Restaurant Review : Blue Ginger
Korean Restaurant in Bellevue
Blue Ginger has filled a void that South Gate Garden and the Korean restaurant in Issaquah (I think it's called Sa Rang Chae) could not fill. They actually know how to make, and serve, Korean food.
The problem I've had with Sa Rang Chae is that their service was average and their food was average. And in South Gate, the food may be good, but their service has always been inconsistent (it seems to depend on who I'm with). And don't even get me started with Seoul Olympic Restaurant. They haven't made good Korean food in a long time, even when I've wanted to root for them (they used to be the ONLY Korean place on the Eastside).
Blue Ginger, even at some of it's busier times, has always offered good service and good food. I no longer need to drive to Edmonds, Lynnwood, or Federal Way every time I want to eat good Korean food.
The only thing I wish they had is black bean sauce on noodles (pronounced cha-chang-myun). Even though you find it at every street corner in Seoul, most Korean places around here do not offer it.
At Blue Ginger, their kalbi and soon-du-bu (or soo-doo-boo) are safe bets. Friends and I have never been disappointed with those dishes. Actually, we've never been disappointed with any dishes there. My dad did critique their soup dishes saying they were too salty, but he tends to think everything is too salty, and he only went there once when he was in town.
Just a warning though, it gets really busy there. A lot of closeby tech-employees seem to get their Korean food fix there as well. As well as all the Koreans who live on the Eastside.
I think I've been to this place at least once a week for the past year. It's definitely worth a trip. Even though it may cost a little more than other types of food (I'm thinking of affordable thai and chinese), it's reasonable compared to other Korean restaurants. Kalbi - $19 and serves 2 or 3. Soon-doo-boo serves 1 or 2 and I think is $8.
Mmm... wish I was eating there now.
2 comments:
good to read, I've just visited Blue Ginger since I came here 1 week ago from Korea. The dishes are very good, and as you said, The dish, soon-do-bu was great, comopared to those we've had two days ago at another Korean restaurant. Anyway, I'm a visiting biz. partner at MS. I belive I'll be there more than once a week. :)
The young lady who serves us was awesome. :)
They have Cha Jang Myun (noodles with black bean sauce) at Peking Chinese restaurant in Bellevue. 14150 NE 20th St, Bellevue, 98007 The owner is Chinese but lots of the staff speak Korean too. Of course it's not as good as Korea but it's not bad when you're craving some. Haven't tried Blue Ginger, heard it's not very good.
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