A few weeks back, I did a "circling back" post on Tanuki. I'd been meaning to return after doing an abbreviated post back during the pandemic. Well, there was one other restaurant on that post that we'd been meaning to return to. Song Hak. And just to really set that reminder, "Sami" of the wonderful blog Things I Tried did a post on the place a while back.
The Missus was wanting a Dolsot Bi Bim Bap and really wanted something different from Her usual choice, so this was a great opportunity. We decided to head on over for lunch, because like many of the places on Convoy, that parking lot is horrible. And now that all the street parking is gone, well that just makes things more difficult.
On weekends, Song Hak opens right before 11am, which is when we arrived, encountering no issue with parking in the lot.
The woman working was so nice…..very kind, warm, very much an "Imo"… Auntie. Because the Missus was getting the dolsot, we wouldn't be doing BBQ, so no Gopchang for us. Though we still get a kick remembering when that young girl ate the Gopchang and said to her dad: "Did I just eat POOP…..it really looked like POOP!"
I went thru the lunch specials and the woman steered me to the LA Kalbi lunch. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of LA Kalbi, the cross-cut ribs. I prefer the more traditional So-Kalbi, even when making Kalbi at home. But, I decided to take her word for it.
The panchan arrived.
Not too impressive, except for the baechu kimchi which had a nice slight fermented sourness to it.
I must say; the Kalbi was quite good. A thicker cut than what I'm used to, but surprisingly tender, beefy, though the marinade was a bit on the sweeter side. The Missus sampled some and enjoyed it! It was a good recommendation. The rice was decent as well.
The Sundubu was not very good however.
Thin, salty, lacking in savory tones…..not a favorite.
As for the Dolsot Bi Bim Bap…..
Man, this was quite hefty. The Missus enjoyed the bulgogi, which did skew to the sweeter side of things….but of course that egg with crisp edges. She (we) waited as the rice crust developed and also poured the juice from the kimchi onto the bowl. The namul added some nutty and textural contrast. This might just be the Missus's current favorite Dolsot Bi Bimbap…….
Which is kind of a dilemma….because I want to return and get the gopchang and similar dishes again……
Still, the woman working was so nice; we enjoyed our meal, so I'm thinking we'll return again soon.
And maybe get some, ahem, "poop shoot"…….looking forward to having some gopchang here…..
Song Hak Korean BBQ
4681 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111
Current Hours:
Mon – Thurs 1130am – 11pm
Friday 1130am – Midnight
Sat – Sun 1050am – 1130pm
That soondubu looks really sad. But that kalbi looks awesome, will have to try it!
I’m usually not a big fan of LA Kalbi Mar, but this was good!
The kalbi looks great!
It was much better than I expected Soo!
Nice. I usually get the intestine trio and finish it off with the kimchi fried rice on the grill.
Yeah, that kimchi fried rice at the end is so good Junichi! It’s the basic gopchang for us here….
hope things get better on your next visit
Yes, I hope so Kat!