Posts tagged Korean

Poong Nab Dong, Eastwood

Review
Sydney Food Blog Review of Poong Nab Dong, Eastwood

Sydney Food Blog Review of Poong Nab Dong, Eastwood

Ever heard of the phrase, “it’s too hot to eat?” I know, I know. Sacrilege. But still. Sydney’s had those days lately, and it’s been a real bitch. That’s why when Simon suggested Poong Nab Dong for their naengmyeon (Korean Cold Noodles), I leaped at the chance.

It’s like a salad, but with carbs. What’s not to love?

The Order:

Mul Naengmyeon, $13

Bibim Naengmyeon, $13

The Food:

There are two primary ways to have your noodles – dry, with a spicy chilli paste, or with a cold, refreshing beef soup laced with mustard and vinegar.

Bibim Naeng Myron, $13: Poong Nab Dong, Eastwood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewBibim Naeng Myron, $13

I always opt for the chilli option because I just can’t help myself (I am Singaporean, after all), and when given an opportunity, I always go the extra spicy (see above explanation). Here, the Bibim Naengmyeon was a little bit on the sweet side and slightly one-dimensional in its flavours, even after I asked for an extra plate of chilli paste to zhuzh things up a bit.

Mul Naeng Myeon, $13: Poong Nab Dong, Eastwood. Sydney Food Blog ReviewMul Naeng Myeon, $13

The Mul Naengmyeon fared much better, with a flavourful broth that stayed light and refreshing. It’s served with mustard and white vinegar on the side, for you to mix it up to your taste. Now that, was a noodle I can keep going back to.

The Service:

The service at Poong Nan Dong was a bit…non-existent. There was much waving and signalling in an empty restaurant, and even then I could swear that they were deliberately ignoring us. Not that they went out of their way to be rude, but being invisible never sits well with hungry foodies.

Oh and we did think that it might have been a push button on the table for service, too, like Jonga Jip.

Nope. No button.

Value for money:

$13 per person is pretty good value in Eastwood – especially in a sit-down restaurant situation – and even more so considering that we were given about 5 plates of banchan (Korean side dishes) to go with our meal. Banchan is usually refilled for free, which means that if you’re really still hungry after the huge bowl of noodles (I was stuffed), you can keep eating till your heart’s content.

Good value when compared to other non-side-dish restaurants, but average when compared to other Korean restaurants, where banchan is the expected deal.

The Vibe:

I’ve never seen Poong Nab Dong busy except for Friday and Saturday nights, and even at the peak of lunchtime (when we went) it still only had a smattering of people. There was a sense of eat-and-get-out about the place, and certainly nothing much there to keep you from leaving. Perhaps their Korean barbecue fares better than their a la carte times – but it’s going to be very difficult to get me leaving my usual Jonga Jip.

And finally,

With both a hit and a miss in the same meal, I’m not sure that I’m going to be going back to Poong Nab Dong. Mind you, the miss wasn’t a disaster, but coupled with non-existent service and no emotional attachment, the better-than-average Mul Naengmyeon isn’t enough inspiration to get me back through the doors.

Except for when I want to order that specifically, of course.

Oh, and one more thing: please don’t wear shorts or short skirts to visit this restaurant. Pleather seats plus a hot day has now given me the association of sticking painfully to the chairs. Not something I would like to repeat, #thankyouverymuch.

This meal was independently paid for.
Poong Nab Dong
205 Rowe St
Eastwood NSW 2122
Phone: +61 2 9858 2877
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Poong-Nab-Dong-BBQ/225235637504194

Poong Nab Dong Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Sparrow’s Mill, Sydney CBD

Review
Snow Cheese Chicken from Sparrow's Mill

Somewhere, the stars aligned, and someone thought to themselves, “I will put cheese powder on fried chicken to create a Twisty KFC love child”

And so the Snow Cheese Chicken was born.
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The Mandoo, Eastwood

Review
Korean style kimchi dumplings are steamed and served with a side of soy, pickled radish, and freshly marinated cabbage.

I think I’ve become one of those Asian people who rove around constantly looking for more Asian food. And you know what? I’m going to own that.

If there was a medical condition, I think I would be known as a dumpling-head. And I’m feeding my addiction with Korean style dumplings at The Mandoo Dining.
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Drive-by Eating: The Mandoo, Eastwood

Drive-by Eating 3 Comments
Bibim Naeng Myeong: Chewy korean noodles served cold, with a chilli sauce and radish pickles.

Dumplings and noodles – two of the foods that we can never get enough of in my house. To me, they are deeply comforting, and have the ability to take away all the tension from the day.

So when you open a dumpling and noodle shop right outside Aldi (my usual hangout), it’s like the heavens have opened and smiled down upon me, enabling me to get my noodle fix, anytime.

