When we first arrived the entire restaurant was filled with a big group of Korean and Japanese patrons and we were devastated at the realization that we would have to find another place to eat (this dinner had been in planning for at least a month). After the manager told us there was no space we hung around outside the restaurant in disbelief for a couple minutes trying to decide what to do when the manager returned and told us that if we could wait half an hour or 45 minutes he could fit us in. After running some ثrrands we returned and sure enough there was a table for 5 with a "Reserved" card sitting on it.
We were brought about 6 or 7 side dishes-- some better than others. There was the obligatory kimchi, some pickled cucumbers (v. good), pickled daikon (good), korean pancake with beef (good), somethinل that seemed like kimchi (i.e. pickled nappa cabbage) without the red pepper (it was ok), raw shredded cabbage covered in thousand island dressing (gross), and lettuce, apples and oranges completely smothered mayonnaise (to my surprise the orange segments in mayonnaise were kind of good . . . ).
We ordered the Pancake with green onions as an appetizer. The pancake they offer here comes with beef, shrimp and squid but since we were with a no-seafooder we just got the beef. The pancake arrived at the table steaming and fried to a perfect and delicious crispy exterior. 'Twas enjoyed by all (all the meat eaters, anyway).
For the main courses we got kimchi stew (mine of course), beef ribs, kimchi fried rice (this came with everyhting: beef, shrimp, squid, maybe some other stuff), bibimbop (sans meat), and something called fried noodles with vegetables (probably not Korean-- there were a number of items on the menu that were run-of-the-mill american chinese or japanese food).
Kimchi Stew:
Bibimbop:
Kimchi Fried Rice:
The table (with grill in the middle) near then end of the meal:
The kimchi stew was satisfying (it had tofu!!!-- before this the only time I ate tofu in Cairo was at my friend's apartment where it had been sent from Japan by her mother!) but it had glass noodles in it which I don't particularly like (these ones were . . . overcooked or something: they were rubbery). The fried rice was bland (skimping on the kimchi!!) but fine, the bibimbop was good and the meat was pretty good though I haven't had much Korean barbecue so I don't have all that much to compare it to. Prices were about 35LE for entrees. Not bad-- though getting to watch all the adorable Korean and Japanese kids from the big party running around was priceless!
3 comments:
It does sound pretty close to a meal in Seoul -- in spirit, anway. Even the shredded cabbage covered in thousand island. Sometimes they don't even bother mixing it and just serve cabbage with squirts of ketchup and mayo.
But that's at the low end of the side dishes.
The kimchi without the pepper was baek kimchi. It's the old fashioned kind that was made before the Japanese introduced peppers to Korea during an invasion a few hundred years ago.
The beef, though, is a premium rarity here. Cows just don't like grazing on mountains.
The best Korean restaurant in Cairo is in the Amun Hotel in Midan Sphinx in Mohandiseen and is called Paxy's. It's far superior to the place in Zamalek and is really authentic.
oooh, thanks for the tip! when o go back i will be sure to try it!
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