Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
ChuckSteake
()
Date: July 16, 2012 02:59PM
So my girlfriend just moved to Falls Church, and this past weekended we decided to take a stroll down Columbia Pike to Little River Turnpike to see what was around the area, and I was absolutely amazed by the sheer number of Korean Restaurants that blankets that entire section of Falls Church/Annandale. I mean literally, in some instances there are Korean restaurants next to Korean restaurants. All I could keep asking myself is how a majority of these places managed to stay in business with competition literally surrounding them!?
I also laughed whenever I had a friend or co-worker refer to it as "Asiandale" but now I'm starting to realize just how major of a "Far East" influence there is within this community.
With that being said, does anyone have any favorites for some of these places? I've heard good things about Honeypig...
I also laughed whenever I had a friend or co-worker refer to it as "Asiandale" but now I'm starting to realize just how major of a "Far East" influence there is within this community.
With that being said, does anyone have any favorites for some of these places? I've heard good things about Honeypig...
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
Ito
()
Date: July 16, 2012 04:00PM
The Korean places in Annandale vary from everyday fast food, to sit-down expensive. If you are not familiar with Korean food, order Bulgogi or Kalbi (barbecued beef or ribs, respectively).
With your meal, you will get "panchan" which are small side dishes of all sorts of things from seaweed, fried or boiled potatoes, or pickled vegetables. You will also invariably get a portion of some form of kimchi -- either the standard cabbage variety or pickled cucumbers or "mu" (Korean radish).
When you go to a lot of the restaurants in here, you need to go with an open mind and be prepared to try things you have never eaten before. You might not like any of it, but you might find something you love.
*** It helps if you like spicy food!!!***
------------
Yechon
For standard Korean BBQ fare, try Yechon. This place is not at the center of Annandale, but is next to Little River Tpke & 495.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/yechon-annandale
This place is open 24 hours and can get very busy on the weekends, particularly between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Friday & Saturday nights.
------------
To Sok Jip
http://www.yelp.com/biz/to-sok-jip-annandale
Really good "standard" Korean fare.
------------
Annandale Seafood Restaurant
If you are feeling a little more adventurous and are familiar with Korean food, my personal favorite place is called "Annandale Seafood Restaurant" but you would never know unless you can read the Korean/Hanja script above the door.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/annandale-seafood-restaurant-annandale
The seafood here is fantastic. You can get some of the best hand made sushi and sashimi here.
-----------
With all of the Korean restaurants, the help is usually fresh off the boat Koreans whose English is horrible. The more authentic cuisine places' clientele is Korean, so they are not used to serving non-Koreans. You will get help ordering in most places, but don't expect to get your hand held.
Go and try this stuff. Most people will love Korean BBQ.
With your meal, you will get "panchan" which are small side dishes of all sorts of things from seaweed, fried or boiled potatoes, or pickled vegetables. You will also invariably get a portion of some form of kimchi -- either the standard cabbage variety or pickled cucumbers or "mu" (Korean radish).
When you go to a lot of the restaurants in here, you need to go with an open mind and be prepared to try things you have never eaten before. You might not like any of it, but you might find something you love.
*** It helps if you like spicy food!!!***
------------
Yechon
For standard Korean BBQ fare, try Yechon. This place is not at the center of Annandale, but is next to Little River Tpke & 495.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/yechon-annandale
This place is open 24 hours and can get very busy on the weekends, particularly between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Friday & Saturday nights.
------------
To Sok Jip
http://www.yelp.com/biz/to-sok-jip-annandale
Really good "standard" Korean fare.
------------
Annandale Seafood Restaurant
If you are feeling a little more adventurous and are familiar with Korean food, my personal favorite place is called "Annandale Seafood Restaurant" but you would never know unless you can read the Korean/Hanja script above the door.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/annandale-seafood-restaurant-annandale
The seafood here is fantastic. You can get some of the best hand made sushi and sashimi here.
-----------
With all of the Korean restaurants, the help is usually fresh off the boat Koreans whose English is horrible. The more authentic cuisine places' clientele is Korean, so they are not used to serving non-Koreans. You will get help ordering in most places, but don't expect to get your hand held.
Go and try this stuff. Most people will love Korean BBQ.
