Han Sung Oak in Falls Church, VA - Thoughts?

Going out for Korean tomorrow and thinking of hitting this place. Sietsema gives it the thumbs up as do some friends of ours. So I put it to you all to give me some additional info if you can, and, if you think there's better Korean to be had around Falls Church or in Annandale, please suggest.

Best -

ANCyM

[Giggling Gourmand]

I ate at Han Sung Oak this weekend and almost burst with happiness. I love Korean food probably more than any other cuisine. Is this place perfect? No. But it is the closest thing to Korean food like you get in LA that I've had thus far in DC.

I thought the kalbi was good and plentiful and they let me cook it myself without constantly fussing with the heat. The panchan actually numbered more than 3 like you seem to get at many DC area restaurants -- and they were the usual suspects (not strange and bad items like Yee Hwa the week before). Good japchae and soondooboo as well - though the soondooboo was slightly fishy. I'll be looking for an excuse to find myself in the neighborhood more often.

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Han Sung Oak Restaurant
6341 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041

[link_930]

Han Sung Oak is fairly low on my list. It's too expensive for the mediocre quality of the food. The kimchi is subpar as well. If you're coming from the east and don't want to go into Annandale, it will suffice, but I avoid it.

[Giggling Gourmand]

What do you think is better in Annandale? I didn't love the kimchi, but haven't really had better in the area either. Haven't been to too many places around here yet, but was dissapointed with Honey Pig -- which everyone seems to love.

[monkeyrotica]

I really enjoyed Yechon and Lighthouse Tofu. Particularly the former. Doesn't hurt that it's open 24/7.

http://www.yechonrestaurant.com/

[link_930]

Exactly what I was going to say.

[Giggling Gourmand]

Thanks, I've been meaning to try Yechon. The bf doesn't liek soonduboo so I might have a hard time getting him to Lighthouse -- but I plan to try!

This is where some Korean friends took my family when we first moved here, because it has the best grilled meats (kalbi, bulgogi, etc.), and they're also known for their cold noodles (naeng-myun). I was impressed by their pan-chan selection, including really spicy, salty marinated raw hard-shell crab, which is my mom's favorite but not for the faint of heart. (if you're caucasian, you'll probably have to ask whether this is available, as i'm pretty sure they don't bring this out as a standard side dish.)

Many thanks for the suggestion - the crab sounds great. I'm not Korean, but not faint of heart either so I will see if they have it and if so will dig in w/ gusto.

Best -

ANCyM

that's the spirit! the crab thing is called "keh-jang".

This is my favorite Korean spot. I started liking it over Hee Been because the food is equally good if not better and the servers are nicer. The various grilled meats are great, the kalbi, etc. And they do the best version of pajun I've had in the area; not greasy or doughy.

I like it very much. We have been going there since Hee Been closed for renovations, and have been very impressed. The haemol pajun (scallion pancake with seafood) comes out on a hot pan, and is much lighter and crispier than your average pajun. It's one of the best that I have had. The kimchi jigae is really good, probably the best that I have tasted in the DC area. It's quite rich and spicy, with a decent quality pork (not just fatty gristle, as you sometimes find), and, best of all, rice dumplings, which I have often found in kimchi jigae in LA and NYC, but not in DC. They also have a pretty good selection of panchan.

If you are interested in barbecue, they have grilles built into many of the tables. We have tried the bulgogi and the kalbi; both are good, the former is perhaps marginally better.

I like it very much. We have been going there since Hee Been closed for renovations, and have been very impressed. The haemol pajun (scallion pancake with seafood) comes out on a hot pan, and is much lighter and crispier than your average pajun. It's one of the best that I have had. The kimchi jigae is really good, probably the best that I have tasted in the DC area. It's quite rich and spicy, with a decent quality pork (not just fatty gristle, as you sometimes find), and, best of all, rice dumplings, which I have often found in kimcji jigae in LA and NYC, but not in DC. They also have a pretty good selection of panchan.

If you are interested in barbecue, they have grilles built into many of the tables. We have tried the bulgogi and the kalbi; both are good, the former is perhaps marginally better.

I've had good luck there before. Bulgogi was good, so was the seollongtong (beef bone soup). Nice ambiance.