indeed it was. nicely seasoned and so fluffy. who knew you could cook eggs like that?

then our cod jigae arrived, bubbling over its dark clay rim. the broth was pretty tasty but missing a few notches of hot spiciness. all the vegetables and tofu were fine, but the cod unfortunately was tough and overcooked. most likely frozen vs fresh. i'd say go for another jigae version on the menu.

our chap jae still hadn't arrived and by the time we got through the jigae, we were so stuffed we told the waitress to cancel it if they'd forgotten. they had, but we shrugged it off since we were so stuffed from the meat, jigae and abundant, bottomless slection of panchan.

we finished off with a small serving of sweet rice water with toasted pine nuts, which i find a refreshing way to rinse out that heavy, greasy meat taste with something a little sweet.

all in all the bill came out to $$64 w/tax and tip - only $16 pp! my friends had a great time and while this isn't as great as some places in k-town, i'll be happy to return. service is very pleasant and generous (minus the fact they forgot a dish but they apologized profusely). now if only they could do something about that richmond district parking...