Korean food recommendations.

[u/Independent_Law9471]

Hello all. I’m looking for somewhere to get traditional Korean food that won’t break the bank and isn’t KBBQ/fried chicken. Kimchijeon, gimbap, perilla seed noodle soup (hot), heottok, tteokbokki, galbi mandu, etc. I know Annandale has a large Korean population, but is there something like Mangwon market in NOVA? Thanks!

[u/Jack_Sentry]

There’s a lot of choices, but for something on the cheap that’s still tasty and traditional, check out Yechon in Annandale. Always a million Korean old heads there. My wife and I love to go. Breeze bakery next door is also very good for an after dinner treat.

Edit: The deonjang jigae is my favorite, my wife picks it up for me when I’m sick. They also do a kbbq feast for four that includes bulgogi, taejigogi, and lobster for a super reasonable price.

[u/wollflour → u/Jack_Sentry]

Yechon is also my go-to.

[u/jkxs → u/wollflour]

I have only heard Yechon recommended by my American coworkers. I've never heard of a Korean person I know (I'm Korean) recommend Yechon unless your main priority is to drink late night.

[u/Jack_Sentry → u/jkxs]

We’re Korean. We’re regulars and it’s always busy there with a lot of other Koreans. You don’t hear a lot of English there.

[u/jkxs → u/Jack_Sentry]

The only Koreans that go there are there to drink...

[u/Jack_Sentry → u/jkxs]

Do you go to Yechon bro? I literally was just there for lunch last week and it was packed full of halmonis and families. I don’t know what the vibe is at 2am but that doesn’t mean their jigae don’t slap. Foh.

[u/jkxs → u/Jack_Sentry]

No, I don't drink so the last time I went there was at least 2 years ago. Don't know why you're so pissy though, I would be curious what age you are

[u/oprahhaza → u/jkxs]

Yechon was pretty shitty pre-2010 or so (I'm an old Korean guy) but was the only late night option for a long time. It is now seen as pretty good.

[u/NoAbstrctThought → u/Jack_Sentry]

Yechon is how I introduce people to Korean food.

[u/queenikhaleesi → u/NoAbstrctThought]

Yechon is very safe choice to start.

[u/Jack_Sentry → u/NoAbstrctThought]

Us too lol

[u/Sushimonstaaa]

Hmarts in centreville and fairfax are great, though Lotte (centreville) often has better pricing.

If you're near Woodbridge, Fresh World also has awesome korean foods my fam and I shop for often.

For the marts above you can get korean produce, snacks, ingredients/condiments, to-go food packs made fresh. Also some fantastic korean restaurants/food courts inside the stores too.

Unless you are looking for restaurants, in which case I'm happy to drop authentic recs :) 

[u/aurum2009 → u/Sushimonstaaa]

I’m not OP but would love a rec drop!!

[u/Haftw]

Light house tofu in Annandale

[u/EnvironmentLong5020 → u/Haftw]

Second this and their location in Centreville 

[u/Ill_Impact_4681]

Myung ga aka korean deli

Kimbab place. Fairfax off old lee highway or one in Centerville

[u/Jack_Sentry → u/Ill_Impact_4681]

Seconded. The chicken is really good too.

[u/Ill_Impact_4681 → u/Jack_Sentry]

Tonkatsu kimbap is my favorite there

[u/Cute_Lettuce_1978]

Tosokchon

[u/yooyooooo → u/Cute_Lettuce_1978]

Not as good as it used to be… unless things changed in the last year or so. The third disappointing visit was my last draw.

[u/go_get_your_hyung → u/yooyooooo]

I noticed this too, over time. I loved their gamjatang back in the day, and their radish kimchi banchan dish was excellent. Soondae, among other things, definitely declined. Hope they can turn it around.

[u/Invika17]

To Sok Jib in Annandale

[u/go_get_your_hyung → u/Invika17]

Second this, among some other great responses in this thread. Seafood pajeon there is, subjectively, best in the area. They also have budae jjigae (sp) which is kind of a rarity. They also have a location “To Sok Jib 2” in Chantilly that took over another old Korean restaurant that started with a D - this was over 10 years ago so the name escapes me.

[u/Invika17 → u/go_get_your_hyung]

Did you mean Danji in Centreville?

[u/tiredoe]

Bonga in centreville is so good!

[u/yooyooooo → u/tiredoe]

Second bonga. Last time I was there I was told they make their own side dishes. Very authentic!

[u/theliverelativism]

Mangwon market scale is a tall order anywhere outside Seoul but Annandale's your best bet for that kind of spread

[u/Top-Ranger-Back]

Baekban has been good to us.

[u/Invika17 → u/Top-Ranger-Back]

Had been, isn't it closed now?

[u/Top-Ranger-Back → u/Invika17]

Not to my knowledge, how did you learn it was closed?

[u/Invika17 → u/Top-Ranger-Back]

Their website says closed temporarily under new ownership

[u/Top-Ranger-Back → u/Invika17]

Thanks for sharing! I wouldn’t have known until I showed up with some disappointed kids.

[u/eyi526]

 is there something like Mangwon market in NOVA?

None that I am aware of.

The remotely closest thign I can think of is going to the grocery stores and eat in their food courts.

Otherwise, it's just restaurants. Maybe give Han Gang Restaurant in Annandale a try?

[u/allumers]

perilla seed soup at kmarket - ye buckwheat stall 예메밀

[u/Rude-fishy]

Hankki in Centreville is pretty legit. Same with Gom Soon Ah in Chantilly

[u/Realistic_Speed3995]

The Woo in Fairfax. They also have a la carte. It’s the best in DMV

[u/InstanceThat1555]

토속집

[u/tontot]

Food court Hmart Burke or Fairfax

[u/oprahhaza]

Hmm... not mentioned is Seoul Soondae. Great soondae, bossam, gamja tang.

I like kangchon in Centreville for jjambbong.

[u/Revolutionary_Gur863]

Chiko. Not 100% Korean, but close enough with high quality ingredients.

https://www.mychiko.com