Looks like everyone had a good time eating at Sobahn restaurant. A nice variety of dishes to introduce students to Korean. What a great group of people - willing to try new dishes and fun to be with.
Cindy Krowe So, I have to admit, I have had Korean food before. I grew up in Koreatown in Los Angeles and Sobahn is my favorite restaurant. However, I always order the same thing, the Dol Sot Bibim Bap. Last night's experience with the class was fun because the meal was eaten in a communal fashion and we were able to sample several dishes. The Kimbap and spicy chicken were new to me. Our table learned the origin of the metal chopsticks (originally used because the metal would change colors if poison was detected in the food.) We also learned the Korean food culture is communal and that serving etiquette requires that the youngest member of the table serve others before serving his/herself. More importantly we learned that Banchan comes with unlimited refills:)
I am really sad that I couldn't participate in the Korean meal. I enjoy trying new things. But I did want to say that it was really interesting learning about the Korean Foodways and culture. I didn't realize there were different kinds of chopsticks and that Koreans use steel ones. Or that spoons were also a part of their table setting.
Another interesting thing I learned was how respectful the culture is to their elders, specifically about the youngest serving the elders first. Or that it is bad etiquette to pour your own alcohol.
I would not have guessed that Korean food was served communally although I suppose 'family style' eating is very much the same in our culture. But it is different than how we ate at the Blue Nile.
I am going to have to try Korean food soon - it looks delicious!
I thoroughly enjoyed eating Korean food at Sobahn. I love trying new foods, but had never eaten Korean food before. I have to say that there was not a single dish I didn't like! My two favorites were the bibimbap and the gimbap. I loved the fresh flavors and textures.
I loved learning about the Korean foodways. I found it very interesting that you do not pour your own drink and that the youngest person stirs the bibimbap. It's a food way with a lot of ritual and protocol, which is so different from our American way of grabbing food and chowing down on the go!
I also learned that the use of the metal chopsticks came from a need to be able to tell if the food had been poisoned (and thus would darken the metal). Interesting...but I did not enjoy using metal chopsticks as they were very slippery!
Great experience, and I'll be returning to Sobahn with my family!
This experience was so different from my Blue Nile experience. I truly did not enjoy the food there and I might have if I didn't have to use the bread. In fact, on the way to Sobahn, I thought about stopping and putting something in my stomach before going to the restaurant. I'm glad that I didn't. I truly enjoyed the food there and managed to get so full that I didn't have room for the kimbap. As you can probably tell, I am not a very adventurous eater.
I had always heard that Korean food was spicy and was a little cautious when trying the dishes. I'm glad that they toned the spices way down. The only dish that was spicy (to me) was the chicken dish and it had just a little bit of "kick". Nobody else at the table seemed to think it was spicy, though.
I tried to use the metal chopsticks. Couldn't do it - it was just going to be a lesson in futility. I finally stopped trying and just used my spoon. That probably wasn't the best table manners in a Korean restaurant, but it was the best that I could do. I also ended up pouring my own drink. Oh well - my manners could use some work.
I truly enjoyed the ambiance in the restaurant and our waitresses were the best. I also enjoyed the talk around our table and the general liveliness of the whole group.
I may go back to Sobahn. My sister is pretty adventurous and this is one food she hasn't tried. I may have to take her.
Much like our previous experience, I was eager for a new experience and flavors. I have only tried Korean food once before from a Korean takeout in Virginia, called Zzaam; at that time I ordered Bibimbap- it was a build-your-own rice bowl. I have to admit it was not nearly as flavorful or enjoyable as Sobahn.
I truly enjoyed the meal at Sobahn restaurant! I appreciated the idea of communal dining because it felt as though there was more opportunity for each of us to converse and connect; as a bonus it allowed us to try more dishes than we may have under a normal dining circumstance. The setting was also very inviting, relaxed and calm. I learned a lot about Korean food ways and what I found most interesting was the history of the metal chopsticks. The theory of the metal chopsticks was that Korean royalty found that the metal would turn colors if the food was poisoned; therefore, it was a way to protect themselves. I also found interesting how age played such a role in the way food and drinks were served and the youngest diner was to serve their elders first.
