Wok Street

1518 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 693-3010
Website

I was invited to visit Wok Street recently to see what they have to offer. It is the same folks as Hai Street (which makes the sushi burritos I love), so I figured it would be a good meal and well worth my time. Tucked behind the tree here on Chestnut, next to the venerable Popeye's, you find Wok Street.

They specialize in Southeast Asian-style street food.

The interior had the industrial loft thing going on – nice and roomy with that city living feel.

It looked like a hip Chipotle (I can't help but use my old fave as the bar for comparison with all fancy-ish fast-ish food joints). But there was tons of counter space and for being so deep, the dining area was well lit.

As fast/fresh casual restaurant frequenters will recognize, you pick your option, soup, bowl, or sandwich, and work your way down the line customizing your order. If you prefer, you can go with the established favorites as an alternative.

I went with the staff favorites, chicken banh mi and the pickled peanut pork bowl. On the side, I was told to try the tofu cheesecake and the ginger lemonade, so I didn't deny those extras.

The pork bowl had white rice, brussel sprouts, braised pork, peanut sauce, pickled red onion, scallion, cilantro, and roasted peanuts.

The tart and tender pork was perfectly braised, and melted when picked up with chop sticks, or pushed around to scoop up some of its compatriots. It was a filling and quite delicious bowl, with a variety of flavors and textures to keep you interested. I would eat a lot of lunches here.

The chicken banh was small but well done, with teriyaki chicken (a total guilty pleasure of mine), hoisin mayo, cucumber, jalapeño, pickled red onion, and cilantro. Ask for extra mayo on the side, and add some chili sauce if you want to spice things up. At less than $7, this was a great quick meal, and the portion size will keep you honest. Enough to be full, but they certainly won't be rolling you out of there.

All of the veggies were fresh and crunchy, and I loved the pickled red onions.

A surprise was the tofu cheesecake. Thankfully it was served in a small container, not because it wasn't delicious, but because I was so full. I was pretty shocked with this tofu-based dessert being so delicious, it had a sour and sweet play going on that was addicting. I would definitely recommend checking out this local "Chiptole of Asian" for a quick and cheap lunch or dinner, especially if you are craving something fresh and healthy-ish.

Cafe Soho

468 West Cheltenham Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19126
(215) 224-6800

Café Soho is located in Philadelphia’s own Korean neighborhood, a neighborhood that I wish was A LOT closer to the city proper. With places like Jong Ka Jib for the best soup around, and various other BBQ and traditional Korean restaurants interspersed throughout the area, the neighborhood is full of spicy authenticity.

Soho, however, is like the hot (good-looking and hip) Korean professionals' nightclub. Oh, and they serve the gold standard for the infamous Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) that became the hot new food item in the past couple of years.

I never wrote about Soho before because the omnipresent lighting in there made all of my (iPhone) pictures turn out terribly. So, armed with a nicer camera, we embarked on a journey and KFC was had.

I can’t imagine what this place is like on a weekend night. Because even when somewhat empty on a weeknight, they still have the atmosphere and brilliant lighting of a sleek Asian-inspired club.

All glitz and glamour aside, I was here for some fried chicken. They have a limited menu, but everyone in-the-know gets the wings. See below for the steps to a shatteringly crispy crust on these things.

When they arrive, they are glistening like ultra crispy, puffy footballs of poultry. They offer four flavor varieties, soy garlic, hot chili, seasoned (a mix), and plain. I usually go with one half chili and the other soy garlic.

The texture on the wings is pretty incredible. They encompass everything you wish traditional buffalo wings had, namely a ridiculously crispy exterior, but also a tender, juicy and well seasoned interior and sauce that is hot enough to make you sweat but won’t drown out your palate.

Check out the sultry, tender poultry meat underneath that beautiful crust. Delicious.

Now this place isn’t cheap, at $20 for about 18-20 wings - they measure by weight - but they are a pretty good size, and the experience alone is well worth it. You can ask them to split up the sauces, which is a good idea, in my opinion. That way you can get a taste of their range in flavor profiles. So make a mission of it, head to Olney, and get your KFC on. Also, if you are fat like me, you can stop at Jong Ka Jib a block South on 5th street, and get some of the best soup ever - to go, for second dinner.

