I have been to only one Korean restaurant all this time. Not because I dislike Korean cuisine; it’s just that there are no opportunities presented to me. The last time was in 2007 with colleagues in a whole-on-the-wall Korean restaurant in Makati whose name I can’t remember anymore. I don’t even know if they still exist. So when an invite came to taste the food at Yoogane (you-gah-ne) on its opening day, I delightfully said yes.

Located at the Upper Ground Floor of Il Terrazzo in Quezon City, Yoogane is a big place perfect for family and friends. It’s well lit and has an airy, casual ambience that I like. Hovering above the ceiling is an exhaust system which snakes throughout the restaurant with ends that slopes toward every dining table. That’s because food can be cooked right in front of your very eyes. I love the furnishings, which I learned, all came from Korea, including the bricks used on the walls. I enjoyed looking at the walls where caricatures are drawn. It complements the modern vibe that the restaurant is going for. This is the fun Korean.

As soon as we’re settled, food was served on the table. Appetizers consisted of Kimchi, radish sticks and coleslaw, each served in saucers which we Filipinos would consider a receptacle for condiments and dips. I love Kimchi, and their version is good. It’s spicy, although the spice shock was only on my first bite. After that, everything seemed normal. Don’t be fooled; I just love spicy food. The appetizers, by the way, are complimentary; you can have it refilled as often as you want.

Beef Bulgogi and Chap Chae followed suit, then the ingredients for Marinated Chicken Galbi Fried Rice — cooked rice with (I assume) Korean Chili Paste in one plate, Mozzarella Cheese on the other and a mix of leeks, Dokboki in red paste on the 3rd. While the restaurant staff cook our main dish, we started on the other two.

The Chap Chae and Beef Bulgogi are equally good. The dishes are not oily, and the beef are tender. But the feast got better when the staff was done cooking the fried rice. After taking some shots, we started digging in and took a spoonful of Marinated Chicken Galbi Fried Rice. The dish was heavenly to the taste, with the flavors and spice exploding in my mouth. The cheese, Dokboki and stringy cheese all adds character to the food. Plus, the chicken is tender despite the mixing that has to be done while cooking. Yum, yum, yum!

I had a great experience at this Korean restaurant. The ambience is cool, the food great! As for the pricing, some may say that it’s on the pricey side. But if you consider the fact that most of the ingredients are brought in from Korea, you’ll say that it’s just right. I would have preferred though that the serving for Beef Bulgogi and Chap Chae are a bit bigger to add more value to the money. I don’t mean that it should be doubled in size. Just enough that diners won’t feel deprived. Though if you’re going for the Galbi, you won’t mind it all. It would also be nice of they can add wifi access inside the restaurant. Although Il Terrazzo is equipped with wifi, connectivity is not very stable. In fact, from the far right corner of restaurant where we were seated I can no longer access it.

Still, these wishes are not enough for me not to rave and recommend Yoogane. They have just started operations and they are already doing great in delivering a pleasant, authentic Korean dining experience.

Comments

Powered by Facebook Comments