Of all the dishes that were served, my favorite selections were the Yachae Jun, Dol Sot Bibimbap, and the Maeun Dalk Bokkeum. I really enjoyed the spices and flavors, especially the sauce from the Maeun Dalk Bokkeum (spicy chicken) to pour over my white rice. I assumed the Kimbap was going to taste much like a sushi roll; however, it had a much different flavor, it tasted very fresh and I appreciated the texture and crunch.
Overall, I enjoyed the opportunity, atmosphere, and the food itself. Again, very memorable and a cuisine that I would recommend and try again!
I was very excited for our trip to Sobahn and not to my surprise, the food was outstanding. I noticed several different things when entering the restaurant such as our the art on the wall, how sturdy the tables and chairs were and that our silverware was a nice medal.
They immediately brought out the Dol Sot Bibimbap and the Banchan and our table of 4 started digging into it immediately; I especially enjoyed the spicy sauce they brought out with it. This was followed by the Yachae Jeon and it was excellent as well; almost reminded me of an egg roll. Following this they brought white rice, Bulgogi and Dalk Bokkeum and the flavors in both meats were outstanding. They finished our meal off with the Kimbap which our table devoured.
Overall, I had a great experience as I was impressed with the staff, our food and I got to practice my chopstick skills. This is definitely a place that I would bring my wife back to. Our table of 4 only left a few table scraps so I know the food much have been great in unfamiliar waters.
I have been looking forward to this dinner since the class started. I love Korean food. I first discovered it when living in Alabama due to the large Asian population and wide variety of Asian restaurants. I believe Sobahn has been my favorite Korean restaurant to date. I got to try things I had never had the nerve to order before and was pleased with all of it. I was grateful for the spoon because I have never mastered chopsticks so was grateful for the break every now and then when my hand would get tired from trying to hold the chopsticks correctly! I will be going back with my husband (who was super mad at me for not bringing back leftovers, but there were none!).
This was an exciting experience for me! I enjoyed all the food options. The marinated beef was my favorite. I learned that I am actually an adventurous eater, I always thought of myself as picky, this taught me otherwise. Usually I have to really investigate my food before I eat it. This time I just dug right in and ate. I brought home leftovers and they didn't last long. The chop sticks were a bit tricky since they were metal. I'd never used metal ones before. I did manage to use them the whole time though.The food slipped off quite frequently. I ate so much food, it was so good. The tiny plates were fun! It was nice to hear about Korea in the first hand accounts. The communal eating style is really interesting. I enjoy that eating style a lot.
I really enjoyed the meal at Sobahn Restaurant. Before this meal I had only had certain parts of Korean food. The chance to enjoy all the components of a delicious meal together was amazing. Many people seem to group all Asian dishes together or assume that Chinese buffets encompass all types of oriental cuisine. The great thing about this dinner at Sobahn is that you can understand more about Korean culture. We learned that they place an emphasis on vegetables and have many different levels of spice. We learned that rice is a staple in this culture and can be delicious, affordable, and filling.
One thing I had never tried before was Kimchi. Surprisingly I knew how to make it but had never actually tasted it. I really enjoyed! Perhaps I knew too much and just needed to try different things without analyzing them. Too often in our lives we get stuck in our food comfort zone. I for one have favorite dishes and if you ask me to stray away from them I would rather not. Being asked to try new things forces you to open you mind and this is a good practice to be in. I enjoyed the restaurant and would definitely go back there again.
