The Thirsty Pig: Bossam 보쌈 at The Kobawoo House, Los Angeles

Friday, February 5, 2010

Bossam 보쌈 at The Kobawoo House, Los Angeles

Not your typical Korean restaurant . . . Kobawoo has pretty good pork - bossam dish. It seems that I am attracted to pork, not sure why.

The Bossam 보쌈. You take a slice of pork and wrap it in a vegetable - lettuce or a thin radish sliver. Mix in some kimchi and peppers - and eat it like a mini burrito.

Kobawoo House was a choice for an early dinner for our little group. I had never heard of it. I was expecting some sort of Korean BBQ or something. The usual engrossing smelly experience. In addition, I didn't have the requisite token Korean to accompany us. It helps to have a native to help us order and make sure we don't get laughed at. So, in my mind, we were taking a big chance. But when we walked in, it looked like a traditional Korean restaurant with their big tables. I did notice the big air suction fans from the ceiling and the cooking tables.

But surprisingly, we didn't order the Koreantown BBQ. I got a bunch of things from a sizzling plate of pork and beef. But I want to talk about their banchan - 반찬. They had an excellent mix of a selection kimchi, some egg thingy, little dried fish dish, and others. Sometime you can tell the quality of a Korean restaurant with the amount and variety of banchan that they offer. Some places only give a couple of dishes, but Kobawoo gave us like 6 or 7. And we had two servings for the 5 of us. Nice spread in my opinion. The kimchi, is what I went after first. I know I can handle too much "heat", but I like the initial taste and mouth feel. Just thinking about kimchi makes my mouth water.

The bossam is what makes Kobawoo standout. I don't think I have ever had bossam 보쌈 before. Guess it is my lack of K-town experience. Anyways. . .what you do it take the slices of pork and wrap it around leaf lettuce and wrap with peppers. This pork is steamed to a white-ish color. This pork was slightly fatty with a tender texture. I think I ate too many of these.

Pajeon pancake was pretty good. I believe it was a seafood pancake. I don't like the chewy squid in my pancakes. I doubt white America would be ready for this dish to go mainstream. Not much more I can say. Personally, I like the simple kimchi pancakes. Kimchi pancakes are one of my favorite things in life. Anyways. . .