Asiana Korean Restaurant is about 20 minutes North from the heart of Cincinnati, so that alone takes you away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Located in a small strip off of Cincinnati-Dayton Road, it is a bit of a drive from many Cincy neighborhoods but not too far away as to be inaccessible.

The glass windows are marked “Chinese”, “Japanese” and “Korean” but having many other Chinese restaurant choices in the city, it would be best to come here when what you are craving for is Korean food. Since the offerings are comprised of three different cuisines, the menu is long. We were happy to select from the smallest section featuring Korean fare. Of course, I had to order Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop and the green onion pancake, while the kids, and Dad, ordered Bul Gogi and my oldest had her eel. We were provided with fragrant genmaicha, which we happily sipped as we waited our order. By the time the panchan came, we had learned (and gotten tired of) the Korean song playing in the background. I would say “broken record” except that I doubt anyone plays 45s or LPs these days. The music became less of a concern as soon as the bowls of panchan/banchan were set before us — familiar favorites were there, as well as a few we didn’t recognize. Particularly tasty were the steamed egg cubes. We were also intrigued by the jelly-like cubes atop some kochujang-like sauce, which the server explained to us was a mung bean preparation. I have tried to ask my favorite Korean storeowner how to make it, but I have not been successful in obtaining a recipe, as the language barrier is making it difficult. Perhaps I should buy some next time to take to her.

My order was excellent — veggies piled on thick, the egg adding a touch of richness to an otherwise plain dish. But of course the piece de resistance was the sizzling rice underneath. Breaking off in chunks as you mix everything up and add a dollop of their hot sauce, it is a meal that really should not be reserved for Mother’s Day alone — every Asian-food-loving mother should enjoy this as a treat on her day off. (I have not found the right stone bowl to make this at home or I would make this often.)

The bul gogi was deliciously seasoned, with a great balance of sweet and salty. However, the texture suffered from being too finely sliced or shredded. I was not able to detect a kiwi component to the marinade, which often causes meat to disintegrate; but I wouldn’t discount the possibility that it was used either. Of the eel I cannot say anything but praise. The skin was delicate as it was crunchy, the flesh generously thick, meaty, and meltingly tender. Leftovers, heated up in the oven, made a satisfying addition to dinner that evening.

Prices were not too steep, although we did end up with a slightly bigger bill ($90) than the one we got at Buga in California ($70). You can look at this two ways. It’s expensive in that the offerings are not as extensive, and the presentation not as traditional (read fun) as one might wish for. However, considering that Asiana is only one of the few Korean restaurants in Cincinnati, I find this to be very reasonable, so no complaints here. Add to that we were the only customers in the restaurant at the time, and so were given the best possible attention.

On Saturdays, be aware that there are Tae Kwon Do classes just two doors down, so depending on what time you get there, parking may get a little tricky, but should not cause problems for most.

Asiana Korean Restaurant
6875 Fountains Blvd
West Chester, OH 45069
(513) 755-9888

Post from: Blisstree

Asiana Korean Restaurant, Cincinnati, OH

For Immediate Release
Release Date: June 2, 2006
press contact: Ji Lee
jilee@koreanculture.org
(212)759-9550

The First and Exclusive Map of Korean Restaurants in Manhattan!

The Map of Korean Restaurants will be first released at:
3rd UN Korean Food Festival
June 5th – June 16th at the United Nations’
Delegates’ Dining Room
United Nations’ Headquarters (1st Avenue & 46th Street)

Map of Korean Restaurants in Manhattan is the first of its kind to fully list the top Korean restaurants in Manhattan, as the map lists 28 traditional, modern and specialty Korean Restaurants which has been compiled by the New York offices of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, Korea Broadcasting Advertising Corporation in New York, and Korea Agro-Trade Center New York. The list of the featured Korean restaurants in this map has also been approved by the Korean-American Association of Greater New York.

Chung Moo Ro, Han Ga Wi, Kori, Woo Rae Oak are some of the most representative Korean restaurants in this city, and few of the specialty dishes of each restaurants and prices are also listed. This map is easy to navigate, and definitely a must guide for Korean food lovers and adventurous cuisine seekers! This map not only features Korean restaurants in K-Town (32nd Street) but also the more popular Korean restaurants throughout midtown and downtown Manhattan. Korean restaurants first appeared in New York in the early 1960s, and today, after more than 45 years, New York is home to over 250 Korean Restaurants.

Map of Korean Restaurants in Manhattan will be exclusively distributed starting June 5th, at the 3rd UN Korean Food Festival at the Delegates’ Dining Room in the United Nations’ Headquarters. “The purpose of distributing the Map of Korean Restaurants in Manhattan at the UN Korean Food Festival is to encourage the continuity of exploration in the Korean Cuisine,” said Mr. Sung Wook Jo, the president of Korea Tourism Organization in New York. The map will be available for download (in .pdf format) from our website (www.koreanculture.org) beginning on Monday, June 5th. For two weeks only, the delegates at the UN will be treated with one of Korea’s most internationally renowned chefs, Mr. Gi Ho Yim—and best of all, New Yorkers are also invited to the Delegates’ Dining Room for this feast!

The festival will consist of an elaborate lunch buffet that will be open to the public from Monday to Friday, 11:30AM to 2:30PM. [Reservations are required and can be made by calling (212) 963-7625/7626 or delegatesdiningroom@earthlink.net.]

For more information, please contact Ji Lee (jilee@koreanculture.org), the PR Manager, at the Korean Cultural Service New York at (212) 759-9550. The Korean Cultural Service is located at the sixth floor of 460 Park Ave. (at 57th Street), New York, NY, 10022.

Post from: Blisstree

Map of Korean Restaurants in Manhattan