Approaching the end of our trip in Spain, my family was (gasp) tired of traditional Spanish tapas…read more And as Korean-American tourists in a foreign country, we caved and found one of the few Korean restaurants in Barcelona (it was near our apartment and also rated one of the best Korean spots in the city), since we had a craving for some good Korean food!
At 8pm on a Sunday, we were the first party in the restaurant (as it was right when they opened), though by the time we left an hour later, the place was packed with both locals and tourists (and Korean people from both categories)! While it looks small and unassuming from the outside, the interior is quite spacious, with two floors and a bar. The host was not Korean, but spoke English, Spanish, and Catalan, and greeted us with a smile before seating us.
There are grills at each table, though we opted for a la carte dishes instead of a Korean barbecue-style meal. First to come out was the banchan - the first set is free, but they charge you for refills (unlike in the States). The banchan set came with kimchi, pickled cucumbers, roasted eggplant, tofu, and bean sprouts. The kimchi and pickled cucumbers weren't the best we've had, though both tasted fresh and well-seasoned. The roasted eggplant was surprisingly delicious, with a tender bite and a savory, slightly sweet sauce. The tofu was lightly fried with a nice crisp and tender inside, and the bean sprouts were crunchy and seasoned well with sesame oil and soy sauce. Not bad at all for Barcelona banchan!
The menu is extensive, though part of that is due to the fact that it is in Catalan, English, Spanish, phonetic Korean, and Chinese. I ordered the Jeyuk Bokkeum (Sauteed Pork with Vegetables in a Spicy Sauce, €13,80) - the pork was delightfully tender without being too fatty, stir-fried with onions and zucchini, and the sauce it was in was addictively spicy with a hint of a sweet aftertaste...a pleasant surprise, especially for the generous portion size! The fresh lettuce on the side was perfect for making ssam (traditional Korean lettuce wraps).
My dad ordered the Galbi Tang Picante (Spicy Galbitang, or Spicy Beef Soup, €16,80) - while it wasn't the best galbi tang he's had, it was served steaming hot, with a nice kick and a fairly generous portion of beef. The broth tasted familiar, if a bit spicier than the galbi tang we've had at other Korean restaurants.
My brother ordered the Dakgalbi (Spicy Marinated Chicken, €35), which is supposed to be meant for two people, but is really more like 1.5 portions (1 for my hungry teenage brother). It comes with spicy marinated pieces of dark-meat chicken, which are nice and tender (no gristly pieces), perfectly-cooked vegetables (a medley of carrots, potatoes, and zucchini), and Korean rice cakes (tteokbokki), which add a nice soft textural contrast to the dish! While this was hearty and tasty, the sauce didn't taste too authentic, due to a strong note of curry powder, making the dish taste more South Asian than Korean. Overall, this was good, but definitely not two portions, and not worth €35.
Lastly, my mom ordered the Mul Nangmyeon (Korean Cold Noodles, €12,50). They had forgotten to bring this out, but quickly prepared it when we reminded them later. This dish comes with a good amount of buckwheat noodles in a cold broth, with pear, cucumber, beef, and a hard-boiled egg. The cold, vinegar-based broth was refreshing on a hot day, and the crunchy pear and cucumber added a good contrast to the soft noodles and tender beef. The egg has a nice richness to it as well, and you can add spicy mustard on the side for an extra kick!
The woman who I presumed to be the owner of the restaurant came out to greet us - she is Korean, and speaks fluent Korean, Catalan, and Spanish. She is very kind and down-to-earth, and asked us if we enjoyed our meal.
Overall, this was a solid place to get our Korean-food fix in Barcelona - while it's pricier than other Korean food we've had, it's fairly solid, if not the most authentic, and tastes good. If you're getting tired of traditional Spanish tapas, this is definitely a decent option!
