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Gurume Sushi In Irvine Offers High Quality Sushi in the OC
The Background
Found in the corner of a shopping center in Irvine, CA, Gurume Sushi offers gourmet style sushi (Gurume means “Gourmet” in Japanese after all) and other signature dishes. There’s also an Omakase menu which is a nice option to see.
The menu is pretty hefty and diverse. In addition to some inventive rolls and sashimi, there’s classic Japanese dishes like Suki Yaki, Udon, Tempura, and Japanese meal sets . There’s also fusion type offerings like Yellowtail w / Jalapeno Carpaccio, Amberjack Miso Ceviche, and Uni Pasta.
There’s so many items on the menu that sound appetizing it’s certainly tough to decide on one single item!
The Experience
I came here on a Friday with family around lunch time and got seated immedietely. The restaurant was pretty quiet on this day, which was nice. The atmosphere overall seems like a very chill vibe with a sleek modern look to it.
We ended up ordering the Shrimp Tempura ($13 for pcs) and Vegetable Tempura ($10) for appetizers. I also ordered the Rainbow Roll ($18) and shared a Spicy Tuna Roll as the main course.
Vegetable Tempura The tempura comes with a side of grated daikon (it’s a type of radish) along with a dipping sauce (tentsuyu). Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to grab any photos of the shrimp before it got devoured. But the shrimp was delicious. You’ll have to take my word about it.
The batter they use for the tempura is outstanding. Light and airy, with an incredibly satisfying crunch on the outside contrasting with the tenderness of well cooked shrimp. Best part is the lack of grease. At some places the tempura may be a tad soggy due to the excess grease. Not here!
The vegetable tempura consisted of onion, I believe shishito pepper, yam, and zuchinni. Equally as delicious as the shrimp, the batter coating the veggies really shines through again. My favorite was the shishito pepper. Definitely very tasty especially when dipped into the tentsuyu sauce.
Spicy Tuna Roll 
Rainbow Roll 
Starting with the Spicy Tuna Roll: I thought this was good. Tuna was solid with decent spice. Rice was well seasoned and tasted good.
There wasn’t really anything about it that stood out to me. It’s a solid roll and what I would expect at a restaurant like this. With Spicy Tuna rolls it’s a little more difficult to truly stand out as exceptional and unique. There’s only so much you can do with it in my opinion.
Now the Rainbow Roll on the other hand, was quite exceptional. Consisting of bluefin tuna, yellowtail, salmon, shrimp, and avocado on top of snow crab roll, the presentation was fantastic and the roll was well made. What really stood out was the freshness of the fish. This was very good quality. Some of the best I’ve eaten in Orange County. Combined with the snow crap mixture, avocado, and well-seasoned sushi rice, each individual piece was a treat to eat after a quick dip in soy sauce and wasabi.
The Verdict
Gurume Sushi offers premium sushi at fairly reasonable prices. The service was great and attentive and food came out quickly. It may be a little pricier than similiar sushi joints, but the higher prices are easily justified with the quality of the food.
Specifically talking about the fish. I really wasn’t expecting it to be as fresh as it was. Definitley the good type of surprise! And certainly not something that can be said at many sushi places in the area.
I’m looking forward to my next trip to try something else on this expansive menu!
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Broadway Burger Bar & Grill In Las Vegas Delivers Quality Burgers On The Strip
The Background
There’s a lot of delicious burger options you can find on or around the Las Vegas Strip. Broadway Burger Bar & Grill is one such place. Located inside Village Streets at New York New York, the restaurant offers 13 different types of gourmet burgers. In looking at the current menu, its changed since my visit. Sure, there’s a few appetizers and salad options but in terms of main courses it’s ONLY burgers. Which, given the name, makes a lot of sense.
All beef patties are 8 oz, with turkey, chicken breast, impossible burger, and even a brat also being burger options. There’s a variety of different types of buns and rolls the burgers come on as well. Brioche buns, telera rolls, kaiser rolls, pretzel rolls, rye bread, english muffin, hot dog roll, and focaccia roll all make an appearance on the menu.
