This is, undoubtedly, one of my most favorite pics on FTC!!! I think anyone who likes food and likes dining out hopefully has at least one of these moments in their life!
Lovely review. As far as really liking but not being super crazy about the APL ribs, doesnât sound like blasphemy to me. I sort of dream about them, but you mentioned elsewhere in your review that the place isnât avant garde. I think thatâs esp true of the ribs; theyâre just f@cking delicious, but theyâre also f@cking expensive, soâŚ
Thanks for the kind words! To be honest, I went in thinking the same way but came out with a different perspective. If split between 4 people, itâs $47.5 per person and comes with a massive amount of meat, a rice (letâs say $12/person), and unlimited refills for the sides (letâs say $4/person). Ergo, the meat by itself is $31.5 per person which I think isnât too bad? Whatâs your take on it?
I agree that itâs definitely a better value than the total price would suggest, esp since I donât think the menu description gives an accurate sense of how much food you get.
I donât recall tasting horseradish in the rice (just mentioning that b/c I wouldâve welcomed that to cut through all the fat). And I was also underwhelmed by the butter + honey, too (for the same reason you were).
We only did it with butter lettuce and they gladly gave us more when we asked. Didnât have a chance to try with the other sides since we were so dang fullâŚ
Interesting bit regarding the pricing of the ribs from Texas Monthly.
"Chang says he bases his prices on how much a place in Koreatown would charge. âIf you bought as much beef as weâre serving, itâs actually a little bit more at a top-end barbecue restaurant in K-Town,â "
This is probably true. I just had dinner at Chosun and one order of prime galbi was $57 while choice grade was $47 (Iâm not sure what grade of beef Marjordomo uses). And the portion is probably less than 1/5th of the APL ribs.
Also, the short rib, which feeds four to six, is $190. Chang doesnât want guests to feel ripped off.
âPlate short ribs are incredibly expensive,â Chang says. âItâs probably going to have to go up, but we want to keep it $190. Thatâs a serious commitment, man. I donât want anyone to feel like, well, fuck, I didnât get enough or itâs too expensive.â
Credit to dc for keeping that commitment so far. Comparing the current menu with the opening night menu almost everything has gone up except the ribs.
I got some friends to go in on an order of eight pounds of Bentonâs bacon. The stuff is way smokier than any other bacon Iâve had. Itâs smokier than the smokiest tasso Iâve had. I think two slices will be plenty for a three-pound cabbage.
The ânewâ (at least to me) Pork and Spicy Pineapple Bing Topping was wonderful last night. Itâs obviously a riff on al pastor and was great. Finally managed to get the Duck with Crispy rice which was another highlight.