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
Comfort Food
()
Date: July 16, 2012 04:05PM
I am impressed with the high prices of Annandale/Fairfax Korean restaurants - I've been to a couple, thoroughly enjoyed the food ESPECIALLY the side dishes, and been totally floored while ordering and later on when I actually thought about it about just how expensive the dinner was.
I guess "prep time" must be quite high, because the ingredient cost for sure is not.
I guess "prep time" must be quite high, because the ingredient cost for sure is not.
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
Ito
()
Date: July 16, 2012 04:11PM
@Comfort Food
You have to be careful of what restaurant you go to, and of course, what you order. Sorak Garden and the more "formal" types of restaurants cater to Korean businessmen who like to drink and have a good time with a girl. The prices are high and the food quality is low, but the drink service is quick.
The "hole in the wall" Korean restaurants survive on the quality of their food and service. Seek out the more modest places and you'll love the food more.
You have to be careful of what restaurant you go to, and of course, what you order. Sorak Garden and the more "formal" types of restaurants cater to Korean businessmen who like to drink and have a good time with a girl. The prices are high and the food quality is low, but the drink service is quick.
The "hole in the wall" Korean restaurants survive on the quality of their food and service. Seek out the more modest places and you'll love the food more.
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
Comfort Food
()
Date: July 16, 2012 04:16PM
@Ito - yes, you are probably right - I was not picky NOR observant of the underlying nature of the restaurants in question - just "went to eat" and had some pretty darn good food, albeit way more expensive than I would have thought.
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
danny
()
Date: July 16, 2012 04:34PM
Everything korean is over priced, their all trying to become millionares, and look at americans as being sucker enough to pay the price.
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
ChuckSteake
()
Date: July 16, 2012 04:50PM
Ito Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
Wow, thank you so much for the heads up, I definitely plan on checking a few of these out. In fact I recall seeing the Annandale Seafood Restaurant yesterday.
-------------------------------------------------------
Wow, thank you so much for the heads up, I definitely plan on checking a few of these out. In fact I recall seeing the Annandale Seafood Restaurant yesterday.
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
and the result is
()
Date: July 16, 2012 04:51PM
Ito Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You have to be careful of what restaurant you go
> to, and of course, what you order.
Attachments:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You have to be careful of what restaurant you go
> to, and of course, what you order.
Attachments:
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
Ito
()
Date: July 16, 2012 05:31PM
@and the result is
You better believe it. The time you will spend on the bowl afterwards and the fiery ring around your anus depends on how used to spicy food you are. Generally when they see foreigners, like most Chinese restaurants, they will lay off the spiciness unless you ask for it. There is mild kimchi and there is stuff that will burn a hole through your large intestine (the good stuff).
The good thing is that Korean food is cooked thoroughly. The reason why I recommend people get the Bulgogi or Kalbi is because you get to cook it yourself on the grill in the middle of the table. Its a fun experience and you can be sure that what you eat has been prepared the way you like it.
The restaurants I recommended have been there for years and have a large Korean clientele. A couple can eat in these places for as little as $25 or easily run up a bill of $200 if they order some of the more expensive sushi or fish dishes.
Live a little. These meals sure beat the hell out of eating at Denny's or IHOP.
You better believe it. The time you will spend on the bowl afterwards and the fiery ring around your anus depends on how used to spicy food you are. Generally when they see foreigners, like most Chinese restaurants, they will lay off the spiciness unless you ask for it. There is mild kimchi and there is stuff that will burn a hole through your large intestine (the good stuff).
The good thing is that Korean food is cooked thoroughly. The reason why I recommend people get the Bulgogi or Kalbi is because you get to cook it yourself on the grill in the middle of the table. Its a fun experience and you can be sure that what you eat has been prepared the way you like it.
The restaurants I recommended have been there for years and have a large Korean clientele. A couple can eat in these places for as little as $25 or easily run up a bill of $200 if they order some of the more expensive sushi or fish dishes.
Live a little. These meals sure beat the hell out of eating at Denny's or IHOP.
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
My Last Experience
()
Date: July 16, 2012 07:03PM
My last experience at a highly recommended Korean place in Annandale:
We travel through a blinding thunderstorm to pick up my 90 year old mother-in-law in assisted living. Along the way we pass a transformer that was blowing up and catching on fire.
We arrive at the Korean place and see a busload of Korean tourists had just arrived as well and were waiting to be seated.
We wait forever to be seated, then order bulgogi and kalbi. The fire pit catches on fire midway through cooking and flames shoot up from the table.
