K-Town BBQ Without the K-Town
by Colleen M. McLellan

Between e3rd Steakhouse and Zip Fusion Sushi, restaurateur Jason Ha will be opening the Arts District’s own Korean barbecue joint, a unique food experience adding to the apparently culinary corner near Traction and 3rd. 

There are still kinks to work out, and the restaurant won’t open until mid-March.  Until then, Ha is hosting nightly test dinners to garner suggestions and thoughts from future patrons.  But the experience is exciting, the ingredients are delicious, and Ha’s signature drinks from e3rd and Zip complete an appealing menu.

With free kimchis, sprout salad, and potato salad, as well as all the onion and garlic one could ask for, the meal begins somewhat predictably.  It is when the waiter brings out plates of meats and vegetables that the Korean barbecue-style dining experience sets itself apart: the patrons become the “grill-masters,” turning over the vegetables, tofu, sushi-grade fish, shrimp, and meats typical and exotic in a gas-powered grill on the table.  (The paper menu will feature instructions for cooking each item.  Most of menu items are forgiving, but a little culinary advice never hurts.) 

The prices range from $5 to $8 for meat items, with additional vegetables or sides costing extra, but the sizeable portions are meant to be ordered as part of a variety. 

Particular standouts are the fish and the marinated pork items, while the shrimp gets aesthetic bonus points for its pinking in the grill.  Three sauces are served: a delicate sesame oil, a punchy house sauce, and one with a teriyaki flavor.  The impressive range of meats and sauces allows for diners’ varying tastes, and the experience is a blast.  (Nothing like a table full of friends calling you “Grill Master”!) 

To schedule a preview dinner, call 213-680-3008. Groups of 6-12 are welcome to try all 37 dishes for a fixed price of $10/head – with a light survey required after the meal. 

Colleen M. McLellan