Han Gang, A Korean Taste You Can Survive On.

Finding Korean food that non-Korean can relate to is somewhat harder than what it seems like. Some may finds it forever untranslatable at all to their tongues. But here's what I think of one successful Korean restaurant chain here in Indonesia. 

It was started right here at my laptop screen. I was watching the funniest variety show in the world that surprisingly comes from Korea. Don't judge me yet (for you who did not, good.), at that time I hadn’t even knew about all the K-Pop euphoria. All I know was they're white(r than us), and Chinese-like. Yes, I'm not racist enough to be able to explain what their differences with our race are. So after a while and a heavy dose of that funniest variety show in the world, I started to gain LOT information regarding their food. From all those 120 episodes that I’ve watched, almost every episode contains some games about eating! I can't help to get familiar with Kimchi, Bibimbap, Kugi, Chikin n Bekju, and believe me, I can type more names this till another paragraph but I'm afraid you'll just gonna click that red X thing at the upper right corner of this window. 

Cut the chase, I lost my Korean Food virginity right at this restaurant, Han Gang. It was at the one in Senayan City and I was just in the mood for finally trying Korean food and managed to persuade my Mom to eat there! I ordered a Wang Galbi which is a rib part the Korean awesome cows. No particular reason why I chose that though, it was simply because I was astonished to see the sky-high prices and ended up choosing this one due to the price that was more moderate. IT WAS STILL QUITE EXPENSIVE THO. Back then it was 168ish just for the meat alone, and now it's already 198. I was about to complain (to Korean Cow Institution) but right at the moment I tasted that cooked meat, I understand why it's expensive. The meat was as good as unicorn! I actually one of those peeps that carefully spending my money, but Han Gang successfully ripped me off. And I still keep going back for even more rips. 

Talk about Korean food, you can’t leave the conversation without mentioning Kimchi. My first meet with Kimchi was not very well. I did not like it, at all. It was the opposite taste of Indonesian usual cuisine. I remember thinking what could’ve they done with these poor lettuces? I bet all the lettuces were all bleeding red and naturally salted with their tears! At first it may tastes bad, but after few more visits, the things work out really well between Kimchi and I. Think about Kimchi as Korean’s Lalapan. Now Kimchi is always the first thing I eat in Hang Gang., and I always asking for more Kimchi to the waiters (‘cause you get all the side dishes for free just so you know!). 

Han Gang is always a restaurant you can rely on when it comes to introducing others to Korean cuisine. I’ve tried other Korean restaurant as well, even the more ‘authentic’ one that no one would know what it called (except for those who read Korean of course, good for you.). But surprisingly, Han Gang offers taste that even more likable. After many times trying other restaurant, I keep coming back to Han Gang. They managed to adjust their food to our taste, in a way that many Korean native are still occasionally enjoy their meal there. And in spite you might think the price is ridiculous, you will get as shock as a clown when you go to other Korean restaurant with non-alphabetical letters and see their atmosphere-high prices! I think that is why Han Gang has successfully expanded into 4 different branches throughout Jakarta. 

All and all, Han Gang is definitely my go-to when it comes to enjoying Korean food. They put so much love in their food, in a way that both Korean and Indonesian can enjoy it at the same time. Hearing Korean people talking to each other right at the next tatami table, you’d feel like you transfer into a different country. Han Gang makes it a nice getaway for your daily cuisine life. You can’t have too much new foods in life, no?

I keep thinking if my first try on Korean food was not in Han Gang, and if they tasted worse, I definitely wouldn’t had a second go to any Korean restaurant. And I wouldn’t know how incredible their dishes really are. Aside from blaming them for my skinny wallet, I generously thank Han Gang for making a superb introduction to my tastebud.

Han Gang, saranghae~

(photo: google.com)