Cho Dang Goi

My boyfriend and I happened upon this Korean restaurant by chance on our way to an event at the Time Center.  The varied menu makes it tough to decide what to order. But if you are watching your dollars, that actually leaves only a few options. We both settled on the Mountain Bowl for $14.95 each. We made the mistake of ordering the small hand-made Kimchi &Tofu Soup, fearing we would not have enough food. This thick, chunky soup of tofu was definitely filling and amazingly yummy for being mostly bean-curd, however, we didn't realize the FREE appetizers that automatically came with the meal. They placed a variety of small tapas-like dishes of smoked fish, omelet, Kimchi, and some other vegetables, along with our house white wines (which you should forgo). The free appetizers were tasty and being that they were free, the best part of the meal.  When the Mountain Bowls arrived, our waitress took the reigns and mixed the egg into the rice and ground beef herself as we sat by helplessly and watched. But after diving into my bowl full of steaming food, I realized she did us a good service - for all the flavors blended together created quite a tantalizing explosion in my mouth.

So, if you're on a budget, keep in mind the free apps when choosing your main dish.  If you're not, from what I inquired about the dishes at our neighbor's table, the Classic Kimchi Casserole and Sirloin Beef Casserole looked dynamite.

If you've never had Korean food before, or even if you have, you're in for a real treat at Cho Dang Gol. Their specialty is homemade bean curd, or tofu, and they make it in many varieties, some of which the casual tofu eater may not be familiar with. They can vary in consistency and taste and can be very complex and subtle. The bean curd often comes on the side of a main dish or is incorporated within. The menu items are not typical Korean restaurant fare, at least for this diner. The seasonings in each dish are wonderful and not all are spicy. Definitely a great experience.

Open late night (as are many restaurants in Koreatown)

Favorite Dish: Mo doo boo ojng oh bok um (pan fried spicy squid mixed with noodles, vegetables, and handmade tofu on a hot stone plate). For a variety, try the S1 combo which comes with juk suk cham doo boo (handmade tofu boiled and topped with shredded seaweed), kong bi ji (ground soy bean mixed with white kimchi and ground pork), and doo boo daen jang ki gae (handmade tofu with squash, potato, green pepper in a soy bean paste stew).