Sorabol Fusion Asian Cuisine
Portland, OR 97206-2314
Phone: (503) 771-5842
02/05/2008 Posted by earthbeing12
Having lived on the economy in Korea we have the benefit of direct experience with the foods Korean's eat every day. Sorabol serves exactly the same dishes we ate on the streets of Seoul in an expansive and comfortable space. For the uninitiated, Korean food is incredibly diverse, robust, adventurous and, for lack of a better word, pure. Despite the abundance of American fast food, and TGI Friday’s-styled “restaurants” in urban Korea, and the integration of Japanese cuisine into the fabric of Korean life, Korean food is remarkably and distinctly Korean. It draws upon itself, and is little influenced by outside cultures unless one dials back thousands of years. Sorabol’s offerings are authentic, and reflect a minimalist sampling of all that Korean cuisine has to offer. They have not dumbed-down the food to suite the bland American palate, so unlike the typical Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Chinese restaurants have in order to draw in the locals. Order Dwen-chong Chigai, a hearty stew which is as common a dish as one will find in Korea, and you will be tasting Korean food as it is in Korea. Bi-Bim-Bop, and particularly the excellent Tol-sot Bi-Bim-Bop at Sorobol, were dishes we survived on during our first weeks in Korea as we assimilated. Sorabol’s sushi bar offers typical Japanese imports, common in Korea, but try the Korean pan-chan, small dishes of traditionally served with the main course. Kim-chee, picked lotus root, marinated mushrooms, and a broad array of other temptations should not be missed. Wash it all down with Bori-cha, a tea made with roasted barley, served cold in summer, hot in winter, or a Hite beer, a very light Korean pilsner. Take time to chat with the staff, and seek their help in making selections. After a couple of visits, and some very pleasant conversations with the owners and staff, we were treated like regulars and welcomed upon walking through the doors. Certainly Sorabol is our favorite Asian eatery.
Pros: Authentic Korean, great sushi, fine staff.
Cons: None - keep your expecations to a minimum and enjoy.
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