After reading a review of
Cafe Korea, I knew I had to check it out for myself. So when I was done tending to some wedding errands in Fishers, The Bride and I decided to grab lunch. She had already eaten lunch but decided to come along anyways to keep me company and just chat. It is located about 2 mins from my mom's house, another plus, in a busy shopping center on the corner of 116th and Allisonville Rd. We walked in and were immediately flooded with the delicious aromas of the food. It was virtually empty at 1pm which was a little sad to me. It is a small space but it is set up nicely with simple decor and quiet music playing. We were warmly greeted by a smiling Korean woman who was our server (Unfortunately, I never caught her name). I ordered a water and Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop ($13.99). The woman brought out what I think was Bindaetuk ("traditional Korean pancake with mung beans and veggies") on the house!! Such a nice gesture. It was light and super yummy. Kind of like a potato hash with thinly sliced veggies (zucchini, red bell pepper, onion) and topped with melted cheese and soy sauce on the side. It was perfect for settling my huge appetite as my entree was being prepared.
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Bindaetuk
(Very sloppy pic: I was starving and ate some before I took this) |
My sizzling order of Bi Bim Bop arrived shortly afterwards and the noise of the rice still cooking in the cast iron bowl it is served in caught my attention and got my mouth watering. It comes with thinly sliced ingredients: beef, cucumber, carrots, bean sprouts and then topped with an egg. Spicy chili sauce can be added to your specific taste. And if that wasn't enough, some tradition sides were brought out (kimchi, pickled cucumbers, spicy marinated bean sprouts). Korean food is not like any other Asian cuisine. They use a lot of sesame oil and love to pickle all of their veggies. I would have enjoyed a little bit more beef, as I found it to be on the skimpy side. The rice crisps up on the bottom of the bowl and it is crunchy goodness of texture. It was every bit of awesome that I was hoping for and I ate til I thought I was going to be sick.
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| Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop |
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| Sides |
Our server cleared our plates then dropped off a bowl with about 5 bites of fruit. Another gracious touch and just the right amount of light, sweetness to cap off a great meal. I tried my best to say thank you in Korean (one of about 3 sentences I know), paid my bill and I went on my way.
It is so great to see the expansion of interest in ethnic cuisine. I've been a fan of Korean for several years and the fact that the town of Fishers has 2 Korean restaurants shows such tremendous progress. I had an amazing experience at Cafe Korea with scrumptious food and genuinely friendly service. I will definitely go there again and again and again!
The Verdict: Out of 5 stars
Location/Atmosphere: **** (not close to where I live but luckily in walking distance from my mom's house)
Service: ***** (super sweet server and little freebies)
Food:***** (Great flavors and textures)
Will I eat there again: You bet your ass :)
Cafe Korea
7262 Fishers Crossing Drive Fishers, IN 46038
(317) 578-1987
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