On the corner of 8th and Bryant (1010 Bryant Street) is an authentic Korean restaurant known simply as So. There are so many puns you can lay out with a name like this, but I promise to only use one: this place is so good, and there are a few distinct reasons why.
1.) Huge Portions
So offers heaping portions of fried chicken and pork, drowning in flavorful sauces that are unique and delicious. I have never seen appetizers this size before. One bowl of the Cherry Pork is enough to fill a reasonably hungry adult. The potstickers are the biggest dumplings I have ever seen, overstuffed with ground pork and accompanied by a delicious ginger-soy dipping sauce. Be careful when making your decision; so much seems appealing here, you definitely run the risk of over-ordering. MAKE SURE YOU ORDER THE KOREAN FRIED WINGS! THIS IS YOUR #1 PRIORITY!
2.) Affordable Prices
The average cost of a plate here is between $7 – $8. A hidden gem of value in a sometimes overpriced city.
3.) Variety
Everything I tried here has some characteristic making it profoundly different than the rest, quite a feat when you consider that the menu is dominated by noodle dishes. I have been to many a noodle house in my day and at lesser establishments it seems like every dish is just a slight variation from the next. Not at So. Black Bean Noodles are a popular dish here and the flavor is worlds apart from the Curry Shrimp Rice, for example, which is marked by a savory Indian flair.
Get to So for lunch or even dinner and be ready to take some delicious Korean cuisine back home with you. The only caveat I can give you is that if you’re going with other diners make sure to bring cash. This place gives you a real hard time about splitting a check on multiple credit cards (as in they won’t do it), which is both unfortunate and inconvenient but a small price to pay in exchange for some of the best Korean food in the city.
Photo credit: Brad Japhe