It’s quite the variety of bread you can get a burger on!
The Experience
I happened to stop by here after a Raiders game so it was pretty busy. Even still, the wait wasn’t too long (about 25 mins) considering there were a ton of people out and about. The menu appears to be different now since my visit. BUT when I went there was a classic Bacon Cheeseburger, which was an easy choice for me.
The Bacon Cheeseburger consisted of a Black Angus Beef patty, American Cheese, Applewood Bacon, with Thousand Island Dressing and a bucket of fries.
The patty was a good size, juicy, and very tasty. This had a great char flavor and was well-seasoned. It was a simple burger, a very typical bacon cheeseburger, but the ingredients and seasoning really made the burger stand out. It tasted like a burger barbequed in the backyard, just amped up by 10.
The Verdict
The Village Streets in New York New York is a fun little area to walk through and grab a bite to eat. Broadway Burger is certainly worth a visit if you find yourself hankering for a massive burger. With many different, unique options to choose from, there’s a burger for everyone.
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Grilled Fish Restaurant In The Hannam – Dong Area | Seoul, South Korea
On my way to Seoul Brewery I passed by a grilled fish restaurant location in Hannam-Dong. According to my trusty sidekick Google Translate, it’s literally called the “Grilled Fish Restaurant.” I’m not sure how accurate that is, but let’s roll with it.
Since my time in South Korea was running out, I wanted to try something new, and grilled fish sounded appealing. A simple, delicious meal at a small, local restaurant is always enjoyable and this fit the bill.
The menu was straightforward, featuring just a few items. Unfortunately, Google Translate could only make sense of a couple of the items. One item was the mackerel, which is what I went with for a very affordable 2,000 won / $9 USD.
The mackeral came out smoking and crackling in the bit of oil leftover from the pan it was grilled in. You can’t ask for anything fresher or hotter off the grill than this.
Grilled Mackeral – fresh off the grill! 
The full meal with banchan The grilled skin was golden, incredibly crispy, with a nice crunch to it. In contrast, the meat was moist and tender, not dried out at all, and perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of salt.
The dipping sauce tasted like a sweeter type of soy sauce on its own. But when mixed with the spiciness of the wasabi and combined with the fish’s saltiness, it created a harmonious blend of flavor. Especially when paired with some rice, these flavors came together beautifully.
At first glance, I didn’t expect this to be enough food, but the meal turned out to be quite filling. Factoring in the banchan dishes and a seawood soup, it turned out to be quite the filling dinner.
Featuring perfectly grilled salted mackerel, The “Grilled Fish Restaurant” was a fantastic discovery, providing a delicious dining experience for one of my last nights in Seoul. I’m grateful to have stumbled upon it!
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Pork On-The-Bone Hangover Soup: The Ideal Hangover Remedy
Sin Dong Kung: Seoul, South Korea
On the way back from a day and night of exploring I decided to stop by Sin Dong Kung in Myeong-Dong which was a restaurant close to the hotel I was staying at. Luckily it was open late since there weren’t too many options by the time I ventured back to the hotel.
An item on the menu that stood out to me at once was the pork on-the-bone hangover soup. I’d read about it’s popularity in South Korea but hadn’t given it a try. Tonight was the night!
Haejang-guk in Korean literally translates to hangover soup. Fittingly, the name orginates from the soup being a favorite following a night of drinking. That’s not to say the soup is only eaten when hungover of course, it’s also a comfort food for when people aren’t feeling well in general.
The Hangover Soup
I love soups overall, but always feel that one of the many things that makes South Korean soups / stews unique is just how hot they come out. The come out boiling. Like a steaming, bubbling, boiling hot bowl of goodness. This was no exception.
This meat… 
was… 
so TENDER!! 
