Restaurant Review: Grill Th ai

Grill Thai

Another Reason to Visit U-Square

Reviewed by Sesetu Holomisa

U-Square is frequented by most of us when traveling around Jeollanam-do or Korea, when going to the cinema there, or shopping at Shinsegae Department Store. Th e ever-present movement of people in the bus terminal and shopping centers makes for a wide variety of cafes and restaurants. You can satisfy any craving – from Chinese cuisine to Western dishes. One of my new personal favorite establishments to visit is a Th ai restaurant, conveniently named “Grill Th ai.”

Grill Th ai off ers a selection of dishes including the popular noodle dish pad thai (with chicken, pork, or seafood options), rice dishes like nasi goring and khao phat, steak, and a selection of salads. I have been there twice, ordering the chicken pad thai on my fi rst visit and the seafood pad thai the second time. It is important to note that a friend took me on a Saturday, and I took another friend on the very next day. Th at is how delicious the chicken pad thai was.

You are given the option to choose the vegetables you would like and the level of spiciness. (I am an all-ornothing type, to be honest.) Th ey brought the spice with the chicken dish, but the following day, it was a little milder. Sometimes I think there is a perception that nonKoreans cannot handle spicy food, so they tone it down a bit. So, that may have been the case for the not-so-spicy seafood noodle dish. Other than that, the meals were consistently fl avorsome and came in large portions.

It was not crowded on either occasion, so it will not be a cause for concern if you want to check this restaurant out while we are in the midst of practicing social distancing. Th e servers are friendly and professional, and there is a vibrant atmosphere there. Th e music they play is fresh out of the studio, so if the joy of your meal being brought to you makes you dance in excitement, the latest Korean (and sometimes Western) hits will be in the background to match your mood. Th e prices are very reasonable, but I fi nd that this is applicable in almost all diners in Korea; they give you a meal that could feed two and price it for one person. No complaints over here! Th e restaurant is clean and has a cool, dark vibe in the sense that the lights are low, and there are steel chairs and dark-colored tables with luminescent artwork on the walls. But it is not so dark that you cannot see the bits of truffl e and crushed nuts in your pad thai. Speaking of nuts, if you do have any allergies, it is best to ask before ordering what ingredients are in the dish. Having traveled to Th ailand and tasted authentic Th ai dishes, I have to be honest and declare that this restaurant does not entirely stick to the traditional recipes. Th ere is an obvious fusion of Korean preferences and interpretations that give a twist to the meals.

Nonetheless, it is up to you to decide if it is worth going twice in a weekend like I did. I suggest you visit Grill Th ai with a companion and treat yourself to great service and a meal that will leave you content. Who knows, you might also fi nd yourself “Shazaming ” a few songs with your Shazam app that you can use the next time you play any K-pop-related game in class!

▲ Chicken pad thai.

The Reviewer

Sesetu “Sese” Holomisa is a Leo, and

Studio Ghibli is currently her source of happiness, along with listening to

She by Harry Styles and eating spicy ramen with a sweet glass of house wine.

Instagram: @sesetuh

Hotteok: Filled Korean Pancakes

Written by Joe Wabe

Seasonal fl avors have been a big part of Korean cuisine. When the temperatures rise, many people enjoy salty and sour fl avors, but when the leaves fall and nights become colder and darker, sweet fl avors come to the rescue for those feeling dreary. Cravings for comfort food reach their height during the colder months, especially treats with sweet and warm characteristics.

Hotteok (호떡) has been one of those seasonal treats many people crave during the fall. It’s usually sold as a street food and its fragrant smell of cinnamon, nuts, and honey attracts many commuters who can’t resist the heavenly whiff coming from street carts.

Hotteok (호떡) is believed to have come to Korea through Chinese merchants who immigrated to the peninsula in the late 19th century and were originally stuff ed with fi llings that weren’t sweet. Th e sweet version seems to have its roots in South Korea, a country that’s well known for its sweet tooth.

So, if your mood is a bit “off ,” take a walk around your neighborhood, and you’ll probably fi nd a stand selling these pan-fried stuff ed goodies, or if your mood is “on,” with this recipe you can now recreate heaven at home.

Ingredients

(Serves 2)

Dough

• 1 packet of yeast • ½ cup of lukewarm milk • 2 cups of all-purpose fl our • ½ teaspoon of salt • 1 teaspoon of sugar

Filling

• ¼ cup of brown sugar • a pinch of cinnamon powder • ¼ cup of your choice of crushed nuts

Preparation

• Add the yeast to the lukewarm milk, and let it sit for about ten minutes. Th is will allow the yeast to begin its process. • In a large bowl, add the fl our, salt, and sugar, and mix it well with the milk and yeast. • Cover the bowl with a wet towel, and let it sit at room temperature for one hour. • Aft er an hour, knead the dough until it is smooth. Th is will allow for the release of air. Let it sit again for another 30 minutes. • When it is ready, divide the dough into six mediumsized balls, fl atten them with your hand, then add fi lling, and seal the dough back into a ball. • In a fry pan on medium heat, add some cooking oil and place the dough balls in the pan (one at the time), then press them fl at and cook until golden brown on

The Author

Joe Wabe is a Gwangju expat, who has been contributing to the GIC and the Gwangju News for more than 10 years with his work in photography and writing.

each side. Enjoy!