Mr NQN, Queen Viv and I were grateful that Wow Bulgogi has such a distinct and eye catching name. Miss America is even more grateful for it too. This steamy hot Summer evening, we were supposed to meet at our new place as Miss America had yet to visit our new digs. Not for lack of trying. You see on Hallowe’en he couldn’t find our house having gone to the wrong street entirely and not possessing a mobile phone, he rang us from his home at 10pm distressed at wandering the streets of my suburb unable to find us. Tonight, the meeting time passes and he still hasn’t turned up. We leave a note on the door and go to Wow Bulgogi wondering what fate might have befallen him this time. We sit down and peruse the menu and then who should emerge from a taxi but Miss America!
“I don’t want to talk about it” he says distraught at the heat and another goose chase around the Eastern Suburbs. We prod him further and he tells us “I remember the name was ‘Wow’ something and I rang directory assistance and they told me this place”. Turns out he had written down the wrong street number for us and the distinct name of this restaurant was the only thing that lured him to the right spot. He was living the 2009 version of the Scorcese comedy “After Hours”.
Onto the food – and the heat. Some might say that we are crazy having bulgogi during a heatwave and you may be right. We were seated near the open windows and even though there was an air conditioner at work, it didn’t feel like it once the hot plate was turned on. The menu explains that it’s called Wow Bulgogi as they want people to say “Wow!” when they taste the food.
Drinks from left to right: 17 cha, Aloe vera drink, chorok maesil and sikhye (rice punch) $4 each
The Aloe Vera drink is the favourite with its sweet, almost faux grape flavour taste. The Sikhye or rice punch is sweet with little bits of rice floating in it and the chorok maesil is a pleasant, fruity flavoured drink. The 17 Cha is a plain unsweetened green tea and is quite dull in comparison. We get our complimentary assortment of accompaniments including potatoes, marinated tofu strips, kim chee, beansprouts and coleslaw with the tastiest being the sweet soy potatoes and the marinated tofu strips.
Sam Gyubsal Pork Belly $16
Queen Viv starts cooking the pork belly which resembles thick slices of bacon. It doesn’t cook to a crisp like bacon as it’s not cured. It is grey when cooked but when dipped in the hot red bean paste it is lip smackingly good and there are suggestions of ordering more of it. The pork is soft and tender and despite how rich and fatty it is, it’s also undeniably moreish.
So Galbi $18
Queen Viv then fries the marinated meat ribs cut out from the bone and we have high hopes for these as we love ribs and really enjoyed them the last time we went to Carne Station. I have visions of gnawing at the rib. The meat is quite nice and tender although not quite as flavoursome as Carne Stations but the ribs sadly despite the best effort tooth gnawing aren’t edible.
Jap Chae $12
I love Jap Chae and this one isn’t bad although it isn’t the best that I’ve had. I prefer it with more sesame and with more marinated beef strips. This seems like a “lite” version without all the good bits.
Haemul Pajeon $15
The Seafood pizza was a big hit with the table with the rice flour pizza full with little pieces of squid and prawn. The texture is very crispy – much like those crispy little Vietnamese rice cakes and we go for extra slices although it does need a dousing with the sauce provided.
Bibimbap $7
One of the best deals cost wise has to be the $7 Bibimbap which we assumed would be tiny because of the price. I have to confess that it wasn’t the best Bibimbap I’ve had in that there’s very little meat and I prefer it sizzling in the pot with a raw egg yolk in the centre which you stir around and cook and then eat the crispy rice bits from the bottom. This one doesn’t come sizzling and there’s no raw egg yolk in the centre but for $7 it’s a good stomach filler for the terminally hungry (I’m looking at Mr NQN).
Mixing the Bibimbap
Mul Mandu $8
Next we have dumplings called Mul Mandu which means Water mandu as they are steamed. They don’t look very impressive but they’re quite good, similar to the garlic and chive yum cha dumplings.
Osam Bulgogi $13
The Pork and Squid Osam Bulgogi comes out on a sizzling plate and is quite nice and spicy although it doesn’t really wow us and at this point we realise that we’ve ordered half of the menu and are trying to balance it all on our table which isn’t easy.
Al Tang with rice $13
This stew-like dish made with Myeongran Jeot (salted, seasoned and fermented Alaskan Pollock’s roe) and chilli pepper divided us. Miss America and I didn’t particularly like it whereas Queen Viv and Mr NQN quite liked it. I found the soup a touch bland but the roe was an interesting touch being rich and salty like roe and there’s plenty of it along with tofu and mushrooms in the stew.
The table is covered with empty plates and despite some furious fanning we’re still sweltering in the heat so we ask them to turn off our heat station. A nearby table burns some meat and leave quickly and we take their cue under a black cloud of grill smoke with our bellies full.
So tell me Dear Reader, does a restaurant’s name ever compel you to visit it? And if so, what was that name?
Wow Bulgogi
174 Anzac Parade, Kensington, NSW
Tel: +61 (02) 9697 9282
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40 Comments | Add your own
Hey Lorraine! Wish you a wonderful 2010 ahead! May all the good things come your way..
