Buga Korean BBQ Restaurant

Over the last year or so I've heard the name Buga pop up on Chowhound whenever Korean Restaurant recommendations were requested. The strange thing was that other than a short negative post on Chowhound mentioning small portions and high prices, the only posts went like...."my Korean friends say...", "I've been told by Korean co-workers...", and such. I also went that route and asked around and got mixed reviews. God knows that I passed the restaurant nearly everyday. Also, a so-so experience at my favorite Korean BBQ Boo Cho, piqued my interest, and I'd decided to pay a visit to the specter that was Buga in the near future. Mills and Sarah please correct any inaccuracies!

Finally two things set a visit to Buga up, Ed from Yuma was making a quick trip into town, and Annie from Green Beans San Diego, noted that she had the best Kalbi she's ever tasted at Buga.

Arriving at the parking lot, I noticed a somewhat odd thing. Buga is semi-attached to a Motel 6, and share the same parking lot. Talk about strange bedfellows, needless to say, there's an interesting crowd milling around in the parking lot. I met Ed at the front door and entered the restaurant, the first thing you'll notice is that Buga is alot smaller than the facade would indicate. Partially due to the sushi bar located in one end of the restaurant, and the table spacing necessary to support placement of large vents for the barbecue. We arrived at 630 pm and were greeted with smiles and seated immediately. After seating we perused the menu and decided on BBQ - Galbi ($20.95) and Bulgogee ($16.95), seemed like natural choices. Soon after the panchan arrived:

I'll spare the description in minutiae, just to say that this was the best panchan I've had in San Diego. Ed must've been enjoying himself, he did what I call the "Ed's delici-yoso dance" a few times. what happens is he closes his eyes, raised his arms to a perpendicular angle, goes "mmmmm", and sways back and forth. I thought the servers were going to call 911.

Here's my favorite panchan:

Also served was a small bowl of  deep cooked beef soup with thin slices of mu (daikon). Usually you'd get some watery seaweed soup, or other thin "broth", but this was very good. I'm actually thinking about ordering Kori Gomtang (Ox Tail Soup $14.95), during a winter visit. The grill was prepared (rubbed with onion) and the meat arrived and was cut and placed on the grill by the server, also arriving were the greens and wrappers (dduk & mu).  I realized the reason someone had complained about the portion sizes, was that this was a "dduk bossam" style restaurant. The portion sizes at Buga are more than adequate for this style of eating.

The Galbi was excellent, well marinated, and tender. The flavor was very good and balanced, with the sheen of Malt Syrup, and just enough sweetness. When the well marbled Bulgogee arrived, my initial thought was that it was perhaps a bit undermarinated, but my apprehension was unwarranted, the bulgogee was excellent, soft and tender, and just about as perfect as it gets. To indicate the level of service, the Waitress actually made the first two samples of Ed's Galbi "wrap" showing him how to prepare it. As the bulgogee was almost done, the Server came by and cut up the pieces of onion and made sure that all was well. The meal was completed with a palate cleansing cold cinnamon tea with pine nuts (sujeonggwa??).

Well,l I went home and raved about this place. So the Missus and I ended up going back to Buga the following evening. We were actually seated at the same table, and the Waitress remembered me, and was so helpful. Again, on this visit the service was superb, as was the panchan, and the soup, though some of the panchan were different, they were all great.

On the previous night I noticed the Hae Mul Pajun ($14.95),  and it looked fabulous, so we ordered it.

Topped with a bit of sauce and some rice this was very tasty. The pancake contained shrimp, mussels, small oysters, and artificial crab, and had a nice savory flavor. It was deceivingly filling. I ordered the Haemul Dolsot Bibim Bap ($12.95), basically seafood and vegetables over rice. This was served in a stone pot, allowing for a wonderful crust to form at the bottom. Eaten with a bit of Gochujang this was a great texture and taste sensation.

During the whole meal we watched a Gentleman eating a metal bowl of Bibim Naengmyun ($9.95) that never seemed to end, he kept eating and eating, that just seemed like an eternal bowl of noodles; note to self, you need to order this. The meal was again finished with the cinnamon tea, and we were on our way. I give Buga my highest recommendation, great attentive service and good food. This is a new one for our rotation.

