Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Latest Korean Restaurant in BGC: Namoo House

I’m hooked to Korean food these past months. It all started with my addiction to kimchi rice. The mildly spiced bowl of carbs with some crunchy greens is just too irresistible. And so when I heard that Namoo House, a franchise of Maple Tree House in Seoul, Korea, is opening in Manila, I twirled with joy and giddily waited till it opened. And after a few reschedules, I finally found myself in front of the newest Korean restaurant in Manila.

Hello, Namoo House!
Located at the quieter side of Fort Bonifacio, you could easily miss this restaurant by car with its dim facade lights. But you’d easily spot this place if you’re strolling around the area as its friendly hostess will warmly greet you with a big smile on her face. And the glimmering green bottles will surely catch your attention.
I couldn’t help stare at the walls filled with Korea’s famous green soju bottles. 
It created a striking contrast against the golden exhaust tubes and levelled up the Korean grill restaurant's ambiance. 
During our visit, we were able to try Marinated Boneless Short Ribs (PHP750), Woo Samgyup (PHP495) and Stone Bowl Bibimbap (PHP395).
First served were the sides and true to Korean style of dining, they served a lot of side dishes. There were the staple kimchi, spiced dilis and some greens. 
No egg rolls were served but they gave us a small plate of sliced pickled mushrooms and it was better! 

Kat, the hall captain, grilled the meats for us and she prepared the Marinated Boneless Short Ribs first. 
While grilling, she mentioned that the short ribs dish is Namoo House’s bestseller. Marinated in house fruit marinade made of apples, pears and pineapples, each bite guarantees a subtly sweet flavor.
We immediately took a bite as soon as the short ribs were ready. 
We put a bit of pineapple on top of our meat as we were told that the short ribs are best enjoyed that way. And she was right! We loved it!
The meat was so succulent and flavorful that you don’t need any dip for it. Its sweet taste was so addicting that one order is not enough! But we had to resist as Woo Samgyup was about to be grilled next. 
We noticed that they replaced the grill before cooking the Woo Samgyup. 
Kat mentioned that it’s because there’s a specific grill or plate per type of meat. I was impressed as I’ve never been to any grill restaurant that pays attention to the grills used to cook its meats. 
While prepping the Woo Samgyup, the bowl of bibimbap and a complimentary bean paste soup was served. 
Kat was so nice that she was the one who poured soy sauce and some red bean paste on the bowl of bibimbap and mixed it for us. That’s awesome service right there!
Soon, both the Woo Samgyup and bibimbap were ready to be indulged. 

The short-plate brisket slices were so tender and had a noticeably sweet taste. I enjoyed this with its sauce. But I also rebelled a bit and tried it with the sauce for other grilled meat and added a slice of garlic on it. And it still tasted great! 
The bibimbap which is a combination of assorted vegetables and rice sure was a nice touch to complete the meal. We were told that most Korean diners request their bibimbap to be served last and Namoo House seemed to have practiced this too. So make sure that you tell them to serve your bowl of rice together with the meat if you want to enjoy it together. 
We capped our meal by drinking a cup of complimentary plum juice which is known to help digestion. It’s a perfect drink after eating a plate full of meat. 

Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. I would love to go back for more short ribs
P.S. If you plan to have lunch here on weekends, it would be best to call ahead and make reservations as the place is packed on these days. You may contact them at +63 2 946 37 33 or at +639 17 527 38 98.

Namoo House is located at Ground Floor, Uptown Parade, 9th Street, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City.

Namoo House Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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