J. Lo requests that we try something out of the ordinary when he comes to town and there are quite a few eccentric restaurants in Seattle. This time, I chose the Korean steakhouse Girin. What exactly is a Korean steakhouse? It’s Korean BBQ (think calibi beef) in the lettuce wraps using top shelf steak. That’s right – no chewy over-charred meats should be found at a steakhouse! We ordered quite the spread for just four people.
oysters – with a variety of Korean inspired mignonettes, including kimchi
banchan – whitebait fish with sprouts, sesame eggplant, pickled cucumbers, kimchi; they’re all spicy except for the fish
beef & pork mandu – the Korean version of pot stickers, nicely fried and fairly juicy
gung jung tteokbokki – mushrooms and fried rice cakes. Here’s the starch for the night – looks like a gnocchi, but chews like a firm fish ball. You start to get a little addicted to the chewiness after a bit – if you’ve never tried it before, this is a must.
kal guksu – hand-cut noodles, kombu broth, clams, summer squash & roasted seaweed. Warning – this is a spicy soup.
kalbi marinated short rib ssam – perfectly cooked short rib with all the flavor of kalbi beef. I can’t resist the flavor of kalbi beef and the opportunity to have thick cut short ribs definitely wasn’t something we were going to pass up!
32oz rib eye ssam – fatty and tender, full of flavor, cooked to perfection with fried oysters as an added bonus. This was J.Lo’s desire, and it was the highlight of the night. If there’s a dish that proves Girin is a bonafide steakhouse, this is it. In fact, I stopped by the kitchen on the way out to compliment the chef on his rib eye. Truly one of the best that I’ve had, and delectable for all 32 ounces of it!
barley tea custard – with candied oranges and pine nut brittle. This is how you do fusion for dessert!
spiced chocolate cake – gochugaru (Korean chili powder), red bean, chocolate ice cream. You might not expect chocolate to pair with red bean and chili, but is a creative combination that is delightful. The fried lotus chip on the side is a nice savory addition to enhance the chili.
We ordered 9 dishes for the 4 of us and finished nearly all of it, but we also left extremely stuffed and happy. I’d probably recommend skipping the oysters and soup next time. The 32 ounce prime rib stole the show for the night, and I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment to order it again and try to finish it all by myself. This is Korean food elevated to a steakhouse and they rise to the occasion with honors.
Next to Safeco Field, this is a trendy spacious restaurant with a nice bar. While it’s probably not the place for a pre-game beer, it’s a great alternative to all the tried and true steakhouses in Seattle. It holds its own with it steak preparations, and I’m looking forward to trying more of their dishes. I know their head chef recently departed for The Slated Door in SFO, but I’m hoping that the rest of the kitchen is just as masterful in their preparations.
Overall, I highly recommend Girin if you’re looking for an alternative to a steakhouse and for a something fun! Steak with your fingers and funky flavor pairings galore!
SUMMARY
Overall: happily ever after
Highlights: 32oz rib eye, spiced chocolate cake
Footnotes: lettuce cups can get a little messy, but don’t be afraid to pick them up with your hands; they have a rather extensive drink list – try some Korean soju, go with a large group as they have spacious tables and you’ll be able to try more of the dishes – otherwise, a saam and another entrée is plenty for two with no room for dessert