Tera January I must say this was a way better experience than eating the Ethiopian Food. I really enjoyed the Korean Food. While there was still some food mostly sides I wasn’t to fond of everything else was really good. I pat myself on the back because once again I stepped out of my comfort zone to taste food that doesn’t look good and that I said I would never try. My least favorite was the side of cabbage and sushi roll with the avocado. I’ve never tried avocado before and so I picked a chunk out of the roll and ate it by itself and it was disgusting, but I did it. Now what I liked most out of the different foods was the beef and white rice. It was very delicious. My second favorite was the very hot bowl of rice with the beef and veggies and egg. That was delicious too. I also enjoyed the veggie pancake which was very something very different. If I had to choose to eat it again I most definitely would. Thank you for the experience!
I enjoyed the experience overall. The kimchi was my favorite side dish and I really enjoyed the marinated beef and spicy chicken dish. I had eaten Korean food before when I was a child as I had a good friend whose mother was Korean and she would make homemade Korean food when I would come over and visit my friend. I have very positive memories from that time and it really solidified my love for Korean food. Eating the Korean food at the restaurant brought back a lot of memories of my childhood eating these same dishes. I think my favorite side dish was kimchi was my favorite side dish and I really enjoyed the marinated beef and spicy chicken dish. I had not eaten the cucumber salad or the shredded kimchi style radish before, but that was delicious as well. I could have stayed and have eaten more food. 😊 What I have understood and learned about the Korean culture through food is the value of honoring your elders and serving others. For example, the youngest person at the table would serve the other diners at the time as a sign of respect. I find this culture of honor very sweet and reverent in a way as in our culture here in the States, there is not a great emphasis on honoring and serving and I feel as though that is a missing piece of our culture.
In closing, I really enjoyed myself and I hope to go back and enjoy more food
I was very excited to try the Korean food offered at Sobahn. I learned a lot about Korean foodways during the class for example in Korean culture the youngest person at the table serves the others. I am pretty sure I was the youngest one at my table but everyone served themselves. To be honest the only dishes that I liked was the spicy chicken and the beef. All the other items like the kimchi had a very different taste that I did not like. I am a very picky eater, so I hoped I would be able to try something new and like it but for most of the food that wasn’t the case. I would go back to Sobahn to eat the beef and rice because I love rice. Ashley Brooks-Paulson
Wow! What a pleasant surprise Korean food turned out to be! I'd never eaten Korean food before and was quite skeptical. Asian food is hit or miss for me. While I like Chinese and Japanese foods, I hate Thai food, and do not like Mongolian. Any of the Indonesian and Malaysian foods I've ever tried have been far too spicy for me. So needless to say I was not looking forward to this dinner. However, the food was really great! I loved several of the dishes that were served. My favorite dishes were the dolsot bibimbap, bulgogi, pajeon, and the fish cakes. The bibimbap reminded me of a fresher and less fried Chinese fried rice. As light as some of the flavors were it was still really seasoned and the spices made a really good combination. There were also a multitude of textures among the dishes. I didn't really like any of the kimchi and though everyone seemed to really like the spicy chicken it was too spicy for my taste so I only tried a small bite. Eating with chopsticks wasn't a problem for me but it was interesting to see that they use metal and not the typical wood. I like the idea of being able to wash and reuse the chopsticks. The best part of the meal was having a large variety of banchan (side dishes) to choose from. This always makes the experience better so you can really get a taste of different flavors and figure out what you like. It's like a mini buffet that is brought to you! I'm really happy that I got to eat at Sobahn because it's not a restaurant that I would have ever chose to eat at before. I'm sure I'll be going back in the near future. Though we learned in class about some of the aspects of Korean food culture I would have liked to actually experienced that at the restaurant. I'd also like to know if there are any traditional drinks that are usually served before, during or after a meal. Keia Johnson
The Korean restaurant experience was amazing. I really enjoyed Sobahn and food was so delicious. For some reason I knew I would like it. I don’t think I had a favorite, but if I had to choose one it would be the beef. The beef was so tender and sweet went so good with the rice. The veggie roll was also very good. However, I can’t remember the name of the spicy sauce- but it was too hot. The cabbage was also very spicy. I only like spicy paired with something sweet. I sat at a table with the guys and we talked about graduation, family, and careers. Such a lovely experience. I will be returning in the future with family and friends. I did not have any difficulty with accepting the difference in the food from American food. This type of food is what I love. The experience for me was much more enjoyable than the Blue Nile. Also, I love that I knew what I was eating, whereas at the other restaurant, I was like what is this? Sobahn staff did an excellent job with explaining exactly what we were trying out. Overall, such a great experience and I plan to go back soon.