Hungover, drunk, sober, sick, this is one good soup! The soup base, I’m guessing a pork broth with soybean paste (doenjang) and red pepper flakes amidst other spices, was steamy with a rich, deep flavor.
They didn’t skimp on the pork here. Two big chunks of pork were in the soup. The meat was incredibly tender. You know you’re in for a tender, meaty treat when it just peels off the bone with minimal prodding from the chopsticks. It’s a really melt in your mouth kind of tenderness. The flavor is great as well since it soaks up all of that delicious broth.
The kimchi included in the soup was a nice touch. Getting a scoop of the pork, kimchi, some broth and putting it over rice is truly a satisfying spoonful of goodness.
Is It Worth a Try?
If you’ve never had Korean Hangover Soup, it’s definitely worth a try. If you’re a fan of Korean soups and haven’t had this before, it’s a MUST try. This is a hearty, flavorful soup, which will really put a smile on your face as it warms your soul. Or at the very least it’ll help you with that hangover.
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Chillhops Brewing Co, Seoul, South Korea: Inviting Micro Brewery With Great Beer And Food
First Impressions
Located in the very popular Itaewon district sits a small, non-descript micro brewery called Chillhops Brewing Co. I’m a big beer guy, so finding different breweries in countries and sampling the local beer is always something I look forward to while traveling.
I did some research on Chillhops prior to heading over and read it was an Australian, New Zealand, Korean influenced brewery. Sounded interesting!
Chillhops logo 
Entrance to Chillhops in Itaewon Upon entering the brewery, you instantly feel a chill, cool vibe. The lights are dimmed, and black painted walls are adorned with brightly colored art painted directly on it. It’s not a large place at all and feels more like a lounge than a brewery, which is my kind of place.
The Experience
There’s a great selection of beers to choose from on tap. I didn’t come here with the intent to blog about it so the pictures are a little lacking and I didn’t get one of the beer menu BUT trust me theres’ a nice variety of brews to choose from.
There were two people working on the night I went and they were both awesome. Super friendly and knowledgeable about all the beers they had on tap, offering up suggestions on ones I should try. They were also handling all the cooking for the night!
I didn’t intend on staying at Chillhops too long but found myself hanging out long enough to where I decided to grab some food here as well. The cheeseburger was the most popular item on the menu so I decided to give it a try.
I gotta say the burger was exceptional. Consisting of two, well seasoned, juicy patties, with lettuce, tomato, melted-gooey cheese, and if memory serves, a thousand island sauce lathered on it. It really reminded me of an In-N-Out burger for those of you who know that burger!
The Verdict
Chillhops Brewing Co. offers an impressive number of diverse drafts on tap to choose from, while providing quality, friendly service. The food, at least the burger, is quite tasty as well. The brewery has a real neighborhood bar kinda vibe to it which adds to its charm. I’d defintely recommend stopping by for a pint or two if you find yourself in the area!
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Charcoal Grill Korean BBQ – Pork Only – In Jeju City
On my last night in Jeju City I found myself wandering around in search of a perfect last meal. In the area where I was staying at there were a bunch of side streets packed with different restaurants. With a plethora of interesting, tantalizing options available it was a hard choice.
I’d had a fair share of Korean BBQ up to this point of the trip. But can you really eat enough Korean BBQ while in South Korea? This particular restaurant only served pork cuts over a charcoal grill. Unfortunately I have no idea what the name of the restaurant is. Google translates it to Buanjip. I’m not sure if that’s another way of saying BBQ or pork BBQ but I couldn’t find the actual translation.
A spot specializing in only pork BBQ sounded like a good place to finish off my travels in Jeju.
The menu was pretty short and concise with minimal items on it. Google Translate was still having difficulties properly translating the majority of it. Due to this, I’m not 100% sure WHAT I ordered. I figured I couldn’t really go too wrong here though.
Something unique about this BBQ, besides it being all pork based, were the charcoal grills. I’d heard about charcoal grill KBBQ places in South Korea but hadn’t tried them up to this point. I was definitely curious to see how it would impact the flavor. And if there was any noticeable difference in taste versus the usual gas grill.