The food was basically inedible - and it wasn't because the fire. Plus, of course, it was expensive.
That was one miserable experience.
We travel through a blinding thunderstorm to pick up my 90 year old mother-in-law in assisted living. Along the way we pass a transformer that was blowing up and catching on fire.
We arrive at the Korean place and see a busload of Korean tourists had just arrived as well and were waiting to be seated.
We wait forever to be seated, then order bulgogi and kalbi. The fire pit catches on fire midway through cooking and flames shoot up from the table.
The food was basically inedible - and it wasn't because the fire. Plus, of course, it was expensive.
That was one miserable experience.
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
Ito
()
Date: July 16, 2012 10:01PM
@My Last Experience
Nice story, but there is no "fire pit" -- they are gas ranges. Busloads of Korean tourists don't stop at Annandale restaurants either.
I do suggest you try some Korean BBQ though.
Nice story, but there is no "fire pit" -- they are gas ranges. Busloads of Korean tourists don't stop at Annandale restaurants either.
I do suggest you try some Korean BBQ though.
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
KoreanPower
()
Date: July 17, 2012 02:38AM
ChuckSteake Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So my girlfriend just moved to Falls Church, and
> this past weekended we decided to take a stroll
> down Columbia Pike to Little River Turnpike to see
> what was around the area, and I was absolutely
> amazed by the sheer number of Korean Restaurants
> that blankets that entire section of Falls
> Church/Annandale. I mean literally, in some
> instances there are Korean restaurants next to
> Korean restaurants. All I could keep asking myself
> is how a majority of these places managed to stay
> in business with competition literally surrounding
> them!?
>
> I also laughed whenever I had a friend or
> co-worker refer to it as "Asiandale" but now I'm
> starting to realize just how major of a "Far East"
> influence there is within this community.
>
> With that being said, does anyone have any
> favorites for some of these places? I've heard
> good things about Honeypig...
Have you seen the taken over by Koreans in Centreville?
-------------------------------------------------------
> So my girlfriend just moved to Falls Church, and
> this past weekended we decided to take a stroll
> down Columbia Pike to Little River Turnpike to see
> what was around the area, and I was absolutely
> amazed by the sheer number of Korean Restaurants
> that blankets that entire section of Falls
> Church/Annandale. I mean literally, in some
> instances there are Korean restaurants next to
> Korean restaurants. All I could keep asking myself
> is how a majority of these places managed to stay
> in business with competition literally surrounding
> them!?
>
> I also laughed whenever I had a friend or
> co-worker refer to it as "Asiandale" but now I'm
> starting to realize just how major of a "Far East"
> influence there is within this community.
>
> With that being said, does anyone have any
> favorites for some of these places? I've heard
> good things about Honeypig...
Have you seen the taken over by Koreans in Centreville?
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
ChuckSteake
()
Date: July 17, 2012 10:23AM
Strangely enough, I live in Centreville so yes, I'm well aware of it practically being a Mini-Korea. I will say I'm extremely thankful for the new H-Mart.
Re: Korean Competition in Annandale
Posted by:
@Ito
()
Date: July 17, 2012 03:17PM
Ito Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @My Last Experience
>
> Nice story, but there is no "fire pit" -- they are
> gas ranges. Busloads of Korean tourists don't stop
> at Annandale restaurants either.
>
> I do suggest you try some Korean BBQ though.
Well, whatever that is in the center of the table caught on fire and flames shot up, scaring the crap out of us. I thought I might be having a senior moment on the Korean tourists, but I checked with my husband and he remembers it vividly - even remembers the bus being white.
And as for your recommendation to try Korean barbeque - we used to eat at a Korean restaurant weekly when we lived in Falls Church. Sarcasm does not become you.
-------------------------------------------------------
> @My Last Experience
>
> Nice story, but there is no "fire pit" -- they are
> gas ranges. Busloads of Korean tourists don't stop
> at Annandale restaurants either.
>
> I do suggest you try some Korean BBQ though.
Well, whatever that is in the center of the table caught on fire and flames shot up, scaring the crap out of us. I thought I might be having a senior moment on the Korean tourists, but I checked with my husband and he remembers it vividly - even remembers the bus being white.
And as for your recommendation to try Korean barbeque - we used to eat at a Korean restaurant weekly when we lived in Falls Church. Sarcasm does not become you.