Geo Si Gi Gamjatang — Restaurant in New York

This place was packed when we arrived. There's parking in the back through a tight alleyway next to the restaurant (easy to miss!). We waited for a good 5-10 min before we were seated. I'm surprised this place closes at 1am since the interior doesn't give off the feeling of a late night joint. Yet you can tell everyone comes here for the food and to hangout chat. Nearly all the customers were Korean. My hopes were high.

Someone told me his Korean mom judges whether a place is good by their ban chan side dishes and I found that funny and silly at the same time but she may be onto something, a foreshadowing of things to come. The ban chan ended up okay: kimchi, potato salad, I believe acorn jelly, fish cake, and steamed egg (ttukbaegi gyeranjjim). The last in particular was most disappointing since it lacked color and egg yolky flavor (arrived late too since they were behind on those orders).

The POTATO PANCAKE surprised me, not at all what I expected-- a hash browny pancake. It was more of a cross between a hash brown and dimsum turnip cake in smell and exterior with the consistency of Chinese sticky sweet rice cake. It was strange and interesting but I probably wouldn't order it again. Lacked potato-y flavor but that's what the sauce is for.

The GAM JA TANG has to be the most disappointing. Flavor was plain and light with not much richness considering all the ingredients. Instead the soup had a one note taste of those peppery things in the soup and what must be red pepper flakes. And the lack of potatoes! Gah! I must lack something unique to Korean tastebuds because I don't see the appeal here. What am I missing out on that all these Koreans keep coming back for more gam ja tang? The same dish at Duk Soo Goong in Edison, NJ is much more flavorful and rich, with more potatoes too.

MUKEUNJI BOSSAM consists of long kimchi, raw oysters and boiled pork belly. You're supposed to wrap everything within the long kimchi. Be warned those with a small mouth: I nearly threw up attempting to chew and swallow my big wrap bit by bit, because while one end of the long kimchi was still chewing in my mouth, the other end was getting pulled down by the force of my esophagus as I swallowed. Not a great experience. I'm not personally a fan of raw oysters and found these had a rather clean but clear pungent fishy smell to them. Pork belly tasted like good old pork belly though and you can't go wrong with that.

A highly rated place for an okay signature dish. I still don't believe I should judge a Korean restaurant by their ban chan, even if it turned out to be true in this case. However, may it always be at the back of my mind in the...

Hearty Korean meals. Great for winter.

This restaurant specializes in Gamjatang. It’s a stew made with pork loin, bone broth and Korean spices. It’s red in appearance, but not too spicy.

We ordered the Set Menu #10 for 2 people which comes with Uh Geo Ji Gamjatang + Mukeunji Bossam. We got Side Dish #18 Yet Nal Gamja Jeun.

The food portions are huge, so come here hungry.

Surprisingly, the Uh Geo Ji Gamjatang was my least favorite dish during my visit. It’s supposed to be served piping hot (temperature-wise), but I felt it was served a bit too lukewarm.

The Mukeunji Bossam was heavy so I wasn’t able to eat too much of it. Nevertheless, I’d recommend it if you are a fan of pork.

The Yet Nal Gamja Jeun was my favorite during my visit. I’m biased but I love potatoes. This pancake was crispy on the outside, and fluffly and starchy in the inside. It’s like an enhanced hash brown.

Overall, I recommend giving this restaurant a try. It may be intimidating if you don’t speak Korean, but don’t worry - this restaurant is welcoming of everyone. They are more than happy to...

Service: Good Quantity: Great Cleanliness: Great

Food: Muk Eun Gi Gamja Tang (serving for 2): Pickled nappa Cabbage with vegetables and pork loin Casserole $40.95

What you get is the usual 5 cold dish( Kimchi, Bean sprout, Fish cake, Broccoli , turnip) and a complimentary steam egg. You have this huge casserole that is being cooked and served to you by the friendly staffs. Words cant describe really how big it is because i eat a lot and can handle a lot of food, but this thing was so much that i had to take the remainder home and enjoy some more when i got hungry. This is the 1st time back since the pandemic. i got to say the food was great the pickled cabbage has the right amount acidity(Sourness). As for the Pork loin WOW it just came soft right off the bone. it was so soft and tender.

If your a Acidic (Sourness) lover like i am i would say this is a must try cause it hit just the spot as i wanted something sour with some spice to it.

I would definitely...