Best Korean food in Santo Domingo

Formosano2000 · #1 03-17-2005, 03:20 PM

Name: Bethel Coreano
Location: Romuno Bentancourt 156, Tel: 532-6248
Reason why?: Abundance of delicious food at budget prices.

One of the three Korean eateries open to the public in Santo Domingo, this one is a family-style no-frill place. Zero décor so don't expect to woo and wow your date here. It’s a place purely for the food, nothing else. Order one main course and they will bring out 4-5 different complimentary side dishes (called "ban chan" in Korean) for you to munch on. Go for “bulgogi” (Korean BBQ beef). Now there is even a pictorial menu with a picture next to each item, so you will not accidentally order wrong.

Price range: RD$200-350 per dish. Do NOT be greedy and over-order. Your table will literally overflow with plates. As a bonus, this places does NOT charge ITBIS or service charge, so don't forget to tip them well.

If you want a more "presentable" option, then head a few streets over to

Manna
Calle 12 de Julio No. 7 (a side street next to Burger King on Bentancourt. Tel: 535-3355 (Closed on Sundays)

Hidden in an impressive villa-style house, this place is barely 6-month old, but is already crowded with those-in-the-know for authentic Korean fare, albeit at higher pricing (expect to pay 50% more than at Bethel). In return, you get much bigger selection of choices and drinks. Ther is also a couryard dining option and a 2nd floor karaoke option (avoid this if you can't stand the noise !!). Some tables are arranged in typical Asian format with tatami seating and large partitioin between tables. If you are mystified by what to order, ask for Alberto Cho who speaks good Spanish.

bienamor · #2 03-18-2005, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Formosano2000

Name: Bethel Coreano
Location: Romuno Bentancourt 156, Tel: 532-6248
Reason why?: Abundance of delicious food at budget prices.

One of the three Korean eateries open to the public in Santo Domingo, this one is a family-style no-frill place. Zero décor so don't expect to woo and wow your date here. It’s a place purely for the food, nothing else. Order one main course and they will bring out 4-5 different complimentary side dishes (called "ban chan" in Korean) for you to munch on. Go for “bulgogi” (Korean BBQ beef). Now there is even a pictorial menu with a picture next to each item, so you will not accidentally order wrong.

Price range: RD$200-350 per dish. Do NOT be greedy and over-order. Your table will literally overflow with plates. As a bonus, this places does NOT charge ITBIS or service charge, so don't forget to tip them well.

If you want a more "presentable" option, then head a few streets over to

Manna
Calle 12 de Julio No. 7 (a side street next to Burger King on Bentancourt. Tel: 535-3355 (Closed on Sundays)

Hidden in an impressive villa-style house, this place is barely 6-month old, but is already crowded with those-in-the-know for authentic Korean fare, albeit at higher pricing (expect to pay 50% more than at Bethel). In return, you get much bigger selection of choices and drinks. Ther is also a couryard dining option and a 2nd floor karaoke option (avoid this if you can't stand the noise !!). Some tables are arranged in typical Asian format with tatami seating and large partitioin between tables. If you are mystified by what to order, ask for Alberto Cho who speaks good Spanish.

How is the kimchi, and pulgogi?

arturo · #3 03-18-2005, 08:38 AM

The price differential is closer to 20% and the quality of the food and ambience more than offsets the modest premium.

Bethel offers the advantage of several "localized" dishes, including a mild (as in non-spicy) version of its seafood noodle soup. The owner's children attend the nearby American Christian School and they all speak English. One of them told me they occasionally offer "criollo" dishes such as fried chicken.

Pib · #4 03-18-2005, 08:51 AM

Yes, they offer kimchi, albeit a slightly less spicy version.

I have been to Bethel twice, and I was not only pleasantly surprised by the quality but also by the low prices. Thanks Formosano for having suggested it a few threads back.

Mirador · #5 03-18-2005, 09:56 AM

in Santo Domingo, Jarirang, on 27 de Febrero is by far the best, albeit more expensive. By the way, in Bethel you can get a 'refill' of ban-chan at no extra cost. My favorite fare at Jarirang is pulgogi (perro pulgoso ;-) which you get to cook yourself over the charcoal grill recessed into the table.

Formosano2000 · #6 03-18-2005, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arturo

The price differential is closer to 20% and the quality of the food and ambience more than offsets the modest premium.

After ITBIS and service charge (neither of which Bethel charges) plus the tips, the total price will be 50% higher

But you are right, the ambience and quality of food justifies this. I just wanted to point out the obvious for people to decide.

Formosano2000 · #7 03-18-2005, 10:02 AM

For years, this place used to be the only option for Korean food in Santo Domingo. However, it now trails Manna in the quality of food and in service, not to mention ambience. I'm consistently more impressed by Manan's ban-chan than at Arirang. Could you believe at one time (a while ago), Arirang used to count peeled garlic cloves (yes !! nothing more on that dish) as one side-dish ?? What a joke! LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirador

in Santo Domingo, Jarirang, on 27 de Febrero is by far the best, albeit more expensive. By the way, in Bethel you can get a 'refill' of ban-chan at no extra cost. My favorite fare at Jarirang is pulgogi (perro pulgoso ;-) which you get to cook yourself over the charcoal grill recessed into the table.

solituna · #8 03-22-2005, 10:06 AM

Is a great tasting dish at Bethel! Highly recommend it.

Dolores · #9 03-30-2005, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirador

in Santo Domingo, Jarirang, on 27 de Febrero is by far the best, albeit more expensive. By the way, in Bethel you can get a 'refill' of ban-chan at no extra cost. My favorite fare at Jarirang is pulgogi (perro pulgoso ;-) which you get to cook yourself over the charcoal grill recessed into the table.

Arirang closed several months ago. It was one of my favorites. So was happy to check out the Korean restaurants suggested by Formosano.

First place we went to was Bethel, where the waitress told us that the owners of Arirang show up for dinner once in a while.

Went with the family and Bethel was good. Bethel was different from Arirang for the same dishes. I would prefer Arirang, but Bethel was good in its own style. Homely food, belly-filling. Bethel was much more food than Arirang, and cheaper. Like he said, be careful with ordering. I was fortunate because went with a 12-year old and 14-year old that can eat for three people each one by themselves. Note they only accept cash.

arturo · #10 03-31-2005, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solituna

Is a great tasting dish at Bethel! Highly recommend it.

I quite like the "Korean Pizza" at Manna. I don't remember seeing a dish with that name at Bethel. I'm not sure why either place would call the dish a pizza since it is much more like what Americans call a pancake. Scallions (puerro) are a primary ingredient and various combinations of seafood and vegetables also figure prominently. It is served with a soy based dipping sauce. At 300 pesos including side dishes, it is a fantastic bargain.