Portland Korean Food｜Hansik: Post-Dental Treatment Comfort Meal 🦷

🌿 Ambiance: Quiet & Spacious, Thoughtful Details Everywhere The place is bigger than I expected—wooden tables are spaced out, no squeezing next to other diners. The highlight is the three crystal chandeliers ✨; their warm light refracts into tiny sparkles, not too bright but super inviting. All tableware comes in sealed packaging—you can smell a faint fresh scent when you open it, instantly boosting my ！We went on a weekday afternoon, so it wasn’t busy; soft K-pop played in the background, and I didn’t have to chew quietly. My teeth felt no pressure, and my mood lifted right away. 🥘 Dishes: Perfect for Post-Treatment! Two Stews That Warm Your Heart ① Beef Glass Noodle Soup｜Big Meat Chunks, Light But Flavorful I asked the server, “Can I get it non-spicy?” He smiled and said, “It’s already mild—don’t worry!” I was shocked when it arrived: the bowl is bigger than my face, with a few greens on top, and huge chunks of beef hidden underneath. Pinch a piece with chopsticks, and you can see the meat’s texture—it’s chewy but not tough (even with my just-treated teeth, I could handle it 🦷). The beef’s umami seeps into the soup, and the glass noodles soak up all the flavor—slurpy and easy to eat, no effort needed. The small dipping sauce on the side was a nice touch: soy sauce mixed with a tiny bit of wasabi—not spicy, just enough to enhance the flavor. Dip a piece of beef in it, and the mild soup gets an extra kick. I drank three spoonfuls of soup in a row, and even scraped every last noodle from the bowl 🥢. ② Seafood Soft Tofu Stew｜Surprisingly Fresh! No Heavy Spice, Just Seafood Sweetness I thought all seafood tofu stews are spicy, but this one proved me wrong—the soup is light milky white, no piles of Korean chili flakes, no too much kimchi stealing the show. Only real ingredients: sand-free clams (each open, no fishy smell), chewy baby squid, small octopus pieces, tender soft tofu, crispy zucchini, and scrambled eggs 🥚. Take a spoonful—first taste is pure seafood sweetness. The tofu melts on your tongue, even the zucchini soaks up the umami. Pair it with white rice, and I unknowingly ate half a bowl. The only tiny downside: the bowl is smaller than the beef noodle soup, but the taste is so good my friend stole half of it, saying “way better than those spicy tofu stews I’ve had before!” 💁 Service: Sweet Little Touches! Gentle Korean Servers Soon after we sat down, a young server in a light blue apron came over and asked softly, “Are you sharing?” Before we could answer, he went to get four empty bowls—turns out he was worried we’d need extra for sharing soup and rice. Even his movements were gentle, and his voice was soft, no awkwardness at all. When I lifted my hand to ask for hot water, he noticed right away. He brought the water and smiled, “We hav hot barley tea too—want to try it? It’s nice this time of year.” I was instantly touched—I was scared of cold drinks after my dental treatment, so hot tea was exactly what I needed! 🫖 Heartwarming Detail: Hot Barley Tea Is the “Hidden Win” I have to say, the hot barley tea is a game-changer! It steams in the cup, with a faint wheat aroma—no sugar, no bitterness. Sipping it down, it warms your throat, and even the slight discomfort from my dental treatment faded. Compared to many restaurants that only serve ice water, this “hot drink freedom” is a big plus. When we left, I wanted one more cup, and the server laughed, “Feel free to have more before you go!” As I left, my stomach felt warm, my teeth didn’t hurt, and I was in a great mood. Who knew a simple Korean meal could be so comforting? Next time I want gentle Korean food, I’ll definitely be back! 📍 Hansik (A quiet gem in Portland’s Korean food scene—look for the spacious spot with crystal chandeliers!) #PortlandKoreanFood #ComfortFood #PostDentalMeal #KoreanCuisine