Unless I make plans with my grandmother or feel like cooking, there are only two traditional Korean restaurants in Tampa where I can satiate my cravings. There used to be four, but one went out of business and the other was bought out and isn't currently open.
These two are my go-to when it comes to eating out and eating good. Korean cuisine is full of delicious and healthy foods, but it also has it's share of guilty pleasures. Sa Ri One is located by the Raymond James Stadium, and One Family is attached to the Korean Han Gook Market located on Hillsborough Ave in the Town n Country area.
Both of these offer an array of soups, grilled meats, noodles, and rice dishes alongside the famous kimchi and banchan. Korean food offers delicious, savory meals that are at the same time healthy. As with any foreign food, there are definitely things you'll need to open about. The price is definitely higher than General Tso's chicken, but that's because so much time goes into the creation of every dish. With the rise of K-pop and K-dramas in the USA I hope we soon see a rise in cultural interest.
As great as Shinee and Big Bang may be, they don't beat fresh kimbap or hand made steamed mandu. If you're reading this you're probably one of the following people: a person who has tried this cuisine and loves it, or a person who hasn't tried this delectable cuisine quite yet. One of the greatest aspects of Korean cooking is the ability to make everything vegetarian or even vegan. I've gone back and forth this last year but once I started experimenting with recipes (replacing meat with tofu) I fell in love. Not to mention a large part of the cuisine is made up of vegetables! It's astounding how delicious cooked spinach can be...If you haven't tried it yet, let's make plans and go stuff our faces.