Guest Post: B.B.Go

20 S 18th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 569-3905
Website

"Fusion Rice Bar." This place would have you believe that it's a fast food chain, but really it's just a local mom 'n pop Korean food joint. They claim to use the freshest ingredients, and it's no lie.

I ordered the Seaweed Bibimbap to go and it came to an even $10 - and yes, they take plastic here. It was a heavy bag for the low cost and when I got back to my desk, I realized that I got even more than I had expected.

They send you out with a bowl of miso soup to accompany the main dish, as well as the expected side of traditional kimchi. I asked for extra go chu jang, and they were kind enough to throw it in at no extra cost.

The dish was bright and fresh, all of the vegetables were crisp, even the ones that had been marinated. With romaine, zucchini, bean sprouts, seaweed salad, carrots, broccoli, pickled radish and a beautifully fried sunny-side-up egg, this enormous food bowl easily made for a meal-and-a-half.

Refreshing and filling, this quick-stop Korean food fix is well worth your (lunch) time and money.

Kim's BBQ

5955 North 5th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19120
(215) 927-4550

One thing missing from the Philadelphia food scene (at least from all of the areas where anyone WANTS to live) is authentic Korean BBQ. Sure there are a couple of places to find it, but nothing that is worth spending the amount of money, when I could easily make it at home on my trusty Weber Kettle. However, a jaunt up north through the badlands will take you to some of the best food in the area.

First of all, Kim's is no ordinary Korean BBQ joint. Unlike most (all) of the other places in the city, they use real deal, hardwood charcoal. It's hard to believe that no one else does it right, but the competition tends to use gas. No comparison. Maybe they are afraid of burning the restaurant down. No one ever got anywhere (delicious) by being scared.

Kim's is like stepping back in time. They have an old decor, punctuated by the giant hoods hovering over the old wooden tables, and the fish tank with no water (or fish, for that matter) in the back.

Don't believe me about the charcoal?

As we were seated, we noticed that the dining room was full of young Asian people of various nationalities. It was really interesting to hear the conversations always revert to the unifying English. They were also drinking sake . . . heavily. This had all of the makings of a good time. We were quickly brought an abundance of banchan, and some of the best I have had, to boot. All of the flavors were nuanced, and most of them were quite addictive.

There is a large stainless tub in the middle of the table, which at first might not look too appealing, but the magic happens once you choose your protein. We chose the bulgogi, which, at $38, was a bit spendy for two, but it was certainly a great value in the end, as they say, "100% Natural Hardwod charcoal is very expensive.... we do this because the meats just taste better..." How true. We also drank a couple of pots of sake, because that's half the fun.

Next thing you know, a red-hot hibachi, filled with the aforementioned hardwood charcoal, is delivered to your table, and the decades old ventilation system is electronically lowered, thus rendering your conversation—over. If there is one thing that can shut me up (and I truly think there is only one thing that can), it's food. More importantly, good food.

Heaping piles of meat will usually do the trick. Coupled with a hot charcoal grill, my lips were sealed.

The marinated beef hit the grill with a sizzle, as Mom Kim quickly and efficiently threw our first round on the smokey coals.

One of my favorite parts is the garlic and jalapeno slices, which get laid in the drippings tray, and cooked mainly in the meat juice. Amazing.

When the meat is cooked to your liking, which happens quickly on the hot coals, take your bounty, wrap it in a lettuce leaf, pour some of the optional sauce on top, and prepare for happiness. The cool wrap is a perfect complement for the warm, tender, salty meat. I must have eaten twenty of these wraps.

As tough as it was to hold off, those crispy bits were well worth the wait.

The aftermath was not pretty. Nary a banchan dish left standing. Certainly not a single sliver of delicious meat.

Kim's is not cheap. Korean BBQ rarely is. But it is well worth the money, and the experience is second to none. Cooking the meat of your choice over a hot charcoal fire indoors is something that I will gladly pay for, especially over the dark winter months. In my book, Kim's is THE PLACE for Korean BBQ in Philadelphia. No one else even comes close. The flavors and service were reminiscent of my much loved first experiences in Koreatown, Los Angeles. This meat is not to be missed.