When nostalgic for some Korean home cooking, the simple go-to dish you can make is Kimchi Bokkeumbap (Kimchi fried rice).

Kimchi bokkeumbap is a super-satisfying dish usually made of kimchi (old, sour kimchi does the trick!), rice (yesterday-made or up to two days old), a choice of meat (if you have), vegetables, and a fried egg on top. It uses minimal ingredients and is very delicious, making it one of the most popular dishes amongst those who live away from home—plus, it’s a great way to clean out your fridge of leftovers!

The original way to make kimchi bokkeumbap is using pork, but over time people have adopted their own methods by using beef, tuna, spam, and even leftover Thanksgiving meat. A by-product of Korean kitchen leftovers, there really isn’t one way to make this dish, which allows people to get creative and accommodate to their own taste buds. While this dish that can be quickly made in your own kitchen, there are definitely restaurants that excel in this common favorite.

Hae Jang Chon—a restaurant we mentioned in our Top AYCE Korean BBQ in L.A. post—is known for their amazing kimchi bokkeumbap, which they create right at your table after a session of all-you-can-eat BBQ.

Featured in our Korean Food USA series earlier this week, Ah-Lang (Angry Korean Lady), located in Honolulu, HI, is also famous for their flavorful preparation of this dish.

For recipes on how to make Kimchi Bokkeumbap, head over to Korean Food Gallery!

Hae Jang Chon
3821 W 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90020
http://www.haejangchon.com/

Ah-Lang
725 Kapiolani Blvd, Ste C119
Honolulu, HI 96813
http://www.angrykoreanlady.com/

[Photos: (top) kaza.egloos; Steph S./Yelp]

Korean Food USA is a new series that showcases Korean and Korean-inspired eateries all around the nation.

“This is a one-woman show restaurant. Follow the house rules. Don’t Make me more angry!,” reads a sign at Ah-Lang, a.k.a Angry Korean Lady, in Honolulu, HI. The “Angry Korean Lady,” owner/cook Won Lam (her mentality: “It’s my restaurant, I can do what I like.”), has put her “anger” into cooking up delicious homestyle Korean dishes at Ah-Lang—which was reviewed as one of the the best Korean restaurants in Hawaii by Honolulu Magazine.

Owner Won Lam, whose humor, ajumma sensibilities and “firecracker” attitude has made her restaurant enjoyable and recognizable, has a strict set of “House Rules,” such as, “If you BYOB, bring me some too, or there’s a corkage fee.” And, “Write down your own order and bring it to me in the Kitchen. If you don’t bring me your order, I won’t make your food.” Break her rules and she’ll go straight up next-door ajumma on you!

Kimchi Bokkeumbap, or Kimchi Fried Rice

With the many Korean fusion restaurants that are increasingly becoming popular, Ah-Lang takes us back to where it all started by serving the traditional Korean dishes that we love. The menu has such a rich variety that it’s hard to just settle for one. Ah-lang serves jjigaes (hot stews) and soups, noodle dishes, rice-based dishes, meats, seafood, and more.

Ah-Lang’s Bibimbap has diners scraping the sides for every last bite

One of the mouthwatering dishes is a spicy Kalbi Jjim, which is a traditional Korean dish of braised beef short ribs, a variety of vegetables, simmered in a beef broth. The meat is extremely tender and falls right off the bone. The restaurant is also known for their Pajeon, a dish that is eaten on many occasions (holidays, rainy days, lonely days, etc) in South Korea. There are different kinds of Pajeons to choose from: Kimchi Jeon, Green Onion and Seafood Jeon, and ones made of meat or fish.

Kimchi Jeon. Ah-Lang allows you to choose the spicy level from 1-10.

Ah-Lang, a.k.a Angry Korean Lady
725 Kapiolani Blvd, Ste C119
Honolulu, HI 96813
http://www.angrykoreanlady.com/
Follow Ah-Lang on Facebook.

[Photos: (top to bottom) The Fashionably-Forward Foodie; Rae Huo/Honolulu Magazine; Chrissy K/Yelp; Vincent Q/Yelp]