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Korean Food Crawl, Haymarket

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Chilli cheese chicken from Arisun

After going on my first official food crawl, I have to admit that I’m hooked. There’s just something really exciting – to me anyway – about the prospect of eating a huge variety of dishes with a large group.

Which is why when Jen of I Ate My Way Through organised a dinner at Naruone for foodies, I leapt at the chance, hoping that this innocent dinner would turn into an epic food crawl.

After all, when you have foodies together in a group, who knows what will happen?

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Party Food Roundup: The Mains

Recipe 3 Comments

Smorgasbord

‘Tis the season…to get your eat on! And if you’re the cook in the house, you’re not just in charge of your own belly, you’re also in charge of feeding everyone else. So if you’re scratching your head of what to make this year, here’s a quick roundup of my favourite recipes to feed a party.


1. Twice Cooked Lamb Ribs with Basil Chimichurri

Lamb Ribs and Basil Chimmichurri

This recipe for golden brown and delicious lamb ribs takes a bit of effort, but also provides you with lamb stock for risotto, and lamb fat for your roast potatoes. It’s the recipe that keeps on giving. Oh, and did I mention that you can make this up to three days ahead as well? No stress on the day!

2. Pulled Pork Shoulder with Cabbage Slaw

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Pork shoulder is the new pork leg! This cheap cut of pork is super easy to cook, and can be left to its own devices for most of the day while you sip on your wine. You can then magically pull it out when everyone is hungry, and voila! Instant lunch. Recipe here.

3. Persian Burgers

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Everyone loves a good burger at a family barbecue, so why not make these Persian patties instead of your same old beef patty? Once fried, these patties can keep warm in an oven, ready to be part of the build-your-own-burger section of the table.

4. Korean Fried Chicken

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A cross between part of an actual meal and finger food, chicken wings are always a winner at every party. I first learnt this at a Korean cooking class, and it’s been a crowd favourite ever since. If you’re not a chicken wing kind of person, chicken thighs cut into pieces will do too.

Simply marinate your chicken in cooking sake (rice wine), and then drain and dust in a mixture of potato starch and flour. Blanch in hot oil once (150C) till lightly brown, then lay out in a single layer on a tray. Place in the oven at 180C to finish.

For a chilli glaze, sauté 1 tbsp minced garlic with 1/2 tbsp minced ginger till fragrant. Then add 3 tbsp kochujang (korean chilli paste) and tomato sauce (if you prefer it really hot, omit the tomato sauce). Stir till combined, then add 2 tbsp of liquid glucose. Once the glaze is runny, add the crispy chicken in and stir to coat. Serve hot.

5. Slow roasted Lamb Shoulder

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Australia has beautiful lamb, and it’s time to take advantage of it. If you like the idea of a whole roast and carving at the table, try this slow roasted lamb recipe. Sure it takes some time, but most of the work is done by just leaving it in the oven.

Jean’s Chilli Chicken, Eastwood

Review 3 Comments

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There has been a lot of brouhaha revolving around Korean Fried Chicken, but I think that there hasn’t been nearly enough recognition for it’s fiestier cousin – the chilli chicken.
I first had chilli chicken in Strathfield, after a night out at the bar with a few friends. The slow burn from the Korean Kochujang really hit the spot, and pieces of juicy chicken created an incredibly moreish and addictive mouthful, and left me loving that burn.

So I absolutely had to try the chilli chicken in Eastwood, after my Korean friend recommended it as being “very chilli, but very good”.

And it did not disappoint.

I ordered the chilli chicken with cheese, and it arrived in a sizzling hot plate with oozing, melted cheese draped over the top like a trophy wife. Fiery and decadent, the combination of punchy chilli sauce with chicken and cheese is surprisingly filling, even before you consider the sides.

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It came with a lightly oiled rice that was dotted with various flavours like sesame seed, seaweed flakes and flakes of fish. The plastic gloves meant that you were meant to roll your own rice balls, which added to a sort of ‘hands-on’ element to the meal, though you could just as well eat it out of the bowl.

Creamy pasta salad and crunchy pickled radish both soothed and cleanse the palate from the relatively heavy – and heavenly – chicken. I wish there was more radish, but I’m really a pickle sort of girl.

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In all, it was a very satisfying and filling dinner. The chilli chicken, which cost $38 at the time that we went, is really a meal for at least two people, but could easily feed 3-4. The staff are friendly and not in-your-face, which means that you’re left to enjoy your food in peace. There isn’t eftpos at the counter, but you can choose to pay at the bar of the hotel that the eatery is located in – which is where you’d have to order your drinks anyway.

Great for dinner, but better in a large group. Jean’s Chilli chicken is also open to the wee hours of the night, making it a perfect way to end a rousing evening out.

We at at:

Jeans Chilli Chicken
02 9874 1100
115 Rowe Street Eastwood, NSW

Jeans Chilli Chicken on Urbanspoon


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