Han Gook Gwan

I decided to get out of my comfort zone and try some yet untested international cuisines. Han Gook Gwan, a Korean Restaurant run by a Korean couple who live behind the restaurant, is a family business. Their emphasis is also on family. Situated on  Havelock Road opposite Hercules Tailors, it has ample parking space for about 4 to 5 vehicles. I came here today (5th November, 2015) to have my lunch.

As you enter, you will first be met by a steward who will greet you. You can sit in the public area or get a family room. I chose the public area so that I can observe everything. The place is fully air-conditioned. The walls of the restaurant are painted yellow and had pictures and some Korean wall hangings put up on the wall on one side. There is also a 45" TV tuned into Korean Broadcasting Corporation Channel (KBC). Another side of the hall had a huge glass window overlooking the Havelock Road.

Every table has a single burner gas cooker kept on the side. On inquiry I learned that if a customer wanted bar-be-cues for instance, they were cooked at the customer's table itself and served sizzling hot.

So, a look at the menu gave me a pretty good idea what types of food were being cooked here. Being a Muslim we don't eat pork, but we can eat sea food items, and there were quite a selection of sea food and vegetarian items to order. For instance you could order a vegetable or Egg Fried Rice or Sea Food Fried Rice for Rs. 450.00. Having tried too many Fried rice from different places, I decided to forego this and look for a healthier option.

The stewards, who were locals, were kind enough to guide me as to the most suitable food we could order. I learned that one particular item was a favourite among customers - Item No 66. This was Steamed Rice and Vegetables in Stone bowl with half boiled egg. I didn't fancy eating half boiled egg, so they suggested they provide omelet, which was agreeable to me. Cost Rs. 850.00

The table setting is quite different to what I have seen at other places. The hygienic levels of the cutlery (knife and spoon) is maintained by having them wrapped in oil paper. The serviettes are wet cold towels folded and rolled into a ball, there is a bowl to serve the food,  a jug of ice cold water and a mug to drink the water.

To really understand Korean culture, you have to experience it first hand, and I believe the best place is Han Gook Gwan. While we wait for our meal to be cooked, every customer is served a complimentary tray of 7 dishes served in small bowls as Appetizers.

 The Appetizers are (clockwise from top right) potatoes boiled in a milky mixture, peanuts coated in molasses honey, fried dried radish strips in hot pickle, raw radish in hot sauce, raw Chinese cabbage in hot pickle, bread like omelet, and finally at the center big onions in sweet vinaigrette. Although, their hot dishes had chillie flakes and were red, they weren't 'hot' like our local curries. I learned that Korean curries are not that hot.

My lunch arrived piping hot in a stone bowl. It had steamed rice at the bottom, topped by vegetables and finally my omelet at the top. I folded the omelet to peer at the different vegetables. The bowl of food was like a rainbow with multiple colours.

Over the layer of rice it had blanched Bok Choy, sliced pumpkin, julienne d carrots, Kankun, glass noodles and bean sprouts. The omelet was soft and flaky. Optional ingredients that could be added are chicken or prawns. You also get a hot and spicy Korean Chillie sauce as an accompaniment. 

According to the stewards, you are supposed to mix all the ingredients together and then eat by dipping on the sauce a little at a time. I preferred to serve them to my bowl and do the mixing on my own. By the way, salt an pepper shakers can be obtained on request.

For dessert you can select a fruit juice of your choice, eat some fruits or take ice cream (available flavours - vanilla, strawberry and chocolate). I chose vanilla ice cream (cost Rs. 190). You get 2 big scoops of ice cream.For this price, that was very reasonable, especially at a restaurant.

Overall a new experience and a filling meal. I will definitely return to try something else.