June 5, 2018, I had the opportunity to get a taste of Korea at a local restaurant named Sobahn. Where do I begin? I stepped in and the décor was welcoming and not so much of the culture thrown into your face however just enough of the artwork and cultural reflections of Korea definitely allowed for one to know that the environment was not only Asian, however that it was Korean. The food smells were pretty awesome as I anticipated the meal to come. In my group of fellow students we were welcomed with room temperature waters which was actually a lot cooler than I thought. We had chopsticks and a spoon for each of us. One of the first delicious items that were brought out was banchan or a bunch of small side dishes like cabbage, veggies including broccoli and an entre of Dol Sot Bibimbap. This is an incredibly hot stone bowl that had rice layered on the bottom, some beef strips that were flat in look called bulgogi, a medley of vegetables, and one semi raw egg placed on top. My group and I agreed that the egg needs to be cooked, so we stirred the egg into the bowl which due to the heat of the meal, the egg cook right before our eyes as I constantly turned and mixed the foods in the bowl with the chopsticks. We shared this bowl. I was a bit disappointed on the rice because it was a bit burnt however it did not taste burnt and it added value to the taste of the dol sot bibimbap. Next, a yachae jeon was brought out. This is a vegetable pancake. Now this was fantastic. There was nothing sweet about it for me, however it was well prepared. It looked like shaved potatoes were the outer portion of the pie type pancake so to speak. It was very flat and stuffed with vegetables. Some at my table added a spices or soy sauce which was provided. I ate mine as is and it was great. We were also served mokeum dalk bokkeum, which is spicy chicken or pork as what we said it was at the table. It was not that spicy but it was just ok for me. I was not feeling the chicken so much plus I was trying to not do so many spicy foods any longer, however I tasted and ate quite a bit of this which surprisingly but not too surprisingly was not spicy in what I would consider spicy. At this point my table was pretty stuffed. I saw Dotty speak with the waitress, which was a joy and very nice to all, however there was more. The kimbap, which is very quiet similar to looking like sushi but it was seaweed with rice and a vegetable. These really topped off the night for us all. The food was very filing and enjoyable. I know that I will revisit in the near future. What I learned about myself is that I like Korean food more than I thought I would. Sobahn was filled with very inviting staff, a warming atmosphere, and allowed for great socializing with my group. I would say that if I learned anything about the culture, their food and service are very good and filling. I cannot wait to come back.
I liked the layout of Sobhan restaurnt, I thought it was cool that they tried to put Korean items inside to make it feel more authentic (although I know it wasn't completely authentic). I enjoyed eating the Korean food because I have never really eaten it before. I once went to a Korean barbecue with a grill at our table, but I wouldn't necessarily say it was different to our food. It was just meats that you could cook. I enjoyed eating all the different foods at Sobhan because they were different from food that we eat in the U.S. However, I did not think the foods were that different from other food that I have eaten before such as other Asian foods (I know there are differences, but in general they seem similar to me). I thought it was interesting that they have many little dishes of food like the Japanese do (I didn’t know that before). I learned that I am pretty open to trying new things and I am not that picky. I liked all of the foods except the spicy rice cakes. Some people compared it to Japanese mochi at my table, but I like mochi more. Even though the texture may be similar, the texture of the spicy rice cakes was odd to me. I think if it had been cold with a sweet flavor I would have enjoyed it more. I thought the bulgogi tasted exactly like gyudon that the Japanese make. I enjoyed the bulgogi and spicy chicken a lot. However, my favorite dish was the veggie pancake.