Most of the banchan spread 
Mystery cuts of pork First, all the many dishes of banchan came out. Followed by a hearty plate of pork cuts. Since I couldn’t read the menu, I had no idea what cut of pork these were.
It was definitely different seeing the server come out with a plate of white hot coals and put them in the grill pit.
I expected the cook times on these pieces of pork to take a little bit more time than on charcoal opposed to a gas grill.
Although it does take longer to grill, it’s worth the wait. The charcoal adds a nice smoky taste with a wonderful smoky, crunchy outer layer. The charcoal allows the fat to render more slowly than it would on a gas grill which creates a real melt-in-your-mouth type of sensation. Combined with that pure smoky flavor, it makes each piece a tasty delight with just a dip in some salt.
In addition to the salt, there’s also a wide variety of other dips, sauces, and usual banchan fare to pack into the leafy greens with the meat. Finding that perfect combination was a lot of fun with all the banchan and dips /sauces providing an assortment of wide ranging flavors and textures.
This was defintely an enjoyable experience with the charcoal bbq combined with an all pork menu. Just getting a different tweak on the Korean bbq flavor I’m so accustomed to was fun, especially for my last night in Jeju.
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Unique Tanghulu Hallabong And Juice At Dongmun Market
Tanghulu Hallabong
Once I finished up the Hallabong sundae I really thought I was good for the night. I was wrong.
On the way out I passed by what looked like just another Hallabong juice stall. However, something on the side of the stall caught my eye. Glistening orbs of Hallabong on a stick chilling in mid-air will certainly catch your attention. Intrigued by these “Hallabong kabobs”, I walked up to get a closer inspection.
A glossy sheet of sugar syrup coated the floating Hallabong. This sugar coated treat is called Tanghulu.
Originating from China, Tanghulu is a traditional Chinese snack. Consisting of skewered fruits and dipped in a coat of sugar syrup, it’s quite popular. Once the fruit of choice is carefully skewered, the sugar syrup is heated up to just the right temperature. This creates that fabolous glossy shell of sugar that coats the fruit.
The glossy coating, combined with the vivid orange color of the Hallabong, really grabbed my attention. I’ve never had Tanghulu before and figured this would be a nice “healthy” treat after all the other food I had earlier in the night. Sure, it’s sugar coated. But it’s fruit so it evens out right? Let’s not answer that…
The stand convenientely packages the skewers in an easy to go cup so these were easy to transport back to the hotel I was staying at to enjoy throught out my stay in Jeju.
The other thing about the sugar coating is that it acts as natural preservative which keeps the treat fresher for a longer period of time so I could take my time eating it. I couldn’t wait for that first bite.
The Taste Experience
The first bite didn’t disappoint. It had an abundance of flavor with the crispy sugar shell shattering and providing a sugary sweetness combining with the release of the sweet and tangy flavor of the Hallabong and its juice.
They were kind of addicting to be honest. It’s more like candy on a stick since the Hallabong is naturally sweet on it’s own. I had to refrain from eating them all in one sitting, I wanted to make them last a little while longer!
This was the perfect ending to my experience at Dongmun Market. Finishing up with something Hallabong related was fitting since it’s so famous on Jeju Island and really capped off a fun food night trying a bunch of good food stalls at the market place.
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Refreshing Hallabong Sundae at Dongmun Market On Jeju Island
After sampling a handful of the different stalls in the market place my belly was getting quite full. But let’s be honest there’s ALWAYS room for ice cream. This dessert stall had some interesting sundae options with different syrups and various toppings to chooses from.
The Hallabong inspired sundae really stood out to me amongst all the options. The orange / tangerine sundae looked so vibrant, it really stood out amongst all the desserts. It was definitely the most popular item with many of the customers walking away with it.