Oh, poor Miss America! I’m glad he made it ok in the end though. Everything looks scrumptions, especially that seafood pizza!
There is never a bad time for bulgogi!
I especially love spicy pork belly bulgogi, I could eat a whole portion by myself without much difficulty…
You’ve got me craving some Korean food now! And I have an excuse to eat it as it’s so cold.
Well, its got to be Holy Cow in Surry Hills! Except we felt the food was average, nothing to write home about.
What a nightmare for Miss American. I hate getting lost. I’m glad he got there at the end. The food looks great. What a catchy name too.
Have to try this Korean one day since I sometimes pass Kensington; the mul mandu dumplings look great, but what a weird name!
That place looks wonderful! The seafood pizza is my favorite….Happy new year!
Yum! Looks delicious. You guys seem to have ordered a mountain of food, for three people! We tend to do that too, whenever we visit such restaurants (and strangely enough, there’s rarely much left over)
Definitely a “wow” place to eat.
Has Miss America finally seen your house? A catchy name for a restaurant certainly makes it easier to remember – which in turn might bring more customers. Can’t think of any off the top of my head though…
I’ve had some great pork belly in restaurants and want to try to make a recipe one of these days. And those dumplings look fabulous.
A charming roadside restaurant serving delicious Chicken rice in Singapore, simply called “The Eating Place”. Now thats unassuming, even down to the name.
Teehee poor Miss America. I’m kinda like that too altho I wish I wasn’t. The prices here are really good! Will take my student sis there and she’ll love it.
happy happy new year! lets toast to more delicious and good food that we are going to savour in this brand new beginning! hee no worries, let me know when you come to Singapore, den we can go around eating
Can I answer in terms of the opposite? Because I am absolutely determined NEVER to visit an Outback Steakhouse, on principle of the restaurant’s name and what it calls its food. One of my friends here keeps trying to get me to go, but I refuse on principle. You can’t just take your own country’s food and rename it with the iconography of another’s! Hmph!
Just to be clear, though: I am completely happy to eat at every single other American chain restaurant, so this has nothing to do with snobbishness regarding the food. I love me some Applebee’s, Ruby Tuesday’s, and Red Lobster. But I shall only go to restaurants that DON’T LIE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
I almost always order the seafood pancake if I spy it on the menu of a Korean restaurant. Love how it gets all crispy, and it has that sweet, thick sauce to dip it into. Your photos make me crave Korean food — and I just finished dinner!
Happy New Year, Lorraine! Wishing you continued success with your beautiful blog.
I’d should visit this place if I’m craving Korean food whether I’m visiting your country….so many delicious dishes
Happy New Year and the Best for You!!
Cheers,
Gera
It looks great, my dear. This year is going to be fantastic! Wishing you all the best!
Sizzling bibimbap is yummier, but feeding the terminally hungry sounds important too.
I would try a restaurant for its name, especially a name like this one–it’s wonderful!
As always, I love your telling of the event and the pictures make my mouth water!!
The dumplings look amazing and I LOVE aloe vera juice
So glad your friend finally found you! 
Maybe third time will be a charm for Miss America?
There is a place called Yummy Thai near my uni that should be called Mediocre Thai.
Now I want to cook bulgogi for dinner! I haven’t done it for ages, but my husband calls it Kaboobi (the camel in that cartoon Shazzam!)
Hi Lorraine
I am happy to have biped into your blog this year !! I wish u the best for 2010 ; a lot of new findings and good recipes !! cheers from Pierre in Paris where it is so freezing !! Pierre
It’s been awhile since I last had Korean… but I can remember the first time I had a full Korean meal I was surprised at how hot and savoury most of their dishes are!!!!! Mmmm beef bulgogi….
Why this cuisine looks rather familiar!
I’m a big fan of aloe vera drink also – especially the ones with the little jellies inside.
As for your question, anything with bakery or in the name I haven’t visited will get my business!
oh, what i wouldn’t give for a heatwave right about now. it’s COLD here! this is some tasty-looking food, and although the majority of it is foreign to me, i wouldn’t push any of it away. especially if it provided warmth.
I always crave for Korean food! I can eat it anytime of the year. Happy new year!
Happy new year Lorraine! Looking forward to reading your posts this year too
Funny, my friend just mentioned this place the other day! Hmmm sam gyubsal’s fatty layers.
I went here about a month ago for a friend’s birthday, and also found the name very memorable.
We had some pork belly and loved it too, and some beef, which was nice, but were also a little underwhelmed with the ribs and bibimbap.
I felt more sorry for my vego boyfriend though, who was frying up sliced onions and mushrooms on the hot plate. I mean, it wasn’t bad, but paled in comparison to the tasty pork. He did get the aloe drink though, which I really liked
Happy New Year!
Looks like it’s pretty good value for money!! Now I feel like having some Korean food..
I like the name of “Chocolate Room” in the city.. haven’t been in there, but my imagination goes wild when I think of a room with everything made out of chocolate.. hmmm…
hmmmm when i crave for korean dish ill think of this place!! hehe!! only after visiting ye country! haha loving all the dishes!!
cheers!!
