By Sherman Chan,
Special to The Post

One of the things that set Kook apart from other various Korean BBQ joints is their selection of Banchan. We had the spicy squid, stewed potatoes, bean sprouts, bean curd skin, kimchi radish, broccoli, pickled garlic, seaweed, spicy radish salad, pickled daikon, turnip, garlic scapes, and mung bean jelly. The portions were quite small, but you could ask for more. For our BBQ meat choices, we had the Spicy Pork and Chicken, which was tender and juicy. We really enjoyed the spicy pork since it was marinated enough so that it charred well. The meat was tender and cut thick enough that it didn't fall apart on the grill.

The Beef Brisket was sliced ultra thin, making it more tender, easier to eat and quicker to cook, but it got stuck to the grill. The Japchae was served on a long plate. There were substantial ingredients and beef. They were able to keep the noodles dry, non-greasy and chewy without it being too clumpy. Flavours were mildly sweet with a balancing amount of saltiness.

The Dolset Bibimbapand Gamjatang was sizzling and hot enough to create a modest rice crust. The bibimbap was prepared properly.  The gamjatang’s broth had a good kick with the taste of hot pepper complimented by black pepper and perilla. The three large pork bones sported tender meat that soaked up all of the flavours.

Overall, we were quite satisfied with our meal at Kook. Prices are fair given the food quality, portion size and location because there isn't anything nearby like Kook.

Kook Korean BBQ Restaurant

2800 E 1st Ave #211A, Vancouver, BC

The Good:

• Above-average eats

• Lots of Banchan

• Decent service

The Bad:

• Not the best of parking lots (park on the street)

• Some items are pricey, but not out-of-line with similar restaurants

Sherman Chan is the #1 ranked food blogger on the Vancouver portal of Urbanspoon.com. Read more of his reviews at www.shermansfoodadventures.com.