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    Red Chili

    4.1 (77 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Asian Fusion

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    Kickin chicken (sweet and sour)
    Joy L.

    So I'm a fanatic for all things Korean. While researching places to eat on Yelp for my upcoming trip to Elizabethton, I was surprised to discover there was a Korean restaurant in town. Yay! Red Chili went to the top of my short list of places to try while I was in Carter County, Tennessee. Mid-week, headed down to Red Chili at the tail end of lunch time. Red Chili is right on Elk Avenue in the heart of the quaint shopping district of Elizabethton, nestled among lots and lots of antique shops. I stood outside the restaurant and perused the menu prior to placing my take out order. The offerings are very limited and looked suspiciously inauthentic and Americanized. I chalked it up to the restaurantuers knowing their market and limited access to authentic ingredients. I was disappointed that neither bulgogi or kalbi were on the menu. I went inside and was immediately struck by how small, hot and dark it was. I also noticed that the restaurant was being run by only two people (presumably a caucasian husband and Korean wife team.) Both were sweating profusely due to the warm weather (85 degrees) and lack of adequate air conditioning. I was glad I was ordering take out. I placed my order for four dishes at 1:08 pm and was told it would be 25 minutes til my order was ready. There was only 2 other tables dining it at that time. I figured that the long wait time might be an indicator that the food would be really fresh and well-prepared. I toddled off to a nearby antique mall to kill time while I waited for my food. I returned at 1:45 pm and my order was just being completed. I was glad my instincts told me it would take them more than 25 minutes to get my order ready. I would not have been happy if I had to wait in the sweltering heat for my food. Got back to the house and we all shared each others orders. Since they didn't have any take out menus, I don't remember the names of what I ordered. The best thing we got was Mom's cold buckwheat noodle salad with chicken, greens and a nice sesame dressing. Very tasty. My only complaint is that they dressed it. They should have put the dressing on the side because the next day the greens were really wilted. But it was still delicious a day later. I ordered was crunchy noodles with chicken (I don't remember what they called it). It was pretty decent, although the noodles weren't really crispy and reminded me quite a lot of lo mein. I can't quite put my finger on what flavorings went into it, but it was slightly sweet and tasty, but nothing special and certainly not authentic. Left me asking myself where the heat was... The one thing I didn't try was the Bibimbap, which although my stepfather really enjoyed it, it was NOT EVEN REMOTELY authentic. I was shocked when I opened the container. It was just rice and meat!!! Where were the veggies? Since he had never had Bibimbap he didn't know he should be disappointed, so I guess that was okay. I didn't rain on his parade and tell him his order was jacked. Finally, and most aggravating was my "Kickin Chicken" which claimed to be similar to sweet and sour chicken (suspicously NOT Korean). It was an unabashed disaster. The bok choi had rotten leaves on it. The fresh pineapple was turning to alcohol. The HUGE chunks of breaded and fried chicken weren't cut properly so that the grain of the chicken was going the wrong way. The chicken also became a soggy mess in the sticky sweet sauce (which was tasty). The red peppers and purple onions in the sauce were delish and were the only thing really salvagable in the dish. The chicken was really disgusting. And where was the heat? Helloooo... Korean food should have some KICK! Kicken Chicken, where are youuuuuuuuu??? And WTF... there was no kimchee in any of the orders, which I would think should be a forgone conclusion with Korean food. It's like ordering Italian take out and not getting rolls and butter. meh. So the my experience was mixed. Definitely NOT a place to go if you're looking for authentic Korean. It's more just Pan-Asian. They had a few Japanesy type dishes, in addition to the Chinese influenced choices. There was nothing on the menu purely Korean. Some of the food was good, as long as you don't have preconceived notions about how things should or should not be prepared. Cash and check only. No credit cards accepted. No kids meal offerings. They have one cute little table for outdoor seating if you want to people watch and escape from the heat inside. Open Wednesday through Sunday.

    Red chicken
    Macey M.

    The red chicken is amazing! You can enhance the level of spiciness. Spring rolls are also a great appetizer. The owner is friendly and really cares about producing a quality meal.

    Outdoor seating is one table in front of the restaurant.
    Linda M.

    Authentic Korean food. Pleasantly surprised, however... we went specifically to sit outside on a beautiful day, but to say they have outdoor seating is a farce.

    Red Chicken- my favorite of all the dishes
    Joseph R.

    A delicious and authentic gem nestled in the mountains of East TN. I was surprised to hear there was a Korean restaurant in Elizabethton so we had to come see what all the Bi Min Bop was all about. Upon entering I hear and see a lively Korean couple chatting and cooking away back in the kitchen. Results? Great food, great pricing, great service and happy stomachs.

    30. Summer kimchi bi bim bop
    Hei Man T.

    Portion size is slightly smaller, but taste really good! We have the bi bim bop, summer kimchi bi bim bop and the beef chop jaun. They are all very delicious. The restaurant is a bit small 7 tables, waitress and staff are really nice. Wait time is not long at all. Open only on wed thurs and sat only Worth to try it! Will definitely come back!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Authentic Korean cuisine. I love the Bibimbap and the veggie pancakes she used to make.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Best Korean food ever. Kimchi is super? BE BIM BOB is my favorite. Bonnie Kate Theater

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    17 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Inaccurate online menu prices and poor customer service. Small portion sizes. Disappointing experience.

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

    I've been to Elizabethton for many years fishing and never knew this existed. What a surprise........... Excellent everything..........

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    7 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

    ABsolutely amazing!! Had the kickin chicken and it was delicious! Staff was very friendly! will definately become a regular at this place!

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    7 years ago

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    Yong Asian House

    Yong Asian House

    4.2(92 reviews)
    15.0 mi
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    Best buffet I've ever been to as far as Asian restaurants go…read more We didn't have reservations and got there around noon. Had about a 10 minute wait. Most of the food was delicious and they do a great job of keeping the trays stocked. Grace took good care of us and we were stuffed by the time we left. It's a little pricy ($25 each) but the quality makes it worth it!

    We're in the Johnson City, TN area checking it out to see if this might be a place we want to buy a…read morehome. Of course, that means checking all the boxes... including Chinese food. The restaurant and staff were typical Chinese vibe. I'll be honest, coming from NY, my expectations weren't high. I didn't even take pictures at first because I assumed there wouldn't be a review (and I usually won't post a negative one). When I tell you SHOCKED isn't even a strong enough word... I'm not kidding. We didn't want leftovers, so we ordered a few things to share. They brought kimchi and pickled cucumbers to the table. I'm not even a kimchi person, but this one was delicious; and the sweet, tangy cucumbers were fantastic. Wonton soup is always my barometer for good Chinese food. The broth was flavorful with just a little kick. The wontons were plump with filling and had a super thin wrapper-absolutely delicious. We tried both the egg roll and the spring roll-both spot on. The duck sauce and Chinese mustard were excellent too. For our main, we ordered General Tso's chicken (mild spice) with white rice. First of all... the platter was HUGE. Aside from being slightly spicier than I personally prefer, it was AMAZING. And yes...WHITE MEAT CHICKEN! Big chunks of juicy, crunchy chicken, large slices of onion (which I love), pieces of pepper, and a delicious sauce that coated everything perfectly. Halfway through the meal I realized I HAD to take a picture because this review was happening. This wasn't "good for Tennessee." This was genuinely DELICIOUS Chinese food. Yong Asian House-BRAVO!

    Photos
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    Singapore noodles with chicken and shrimp

    Yong Asian House - Sadly, the only photo I took! General Tso Chicken.

    Sadly, the only photo I took! General Tso Chicken.

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