Korean Sunnyside - Tofu Natural or BBQ on 43rd?

[lindoca]

Taking some friends to dinner tonight in my nabe, and Korean was specifically requested. The reviews for TN sound mixed, and I imagine they'd like a variety of options, so is the BBQ restaurant on Queens Blvd and 43rd worth a visit? If not either of those places, any other suggestions within a 6 block radius?

[monalisawoman]

HUGE fan of Natural Tofu. I love the snacks they put out before the food comes, and i often salivate for their seafood pancakes, and especially the spicy BBQ squid.
I'm salivating just typing about it.

[lindoca]

The BBQ place on 43rd & Qns Blvd does have table top grills, which is why I was expecting to see some cooking. Now I know there's probably a minimum of BBQ dishes to be ordered if I want to see that, based on a post above. I'm sure I'll be back at some point and repost.

Thanks all!

[Joe MacBu]

The place on Roosevelt and 49th is good. I've only tried their stews and they've been pretty authentic.

[tracyk]

so where did you go? i haven't been to the bbq place since they changed hands a couple years ago. i always vote for natural tofu b/c their soon du bu is amazing, but often people say they want Korean food and really what they want is BBQ.

[corvin]

Just tried an awsome korean bbq lunch. all you can eat for ten bucks and all the food is really fresh. its at 149th and Northern BLVD. in queens. Its a hell of a treck but when in need of some Korean Nutrition, there is nothing like it.

[lindoca]

We went to the bbq place on Queens Blvd and 43rd. I was pleased, although the bbq dish my friend ordered came out on a hot plate. I was sort of anticipating watching something cooked at our table. Guess I'm just not experienced enough to know what to order. Overall a good experience and I do plan to go back as it's a mere 3 blks from my apt. I do love that people I know in Brooklyn are jealous of the good eatin within walking distance of my place. :)

[Joe MacBu]

I don't know what the deal is at the place you went to. Most Korean restaurants I've been to in LA and NY require a minimum order of 2 BBQ dishes to quality for the table grilling. Otherwise, as in your case, they will cook it in the kitchen.

[Woodside Al]

Does the place on Queens Blvd. & 43rd even have tabletop grills? I don't think so... so like a lot of places they just cook it in the kitchen. But the place on Roosevelt just off Queens Blvd. does, although I think that place is more than a little tired. Even better for BBQ, and definitely table-cooked, is the 24 hour place on Broadway on the corner of 75th St. across from the 74th St. 7 (and R/F etc.) train stop.

I love Natural Tofu in the winter for their Korean-style stews, and they serve some good panchan (the little snacks that come before your food) too.

[Joe MacBu]

Yeah, that place on 75th/Broadway rocks. It's probably the overall best Korean restaurant around these parts.

[lvecch]

Your dinner has passed, but I'll throw in my two cents anyway. I've gotten takeout at both places - once from the barbecue place, about five years ago, and twice from Natural Tofu, the last time two years ago (I'm not a huge fan of Korean). My strongest recollection of the barbecue meal, unfortunately, is that the entree had a cooked fried egg on top, which disappointed me because I hate eggs. I was pleased, however, that even though I was getting my stuff to go, they included a container of the appetizers that one would normally be served when dining in - always my favorite part of a Korean meal. Natural Tofu is good. I order the same thing both times - the seafood-and-tofu soup, which is served over rice. A nice dish - my only complaint was that the heads were still on the shrimp, but I realize that's my American squeamishness talking.