NYC's Koreatown is quite the saturated market when it comes to great Korean fare, so we wanted to see if the relatively new Tosokchon at 33rd Street Ktown NYC could measure up! It's part of the same restaurant family as the beloved Tosokchon in Annandale (and Palisades Park, NJ), serving up homestyle Korean food. It truly is a "blink and you'll miss it" kind of place - when we visited, it was tucked away behind scaffolding. The interior mimics a traditional hanok style, with paper-screen partitions and cozy, folk‑inspired decor, and exposed brick walls and metal pipes for an Korean-industrial-chic appearance. At around 8pm on a Monday night (it was Memorial Day), the restaurant was about half-full, though it's important to note that they boast long hours: 11:30am-4:00am Mon-Wed, 11:30am-6:00am Thurs-Sat, and 11:30am-10:30pm on Sunday - perfect for getting your Korean fix at odd hours.
Our party of two spent a good time exploring the extensive menu, where there's options for everyone, ranging from your more well-known Americanized classics (think bibimbap, bulgogi, etc.) to hearty stews (Gamjatang...yum) to housemade noodles (such as kalguksu and nangmyeon) to fun, adventurous meat platters (soondae or chicken feet?). There's truly something for everyone and every occasion! Additionally, the banchan (Korean side dishes) that they serve here is simple, but really well done: their kimchi is fresh, crunchy, and perfectly spicy (though maybe a bit too hot for the less spice-inclined), and their kkakdugi (spicy pickled radish) is solid if not stellar.
My companion opted for the Yukgaejang Kalguksu ($21), which is a titanic bowl of fresh, al-dente knifecut noodles in an addictively spicy broth with plenty of shredded beef and tender vegetables. I kid you not when I say the bowl was larger than the biggest pho bowl we've ever had, and that's certainly saying something. The broth was complex and deep without being overly greasy, and they didn't skimp on the beef, which was neither stringy nor fatty. The noodles truly soaked up the flavors of the broth, and the vegetables added a nice touch.
I chose their Jokbal ($20 for small portion), which comes with a mountain of thinly-sliced, succulent pig's trotter served on the bone over a steaming platter. The meat is marinated in a lovely sweet soy sauce, with fresh ginger, garlic, and jalapenos served on the side. Jokbal is often hard to find in the States given an American aversion to eating certain parts of animals, so this was a rare treat. It's an incredibly large portion of tender meat with the perfect combination of lean pork, toothsome cartilage, and rich fat. It's even better when paired with their ssamjang (spicy soybean paste) and kimchi!
Overall, we had an amazing dinner at Tosokchon: the portions are the most generous we've seen at reasonable prices, the food is flavorful and fun, and it's a place where you can order unique Korean dishes that you often can't find in the States. Service was a bit slow (understandable, given it was a holiday weekend) but kind, and you really can't beat the value or food at this place...a definite five stars! read more