Hankook Korean Restaurant

fter a year and a half eating at Hankook Restaurant, I guess it’s just apt that I write a review of its food, location, staff and service in general.

We started frequenting Hankook earlier last year through my future “sis-in-law’s” referral. Since I had visited a couple of Korean Restaurants in Dubai e.g. Seoul Garden in Karama & Shogun in Deira and had developed severe addiction to Bibimbap, I badly wanted to find a KR Resto in Abu Dhabi where I could enjoy authentic Korean cuisine whenever my palate cries for it.

Thus… Hankook Kwan.

Location: Perhaps the sole Korean Restaurant in Abu Dhabi, Hankook is located opposite the Main Bus & Taxi Terminal near Al Wahda Mall. The best landmark is behind the Golden Motor Shop along Defense Road (Old Passport). The location is very much convenient for us since it only takes approximately 5 minutes taxi ride from my workplace (Airport Rd.) and perhaps 10 minutes from our flat (Najda St.). However, new comers should pay extra attention when locating the area since it is not visible from the road and is in fact concealed behind buildings/ main thoroughfare.

Food: Real Koreans say it lacks the taste of a genuine Korean cuisine (probably because of the ingredients not being entirely imported from Korea) but since I am not a real Hanguk Saram and is just happy with anything Korean, the taste in effect satisfies me. In fact we have set our taste buds in appreciating simple cuisines like Dolsot Bibimbap, Kimbap, Bulgogi and Ojingeo Bok. So much so that the attending staff became so familiar with our orders (literally the exact same menu everytime^^) that it became unnecessary to list them down.

Staff: Most attendants are Filipinas (except for the cook and kitchen staff) so politeness and extra attention are always there (right Unni?). Even if I cannot practice my deteriorating Hangungmal, I'd still say two thumbs up!

Theme/ Settings: Like all traditional Korean restaurants, Hankook is divided into several private rooms (8, I suppose) with low tables and mats. At the rear part of the restaurants are regular dining tables which can be used by non-Korean/ non-traditional diners if they don’t feel comfortable seating the Korean way (which sometimes happens to me) or if the traditional rooms are fully occupied.

Price: In Seoul, I had the chance to compare prices between restaurants there (i.e. Yam Saem & Dae Bak Jib) and Hankook. Unfortunately, prices here are sky high more expensive than its counterpart in Korea. For example. a bowl of Dolsot Bibimbap will cost AED 45 or PHP 550 in Hankook where you can get the exact same meal for only KRW 6000 or PHP 250 in Korea. That’s PHP300 savings, almost like buy one - take one! But then, who will go to Korea just to save Php 300 for a bowl of bibimbap? Better learn the recipe online ;p

Hankook Korean Restaurant - PO Box 30915, Abu Dhabi
Tel: 02-6423399

Recommended Reads...

For the past couple of days, I’ve been reading and studying about China, its people and their experiences during the Cultural Revolution. The interest began when I read a book I grabbed for sale at Magrudy’s called “Wild Swans, Three daughters of China” by Jung Chang. The book tells of a harrowing experience of the author during Mao Zedong’s era and how she and her remaining family members survived the trauma and torments of their generation.

Before I read the book, I was pretty positive that I would not cry over it believing that I was not hypersensitive to cry about someone I don’t know of (unless the story talks about a pet which I admit I am more susceptible to tears^^). However, in the middle of the story, at the chapter where her parents were branded and condemned as capitalist-roaders/ counter-revolutionaries and torture were put into practice, my soft side for people gave in and tears began to flow endlessly.

Going back to my early college years, I used to dream of being a Chinese. To have a fair and smooth skin, straight black hair and chinkee little eyes. Then I remembered that dreaming of it meant dreaming that my parents were also Chinese. Suddenly, I started thanking God. Oh, how lucky I was to be born Filipino, my parents didn’t have to go through such a difficult and traumatic life.

Now, I am halfway through Chinese Lives, an oral history of contemporary China by Zhang Xinxin and Sang Ye which I also got on sale at a bookstore somewhere in Starmall, Las Pinas. (I’m actually a cheapster who frequents herself in booksale and other second-hand bookstores looking for hidden treasures^^). Contrary to Wild Swans which is a sole personal account of the author, this book is a compilation of stories by 60+ individuals but who just like Ms. Chang told their sufferings and agony in old-age China.

I’m glad I’m becoming more and more engrossed and interested in learning and studying Asia (particularly China & Korea’s History). I’m even thinking of getting membership at the local Culture & Heritage library so I can borrow and read as much books as I want.

But with all those interesting volumes available for check out, I wonder what to read next?