Okay, let me preface this by saying I used to come to Danmooji quite a bit, like 1-2 times a week a bit. Their food is not bad, and the prices are reasonable too.
So last week, I came here and decided to switch it up and try something I've never tried before-- the Cheese and Kimchi omurice. I've had kimchi omurice before, but never cheese and kimchi, nor had I tried the omurice here. So I thought, why not?
When it got to me, I took a spoonful and put it to my mouth-- and this horrible odor/smell came wafting up. I almost gagged. I used the spoon to analyze the different components of the dish-- it wasn't the rice, wasn't the kimchi or the cheese. It was coming from the outside egg/sauce layer. I really couldn't eat it, and honestly I was afraid of getting sick even if I did stuff it down.
So I called the waitress over and told her I'd like to order something else from the menu. I offered to pay for the omurice dish, but that I needed to order something else. She asked me if there was something wrong, and I told her that there was something off about the dish and it smelled funny, but if that's the way it is, I would be fine with paying for it and ordering something else.
She took it back, and came back after a little bit with a piece of paper, and explained that their eggs were fresh from that morning, so there was no way there was anything wrong with it. So I said it was fine and that I would pay for it, but that I just wanted to order something else. I ordered the katsu (which I've eaten plenty of times before).
Some minutes later (actually, I watched as the manager lady was telling her what to say, it was kind of amusing), she comes back again saying that the cook is worried that I won't be able to like the food they cook, and asking whether I've eaten kimchi before?
Are you kidding me? First, you don't even recognize my face, and second you're asking me if I've eaten kimchi before? I repeated that I've never eaten their omurice before, but I've eaten their other food, and that I'm fine with kimchi and their katsu, and I will pay for both.
She went back, and came out a minute later and uncomfortably told me that the cook won't cook for me. I was confused and the manager lady (who was standing by and had been the one telling the server what to say), told me that they can't serve me and it's better if I just leave.
So.... I was kicked out, even though I offered to pay for not one, but two dishes, even though the first one was totally rancid/spoiled. I wasn't being a noisy, spoiled customer. On the contrary, I never create a fuss over things like this and try to be accommodating as possible. In fact, I repeatedly emphasized that it may be my fault for not liking the dish, and may I 'please' order something else and pay for both?
Methinks it was because 1.) I wasn't Korean (I'm Chinese) 2.) I was by myself, but their treatment of me as a customer was absolutely unforgivable. So the cook gets offended unless you like everything he serves up? Is there such a thing in this world?
So! Be careful what you order, because if you don't like it, you get kicked out. read more