Location: 7323 E Independence Blvd Charlotte, NC 28227
I am always in the market for a good, unique, authentic food experience and I when I stumbled upon Korean Restaurant I suspected I had found one. I assume by the name alone you realize what kind of food you are getting; being in Charlotte one would think this is another Americanized Korean BBQ but this was something different. I admit my knowledge of Korean food is extremely limited, I had never even heard of bibimbap (don’t ask me to pronounce it) until an episode of Master Chef. After trying it officially, I can say for certain that I will be back…. Packed into the back of the Super G Mart, lies a unique food court which contains some of the most authentic restaurants in the city, Korean Restaurant being the best.
The Good: When getting food in an almost cafeteria style setting, in the back of a supermarket (no, seriously…) the food had better be on point, and it was. My first meal was so good I had to order a second main course (I also looked for a milf to slap…). My first dish was bibimbap (pictured below), a strange, yet delicious dish with meat, vegetables, and a crispy rice all topped with a fried egg (all ingredients should be mixed together). The flavors were great, I especially enjoyed the crisp rice which adds a unique texture to the dish, and when mixed together it blends nicely. It is also delicately spiced with sesame seeds, although I thought it needed a bit of heat. Luckily, it comes with a special ‘red’ sauce, that once mixed, gives it a good bit of heat, but not an overwhelming/overpowering spice. The entire meal was delicious, the combination of ingredients created a level comfort that made me wonder if they would notice if I put up a tent in the market with a ‘will advertise for food ‘sign.
I polished off this bowl and like a carb lover fresh off a case of Aktins..I needed more. I looked over my options, but I didn’t know one thing from another so I ordered what I will call #number 11, ( since I can’t pronounce the official name). It was noodles and various kinds of seafood in a delicious spicy broth. The seafood, although hard to eat (due to shells), was incredibly flavorful. The seafood was plentiful and the variety great; it included mussels, shrimp, squid a long with other unidentified ingredients; you know what they say “Korean Soup is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get!” The real star of the dish was the broth, the spice was perfect and it was extremely flavorful, it made the dish. The food overall was just simple, unique and high quality. It feels as if you are stepping out of Charlotte, and parting the threshold leaves into another country.
The Bad: If you are coming to an Asian Supermarket for atmosphere …you will probably be disappointed. Everything you experience, down to the prison-like tray the food is served upon, reminds you that you are here to eat and not visit a gala. Seating is basic, with lunchroom -like tables and chairs the place is a bit cramped (insert a few random nerds, jocks and bullies and it’s basically high school). Korean Restaurant is a true whole in the wall, where most of the amenities, service and atmosphere are missing.
A second thing that may turn people off is the lack of alcohol. If drinking a cold beer with your bibimbap is your thing, then you need to get your order to go….Finally, it is worth mentioning, again, that this place is extremely authentic (at least from my experiences). As with most foreign establishments, the seafood, especially the shrimp, is served in the bowl intact. If you get squeamish from long wiggling antennas and your shrimp eyeing you, stick with the pork.
The Ugly: To get to Korean Restaurant simply get on Independence keep drive for miles out of the city to the Super G Mart , drive through the crowded parking lot, go to the back of the store, walk through the wardrobe into Narnia and follow the yellow brick road. Korean Restaurant feels hidden, almost as if they are in the witness, err restaurant relocation program. That said, even with the challenge of finding it, somehow a lot of people know about it (it certainly wasn’t empty), but I don’t know how! I have lived in Charlotte for over 12 years and I hunt down places like this and I just heard about the place.. To say it was inconvenient for me to get there is an understatement. Maybe it is the fates way of keeping me out of the restaurant on a daily basis to save my waist line, as I can only go here with heavy planning.
The Verdict (Quick Bites) 7.5 out of 10: I love places like Korean Restaurant, authentic, tasty food, at a fair price. The restaurant isn’t trying to overthink things and put something fancy on a plate (with an upcharge). What they do serve is traditional food that you can’t get at too many other places in this city. This is a restaurant to which I will certainly return, most likely with others, to share in the delectable bibimbap….