Insadong Korean Restaurant

Ah…I think we’re getting close to dolsot bibimbap perfection.   This is the fourth installment of my “bibimbap battle” and again I found this place along Hwy 99, a virtual “road to Korea”?

Saba Man and I ate here sometime last year and was not impressed.  There’s just  too many Korean restaurants to choose from so motivation to try again.  However, given my dedication for the battle we decided to give Insadong another chance! 

And we were glad we did…just look at the crispy purple rice!  The stone bowl seemed to be extra hot and the rice crunched up in “no time flat”!  

Their menu does not list a vegetarian version of dolsot, so I had to ask them to leave off any meats.   I met no resistance and they were nice enough to ask  if egg was okay.  I was “feeling” like I could eat an egg so I went for it!

But…when I saw that the egg was sunny-side-up I wished I had skipped it.  While snapping  photos for this article the yummy aroma  rising from the table was  intoxicating.  So much that I must of been hypnotised…I ate it anyway.  But I did push it over to the side of the hot bowl to let it cook.    That did the trick and with kochujang it was tasty!

 They served us nine banchan items and good ones too.  None of that steamed broccoli stuff that’s invaded the other Korean establishments.  Stop it I say!

This pickled cabbage with sauce is unique!  I ‘ve never seen this served in any of the others so far.  The sauce was similar to miso paste but smoother.  Good eating.

 Surprise!  Saba Man had the broiled mackeral!

 I’m not ready to declare Insadong the winner, but it’s close.   The service was pleasant.  In fact, they have a button at your table for you to press for more banchan or for whatever you need.  I think if I worked in place where customers “buzzed” me, I’d get annoyed… but our server was delightful and didn’t seem to mind that I pressed the button often for banchan refills.

The  prices are similar to the other Koren restaurants in the area so it’s not a stand out.  The purple rice was definately something to “write home” about! 

Hey, I recommend this place just for allowing  me to press that “more banchan” button!

Insadong

19226 Hwy 99

Lynnwood, WA 98036

(425) 778-9292

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