Cindy Krowe
ReplyDeleteSo, I have to admit, I have had Korean food before. I grew up in Koreatown in Los Angeles and Sobahn is my favorite restaurant. However, I always order the same thing, the Dol Sot Bibim Bap. Last night's experience with the class was fun because the meal was eaten in a communal fashion and we were able to sample several dishes. The Kimbap and spicy chicken were new to me. Our table learned the origin of the metal chopsticks (originally used because the metal would change colors if poison was detected in the food.) We also learned the Korean food culture is communal and that serving etiquette requires that the youngest member of the table serve others before serving his/herself. More importantly we learned that Banchan comes with unlimited refills:)
I am really sad that I couldn't participate in the Korean meal. I enjoy trying new things. But I did want to say that it was really interesting learning about the Korean Foodways and culture. I didn't realize there were different kinds of chopsticks and that Koreans use steel ones. Or that spoons were also a part of their table setting.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting thing I learned was how respectful the culture is to their elders, specifically about the youngest serving the elders first. Or that it is bad etiquette to pour your own alcohol.
I would not have guessed that Korean food was served communally although I suppose 'family style' eating is very much the same in our culture. But it is different than how we ate at the Blue Nile.
I am going to have to try Korean food soon - it looks delicious!
oops forgot my name Kandy A
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed eating Korean food at Sobahn. I love trying new foods, but had never eaten Korean food before. I have to say that there was not a single dish I didn't like! My two favorites were the bibimbap and the gimbap. I loved the fresh flavors and textures.
ReplyDeleteI loved learning about the Korean foodways. I found it very interesting that you do not pour your own drink and that the youngest person stirs the bibimbap. It's a food way with a lot of ritual and protocol, which is so different from our American way of grabbing food and chowing down on the go!
I also learned that the use of the metal chopsticks came from a need to be able to tell if the food had been poisoned (and thus would darken the metal). Interesting...but I did not enjoy using metal chopsticks as they were very slippery!
Great experience, and I'll be returning to Sobahn with my family!
Rebecca Smith
This experience was so different from my Blue Nile experience. I truly did not enjoy the food there and I might have if I didn't have to use the bread. In fact, on the way to Sobahn, I thought about stopping and putting something in my stomach before going to the restaurant. I'm glad that I didn't. I truly enjoyed the food there and managed to get so full that I didn't have room for the kimbap. As you can probably tell, I am not a very adventurous eater.
ReplyDeleteI had always heard that Korean food was spicy and was a little cautious when trying the dishes. I'm glad that they toned the spices way down. The only dish that was spicy (to me) was the chicken dish and it had just a little bit of "kick". Nobody else at the table seemed to think it was spicy, though.
I tried to use the metal chopsticks. Couldn't do it - it was just going to be a lesson in futility. I finally stopped trying and just used my spoon. That probably wasn't the best table manners in a Korean restaurant, but it was the best that I could do. I also ended up pouring my own drink. Oh well - my manners could use some work.
I truly enjoyed the ambiance in the restaurant and our waitresses were the best. I also enjoyed the talk around our table and the general liveliness of the whole group.
I may go back to Sobahn. My sister is pretty adventurous and this is one food she hasn't tried. I may have to take her.
--Rhonda
Much like our previous experience, I was eager for a new experience and flavors. I have only tried Korean food once before from a Korean takeout in Virginia, called Zzaam; at that time I ordered Bibimbap- it was a build-your-own rice bowl. I have to admit it was not nearly as flavorful or enjoyable as Sobahn.
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed the meal at Sobahn restaurant! I appreciated the idea of communal dining because it felt as though there was more opportunity for each of us to converse and connect; as a bonus it allowed us to try more dishes than we may have under a normal dining circumstance. The setting was also very inviting, relaxed and calm. I learned a lot about Korean food ways and what I found most interesting was the history of the metal chopsticks. The theory of the metal chopsticks was that Korean royalty found that the metal would turn colors if the food was poisoned; therefore, it was a way to protect themselves. I also found interesting how age played such a role in the way food and drinks were served and the youngest diner was to serve their elders first.
