[Food] Second Chance for Jang Shou Korean BBQ

I was a little apprehensive about accepting a food tasting invitation to Jang Shou Korean Charcoal BBQ (JS) “New Year Menu Tasting” last week after experiencing an unpleasant encounter with their service staff some weeks back. I’m certainly glad I gave them a second chance!

During the food tasting, the Managing Director of JS Mr LEE Hyun Kyoung admitted that the service quality was less than desired but they are working on it by providing staff training. That’s a step in the right direction by knowing where the problem lies.

As with the practice of all authentic Korean restaurants, a selection of side dishes (known as banchan in Korean) and the Korean seafood pancake (hae mul pajeon) were set for us to enjoy while we wait for the main highlight of the day – BBQ meats, to be grilled. The pancake takes a skilled cook to make, crispy on the outside and a little moist on the inside. I finished my serving without any guilt but totally forgotten to take a pic of it before it was gone >_<

The pork (kurobuta) and beef sets (S$64 and S$96 respectively) that were chosen came in generous servings that 10 of us can hardly finish.

This Marinated Beef Rib (neobiani, also known as the royal version of the bulgogi) priced at S$38 is easily the crowd pleaser and all of us gave the thumbs up. It didn’t look very appetizing prior to grilling but the tenderness and taste already made me look forward to the next visit.

After we had our fill of the delicious meats, we all wanted to try the naen myung (cold noodles) so the Chik Naen Myun and Bibim Naen Myun (with hot sauce), both S$15 each was served. The consultant Brandon shared that this is actually a North Korean dish especially popular in Pyongyang. In South Korea, they often eat these noodles at the end of a BBQ meal.

Personally, I really love naen myun and make this at home when I have the cravings. Sometimes I will only order this when I go to a Korean restaurant and judges the restaurant by the broth they served. JS’s naen myun passed with flying colors 🙂

Someone on the next table wanted to try the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bab (S$20), it was not bad too, with just the right amount of hot sauce.

During my first trip to South Korea in 2005, most of the restaurants we were brought to has a coffee vending machine at the entrance and they serve instant coffee in a small paper cup after the meal as a treat. So it was a pleasant surprise when Mr Lee asked if we would like to have some coffee at the end of the food tasting 🙂

Quizz: Do you know why is the cup half-full?

Answer: I learnt this from my tour guide back then. He said Koreans are always rushing from one place to another, so a half-filled cup will not spill over so easily. Very smart idea isn’t it?

About Jang Shou Korean Charcoal BBQ: