BBQ in Portland đ„©
Hands down, Portlandâs BBQ hits differentâway better than what Iâve had in Seattle, and even my Korean friend agrees! đ After raving about how good the local Korean BBQ scene is here, they insisted I try Kkoki Korean BBQâand it was such a perfect call đ°đ·!đ Letâs start with the star: their Braised Pork Hock. Itâs fall-off-the-bone tender, with a glossy, savory glaze that sticks to every biteđâsweet, salty, and just a hint of garlicky warmth. The skin is crispy but not tough, and the meat inside is so juicy it melts in your mouth; I kept going back for more even when I thought I was full đ·! Then thereâs the grilled meat selectionâwe got the marinated short ribs and spicy pork belly,đ„ both absolute winners. The short ribs are soaked in a rich, sweet soy marinade that caramelizes beautifully on the grill, locking in all the juiciness, while the spicy pork belly has a nice kick (not too fiery!) đand that perfect crispy edge from grillingâeach bite is packed with bold, balanced flavor đ¶ïž. We also added their Kimchi Fried Rice on a whim, and it turned out to be a total surprise. Itâs loaded with tender kimchi, bits of crispy pork, and a runny fried egg on topâstir it all together, and itâs salty, tangy, and so comforting; it paired perfectly with the grilled meats đ„. Even the banchan (side dishes) were standout: the pickled radishes were crisp and bright, cutting through the richness of the meat, and the spicy cucumber was refreshing with just the right amount of heat. By the end of the meal, we were both stuffed but grinningâthis spot didnât just meet our expectations, it blew them out of the water. If youâre in Portland and craving Korean BBQ thatâs full of homey, authentic flavor, Kkoki is a non-negotiable stop! đ¶ïž #PortlandFood #PortlandTravel #CanâtMissKoreanBBQ #BusinessTripEats đ