There is more than just ramen at Mokbar
Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC
I remember when we met Chef Esther Choi at Mokbar in Chelsea Market back in 2014: little I knew that she would have the career she had. Regardless, Mokbar is one of my favorite spots there and not just for ramen. The rest of the food is worth a trip and the annoyance from the people behind, who are queuing up at Los Tacos Numero 1, and who try to sit where Mokbar is. Here are some of the things I love there:
The Korean fried chicken with spicy gochuchang sauce ($11) are nice and crispy, a little spicy but so good that you go back to eat. They also propose them with sweet soy sauce for those who do not like spicy food. Another appetizer is their vegan dumplings ($10), also proposed with beef or pork. But the vegan ones are surely delicious, the tasty filling being encased in a delicious shell that is not too thick. Another vegetarian favorite is their Brussels sprouts ($7), that are crispy, covered with sweet soy sauce and topped with sour cream, charred scallions and sesame seeds. A more classic dish could be their bulgogi beef buns ($12). But no, it is not: the delicious marinated beef is complemented with caramelized kimchi jam, mozzarella cheese and aioli. Each bite is like an explosion of flavors with the tender and juicy beef still being the star of the dish. I should mention that chef Choi makes an incredible kimchi and even serves it on the K-Town fries ($8), that is her interpretation of disco fries, where crispy French fries are topped with kimchi, bulgogi aioli, gochujang sauce and furikake. A decadent version to try. With their ramen, what I love is their bowls that you can have with rice or noodles and the bulgogi bowl ($18) is amazing: it is composed of thinly sliced marinated ribeye, with carrots, scallions, onion, kimchi and a perfectly poached egg for added creaminess. Comforting, the noodles are chewy, and the beef is nicely caramelized, having a delicious sweet and savory flavor that complements well the tangy kimchi. A must have for sure.
Chicken wings at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC
Vegan dumplings at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC
Brussels sprouts at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC
Known fries at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC
Bulgogi buns at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC
Bulgogi noodle bowl at Mokbar, Korean restaurant in Chelsea Market, NYC
These are just some examples of what Mokbar has to offer and if you are looking for delicious food, this is a good place to know. My recommendation though: don't just stick to ramen.
Enjoy (I did)!
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Mokbar Chelsea Market - 75 9th Ave,. New York, New York 10011
