I recently went back to Bonchon on John for post-happy-hour-munchies.  This time, we were hooked up to the ultimate since Cookie knew the owner apparently.  Awesomeness!

We started off with an order of dumplings, which were alright.  Great snack type food but nothing mind boggling or game changing. 

Sir Eats A Lot ordered a chicken and a beef taco.  I know he enjoyed these greatly, and I tried a bite of each and agreed they were pretty damn good.  Great sauce on both, and moist protein with a good tortilla.  Nom.

Pretty standard fries. 

The chicken, per usual, was deliciously crisp and well-flavored.  Super moist meat and very garlicky flavor.  I even had some spicy by accident and though I thought I was going to die, everyone else seemed to like it very much.  They also brought over some green sauce that was super duper spicy, though some of my friends were dipping the spicy in that.  Craziness. 

I went back a week later with the same group of people (long story why), and tried the zucchini fries about which I’d heard many positive words.  And let me tell you, these were awesome!!!  Surprising me, they were slightly battered, super crispy on the outside, and perfectly cooked zucchini on the inside.  I was totally into the plate and even had some of the “I only eat meat!” people eating them and loving them.  Delicious!

Yvo says: The owner(s) were obviously very friendly to us both times we went, but beyond that, the atmosphere was pretty chill to hang out and eat and have a few drinks.  With so many people, the prices are really reasonable (almost cheap, even), and we sat for a long time just eating and drinking, the owners never bothering us.  They had some of the NCAA games playing while we ate, which was cool, and the waitresses are all super friendly and cute, offering great service.  I definitely recommend it for a different kind of after-work-drink/bite in the area.
recommended

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Post tags: korean fried chicken

Yet another one of my last days down in the Financial District, and the Wafels & Dinges truck finally showed up!  I was so excited to get to try them finally before I left for good.  (Actually, I’m pretty sure this was my last day ever down there, so it was excellent timing.)  I wound up having a long conversation with one of the guys working there while they made my wafel fresh… they were both very cool and fun to talk to, but of course, held my wafel hostage! 

Yes… come to me, my preciousss

A BACON WAFEL! with the bacon embedded, banana slices and maple syrup.  All that’s missing is peanut butter, or it could have been an Elvis take (which I told them, so if they’ve started selling that combo in the time since, it was MY IDEA YOU CAN THANK MEEE!).    I have to say, I was really impressed by the wafel.  I hadn’t expected to like it that much, eat half, get rid of the other half (my coworkers surprised me with a red velvet cake that day, actually), but I totally inhaled it all.  Crisp bits of bacon littered throughout a crisp but soft wafel (I waited a bit to eat it, so I’m sure the maple syrup absorbed into it, softening it up a bit)… the banana did amazing things with the salty, smokey bacon… I just really enjoyed my wafel more than I’d thought would be possible.  I don’t like waffles in general, but was game to try this Belgian kind.  I was very happy.

Yvo says: Pleasantly surprised by how this turned out to be so tasty!  I liked the combination I got, but I would love to go back and try more things.  Yum!
recommended

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Post tags: pastries

I’ve tried BonChon a bunch of times but always at parties or get togethers where I haven’t taken photographs and haven’t had to deal with the idiocy I’ve heard is involved with ordering from BonChon.  Besides, I was never so in love with the chicken anyway. 

Blurry photograph of the menu.  It was super packed on the 2nd day it was open and the line was moving super slowly.  In fact, when I was 3rd on line, I realized why it was moving so slowly: the man at the cash register was answering the phone and taking those orders before any of the people who were actually in the store.  Umm… FAIL. 

When it was my turn, I asked them what would be fastest, and luckily, that was what I wanted to order, anyway.  Small wings (6 pieces) and fries.  I kind of wanted a healthier side, but by this time, I was so hungry I wanted whatever I could shovel in my face the fastest, which would be fries. 

Looks pretty damn good, right?  The box was filled with fries, and the wings tossed in haphazardly.

Like so.

This small cup of pickled radishes was way too much for one person to comfortably eat without getting sick and/or really gassy.  I ate the whole thing. 

Here is my wing.  Okay, it was pretty damn good.  It’s not that close to my office to go all the time (and I’m told that there is actually a cafe nearer to the office where I could get Kyochon wings – Kyochon being my favorite for Korean fried chicken), but if they work out their service issues (or if you just call ahead, since that seems to let you skip to the head of the line), I could see this becoming a great go-to place for Korean fried chicken; soy sauce, garlicky fried wings with a great flavor and crispness.  (And if you like it hot, they do hot.) 

