Black Ginger — Restaurant in Detroit

OK...I am duly impressed so far, and this is based on no fewer than three visits, all for Happy Hour, which I heartily encourage everyone and their brother to take full advantage of.  Happy Hour here is akin to what Happy Hour was at the now-lamented Roast in Detroit:  it's absolutely fantastic, and it's certainly the best way to dip your toe in the water to figure out what you think of the menu.  Here's a preview:  you'll be impressed.

I certainly am.  I've tried no fewer than eight dishes off their menu, both from the Happy Hour selections and from the Dinner selections, and every last dish has pleased me.  Each and every one is presented beautifully, with an appreciation for the aesthetics, but make no mistake:  it's the flavors and textures that sell me more than anything else, and these dishes simply kick your taste buds into Happy Land.

If nothing else you need to try the Crispy Rice Salad.  For Happy Hour, it's all of $6 ($12 on the Dinner menu), and for my money, it's their very best foot forward that I've tried.  It's simply magic on a plate, what with its fish sauce-forward flavor, its incredible crunchy texture, its wonderful balance of sour, sweet, and even salty flavors...it's such a pleasure, bite after bite.  It's a more-than-fair portion, and I could stop and have this dish alone and leave happy to have had such a culinary delight.  If there's any part of you that's curious about it, you MUST get this dish, even if just to pass it around the table.  Here's the problem:  you will not want to pass it.  Solution:  it's $6 during Happy Hour.  Get your own.  Problem solved.

But that's not all!  There are numerous, very affordable dishes to order on the Happy Hour menu, all of which please me so far:  the Fried Dumplings ($6, and the fact that they have chicken surprised me!), the Shumai Sliders ($8 for three of them, and they're worth it), the Sesame Salad ($4, and it's a clean, sweet serving of veggies), the House Pickled Cucumbers ($4, and another take on veggies, only this time with gochugaru and fish sauce), and Bulgogi Fries ($8, which are exceptionally good as soon as they arrive at the table while the fries are piping hot and crispy).  There's still others that I haven't gotten to or may not be to my taste.

But did you see those prices?  They're really fantastically affordable, those.  You can jump around and satisfy your jonesing for flavors and textures very affordably, while ordering a cocktail from James, who runs a good bar, and makes an attractive cocktail.  He'll tell you about his featured specials, both of drinks, and of food.  He's there to help you out.  You like James, because James is very good at his job.

Dinner items are also not to be overlooked.  That's one of the advantages of going during Happy Hour:  while they open at 4PM and it's immediately Happy Hour, the dinner menu becomes available at 5PM, and you can nosh on an appetizer or two until then, when you can order off the dinner menu.  It works out well.

So far, I've had their best seller, I'm told, which is their Korean Fried Chicken, double-fried, served atop some tasty, vinegary cabbage slaw with a couple slices of Korean pear.  It's a lovely thing, and a solid example of Korean Fried Chicken.  It is patently NOT hot/spicy at all, but if you want yours prepared hot/spicy, the kitchen can accommodate you:  you just need to let them know up front so that they can change which sauce they coat it with.  I have only had the standard version, which I enjoyed.  Thigh meat, in case you're wondering.

Today, I experienced a lovely thing in their Barramundi, which checked my box for a nice, crispy-skinned, correctly prepared fish dish.  It's served atop confit potatoes in a dashi beurre blanc, which provided a creaminess I didn't necessarily expect, but very much enjoyed.  The skin-on fish had great texture and flavor, especially that crispy skin, which I adore.  At $30, it's one of the higher priced items on the dinner menu, but definitely worth it to me.  I would enjoy it again without...

Get into this place before they figure out that the value per dish far outpaces the local competition & raises the prices.

This is a Nuevo Korean spot where the chefs in back have solid technique. There are definitely dishes where I prefer the old school style, but I appreciate the new spin they are putting on it and have to respect the fact that they execute beautifully. For example, the pork belly is cooked to perfection- crisp & tender. The mandarin segments lighten & balance the dish with a natural delicate sweetness- again execution is perfect- I just wish I had the old school sweet & umami option.

However, they have some really great dishes that are new to me & I love them. The crispy rice salad is filling and delicious with a really nice mouthfeel. The watermelon radish garnish makes it visually appealing and the mango valences out the flavor.

I was skeptical about these Shu Mai sliders, honestly, but they are really good. I don’t understand how they got the essence of shu mai in a burger, but they did it & they are scrumptious.

The real gem of Black Ginger is the cocktails hands down. Their classics are just done extremely well & remind you how exquisite a simple daiquiri is. Yet again, their skill & technique shines through. This time I tried their Plum up the Jam and it’s also very, very good. I usually drink at Keisling and these are the closest I’ve had to them in Detroit.

Lastly, I haven’t had their desserts- they could be great, I don’t know- but I always end up getting the milk bread & honey butter instead and I never feel like I made the wrong decision. The bread is fluffy & dense at the same time and delightfully creamy with the butter. It’s really a treat- it seems almost out of place on the menu, but I’m so glad it’s on there!

Oh! Also very professional, attentive waitstaff. Absolutely enabling me to get tipsy after my move today.

be prepared to hear Alice In Chains on the stereo. I’m a fan of Rooster, but not everyone is, so just...

I dined here with two others arriving during happy hour and ordered seven of the eight items from their happy hour menu. Everything was absolutely delicious and a great value for your money as the portions are quite large! After eating the appetizers we had a bit more room in our stomach’s so we ordered desert which were the Matcha Tart and Milk Bun Rotating Jam. Both were just as delicious as the appetizers so be sure to save room for them! We also had the Oaxacan After Midnight, one of their speciality cocktails and it’s very flavorful and a must have! I’ve had Korean food many times before, but the chef takes it to the next level with its fusion style. The atmosphere was very enjoyable and relaxing as it’s a non-rushed dinning experience. At no time did we feel as if we were being hurried along to get in the next guest. Our waitress Lena was amazing to say the least! She was personable, friendly, knowledgeable on the menu items, and quite attentive. She went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was memorable. We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner Harold and had a nice conversation with him when he visited our table to ensure we were enjoying our evening. He too is quite personable and friendly and between him, the staff, and the food, this restaurant will continue to be a success! Out of all the restaurants I’ve dined at in Detroit, Black Ginger is by far the best experience and there’s no doubt that I...