Dolsot Bibimbap at Dong Yang Oriental Food: 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 31

It may be true that fast food provides you the most calories per dollar. But you are paying for processed fat and starch flavored to taste acceptable to the tolerant palate. If you are looking to fill up on healthy and full-flavored real food, look no further than your nearest Korean joint. Korean food gives you the most bang for your buck when it comes to nutrition, variety, and flavor.

Go up to Hill Top, where you'll find an unassuming Korean grocery store called Dong Yang Oriental Food. Head to the self-service cafeteria in the back of the store and order a dolsot bibimbap. The hearty bowl of rice, vegetables and meat sizzling in a stone pot will blow the socks off of any value menu.

Here's what you do.

Take a look at the menu board like the one similar to that of any takeout Chinese place. Go up to the counter and order the #4. While the cooks start to assemble your banchan and heat up the stone pot for your bibimbap, pour some weak tea and water in the Styrofoam cups provided. Don't forget to grab some chopsticks, spoons, and small bowls for your table.

In no time your banchan will be on the counter. Even in this no-frills cafeteria you'll receive four little plates of Korean side dishes for free. Bring these back to the table first. Go back to the counter to get your dolsot bibimbap and be careful carrying it back to your table. The stone pot is weighty and very hot.

Take a moment to enjoy the variety of goodies in the sizzling pot. On top of the bed of rice are carrots, sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, slices of beef, a fried egg, nori seaweed, and julienned cucumbers. As the word "bibimbap" literally means "mixed meal," you are to mix all this up before digging in.

Here's the trick to mixing dolsot bibimbap: Wait at least three minutes before you mix the contents. That allows the bottom of the pot to brown, creating tasty bits of crisp rice laced with fragrant sesame oil that's been rubbed on the stone pot. Head over to the refrigerator next to the entrance, in which you'll find rows of Mountain Dew and a squirt bottle filled with gochujang, savory Korean hot sauce. Take the bottle to your table and squirt it directly on top of the bibimbap. Once you've waited three minutes, mix the whole thing with two spoons, scrambling the runny fried egg in the stone pot.

Kei Terauchi

Now just eat to your heart's content. The entire meal, including banchan and tea, costs $9.99. The self-service style cuts the cost of tip, allowing your stomach and your wallet to remain happy and full.

Dong Yang Oriental Food
735 45th Ave NE, Hill Top
763-571-2009; no website


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