Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ms.catbc]

So my fiance and I want to open a bar eventually in Canada. he is an amazing chef and has owned and run restaurants in Korea for a long time.

That being said we want to create a bar that will go over well in Toronto. Korean pub fusion sort of thing. We have some good ideas so far but where better to get a variety of ideas and opinions than here.

Any suggestions, thoughts and (dare i say) warnings?

[VanIslander]

cooked in the middle of the tables - that's the coolest thing about korean restaurants

(haemultang, gamjatang, dukalbi, mayoontang, etc)

[DC in Suwon]

soju

[Nierlisse]

This isn't food, but I love those little bells on the tables. I wish we had those back home...so handy!

[ms.catbc]

thanks guys keep em comin!

[Julius]

Favorite is bodeh-jiggae.

I like all korean food except for kimbap and nengmyon.

[Steelrails]

For bar food?
Ddalk Kalbi (less spicy) on the sizzling plate
Bulgogi on the sizzling plate Or on a grill in front of you, a big plate with veggies that serves 4
Pretty much any K BBQ that you can serve to a group- Economical, yet still quality, it would give your place a nice niche and market to both the bar crowd and the dinner crowd
Soo Jae Bi with chicken in it
Samgyetang
DdonKass
Korean Spicy Pork (Mae Oon Daeji KoGi)

Curry Fries (Not Korean, but certianly 'Asian')
Sweet & Sour Pork- Tang Soo Yook
ChajjangMyun- Hearty, Serve with meat.
OmuRice- Minus the ketchup
If your going for a classier, upscale feel, might want to try the ubiquitous fruit tray
Nachos and Burgers- Koreanized
Chicken on a Stick- Street Food as High Class Appetizers


Keep it hearty and simple

[pkang0202]

The 양염 fried chicken would be good.

You should really get the Fried Chicken + Beer thing going. It really is a good combination.

[coralreefer_1]

Personally I have always liked the duck with the spicy sauce (고추장 오리고기)

That being said, as was mentioned earlier the idea of the grills on the table would be a nice novelty addition (However back in the US, I could see something like this easily leading to a lawsuit over someone idiot burning themselves) Not sure how litigious things are in Canada.

The table bell is also great.

Personally I like the "service" dishes that get served at some restaurants. For example, some here may be familiar with the hof called "Junco's". You go in there and order some set of 1-2 dishes and get something like 10-14 different small "service" dishes. With all of that food, you can feed 4-5 people easily with a 20,000 won set menu order.

I also remember something I saw in Incheon last year before going home. I'm sure it not really a new idea, but I had never seen it in the US, or anywhere in Korea before then. It was just a basic pub, but the table had these "holes" in the table inlaid with some metal that was cooled by a cooling system build underneath the table, to keep pitchers or bottles of beer cold. At the table I was at, there were 4 such holes for bottles, and a large one in the center for a pitcher. Each one had a cover so that if it was not in use, it could be covered to prevent a swiss cheese table.

Another novelty I enjoyed was at some Japanese restaurant on the beach at Gwangali. It was a booth, but the table was low, and the floor underneath the table was dropped, so that when you sat down, it felt like you were sitting at a table on the floor, but were actually sitting in a booth with legs hanging down in the well beneath the table.

[ms.catbc]

I love the buttons on the table idea and really want have that at our bar. I have worked as server many times before...when i came to Korea I thought it was brilliant. Makes everyone's life easier! It's like the flight attendant button on a plane!

coralreefer_1, If we end up having patio space I would love to have the beer cooling tables. They are awesome!

In terms of food we are thinking of a mix of Korean flavours with Pub grub food. Fried Chicken. Bulgogi style burger. I really think that the marinades used in Korean food are delicious. Service side dishes. BUT really good beer.

What is everyones take on Makgeolli? I really love it but I am not sure how well it would go over in Canada (unless we were located in little Korea) I really like the ambiance of Makgeolli bars. Any thoughts?

[sokobobbie]

Sundubu jigae is awesome, I know I'll be craving it when I go home. It's a pretty nice bowl of broth to share while having a drink as well.

And bulgogi goes down well with everyone. I know I'd find it pretty novel at home if I got bulgogi with all the side dishes and lettuce wraps.

[themagicbean]

Sundubu chigae, definitely. Great hangover cure, too, if your bar is going to do breakfasst. (Bloody mary w/ soju)

Boribap w/ ssambap ... ssambap is good munch food.

Ddukpokki! And lots of it! Great snack food, cheap, filling, goes well with beer.

[vincentmiser]

Kimchi Jjigeh!!!
It's a spicy winner!
And it has meat, veggies, and kimchi in it.
It's my favourite.

Good luck! I have had similar thoughts about something similar back home.

[redaxe]

[AminoUp]

I think kimbab might make a pretty tasty choice... it's uniquely Korean, it doesn't have any really scary ingredients that might throw off folks who are reluctant to try new things, and plus you can pop it in your mouth piece by piece conveniently. My two cents, though.