Hi Lorraine,
Happy New year!
Which Korean restaurant has the best Jap Chae? I am a Jap Chae lover as well.
Thanks
ST
My friends and I were enticed by the name alone to go to The Dumpling King, Newtown and we were disapointed
We were looking forward to an endless menu of steamed and fried dumplings, but there were only a few dumpling dishes and the rest of the menu was the usual Chinese fare. Though saying that, the quality of food there was good, we just wanted Dumpling overload.
Hi The Purple Foodie-Thankyou! A Happy 2010 to you too and I hope it’s a wonderful year
Hi Faith-Hehe I know, poor thing huh! We were so relieved when we saw him!
Hi Su-yin-Haha this is very true!
Yes sadly I could’ve easily eaten that whole portion! 
I’m convinced the chilli in it is good for cold weather (and hot too 
)
Hi gobsmack’d-Oh yes true, I’ve driven past it and noticed the name! Shame about the food though
Hi Katherine-I know, it’s terrible isn’t it! We were so happy when he turned up! Hehe I know, cute isn’t it!
Hi joey-Hehe maybe it’s all part of being as memorable as possible
Hi Erica-Isn’t it great! Happy New Year Erica!
Hi Y-There were 4 of us but yes there was still a mountain of food. I think with Mr NQN on hand, all of the food gets polished off!
Hi Cakelaw-Hehe thanks!
Hi Anita-He has-finally! Yes so true
Hi Lea Ann-Yes I’d love to do that at home (although I’m worried about not being able to stop
)
Hi shants-Hehe how cute! I’d like to say “I’m going to the Eating Place”
Hi Aubrey-I know, poor thing!
OH cool!
Hi ladyironchef-Happy New Year Brad and hope you enjoyed Australia!
Absolutely, I sure will! 
Hi Hannah-Hehe of course! That is SO true. I went to one once and there’s nothing really Australian about it. We definitely don’t eat Bloomin Onions much here (although they’re quite good in that deep fried kind of way)!
Hi Carolyn-Good idea!
I know, isn’t it the best? And it seems so simple too! Thankyou for your lovely wishes and Happy New Year! I hope 2010 brings you many blessings! 
Hi Gera-Definitely!
Happy New Year Gera and thanks for your great blog! 
Hi Lauren-I totally agree, 2010 feels like it’s going to be a fab year! Happy New Year Lauren!
Hi Arwen-Yes I agree, the bibimbap wouldn’t have been my choice but I’m sure it was Mr NQN’s
Hi MaryPoppinsinHeels-Hehe yes I’d definitely notice it!
Thankyou so much lovely!
Hi Krista-They weren’t bad (although I don’t think they were handmade). We were too!
Hi Conor-Hehe now he knows the address so there’s no excuse (unless he gets amnesia
). Haha! What a shame! 
Hi Amanda-I get like that too-I do love sizzling meat
Haha! Camel Bulgogi, that would be interesting!
Hi pierre-Thankyou so much! Happy New Year and I wish you continued success with your blog Pierre!
Hi Trisha-Yes I love that they don’t’ seem to hold back on chilli!
And all that meat, what’s not to love?
Hi Sean-Haha! Yes I love the little jelly bits
That might be true for me too! 
Hi grace-Well you need to come South for your Winter! Hehe yes, the heatplate is good for that!
Hi pigpigscorner-I do too!
Luckily this place is close by. Happy New Year to you! 
Hi Yas-Happy New Year Yas! I hope 2010 is a great one
Haha yes gotta love fatty layers 
Hi Alex-Yes the ribs and bulgogi were not as good I agree. Oh no, the poor thing. All that wonderful smelling pork. That’s why I couldn’t do full time vegetarianism
Hi YW_Happy New Year to you too! Yes fantastic value for money
Oh yes that’s the place that was almost open for ages. Has that finally opened?
Hi nora-Hehe thanks Nora!
Hi Sweet-tooth-Happy New Year! You know I still haven’t found the best Jap Chae-yet! I’ve had a really good one overseas but not here. But rest assured, I am on the hunt
Hi Toni-I know! They really should change their name, we had the same experience!
I mean if you call something a king that has got to mean that there’s a lot of it!
Nice…so heart korean bbq!! by the way, why do you call your friend ‘Miss’ in all ur posts? I thought u mentioned he was a guy before.. and also the pronoun ‘his’ is always used in this post..i’m curious???
Very impressed with this Korean joint around kensington close by to home. Food is good and walked out happy. Mr John Kim assured us that they would do their best with what ever we thought needed improving. Very friendly guy. Sure we will be back for more!
Hurricanes.
I was just googling Bulgolgi, thinking of going there and was stoked to see you’ve done a review!
Dear Nigella,
Wow Bulgogi in Korean means fire meat I knew the gentleman who originally owned the business
Yea.. food is quite yummy BUT my partner and I got food poisoning from it the next day. Didnt go back since.
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