Minsok--new Korean Restaurant in Brookline Village Area

Minsok -Korean and Japanese Restaurant

92 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA (intersection of Harvard Street with Aspinwall/School Streets)

Open for little over two weeks, I went and ate at Minsok. I was very excited to have a potential new restaurant in the area. Formerly a Kosher Chinese Restaurant and last incarnation was Zoe's, Minsok is a welcome addition.

The waitstaff is dressed in colorful Korean outfits. The menu is extensive and since it was the first time for my friend BM to try Korean food I figured I would keep it simple. I ordered the seafood pancake, seafood chapchae (veggies, seafood stir fried with clear noodles), steamed mandu (Korean dumplings), and bulgoki (Korean BBQ beef).

First we were treated with an amuse bouche of rice porridge. My friend found it refreshing and I found it different from the regular Chinese style porridge due to the type of rice being used. Next came out the seafood pancake which was a big healthy portion. It was airy and crispy with bits of seafood and scallion in this eggy batter. The dipping sauce was not too spicy but nice accent. We got over 8 little side dishes too (one of my favorite things at a Korean restaurant). I have found this to be a generous selection, some other Korean places around town give you four side dishes and then charge you if you want more. I have been spoiled at other Korean restaurants outside of Massachusetts (ie Los Angeles Ktown or even Korean Food in NYC). They consisted of two types of kimchee (bok choy and cucumber), a black bean, fish cake, blanched bean sprouts, to name a few.

Next came our mandu-dumplings, very pretty and delicious with a lovely healthy mixture of meat and veggies inside (you can get them steamed or pan fried) with the dipping sauce. Next was the seafood chapchae which was a heaping portion and the same for the bulgoki with lots of onions. The chapchae was good (we ended up having to take it home) with the nice amount of veggies, generous helping of seafood-mussels, shrimp, squid. The bulgoki (I tend to like to cook my own as it is drier) but it was still good though prepared in the kitchen.

Service was good. The waitstaff was very attentive making sure our water glasses were always filled and they always asked before taking away our dishes. At the end of our meal, we were asked for dessert, they only have mochi ice cream. But some fresh fruit orange and pineapple slices were served with our bill. On our way out, we were given a small present. We thought it a nice touch.

Next time you are in Brookline Village area, check out Minsok Restaurant! I have told a few friends already!

8 forks out of 10 forks

Kum Gang San-Korean BBQ

I always seem to head to Kum Gang San when in NYC for Korean BBQ! (On 45 32nd Street between Broadway and 5th Avenue in Heralds Square). Brought a group of people to have some Korean BBQ and snacks. We got seafood pancake, chapchae ( clear noodles with meat and veggies), bulgoki (marinated beef) and galbi (marinated rib meat) (all my faves)! They were all hits and the there were plentiful side dishes to be had as well!

The waitstaff cooked the kalbi and bulgoki for us but we ended up serving ourselves and finishing up the bbq meat. Everyone was happy and enjoying the food. The conversation and food were flowing and good times were had by all.

We left with tax, tip $28 lighter! But for this quality of Korean bbq you cannot get in Boston, it is worth it! Then we wandered into the night to take the guests to Times Square to check it out!

9 forks out of 10 forks

COLOR an affordable Korean place-off Harvard Avenue

Last week, I hit COLOR (166 Harvard AveAllston, MA 02134(617) 787-5656)in Allston/Brighton with my friend NT. This is a small place that is very colorful and simple with a few tables in the dining room. The service was uneven, but the food overall and prices made up for the long wait (we were famished by the time we received our food!) It has been awhile since we ate out and hung out. She is cool and we decided on Korean when the Shanghainese place we wanted to hit was closed and then the second place for Taiwanese ---parking was hard to find.

We got the ttokbokki (Korean rice cake-thick tubular in shape), Color's House Chicken-fried chicken with a sweet chili and garlic sauce (we ordered it after seeing many dishes coming out of the oven that we were were curious) and bean paste stew as well as seafood pancake. The sauce for the ttokbokki at first seemed mild, but got spicier as you ate it. Though I must admit the pojangmacha (street vendor) version on the streets of Seoul were better. I did like the bits of oden in our ttokbokki. As a Korean friend put it best, "It is the special sauce!" The bean paste stew was a first time for NT and she liked it! Not spicy and it balanced the other spicy foods. Very warming on the cold dank and rainy night when we went to Color. I always like getting the side dishes at Korean restaurants. The seafood pancake was good with bits of shrimp and squid in a crisp pancake served with the requisite soy dipping sauce. The side dishes were simple but great respite taking different bites of the food.

We had fun and though the service was slow. I got to practice my smattering of Korean here and there. It took a long time before we got our food but we were eating it with gusto. Seemed all the other customers were Koreans save us (the only non Koreans). Initially they asked if we wanted the Korean menu. Uhhh no we would like English please.

I had fun due to my friend and the conversation. The food was alright but comparing to Korea, it does not compare. (Same could be said with apples with oranges too.)