Photographs by Shivendu Mittal  

It is a weekend, and Shivendu and I impromptu decide to go for a Korean lunch. While I have not had Korean food for the last two years, for Shivendu it is the first time experience. So we land up at the best known Korean restaurant in Gurgaon, Gung, and choose to sit in one of the cubicles, with typical Korean low seating and a grill at the centre of the table.

Korean cuisine is largely based upon rice, vegetables, and meats. Traditional Korean meals are noted for the number of side dishes (banchan) that accompany steam-cooked short-grain rice. Kimchi is served often, sometimes at every meal. Commonly used ingredients include sesame oil, doenjang (fermented bean paste), soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger, pepper flakes and gochujang (fermented red chili paste).

We decide to order two dishes, Galbi Jeongsik (Pork Ribs Lunch Set, Rs 1500) and Ddukbeki Bulgogi (Rs 900) where I am expecting grilled beef (what I ate the last time) but it turns out to be beef stew. Before the main course arrives, as is the tradition in Korean cuisine, many small starter plates arrive, and fill up the entire table. 

                      Starter Plates                                       Kimchi

Apart from the quintessential Korean favourite Kimchi, what also arrive are small plates of a creamy salad, pickled eggs, potato pancakes, spiced rice cakes, sprouts, green beans, spinach kimchi, and Korean rice.

                     Creamy Salad                                   Spiced Ricecakes

                 Spiced sprouts                                   Spicy green beans

                   Potato pancakes                                 Spinach Kimchi

Alongside, we get fresh, green lettuce for ssambap. Ssambap refers to the eating of rice by wrapping in fresh leafy vegetables. Lettuce leaves are the most preferred vegetable for ssambap. In old days, Koreans picked lettuce leaves grown in their own yard and enjoyed rice with lettuce wraps for their meal. Lettuce wraps are delicious enough to make you empty a bowl of rice without any other supplementary dishes, but it is customary to wrap grilled meat also into it.

                         Lettuce                                         Pickled eggs

In this herbivorous feast, one thing that clearly stands out is the kimchi, which is beautifully fermented, while the other dishes are a pleasant time pass.

Ddukbeki Bulgogi (Rs 900) is too sweet for my taste, despite my attempts to spice it up with chilly sauce.

On the other hand, Galbi Jeongsik (Pork Ribs) being freshly grilled in front of us as we sit and watch it getting ready, are quite toothsome. 

                                         Pork Spare ribs being grilled

The accompanying chilled soba noodles are also fascinating with their unsusal texture.

As we sit and wait for our bill, Shivendu and I discuss the meal experience. For Shivendu it is an interesting new food adventure with no “bad” dish, for me who has been exposed to Korean food, the only memorable dish has been the kimchi, while the rest of the dishes can be called competent, but not more.

The review was anonymously done after paying for the meal.

Ratings (Out of 5)

Food: 3.5 | Ambience: 3.5 | Service: 3.5 | Value: 3.5 | Overall: 3.5

Meal for two: Rs.3000 | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: No

Address: 28, City Centre, Near Crown Plaza Hotel, Sector 29, Gurgaon. Tel: 011 24673322, 011 24674933