Buok Fresh Korean Kitchen — Restaurant in Edmonton

I ordered dinner through UberEats. I would like to start off by saying I am not Korean nor have I been to Korea. My limited experience with the cuisine is through various restaurants in YEG. So if my review seems ignorant, and you are sitting there like "ya well thats what its supposed to taste like"...well it's because I am inexperienced with the "real deal" I guess lol. I will order Korean take out probably once or twice a month. My go to favorites are typically: Tteokbokki - (often with cheeze if I'm ordering from a place that does it tasty). My couple of favourites to order are typically a simple skinny tube rice cake with thin but hearty fish cake in a sweet spicy gochujang sauce. That's it. Simple. Delicious. Satisfying. Gimbap - I pretty much view these as a nice tidy Bibimbap package I can pop in my mouth. Typically a bulgogi one if available because I LOVE bulgogi so best of both worlds ...but "traditional" also brings me joy.

Still with me? EXCELLENT...to the review! From BFKK I ordered: Corn cheeze (first time having this) Classic Ddokbokki (aka Tteokbokki? as far as I understand it it's a spelling/translation preference thing) Buok Beef Bibimbap with Buddha rice and bulgogi sauce (because they don't have Gimbap on the menu) And the whole reason I ordered from this place for the first time...kimchi jeon (first time having this)

Honestly....it was all pretty one note...a bit bland...and VERY greasy.

For first time having cheeze corn it was pretty meh. I will try cheeze corn from one of my usual places to see if this is simply what it's like...if it is...I will Never understand why it seems to be a menu staple across the board everywhere. Not my thing. Meh.

The Ddokbokki sauce wasn't sweet at all. And the spiciness was flat...as if they had just thrown some cyan pepper in while sauteeing up the rice cakes....which were about double the thickness I have come to expect...and this was not a benefit. The fish cakes were VERY thin and VERY fishy to the point it was the only other flavor (besides the flat spiciness) driving the dish. Also the first time I've had zucchini in it...it was unpleasantly over cooked.

The bibimbap wasn't bad...but VERY greasy.. I think mostly from the Buddah rice. While the textures that make this dish so wonderful were all there...it was kind of bland. Lacking in an acid pop from pickles and/or kimchi I think maybe. It needed something.

Now...the kimchi jeon...was Delicious!! Greasy...but it's a pan fried veggie pancake so what do you want 😆...but the balance in flavours and textures was top marks across the board. The garlic chili soy sauce was the Perfect accompaniment. Would be back just for this (though since this is my first time trying this dish I will have to try it other places I have seen it...

I had been wanting to try this place for some time and when I arrived the place was clearly busy for a Monday. I arrived shortly after the lunch rush was finishing and was quite impressed with the open air, very clean and inviting space. I was then welcomed by a polite friendly individual who explained the menu and procedure, I proceeded to select the lunch special - Pork Bibimbap. All of the toppings were expertly added and was asked if I would like it finished off with the customary fried egg (free = yes); sauce selections were offered and I went for SPICY.

When I approached the till, the cashier was fumbling through a cash transaction ahead of me ($100 bill) requiring a halting of the lineup and the Manager/owner needing to get involved. That is not my complaint. I was being offered (at the suggestion of the owner to the cashier) finishing touches (Nouri, green onion, etc.). I made the mistake of grabbing and adding the sesame oil myself, . . . that was right at my hand (almost falling off the front of the counter. I was then abruptly reminded “to please not touch”. I asked if it was Covid related??, . . to which the reply was quite coldly “yes”. I did remind her that none of us are wearing masks and that the till area has ZERO plexiglass set up.

I myself volunteered for a friend’s business during the height of Covid restrictions, as a self-proclaimed “condiment kid”. I understood it then and still get it. I also fully respect individual and business choices to implement and regulate Covid restrictions but, PLEASE make it clear with signage, or keep the condiments out of reach 😊.

The dish itself was quite satisfying, on this particular visit however, I did have a portion of my pork that was dry. Sometimes the previous days fare is added to the current day’s preparation (it happens) and I must have received a larger than expected chunk of yesterdays, either overheated or overcooked. My suggestion if either was the case, please shred and disperse better so that it goes un-noticed.

Pleased overall, I...

The atmosphere of the place was really comfortable. There was a worker there named Hyun Kyeong who did exceptional service for me and my friend who had gone there for the first time to try the place out. She welcomed us upon entry and asked us if it was our first time there (I guess it was obvious); yes, it was our first time. She proceeded to brief us of the menu and the quirks of the restaurant and did so professionally and very friendly. My friend and I place our orders and sit down. As we sat down we realized that we ordered a plate to share and had forgotten to ask for less spice on one of the dishes because my friend has a hard time dealing with spicy foods. Hyun Kyeong was very exceptional in that, although it was too late to change the order, she provided us a dipping sauce to help soften the spice for my friend. That was quick thinking and very exceptional service, thank...