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(September 2, 2005)
I love Korean Food. The aromas, the textures, the traditions, the flavors
and yes, the abundance. So it was not without a bit of trepidation that
I first ventured into Koriente on 7th St. The emphasis is on lighter
fare, and food that you'd more likely encounter if you had lunch at
someone's home in Seoul. Well I'll tell you what, it works for me.
The thing I like about Koriente is that the dishes
are not only flavorful but they have an engaging taste and an intriguing
look to them. And they are not all about your standard Kimchi, barbecue,
mandau, the things you expect from Korean restaurants. The restaurant
is family owned: the son Jae is a recent UT graduate, the Mom has planted
the amazing floral display that graces the outside of the restaurant.
And this is food that you have to try.
There are some really nice dishes to rev up your
appetite at Koriente. And the good news, you can try them all with out
even denting the old waistline.
I love the Bulgogi Noodles. These are potato noodles tossed with strips
of bulgogi and julienned vegetables. Light and tasty. Also enjoy the
Veggie Tacos. Now, there are no crispy tortilla chips with this dish;
just red bell peppers, cabbage, mushrooms and avocadoes wrapped in a
very thin Korean radish shell. And how about the Cucumber Salad? These
are local cucumbers tossed with red onions in a light soy and wasabi
burgundy dressing. This is a great little salad that you will enjoy.
I had never associated Korean restaurants with pot-roast.
So imagine my surprise when their signature dish turned out to be the
Kalbi Potroast, a dish that takes 24 hours to prepare. This dish is
flat out delicious. And also good for you. Beef, carrots, Korean radish,
simmered in wine produce the flavor along with fresh squeezed apple
and vegetable juices. Another treat is the Ka-Re. This is a vegan dish
featuring tomatoes, mushrooms, peas, potatoes, carrots, onions, and
jalapenos and a light curry sauce over brown rice. I love the flavor
here. It's very tasty and not over the top with curry. You can get it
with meat, but I don't think its necessary. Also try the more traditional
Bulgogi. This is the classic marinated beef served lightly charred with
carrots and broccoli. It has one of the more intriguing flavors in all
of Korean cuisine and it is well represented at Koriente.
There are a variety of rolls to choose from as well
at Koriente. My favorites include the Smoked Salmon Roll with sticky
rice, avocadoes, smoked salmon, and cucumbers. Also quite good is the
Veggie Roll, the Koriente version of the California Roll. Marinated
daikon, carrots, and cucumbers are the main ingredients.
Koriente is at 621 E 7th St. across from the Municipal
Court. It is healthy, tasty, reasonably priced and the kind of place
that one could get used to going to. A lot. And those flowers are just
flat out gorgeous.
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