Of all the dishes that were served, my favorite selections were the Yachae Jun, Dol Sot Bibimbap, and the Maeun Dalk Bokkeum. I really enjoyed the spices and flavors, especially the sauce from the Maeun Dalk Bokkeum (spicy chicken) to pour over my white rice. I assumed the Kimbap was going to taste much like a sushi roll; however, it had a much different flavor, it tasted very fresh and I appreciated the texture and crunch.
Overall, I enjoyed the opportunity, atmosphere, and the food itself. Again, very memorable and a cuisine that I would recommend and try again!
Chasity Anderson
I was very excited for our trip to Sobahn and not to my surprise, the food was outstanding. I noticed several different things when entering the restaurant such as our the art on the wall, how sturdy the tables and chairs were and that our silverware was a nice medal.
ReplyDeleteThey immediately brought out the Dol Sot Bibimbap and the Banchan and our table of 4 started digging into it immediately; I especially enjoyed the spicy sauce they brought out with it. This was followed by the Yachae Jeon and it was excellent as well; almost reminded me of an egg roll. Following this they brought white rice, Bulgogi and Dalk Bokkeum and the flavors in both meats were outstanding. They finished our meal off with the Kimbap which our table devoured.
Overall, I had a great experience as I was impressed with the staff, our food and I got to practice my chopstick skills. This is definitely a place that I would bring my wife back to. Our table of 4 only left a few table scraps so I know the food much have been great in unfamiliar waters.
Brandon Wisdom
I have been looking forward to this dinner since the class started. I love Korean food. I first discovered it when living in Alabama due to the large Asian population and wide variety of Asian restaurants. I believe Sobahn has been my favorite Korean restaurant to date. I got to try things I had never had the nerve to order before and was pleased with all of it. I was grateful for the spoon because I have never mastered chopsticks so was grateful for the break every now and then when my hand would get tired from trying to hold the chopsticks correctly! I will be going back with my husband (who was super mad at me for not bringing back leftovers, but there were none!).
ReplyDeleteThis was an exciting experience for me! I enjoyed all the food options. The marinated beef was my favorite. I learned that I am actually an adventurous eater, I always thought of myself as picky, this taught me otherwise. Usually I have to really investigate my food before I eat it. This time I just dug right in and ate. I brought home leftovers and they didn't last long. The chop sticks were a bit tricky since they were metal. I'd never used metal ones before. I did manage to use them the whole time though.The food slipped off quite frequently. I ate so much food, it was so good. The tiny plates were fun! It was nice to hear about Korea in the first hand accounts. The communal eating style is really interesting. I enjoy that eating style a lot.
ReplyDelete- Charity
Michael Pennington
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the meal at Sobahn Restaurant. Before this meal I had only had certain parts of Korean food. The chance to enjoy all the components of a delicious meal together was amazing. Many people seem to group all Asian dishes together or assume that Chinese buffets encompass all types of oriental cuisine. The great thing about this dinner at Sobahn is that you can understand more about Korean culture. We learned that they place an emphasis on vegetables and have many different levels of spice. We learned that rice is a staple in this culture and can be delicious, affordable, and filling.
One thing I had never tried before was Kimchi. Surprisingly I knew how to make it but had never actually tasted it. I really enjoyed! Perhaps I knew too much and just needed to try different things without analyzing them. Too often in our lives we get stuck in our food comfort zone. I for one have favorite dishes and if you ask me to stray away from them I would rather not. Being asked to try new things forces you to open you mind and this is a good practice to be in. I enjoyed the restaurant and would definitely go back there again.
Tera January
ReplyDeleteI must say this was a way better experience than eating the Ethiopian Food. I really enjoyed the Korean Food. While there was still some food mostly sides I wasn’t to fond of everything else was really good. I pat myself on the back because once again I stepped out of my comfort zone to taste food that doesn’t look good and that I said I would never try. My least favorite was the side of cabbage and sushi roll with the avocado. I’ve never tried avocado before and so I picked a chunk out of the roll and ate it by itself and it was disgusting, but I did it. Now what I liked most out of the different foods was the beef and white rice. It was very delicious. My second favorite was the very hot bowl of rice with the beef and veggies and egg. That was delicious too. I also enjoyed the veggie pancake which was very something very different. If I had to choose to eat it again I most definitely would. Thank you for the experience!
