68596 Wed Apr 20 00:53:32 -0700 2005 11 2 Los Angeles Area 0 373356 Saw this place in ktown called My Secret Recipe on 3rd and Hobart. it seems very crowded and looks very interesting. anyone been? Wed Apr 20 00:53:32 -0700 2005 0 piggie 1 373358 It's a squid specialist. The name on the LA Public Health website is Nakzi Village (sometimes spelled without the "k" on the company website, in one of the more unfortunate transliteration gaffes I've seen recently--but the website is nevertheless rather entertaining to look at even for the non-Korean speaker). Here is a link to one of a few threads on this board about the place: Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/64258#345140 Wed Apr 20 01:20:28 -0700 2005 373356 0 PayOrPlay 2 373361 I went with a Korean friend a few months ago. She did explain that the Korean name roughly translates to squid land or town. Can't remember what we had specifically, but it was very spicy. Wed Apr 20 01:41:15 -0700 2005 373358 0 dette 3 373365 I saw it advertised on Channnel 18 and have been intrigued by it. I found a review of a lunch there ; Link: http://protosheigh.typepad.com/protosheigh/2005/03/lunch_spot_my_s.html Wed Apr 20 02:15:53 -0700 2005 373361 0 Stuartmm 3 373373 Just an FYI... Nahk-jee is Korean for octopus. Oh-jing-uh is squid. They probably have both, but this place is supposed to be known for its spicy octopus saute. It's been on my to-do list for a while, but I'm too lazy to schlep to LA. Wed Apr 20 08:09:06 -0700 2005 373361 0 bottomlesspit 4 373399 Me too. Too far, and too lazy. However, I've gone to Kaya for nakji bokkum on occasion and it's alright, I guess. *shrug* Do you know of a better place in OC? I'm kind of tired of trying new places out without recommendations from others. Wed Apr 20 13:00:55 -0700 2005 373373 0 jschyun 5 373435 I used to get it at Dae Myoung Oak, and it used to be fairly good (could use just a bit more veggies), but the last time I got it to go, the octopus was way overcooked. However, maybe getting it to go, wrapped in foil, could have resulted in the octopus overcooking in the residual heat on the way home. Flavor-wise, it's not bad. Just make sure to eat it there, I guess. Sorry I can't recommend something stellar (except my mom's bokkeum - but she doesn't have a restaurant anymore. =)) Wed Apr 20 16:08:24 -0700 2005 373399 0 bottomlesspit 4 373432 I thought oh-jing-uh was cuttlefish? Wed Apr 20 16:04:03 -0700 2005 373373 0 David Kahn 5 373449 I'm no marine biologist, so I'm not sure the difference between squid and cuttlefish, but in Googling, I note that both squid and cuttlefish have a similar body shape, i.e., a tapered, tubular body with two "fins", I guess, that look sort of like wings when they're swimming, plus all the tentacles with small suction cup thingies. But the squid pictures seem to show an overall skinnier and longer body than the cuttlefish and definitely look more like the thing I get when I buy raw oh-jing-uh at the market (though they both essentially look like triangles with legs). I'm guessing that, food-wise at least, we use oh-jing-uh as a term to cover both squid and cuttlefish, while it definitely does not refer to octopus. (I'm guessing you may have gotten your cuttlefish reference from a package of the dried stuff?) Can you tell I'd rather not be working? ;) P.S. Apologies to The Chowhound Team for the semantics digression. Wed Apr 20 17:19:04 -0700 2005 373432 0 bottomlesspit 5 373451 I'm no marine biologist, so I'm not sure the difference between squid and cuttlefish, but in Googling, I note that both squid and cuttlefish have a similar body shape, i.e., a tapered, tubular body with two "fins", I guess, that look sort of like wings when they're swimming, plus all the tentacles with small suction cup thingies. But the squid pictures seem to show an overall skinnier and longer body than the cuttlefish and definitely look more like the thing I get when I buy raw oh-jing-uh at the market (though they both essentially look like triangles with legs). I'm guessing that, food-wise at least, we use oh-jing-uh as a term to cover both squid and cuttlefish, while it definitely does not refer to octopus. (I'm guessing you may have gotten your cuttlefish reference from a package of the dried stuff?) Can you tell I'd rather not be working? ;) P.S. Apologies to The Chowhound Team for the semantics digression. Wed Apr 20 17:21:13 -0700 2005 373432 0 bottomlesspit 2 373421 most excellent! my son is a calamari fanatic and this place is walking distance from our house. we look forward to trying it. Wed Apr 20 14:48:55 -0700 2005 373358 0 jenn 1 373403 I tried it back in the fall. You HAVE to go there with someone who speaks korean. The waiters/waitresses can't carry a conversation at all. I asked the waitress how long she has been in this country. She told me five years!! She is about 23, yet can't speak english! So, it's hard to order. The menu is in korean, if I remember correctly. The octopus combo is VERY spicy. The order is about $45, but enough food for 3-4 people. they put it in a giant iron skillet on the table. You try to eat as much as possible. Afterwards, they scoop out the octopus on a plate for you. Then they put in some rice and using the remaining sauces in the iron skillet, they make fried rice. The panchan is o.k. The owner was very generous that day and threw in hae mul pa jun for us. (seafood pancake) The place is super popular and always has long waits. It's not for the faint of heart. It's spicy. Enjoy. Wed Apr 20 13:21:11 -0700 2005 373356 0 Yakitiyak