Gangnam 88 @ Solaris Mont Kiara
Recently I had chance to have a dinner date with one of the popular Korean Singer PSY whose known for his hit single “Gangnam Style”. The video hit 2.8 billion views and it is also the most viewed video on YouTube. Don’t believe? Check out the next photo!
You see, he accompanied us in our private room throughout the dinner. LOL
OK, just kidding. Actually this is a big poster in one of the private room at Gangnam 88, Solaris Mont Kiara. Being one of my favourite Korean joint in the town, so when BFF called for a casual dinner gathering and my answer definitely a “YES”!
Being my first visit to this outlet (previous visits were at Sunway Giza outlet (1st visit, 2nd visit, 3rd visit), I found that both outlets share a similar cheerful and vibrant interior.
Located at the little Korean township at Solaris Mont Kiara, Gangnam 88 serves wide variety of Korean food with very reasonable price. Pushed the door open and we were enthusiastically greeted by the staff as well as Korean music at the background.
It is a youthful space with posters of K-Pop stars are placed all over, some ornaments adorning the place and photos of happy diners being displayed on the walls.
The private room is furnished with comfortable banquette seating and heavily adorned with K-Pop artists posters, CDs and knick-knack. Advanced reservation is recommended because there are only 2 private rooms here.
Gold Set (RM238.00)
There were 6 of six so we opted for their latest set meal which is a good sharing portion for 5 to 6 persons. The Gold Set comprises Cheese Squid Rabbokgi, Ginseng Chicken Soup, Kimchi Soup, 3 stypes of barbecued meats, Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Cheese Rolled Omelet.
What I particularly like about dining at a Korean restaurant is the banchan. As soon as we were seated, the service staff brings over the complimentary banchan in small colour plates as well as drinking water to our table. We got 7 types of side dishes that evening, variety wise, not the best I’ve tried but good enough to whet our appetite before our food arrived. We did a few rounds of refills especially the appetizing kimchi.
Cheese Squid Rabbokgi
Rabbokggi is the combination of two awesomely delicious things: Ramyeon and Tteokbokki (stir fried rice cakes in a sweet and spicy sauce.)
Our gargantuan Cheese Squid Rabbokgi stole the limelight on the food on our table. At sight, there were filled to the brim ingredients in the pot set on a portable stove. Sit gloriously on the top was a golden crispy deep fried squid. Other ingredients spotted were cheese, hard boiled egg, vegetables, kimchi, Korean fish cakes and of course the Ramyeon as well as Tteokbokki. Savouring this is almost like a treasure hunting with numerous of goodies submerged in that spicy broth laced with lots of fiery heat from the kimchi and chili paste.
Ginseng Chicken Soup
The soup is made with a small whole young chicken filled with rice, red dates, ginseng and chestnut. This soup was ravishingly flavourful with chicken essence and very subtle hints of ginseng in the end note. The chicken meat was smooth and falling-off-the-bone tender. This soup is not only delicious but also good for health, it is indeed an enjoyable and comforting pot of soup.
BBQ Meats
The set also included 3 types of barbecued meats and I like they pre-grill everything in the kitchen and we can enjoy the grilled meat without any unpleasant smoky smell stick on our clothes afterwards.
There were grilled pork belly with pickled cabbage, another one in sweet and sour sauce and spicy kimchi sauce. The meat were nicely grilled with textbook perfect texture and I personally love the grilled pork belly with pickled cabbage. The delicious sour tang brought about by the pickled cabbage went really well with the meat and imparted a sensational flavors to the meat. I also enjoyed immensely the slightly crunchy fat layer of the meat after being grilled, it’s an indulgence worth of every calories it packs.
Kimchi Soup
The kimchi stew was thick, robust, piquant and addictive. The version is here is nicely balanced with good heat, savory and sweet and sour notes. There are lots of kimchi as well as other vegetables, pork and beancurd in the soup which makes it a wholesome one pot meal to go with rice.
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
This most probably my least favourite dish of that evening. Boneless chicken chunks coated with a thick batter not really to my liking.
Cheese Rolled Omelet
Omelet with chopped spring onion and capsicum layered generously with cheese and chili sauce.
Verdict: The Gold Set we had was a fully loaded portion good enough for 5-6 persons that’s great value for money. Reasons to visit? Cheerful ambience, attentive service and great food, if these not enough to attract you, maybe I should spend more time to find you a better one. Gangnam 88 certainly a great place for gathering, be it for friends or families.
Gangnam 88
No.1-1, Jalan Solaris 3, Solaris Mont Kiara
Off Jalan Duta Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +603-6206 5888
Operating Hours: 11.30am – 1.00am Daily ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
89-1, Sunway Giza Mall, Jalan PJU 5, Kota Damansara
47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: +603-6151 6488
Operating Hours: 11.30am – 1.00am Daily
Website: www.gangnam88.net/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gangnam88.net
This is the first time I am seeing so many exciting photos of this restaurant’s interior ambiance and delicious & mouthwatering food!! It has given me an idea to throw a surprise party since it has private rooms. Thank you!
This place can definitely make you feel young again with all the K-Pop musics! The private room is not too big, make sure your party group is not exceed 8 persons if you want to sit more comfortable ^__*
You’ve done four visits to gangnam 88 and I still haven’t done one yet, hehe 😉
Haha, you are too busy Sean 😛 Do you need assistant to help you food tasting? LOL
I love Korean food! But in Taiping, only one Korean food outlet, hur hur!
This outlet, got one at Sunway Giza also is it?
One is better than none 😛
Yes, the Sunway Giza also I went before, you can click into the links I’ve attached in my post 🙂
I need that ginseng chicken soup now.
I’ve tapao this back and add more rice to cook as porridge, so yum ^__^
You’ve dined so many times at Sunway Giza’s outlet. I’m always at that area so maybe one of these days should go dine there too.
Yes you should, provided that you and your boys like Korean food 😛
First time I’ve seen banchan served in such colourful plates! ^_~ You looked like you had a great time.
So cute right those colourful plates! I was pretty excited when I 1st time saw it 😛