Tera January
I enjoyed the experience overall. The kimchi was my favorite side dish and I really enjoyed the marinated beef and spicy chicken dish. I had eaten Korean food before when I was a child as I had a good friend whose mother was Korean and she would make homemade Korean food when I would come over and visit my friend. I have very positive memories from that time and it really solidified my love for Korean food. Eating the Korean food at the restaurant brought back a lot of memories of my childhood eating these same dishes. I think my favorite side dish was kimchi was my favorite side dish and I really enjoyed the marinated beef and spicy chicken dish. I had not eaten the cucumber salad or the shredded kimchi style radish before, but that was delicious as well. I could have stayed and have eaten more food. 😊
ReplyDeleteWhat I have understood and learned about the Korean culture through food is the value of honoring your elders and serving others. For example, the youngest person at the table would serve the other diners at the time as a sign of respect. I find this culture of honor very sweet and reverent in a way as in our culture here in the States, there is not a great emphasis on honoring and serving and I feel as though that is a missing piece of our culture.
In closing, I really enjoyed myself and I hope to go back and enjoy more food
Sam Bennett
I was very excited to try the Korean food offered at Sobahn. I learned a lot about Korean foodways during the class for example in Korean culture the youngest person at the table serves the others. I am pretty sure I was the youngest one at my table but everyone served themselves.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest the only dishes that I liked was the spicy chicken and the beef. All the other items like the kimchi had a very different taste that I did not like. I am a very picky eater, so I hoped I would be able to try something new and like it but for most of the food that wasn’t the case. I would go back to Sobahn to eat the beef and rice because I love rice.
Ashley Brooks-Paulson
Wow! What a pleasant surprise Korean food turned out to be! I'd never eaten Korean food before and was quite skeptical. Asian food is hit or miss for me. While I like Chinese and Japanese foods, I hate Thai food, and do not like Mongolian. Any of the Indonesian and Malaysian foods I've ever tried have been far too spicy for me. So needless to say I was not looking forward to this dinner.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the food was really great! I loved several of the dishes that were served. My favorite dishes were the dolsot bibimbap, bulgogi, pajeon, and the fish cakes. The bibimbap reminded me of a fresher and less fried Chinese fried rice.
As light as some of the flavors were it was still really seasoned and the spices made a really good combination. There were also a multitude of textures among the dishes. I didn't really like any of the kimchi and though everyone seemed to really like the spicy chicken it was too spicy for my taste so I only tried a small bite.
Eating with chopsticks wasn't a problem for me but it was interesting to see that they use metal and not the typical wood. I like the idea of being able to wash and reuse the chopsticks. The best part of the meal was having a large variety of banchan (side dishes) to choose from. This always makes the experience better so you can really get a taste of different flavors and figure out what you like. It's like a mini buffet that is brought to you!
I'm really happy that I got to eat at Sobahn because it's not a restaurant that I would have ever chose to eat at before. I'm sure I'll be going back in the near future. Though we learned in class about some of the aspects of Korean food culture I would have liked to actually experienced that at the restaurant. I'd also like to know if there are any traditional drinks that are usually served before, during or after a meal.
Keia Johnson
The Korean restaurant experience was amazing. I really enjoyed Sobahn and food was so delicious. For some reason I knew I would like it. I don’t think I had a favorite, but if I had to choose one it would be the beef. The beef was so tender and sweet went so good with the rice. The veggie roll was also very good. However, I can’t remember the name of the spicy sauce- but it was too hot. The cabbage was also very spicy. I only like spicy paired with something sweet. I sat at a table with the guys and we talked about graduation, family, and careers. Such a lovely experience. I will be returning in the future with family and friends. I did not have any difficulty with accepting the difference in the food from American food. This type of food is what I love. The experience for me was much more enjoyable than the Blue Nile. Also, I love that I knew what I was eating, whereas at the other restaurant, I was like what is this? Sobahn staff did an excellent job with explaining exactly what we were trying out. Overall, such a great experience and I plan to go back soon.
