Korea Palace
127 East 54th Street (between Park & Lexington)

Korean cuisine is a difficult one to enjoy alone, as many of its dishes are prepared for a culture of socialising -- the communal plates, the BBQ, the large hotpots, etc. I remember feeling rather out of place dining in Seoul while travelling there alone -- but the excellent flavours always made up for it. Korea Palace, the only Korean restaurant in this part of Midtown, is an excellent example of how Korean cuisine can be enjoyed by everyone -- including the lone diner.

After having a few drinks with some mates from London, I went looking for food -- and had a craving for Korean. So I wandered into Korea Palace for a late supper and had myself a wonderful time with excellent food and the best companion I needed that evening -- a bottle of soju!

Being rather hungry, I opted for BBQ this evening, and chose my usual -- kalbi (ribs). Even before the ribs were ready, the usual onslaught of Korean snacks came out. I usually gorge myself with kimchee and others before my main course arrive, but yes, I was hungry, so I did so with gusto. And one feature of this restaurant, having frequented this eatery, is the complementary "dish of the day" (this particular evening's was a very interesting dumpling-like dough in hot Korean sauce...excellent!).

The kalbi itself was excellent, obviously well-marinated and grilled carefully -- no serious charring, no undercooking, and the meat remained extremely juicy. Since I was alone, they generously grilled the meat in the kitchen, arriving on my table fait accomplit. Perfect. I've never had a bad kalbi here ever.

A look through this restaurant's menu will give any Korean food lover reason to drool -- even those not familiar with Korean cuisine will find much to enjoy. The menu pleases both the novice to the connoisseur. The mandoo (dumplings) are much recommended as a starter, as are the porridges. I've never had a bad meal here, not even a mediocre one, so it is highly recommended. And for the lone diner, it is a simple and friendly environment, with extremely quick and efficient service.

The meal, as always, topped off by slices of fresh orange. Nice...

Food: A
Atmosphere: A-
For Lone Diners: A-