Looking for Korean food in Vegas that doesn't involve grilling your own meat over an open flame? Do yourself a favor and head over to Ondam.
This is Korean comfort food in the form of traditional 한정식 (hanjeongsik), a table full of rice, soup, banchan and dishes meant to be eaten together. Nothing feels overly heavy or complicated, but everything tastes like someone in the kitchen actually cares about what they're putting on the table. Somehow we walked out completely full and still felt healthier than when we walked in. I'm not sure how often you can say that after a meal in Las Vegas.
The quick and dirty:
* Traditional Korean 한정식 (hanjeongsik) dining
* Great place to bring your parents
* Also surprisingly great with kids
* Lots of different dishes and banchan to work your way through
* Come hungry, leave full, but without immediately regretting every decision you made
Food:
The fried fish was probably one of my favorite things on the table. Crispy skin on the outside, moist and tender on the inside, and simple enough that there's nowhere for bad cooking to hide. I probably ate way more of it than I planned to.
The bossam was another winner. Tender slices of pork with all the little accompaniments needed to build the perfect bite. Wrap it up, add a little of this, a little of that, eat, repeat. It's one of those dishes where you tell yourself you're done and somehow your chopsticks keep finding their way back to the plate.
And then there's the banchan. Lots of it. Half the fun of 한정식 (hanjeongsik) is having what feels like your entire table covered in little plates and figuring out which combination you're going after next.
Family:
I brought my parents here and they loved it, which, let's be honest, is probably a more meaningful endorsement of a traditional Korean restaurant than anything I can write on Yelp.
We also had our daughter with us and the staff went out of their way to take care of her. Eating a long meal with a child can occasionally turn into an endurance sport, so having a restaurant make the entire family feel comfortable goes a long way.
Service:
Big shoutout to Matthew. He was incredibly accommodating, patient with our table, and made sure everyone from my parents to my daughter was taken care of. Great service without hovering over you every five minutes.
Pro Tip:
Go with the family and don't rush through the meal. 한정식 (hanjeongsik) is one of those experiences that's better when you slowly work your way around the table, try a little bit of everything, and inevitably go back for "one last bite" about five times.
Vegas has plenty of Korean BBQ. Ondam is where I'd go when I want the kind of Korean meal that feels a little closer to home.
Bring your parents. Bring the kids. And don't sleep on the fish. read more