Message: | Inspired by Lisa's post (and the Times), I suggested to friends that we try the Otani bqq last night. Turns out, it was a great call.
Best of all, not surprisingly was the setting. For those who've never been to the Otani (like myself) it's a mid-size hi-rise hotel in Little Tokyo, popular, I believe, chiefly with Japanese businessmen. To get to the bbq, you cross the lobby, with its large, somewhat interesting and Japanese-y take on generic public sculpture, and take the elevator up to the "garden level" (same level as Thousand Cranes restaurant, known for its multi-course traditional meals.) There you enter your lil bit of Kyoto downtown: a lush good-size garden, replete with ponds, waterfalls, and a sense that you're anywhere but downtown L.A. Except for the view of the newly-refurbished top of City Hall peeking out at you from between the trees...
They obviously do a lot of weddings there and the cue set-up looks weddingish -- round wht tables with folding chairs -- with the distinction that there's a grill in the middle of every table. Yes, it turns out the bbq is Korean style. (I don't know what I was expecting -- terriyaki? BTW: From the garden you get a view of the Thousand Cranes gleaming tempenyaki [sp?] tables. Reputedly, the battered lobster tails they do there are memorable... ) Anyway, this was not the best Korean I've ever had -- not by a longshot. But it was very good. And the electric grill worked pretty well -- even if it wasn't the firey pit I like to rub my hands over at Soot Bull Jeep. My favorite item, as usual, was the beef ribs. Very well-marbled, tasty meat. The sirloin also tender. Shrimp -- big and butterflied, good-looking although somehow a little bland. Vegetable plate included eggplant and sweet potato -- I suggest putting the veggies on before the meat, otherwise you won't be hungry for them by the time they're cooked. The only dish I really disliked was the too-sweet and at the same time meagre bibimbap, which is much better elsewhere, and I probably should have known not to have ordered.
At about 25 bucks a head, beer and tip included, the meal was a tad on the expensive side (for bbq, not for hotel). But with a big pitcher of Kirin in front of me, and the stars above, small disappointments disappeared. Everyone had fun and agreed the experience was unique -- knowing my habits, my friends all teased that they were going to log onto chowhound to recommend the bbq before I did! So here I am -- first thing in the morning...
Chow. Rafi |