Gabose & Gabose Pocha

Ashley and I checked out a Korean restaurant up in Lauderhill last night.  I should say, two Korean restaurants (with the same owners).  It’s also in the same shopping center: Gabose & Gabose Pocha.

Pocha is a little more modern and young feeling with Korean hip hop and dance music playing.  Thursday night is happy hour for shrubs, a fermented drink with soju and fruit that’s served in a bowl. We had two for one specials after trying a plain bottle of soju.  Ashley and I had the Ginger Shrub that tasted a little spicy, the Pineapple Rosemary that comes with a little jalapeno floating around in it, and the Pineapple Lemongrass.  My favorite was probably the lemongrass since it was really fresh-tasting and just a tad sweet.  All of them were worth travelling a little ways just to try- and the service was excellent.  We got there early and had personalized attention from a very knowledgeable waiter/bartender.

We were also served a complimentary Korean pancake with spicy ketchup and cheese and vegetables inside (it may sound a little odd but I had to hold myself back from eating it all).  I’m totally hooked on Korean food now.  They may have spoiled me though, this is not only one of the best Korean food places in town but all around just a great place to eat.  How will I ever go to another Korean restaurant?

After drinks and appetizers at Pocha, we wandered over to Gabose to have dinner.  We ordered the vegetable Bibimbap which is basically a very hot bowl with veggies, an uncooked egg, rice and hot sauce but it’s served so hot that you mix it all together when it gets to the table and it starts cooking the egg and the rice and makes it all nice and crispy on the sides.  They also bring about 5-6 little bowls of veggies to the table that are different side dishes.  The Bibimbap can also be served with tofu but we decided to just try the vegetable one.

Overall, a really great night out and two places I’ll be returning to when I want something adventurous and fun to eat!  Just be aware that Gabose can get very busy so call ahead or get there early.

You can find them at:

4933 N University Dr Lauderhill, FL 33351

 

4991 N University Dr, Lauderhill, FL 33351

 

Hangawi Vegetarian Restaurant: New York

By Jessica Michael

Day 2: New York – Hangawi

Sadly, I only had two full days in New York.  It is a good thing though or I would have had to buy a second seat on the airplane just so I could get home.

Day 2’s restaurant was on 32nd between Madison and Fifth Avenue, around the corner from the Empire State Building.  This is one of those restaurants that is a “can’t miss” experience.  First of all, when you walk in, they make you take your shoes off (no holey socks or bad manicures will be missed).  Then they seat you on a wooden platform with pillows for comfort, very “traditional” Korean style, it was so much fun!

It had to be the best food experience I’ve had in a long time, maybe ever.  From the moment you walk in the door to the moment you leave, you’re transported to another place.  The tea is a bit pricey ($5-10) but it’s a experience on its own.  My friend and former roommate Melissa, who recommended the place, met me for lunch and tried the pomegranate iced. The tea was lightly sweetened and tasted so divine, I could have drunk buckets of it.  My own drink, the Ginger Tea, tasted freshly made and was a welcome mixture of sweet and spicy.

There are three prix fixe menus for lunch and I believe for dinner as well.  I tried the Ginseng Lunch, Mel had the mini Emperors lunch and they were both only $20.  But there was nothing mini about these lunches:

First course was a very thick “porridge” of pumpkin soup.  It was creamy and filling, not as tasty as the rest of the food but it actually was perfect because it didn’t overpower your actual meal.

Second course was the Vegetarian Dumplings that were fantastic and came out so pretty that I had a hard time eating it.

Steamed Veggie Dumplings

And that’s not all…  there was a third course which consisted of (this is from the menu), “tofu clay pot in ginger sauce served with multi-grain rice and kimchi”.  Yum-mo.

Tofu Clay Pot

Finally, desert was served and it was a perfect ending to a perfect meal.  The desert tasted like a thick apple cider with bits of apple and pine nuts floating in it.

Desert

Seriously, one of the best meals available in New York.  This is a DON’T MISS.

If I could give them a six carrot rating, I would but I’ll stick with 5.

For more information on Hangawi go to www.hangawirestaurant.com.