Still wonderful Korean at KimChee Express

KimChee Express
100 E Broad St. (corner of Broad and Center streets)
Bethlehem, Pa
(610) 866-3556

A late evening in the office required some early-evening sustenance. Always ready for something different, I walked the three blocks from Spark to KimChee Express. I would have walked several miles.

KimChee Express has a wide range of authentic Korean cuisine. After browsing through the menu of 24 entrees, I settled on Daen-Jang-Ji-Gae, zucchini, onion, potato, pepper and bean curd (tofu) with pork in bean paste broth.

Long before the soup was served, however, I was treated to a wide variety of Korean vegetables: a soybean salad, kim chee (of course), julienned radish with kim chee spices, pickled julienned radish, a seaweed salad and a squid-radish-carrot salad. Compared with even other Asian foods, these dishes were unusual, but delicious. Get your taste buds ready for a new experience.

The Daen-Jang-Ji-Gae was served piping hot in a heavy bowl - it actually arrived still boiling. Pleasantly spicy (at my request), it was both tasty and hearty. Healthy, too.

A table next to me ordered Gal-Bee BBQ -- barbecued boneless beef ribs marinated in a special 24-ingredient sauce. The owner brought out a special table-sized grill for the two guests, lit it, and instructed them on how to grill their own food. The dish included lettuce (to wrap and hold the meat with), hot peppers, garlic and hot sauce as condiments. A wonderful grill flavor permeated the room throughout the experience, though not a whole lot of smoke. I'll have to come back for that.

The owner was extremely pleasant and helpful. She served an excellent roasted barley tea with dinner.

Best of all, the meal for one came to $9.25 with tip. Can't beat that anywhere. I'll be back.