One other service note: when I ordered, the guy who took my order circled the “order number” (see circle at top of receipt) and told me to listen for that number.  I sat down and waited for them to call my number.  The woman kept calling order numbers and no one was responding; I wanted to get up and say “I’ll take whatever that is” but figured I should not be so impatient.  Finally, she started checking receipts and came over to me, and I said “No, I’m 93, that’s what he said,” and she mumbled, “No, you’re 64, that guy is new, he doesn’t know yet,” and handed me my order.  64 is the ticket number on the bottom of the receipt.  Now, I understand these things could happen, but the woman had just blatantly lied to me by telling me that the guy was new.  How do I know this?  Because while I sat there, I witnessed the guy greet a delivery guy and explaining to someone else what that guy was delivering; by his words, gestures and attitude, it was clear that the man who had taken my order and told me the number to listen for was the owner, not some random new guy who didn’t know better.  They really need to get their ish straight.  Hopefully that’s happened since I went (January 21, as you can see by the receipt). 

Yvo says: I’m sure it’s a great addition to the neighborhood (now that I’m no longer there!).  I heard some people on line talking about how great the food is at the one on Chambers, except they hate how disorganized the ordering system is.  That one has been there for a year or two, so I’m not sure what that means for this location.  The wings were pretty good – much better than the times I’ve had it ordered in, honestly – and yes, not cheap, but not too expensive either.  It is what it is, I suppose.  If you like Korean fried chicken, you’ve probably already been to one of these locations… but I’d still recommend it for at least comparison’s sake.  (Also, please note, on another blog they said this is too little food (the ’small’ offerings).  This is not too little food if you’re me.  I’m not a small eater.  I’m not a huge guy who eats 2 lunches a day, but I’m not a small eater.  Take that into consideration when you’re ordering lest you order way too much.)
recommended

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Post tags: korean fried chicken

I’ve written about Urban Lobster Shack before, but I went there before my departure from the Financial District one last time to check out their new lunch special – $10 for a lobster roll and a Caesar salad.

The lobster roll with container of cole slaw and Caesar dressing.

Caesar salad, which was alright, pretty standard, nothing amazing.  The dressing was really flavorful though – very garlicky and creamy, which was pretty cool.  Not sure if they make it themselves, but I wasn’t complaining. 

The lobster roll, however… well, last time I’d complained that it was missing that sweet lobster taste.  This time was no better; in fact, much worse, it had that ever so slight fishy taste that left a lingering fishiness in my mouth for hours afterwards, despite lots of gum.  Disgusting.  You know when you’ve eaten something and your mouth just tastes BAD?  Yeah, that was this.  I did NOT get sick, though (something I was paying careful attention to because if I did, I was for sure going to b*tch and moan about that!).  Unfortunate because this is an excellent deal.  $10 for a small lobster roll and a Caesar salad with slammin’ dressing! 

Yvo says: I’m not going to hate because I know it’s not lobster season and I didn’t get sick.  I’m sure this could be a one-off that it was a lil fishy, not fresh.  That’s fine.  But it seems like the lobster roll really is just alright… maybe stick to the chowder, which I REALLY enjoyed last time.  For a tiny hole in the wall (literally, it’s a hole in the wall, all orders are to-go only), they have a pretty extensive menu, too.  I definitely suggest giving them a shot for some of their more interesting offerings. 
recommended… maybe not the lobster roll, though, sorry

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Post tags: lobster rolls

One of those cold, yucky days around Christmas, a coworker and I were talking about lunch.  I asked her what she was going to eat, and we tossed ideas back and forth until we both decided to order out and eat at our desks (we sit next to each other).  We chose Burger Burger and quickly made up our minds. 

I wanted to be bad, so I opted to start with jalapeno poppers.  For $5, I got.. five poppers.  Ummm.   

They were good, don’t get me wrong, but at $1 each?  I think I’d pass next time.  Cheezy, gooey, oozy, and spicy! but … not worth the price tag.  I barely had a good taste for them and they were gone! 

Here’s where my stupidity comes in.  The menu item was Burger Burger; two 6 ounce cheeseburgers and special sauce blah blah blah.  So I thought it was a two burger platter… nope! it was a two patty burger!  Oops… but my coworker was kind enough not to tell me I’m stupid; we continued our decision to split it and split most everything easily.  And that was some tasty eating that apparently I didn’t do a cross-section photo of!  WHOOPS!   

But I’ve written about Burger Burger before so you can see one of their burgers dissected here.  It was very tasty and… well, great.  I’d still go back for more burgers if I hadn’t quit my job and won’t be returning to the area, like, ever. 

Finally, because it was so cold, we both wanted chili.  We got chili.  Ummm.

And it wasn’t good.  I actually ate about two – three bites and threw it away.  (I brought it home first, thinking I might eat the leftovers later, but nope, it went into the garbage because it wasn’t good.  I even made my own chili shortly after just to wash the memory of this one out of my mouth.)  It came with very greasy but clearly homemade tortilla chips, which was nice.  However… overall… waste of time and money. 

Also, we ordered delivery.  They were kind of slow, but as it was so cold, I guess it could be forgiven.  Although they ARE just across the street… but whatever, no big deal. 

Yvo says: Stick to the burgers.  The other stuff I’ve tried here is all just meh but the burgers are good enough that really, you don’t go to a place called Burger Burger for something besides burgers, do you?  No, you don’t. 
recommended for burgers

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Post tags: Burgers