Young Dong Garden - Arcadia

Before discussing the soup, I must mention the banchan and the other dishes I ordered. To put it simply, the banchan was not fresh, featuring wilted bean sprouts and vegetables that lacked crunch. As for the bulgogi, the meat appeared quite pale, as if it hadn't been grilled properly, and the spices seemed to be hiding in the spice jars. The dumplings, or mandu, looked more appealing than they tasted—lacking flavor, overly greasy, and with an odd aftertaste. When the soon tofu soup finally arrived, I had hoped it would rescue my meal, but sadly it did not. The flavor was decent, but the soup was so thick that a fork could stand upright in the bowl without tipping over. The tofu had a slightly mushy texture, and it didn't help that the soup cooled down quickly. Lukewarm soon tofu soup is simply unacceptable. Based on this experience, I'll definitely be looking elsewhere for my next meal.

I had a good laugh at the name of this place when I first visited. I couldn't help but jokingly say, "I want a few Yong Dongs, damn it!" My first experience with Korean food was an absolute delight. I was thrilled by all the small side dishes that came with the meal! The seaweed was fantastic, and I loved the sprout and onion pancake. There were also kimchi, chili zucchini, some lotus root, and more. I enjoy the Bibimbap so much that I rarely try anything else. I splurge a bit to have it served in the hot stone bowl, so the rice gets wonderfully crispy on the bottom. And what are those brown veggies? I'm not sure, but they’ve become my favorite. I promise that next time I’ll try something different from the menu. Really. Maybe.