The vanilla was extremely light, creamy, and tasted great. The Hallabong syrup drizzled over the vanilla was both tart and sweet, a perfect blend of the two. Small bits of delicious Hallabong were spread throughout the ice cream which added additional flavor and texture.
The dried slice of Hallabong on the top of the sundae provided a nice bitter crunch. I have no idea if you’re actually supposed to eat it or if it’s simply for decoration but no harm no foul.
Overall no flavor was overpowering and everything really blended well together. Since the sundae was so light it was actually quite refreshing.
I could have easily eaten another of these or two or three, don’t judge me lol. This was definitely a great way to end my food adventure at Dongmun Market!
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Flaming Grilled Tteokgalbi At Dongmun Market On Jeju Island
I noticed this Tteokgalbi and cole slaw stall as I was walking around the market. There was a sizable line so my foodie assumption was that it was a must try! The allure of sizzling meat along with the sweet aroma of a bunch of different spices, certainly caught my attention.
When I peered at what was being grilled it literally just looked like a big grilled ball of meat. That “ball of meat” is known as Tteokgalbi in South Korea. It’s definitely not something I’d heard of before so I had to do some research on it.
Tteokgalbi is a Korean style meat patty with minced beef or pork. The marinade typically includes soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and brown sugar. This creates a flavorful, sweet and savory taste when combined with the meat. The brown sugar carmelizes when the meat is on the grill. The end result is a deliciously crispy and slightly charred outer layer.
Something that typically comes with the Tteokgalbi is a side of coleslaw. The coleslaw can be a mix of mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, and sugar. It contrasts nicely with the sweet and savory flavor of the meat and it’s sauce.
This particular Tteokgalbi had a couple of different types of sauce, the regular sauce and then a spicier version. I’m a big spice fan, so had to go with the spicy sauce.
The meat was a little crisp and charred on the outside. Smothered in sauce, the interior when you dig in is juicy and moist with great flavor.
It really reminds me of a Korean version of meatloaf. Just in a different sauce.
The ground pork mixture included some onion and green onion in it which adds some texture and additional flavor to the meat.
The cabbage was pretty heavy with mayonnaise. It was difficult to tell if there was anything additional in the dressing since all I could taste with each bite was mayonnaise. The dressing seemed simple but it was effective in melding a unique flavor with the meat and the meat sauce.
The combination of the heavy mayonnaise dressing with the crunch of the cabbage was actually quite tasty when eaten with a bite of the juicy meat and meatsauce.
This was a simple yet very comforting dish. It definitely conjured up fond memories of a souped up version of meatloaf.
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Sampling Jeju Island’s Famous Tangerine Juice At Dongmun Market
After enjoying food from the Lobster / Grilled Pork Roll and Abalone Butter Rice with Spicy Pork stall, I thought I could use a little breather from the food. Luckily for me there was an ideal stall selling tasty beverages in the same area.
One of the items that Jeju Island is famous for are their tangerines. Known for their high quality and delicious taste, the tangerines on Jeju Island are referred to as Hallabong. It’s a special hybrid fruit that originates from the island. The fruit is a cross between a kiyomi orange and a ponkan citrus fruit. The end result is a sweeter citrus fruit with a hint of tartness. It’s certainly something that Jeju Island takes pride in as you hear and see a lot about these tangerines.
I figured this was a good opportunity to take a break from the food and see if this well known fruit lived up to the hype.
At the stall I visited they make the juice to order right in front of you. Can’t ask for any fresher juice. The juice was ice cold and the first sip was certainly refreshing! It was a nice balance of sweet and tanginess. Very similar to a freshly squeezed cup of orange juice. At this point in the evening it was perfect to sip on after eating at a couple of the food stalls.
Moreover, it was nice to take a break, people watch, and enjoy the drink after a few salty dishes. Without a doubt it helped to wash the food down and prep me for some more delicious food.
By no means am I an orange juice connoisseur or anything, but I thought this was some refreshing and tasty OJ, er, tangerine juice.
