KEN HUNTS FOOD: Bon-Ga Korean BBQ @ M Mall 020, Penang Times Square.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Bon-Ga Korean BBQ @ M Mall 020, Penang Times Square.

More option for fans of Korean food this Chinese New Year as the well-established brand Bon-Ga has just swung open its doors to the public.... in M Mall 020, Penang Times Square. Frequent travelers to Kuala Lumpur should not be new to the name, the brand is known to serve Korean classics. The exterior of the restaurant appears to be sombre and windowless; who would have thought that the place serves good Barbecue items? The menu is extensive with illustrated dishes, ranging from the popular Hotpot stews to appetizers and noodle-fishes; of course, a good selection of barbecue cuts as well. Price tags are hefty but they commensurate with generous portion. Service was a little slow, probably due to first week jitters but the staff could be more well-trained and informed about the products (most are foreign labors that could barely understand English).

BBQ Marinated Chicken (Rm 32)

Bon-Ga Stone Grill BBQ (Pork Belly and Pork Shoulder/ Rm 43 per pax, minimum order of 2 pax)

For meat eaters, go for their signature Stone Grill BBQ series, with a minimum order of 2 pax (Rm 43/ pax). We were excited to see the two thick slabs of meat being placed right in front of us. The server assisted us in the grilling process, along with condiments such as Egg, Pumpkin, Eryngii Mushrooms, Onions and Kim Chi. The cuts were bountiful, even it was meant for 2; we thought the generous portion could easily feed 4 small eaters. The lightly-marinated meats were juicy and succulent; eat them sans they turn into a rough piece of over-cooked meat. There was a basket of crunchy greens to go with the meats either.

If Pork is too monotonous for you, go for another round on Chicken. The poultry was generously cut, marinated and cooked. Grilling was not necessary as the meats were cooked before serving to our table. Serving portion was big and some cuts were just nicely cooked through (some may define them as under-cooked), thus, the juicy-meaty texture. The dips however, were disappointing- the ssamjang was a tad too salty to our liking.

Pat-Bingsu Injeolmi (Rm 18.50)

Do not leave Bon-Ga without trying their Bingsu, the perfect remedy after a scorching hot grilling session. Bon-Ga's had a fine an soft texture, it melts in the mouth in a glimpse of an eye. We had Injeolmi, a type of high quality Tteok... otherwise known as sweet Korean glutinous rice cake; covered in Soya Bean Powder. Sweetness was expertly controlled, with a mellow milky after taste. It may be a little monotonous for one to finish entirely so sharing the frozen treat with a friend or two would be a wiser thing to do.