Kimchi Korean

It was a case of any port in a storm. After the lovely Korean repast in the highlands, I continued to crave the strong, cold flavour of kimchi, and the warm tenderness of something sizzling. We could have ventured to Bee Won again, but I don't think it would have been very welcome. Upon foresight, the SS2 Korean restaurant would have been better. but que sera sera.

So it was that Sunday lunch was at Kimchi Korean at Tropicana City Mall. The side dishes were definitely more varied. The flavours were, across the board, clean and fresh, perfect in the way a simple dish, must be perfect.

There is certainly a difference in colour spectrum compared to yesterday's lunch.

There were many more cockles, but they were so small!

Touts say kimchi gives Korean women their perfect skin. I just enjoy it for the flavour.

Perfectly mushy, savoury sweet pumpkin.

Lovely emerald green spinach with sesame oil.

Crisp sprouts with sesame dressing.

Fried tofu with sweet spicy sauce.

However, apart from the varied sides, I find the food here, when compared to Bee Won, is truly lacking colour and definition. I ordered basically the same things as yesterday's meal, but the difference was really tangible.

The dolsot bee bimbab (RM18.80) was flavourless and dry, with none of the fluffiness of Bee Won's stone bowl rice.

Looks are deceiving sometimes.

The sizzling beef was, thankfully, quite good, but I think the coleslaw which came with it was a bit more filler than part of the traditional meal serving. Still, at RM18.80, with a side of rice, it was fine.

Don't recall eating beef this way in Korea!

The kimchi fried rice (kimchi bokumbab), RM16.80, was perhaps the worst let down. It was insipid, with none of the whack of kimchi, and the shreds of beef made it hard to concentrate on the texture of the rice.

Does this look like nasi goreng kampung?

The kimchi pancake (kimchi jeon), RM16.80, suffered from the same understated lack of kimchi, but was quite tender.

Seafoodless pancake.

The potato pancake (gamja geon), RM18.80, were soft, and a little stodgy, but still quite good.

Potato pancakes.

Our meal for five, came up to RM125.95, with the green tea being RM4.90 each.

Is RM4.90 pricey for tea? I think so!

All in all, this is not a place to eat after a really stellar Korean experience. However, if you crave Korean, and have not had a kimchi fix lately, it is passably good as a stop gap measure.

Kimchi Korean
Tropicana City Mall
Tel: +603 7729 9643