trying to get a group of friends together with out of town guests isn't always easy, especially…read morewhen everyone's schedules are so hectic. a last minute decision to meet at hanwoori ended up being the perfect middle ground, with one couple even making the drive in from abbotsford.
parking is a little limited, but once everyone arrived, the evening quickly settled into what korean bbq does best...bringing people together around the grill.
the five of us, four adults and one child, shared combo b, which came with marinated prime beef ribs, beef bulgogi, chicken bulgogi, spicy pork bulgogi, deep fried pork dumplings, japchae, and janguk (beef bone soup). we also added a seafood pancake and bibimbap because, let's be honest, it's hard to stop ordering once you get started.
our server brought out the banchan, followed by the platter of raw meats, then proceeded to snip the beef short ribs into bite sized pieces with a pair of kitchen scissors, making them easier to handle, cook, and even better to eat.
one of the things i enjoy most about korean bbq is that dinner becomes interactive, not just a meal. while the meat sizzled on the grill, we took turns cooking, pouring each other's water, passing dishes around the table, serving one another, catching up on life, and laughing our way through the evening. somehow, the best conversations always seem to happen around a hot grill.
the marinated beef ribs were the highlight of the meats for me, tender, juicy, and packed with flavour. the different bulgogi selections offered a nice variety, while the japchae was savoury and satisfying. the seafood pancake arrived crispy around the edges, although it was a little greasier than i would've liked.
the deep fried pork dumplings were the only real disappointment. the filling tasted like it was mostly cabbage, lacking the meaty flavour i was expecting. the banchan were fine, but nothing particularly noteworthy.
my favourite dish of the night, though, was the janguk. rich, comforting, and deeply flavourful, it was the one thing i found myself wishing there was more of. unfortunately, our table of five was only served one small bowl each, and i honestly could've polished off another one or two helpings.
by the end of the evening, we were full, happy, and in no rush to leave. while the food was good overall rather than exceptional, korean bbq has never really been just about the food for me. it's about gathering around the grill, slowing down, sharing a meal, and spending quality time with the people you're with.
sometimes, that's exactly what makes dinner memorable.