ReplyDeleteWhitney Mozee
June 5, 2018, I had the opportunity to get a taste of Korea at a local restaurant named Sobahn. Where do I begin? I stepped in and the décor was welcoming and not so much of the culture thrown into your face however just enough of the artwork and cultural reflections of Korea definitely allowed for one to know that the environment was not only Asian, however that it was Korean.
ReplyDeleteThe food smells were pretty awesome as I anticipated the meal to come. In my group of fellow students we were welcomed with room temperature waters which was actually a lot cooler than I thought. We had chopsticks and a spoon for each of us. One of the first delicious items that were brought out was banchan or a bunch of small side dishes like cabbage, veggies including broccoli and an entre of Dol Sot Bibimbap. This is an incredibly hot stone bowl that had rice layered on the bottom, some beef strips that were flat in look called bulgogi, a medley of vegetables, and one semi raw egg placed on top. My group and I agreed that the egg needs to be cooked, so we stirred the egg into the bowl which due to the heat of the meal, the egg cook right before our eyes as I constantly turned and mixed the foods in the bowl with the chopsticks. We shared this bowl. I was a bit disappointed on the rice because it was a bit burnt however it did not taste burnt and it added value to the taste of the dol sot bibimbap.
Next, a yachae jeon was brought out. This is a vegetable pancake. Now this was fantastic. There was nothing sweet about it for me, however it was well prepared. It looked like shaved potatoes were the outer portion of the pie type pancake so to speak. It was very flat and stuffed with vegetables. Some at my table added a spices or soy sauce which was provided. I ate mine as is and it was great.
We were also served mokeum dalk bokkeum, which is spicy chicken or pork as what we said it was at the table. It was not that spicy but it was just ok for me. I was not feeling the chicken so much plus I was trying to not do so many spicy foods any longer, however I tasted and ate quite a bit of this which surprisingly but not too surprisingly was not spicy in what I would consider spicy.
At this point my table was pretty stuffed. I saw Dotty speak with the waitress, which was a joy and very nice to all, however there was more. The kimbap, which is very quiet similar to looking like sushi but it was seaweed with rice and a vegetable. These really topped off the night for us all.
The food was very filing and enjoyable. I know that I will revisit in the near future. What I learned about myself is that I like Korean food more than I thought I would. Sobahn was filled with very inviting staff, a warming atmosphere, and allowed for great socializing with my group. I would say that if I learned anything about the culture, their food and service are very good and filling. I cannot wait to come back.
I liked the layout of Sobhan restaurnt, I thought it was cool that they tried to put Korean items inside to make it feel more authentic (although I know it wasn't completely authentic). I enjoyed eating the Korean food because I have never really eaten it before. I once went to a Korean barbecue with a grill at our table, but I wouldn't necessarily say it was different to our food. It was just meats that you could cook. I enjoyed eating all the different foods at Sobhan because they were different from food that we eat in the U.S. However, I did not think the foods were that different from other food that I have eaten before such as other Asian foods (I know there are differences, but in general they seem similar to me). I thought it was interesting that they have many little dishes of food like the Japanese do (I didn’t know that before).
ReplyDeleteI learned that I am pretty open to trying new things and I am not that picky. I liked all of the foods except the spicy rice cakes. Some people compared it to Japanese mochi at my table, but I like mochi more. Even though the texture may be similar, the texture of the spicy rice cakes was odd to me. I think if it had been cold with a sweet flavor I would have enjoyed it more. I thought the bulgogi tasted exactly like gyudon that the Japanese make. I enjoyed the bulgogi and spicy chicken a lot. However, my favorite dish was the veggie pancake.
Laurie Inwards