Korean near Columbia, MD?

Hello,
It's been a while since I've had Korean food and the craving has hit me pretty hard today.

I used to live near Annandale so there was no problem finding a good place. Then I moved to Rockville and the closest choice was Sam Woos. Now I'm in Columbia, MD and there is *nothing*!

Please guide me to the nearest tasty Korean restaurant and prove me wrong. Thanks!

Vicky

[ILoveBacon]

My favorite Korean near Columbia is what used to be Asia Gardens (in the Bethany Shopping Center off of Rt. 40 West, about 2 miles before it merges into 70-West). FYI, Purim Oak in Towson has been closed for about a year. The location is now occupied by Cafe Spice, an India restaurant that offers a decent lunch buffet (haven't had dinner there yet).

[dining with doc]

woomie garden in Wheaton MD is not too far and the aforementioned korean restaurant on Route 1 in the days inn in College Park are both good.

[jeanki]

I agree with the Woomi Garden rec. My family in Columbia ends up driving all the way here (about 30 min) when they want a solid full Korean meal, and their BBQ is one of the best I've had, and their array of banchan is delicious. In recent months the portion size though has not been as generous as in the past. It is still much better though than anything else in the Baltimore or Ellicott City area. My other go-to is Han Sung which is fresh and tasty but is smaller scale and doesn't have BBQ.

[acooperi]

Han Sung on Frederick Road (rt 144) and St Johns Lane, in the shopping center next to the Pizza Hut. Has good service, and good prices, simple atmosphere, very good food. They have a Korean/Japanese mix.

Also, forgot to put this in my last post, you could try Mu Lai Oak in Arlington. The clientelle is almost all Korean and is the sister restaurant of a very famous restaurant in Seoul.

There is also a place in College Park. When you get off I95, as you are heading towards U of M, it will be on the left in the Days or Comfort Inn. Can't rememeber which one it is.

[jeanki]

I think the College Park one is called Yi Jo? I might be mistaken but "Mu Lai Oak" is Woo Lae Oak?

If you are in Columbia, Towson may be a bit of haul for you, but there is a place called Purim Oak. Haven't tried it, but it looks like it might be worth a try. Also, on 25 street in North Baltimore at the between the intersections of 25th and Maryland and North Charles street, there is a place call New No Daji.

No to New No Da Ji. It's awful. Purim Oak's OK, but just about everything else listed below is better.

There's a small Korean place on Frederick Road (rt 144) and St Johns Lane, in the shopping center next to the Pizza Hut. Unfortunately I've forgotten the name. I've had a decent seafood crepe there, but I don't really like Korean food that much, so I may not be a great judge.

It's about a mile west of Lotte plaza, and two blocks south of Rt 40. I've enjoyed the food court in Lotte. You get such a wide variety of dishes, most of which have not been Americanized (this is not always a good thing).

[jeanki]

This is Han Sung which is described in other posts on this thread. They don't do BBQ but they all the other Korean standards very nicely.

scratch blue garden, i hear that it's closed and their phone is disconnected. sorry.

You can also try Blue Garden (7523 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie); I've not been but I've heard good things about it.

Finally, I also can't remember the Korean place in Fort Meade. There were two within a block; one actually was quite good.

Also, the new Grand Mart near Security Mall is supposed to include a Korean restaurant and was developed by Sam Choi, who evidently developed a similar thing in Annandale.

Is this the famous "Duck Butt" spoken of several months ago - so named for its sign ?

There's a korean restuarant in Glen Burnie called the Korean restaurant. It's right across from La Fontaine Bleu.

There's a fairly large Korean population up Route 29 in Ellicott City, so start your search there with the Lotte Supermarket (there's a Han Ah Rheum in Catonsville, too), Asia Garden, and Han Sung. There's bound to be others. Nearby is Goong Jeon in Glen Burnie, which is either the best Korean place in Md. or downhill since its chef went back home depending on who you ask (there's other Korean places in and around GB, Odenton, and Fort Meade, too). There's a small Koreatown in midtown Baltimore: I like Nam Kang, U Jung Kwan, and Joung Kak there.

Finally, haven't been to this place yet, but it certainly sounds interesting.

Link: http://www.citypaper.com/2004-02-18/o...

Great space. Good food. Very reasonable. My only problem is that all of their dumplings are veggie. Definitely recommend the soups. Extra bonus: the Sylvan ice cream place is right next door for dessert.

really?? I've only tried eating at a Korean mart "restaurant" once and that was at Han Ah Reum in Falls Church. I thought it was alright.....

where is this Lotte Plaza? near Han Ah Reum on Rt.40/Rt29?

lotte is at the south-eastern intersection of 40 and 29. Han Ah Reum is on route 40 near the beltway. they actually are not that close together.

just fyi, i know the food court at Lotte looks kind of interesting, and i guess for the money, it's a good value, but it's not at the top of my list to go for food.

Yes, the Lotte Plaza has a food court with Korean chow and also within the same shopping center is a Korean Restaurant (can't remember the name).

[2stepper]

I had bulgogi at the Korean restaurant in Lotte Plaza (I think it might be called Shin Chon). They brought it out to me rather than grilling at the table (perhaps because I ordered the lunch box). I thought it was fairly decent, but I'm not that well-versed in Korean cuisine and would be interested in your opinion. The clientele and wait staff were all Korean. I was a little surprised when they laid down more than a dozen small bowls of cold Korean appetizers in neat rows in front of me, only one of which was kimchee.

Lotte Plaza is in this kind of triangular area south of 40 and east of 29. As you go north of 29, take the exit to 40 East but stay to your left.

Han Ah Rheum on Rt. 40 has good food with a few tables (in the market, though). In addition, there's a new Korean department store next to it, and they're supposed to be building in a food court.

How's the korean/japanese restaurant in that lotte plaza in ellicott city?

Also, where exactly are the korean restaurants in Ft. Meade & Odenton?

[jeanki]

The one at Lotte Plaza is Shin Chon I believe. I just found it OK. It's authentic but the flavors were a little uneven to me and dull at times.