new korean restaurant Han Joong Kwan

[durhamfoodie3]

Has anyone been to the new korean restaurant Han Joong Kwan on 55 in durham? 4731 N Carolina 55, Durham, NC 27713

[shaidarharan]

My girlfriend and I decided to give Inter Korea House a try last night and I'm glad we did. The prices are very reasonable (low compared to other Korean restaurants in the Triangle), the portions and k-condiments plentiful and the service good. We ordered the Bulgoki Bibimbap (basically bulgoki on top of bibimbap so you can get these two great dishes in one meal, w/o ordering two full entrees). It was really good, with fresh ingredients and a sizzling hot stone bowl. The rice was superb and cooking time just right, allowing a slight crispy crust without any grains becoming too hard (something I really hate, when bibimbap goes wrong).
We also tried Pork Tang Su Yuk, deep fried pork in a sweet n sour chili sauce with simmered bell pepper and onion. The pork was tender and that unique chewiness fatty pork strips have. Delicious. The white rice was perfect, with a pearly sheen that only comes from proper scrubbing and cooling, and just the right amount of stickiness (korean short grain). Did I mention I love good rice? And we ate two sets of the condiments and didn't even have to ask for the refill (great service!): lightly sweet meju, crisp danmuji, tasty kimchi, fresh mu saengchae, and of course a bowl of gochujang.

I can hardly wait to go back and try more of their menu, but I can wait, because I'm still so full.

[durhamfoodie3]

Thanks for the info. i will definitely have to swing by.

[shaidarharan]

Please do and post what you try. I'm interested to hear about any other dishes (and if they have Oiji hiding somewhere, the korean salty pickles).
of note, I thought they were closed at first because their big white sign wasn't lit, but at a different angle (once I got past Bojangles, I could see the neon OPEN sign near the door.

[boaviagem]

Is this restaurant also known as Inter Korea House? That's the name I saw on their sign before they were scheduled to have their grand opening on September 21.

[durhamfoodie3]

Yeap, that's it, have you tried it yet?

[boaviagem]

I have not been there yet. A friend of my son has been there for lunch. She is from Thailand so she knows Asian food. No specifics, but she said she enjoyed her lunch.