Some notes on Buga - The service is very good, and in this type of restaurant, the servers have alot to do. It seems that Buga may be a victim of it's own success. On both days, as we left the place was totally packed and the servers almost running from station to station, still providing good service. In fact, we returned a third night and had to leave because of the crowd. This is typical gas BBQ not charcoal, but it's damned good. Lunch specials are available from $7.95 and up. According to a sign Buga uses Coleman Natural Beef short ribs that are 100% pasture fed.

Buga Korean BBQ Restaurant
5580 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92117

Open daily 11 to 11

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Comments

[Reid]

Hi Kirk,

WOW! That does look good and the prices seem to be on par with what we are charged here in Hawaii for the same types of dishes. I'm glad the waitresses there offer assistance. No such luck here I'm afraid.

[Pam]

Kirk, I tried to picture your friend Ed's Delici-yoso dance and couldn't recreate it w/o laughing. Next time you should include a streaming video! LOL!

All the food looks yummy!

[clare eats]

That looks great! I love that cold cinnamon tea mmmmmmm

[Jack]

That looks GOOD! I think that it might be time for a little korean food this week.

[Kirk]

Hi Reid - Yes, this was a good two meals - and the service was really nice on both nights. It's good to know the prices are pretty much on par - I'd been under the impression that Korean food here was much more expensive than back home.

Hi Pam - It was pretty amazing to watch. Ed's a pretty adventurous eater, and a real cool guy. I hope he doesn't get too angry at my mentioning his "dance".

Hi Clare - Yes that little tea, really cleared the palate. Nice way to end the meal.

Hey Jack - This place is pretty darn good. My advice is to go a little early - they are open from 11 to 11. It gets really crazy when the crowd picks up.

[Jo]

mmmmmm ::sigh:: ::whines:: Miiillllyyyyyy... ::snivel:: when we gonna eat stuff like that! I really want to try the pancake thingie! That looks like totally hecka yummo!

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - It was great - especially the kimchee, ha! the Hae Mul Pajun was really good.

[milgwimper]

Kirk,

That looks awesome, the prices are about the same here as in San Diego. I love the type of kalbi you received. I mean I LOVE IT! I love that cut of Kalbi. *sigh* If I ever come down here you will have to take me! LOL Yes the cinnamon tea you drank is sujongwa (or however the romanization supposed to go) the meal looks so very good, and I am so happy you really enjoyed the food. Hmmm maybe I should do Ed's dance, well maybe. ;P

Jo,

Yeah we will have to try those foods, or maybe we could try making the pajon. :>

[Kirk]

Hi Mills - I'll just settle for the "bumity bum bum" on this one. The food was very good, the service was also great!

[Kirk]

BTW Mills - If you and Hubby are ever here (and Jo, et al...) we'll surely hit here and Ba Ren!

[Annie]

great place! i love the cinnamon tea thing and wanted to replicate it at home! i also love how fresh the side dishes were!

buga was crowded on the nights you went?? and you guys had to leave on a third night because it was so crowded?? uh oh... my significant other doesn't like waiting in line for dinners....

[Kirk]

Hi Annie - I hate crowds too, it took alot of "encouragement" from the Missus to get me into the parking lot on a Saturday night at 7pm. We even usually eat at 5pm to avoid the crowds if possible. It looks like word is getting out, and I almost felt a sort of reluctance to post this, because service had been so great, but I know that it must be total chaos when busy. Anywho, I'd go before 6pm....

Milly - Do you think you can provide a recipe for "sujongwa", either here or on your site for us???

[Eddie]

God! I'm hungry again...and I JUST ate!!! Thanks a lot!!

[Eddie]

God! I'm hungry again...and I JUST ate!!! Thanks a lot!!

[KirkK]

Eddie - My pleasure!!! Thanks for stopping by. BTW, I love your site!

http://deependdining.blogspot.com/

[milgwimper]

Kirk,

I will put up the recipe soon. I promise. Just give me some time to get the recipe up. Your wish is my command! LOL ;P :D

[Kirk]

Thanks Mills, I'm sure Annie would appreciate it!

[sarah]

hae mool pah jun, baby!

my ATF korean food.

damn, and that one looks damn tasty.

:)

[Jo]

Hey Mills, is the so-soon-jun-kai-woo cinnamon tea anything like the cinnamon tea at Hobee's?

Please excuse the dumb americanization! ;oP

I WANNA GO! I was talking about this post with Mills earlier today Kirk. I didn't realize it was so expensive to eat these things in a restaurant. Maybe that's why we haven't! ::sigh:: How about we go for white soup that should be red? We can afford that stuff right???

[Kirk]

Hi Sarah - All Hail Hae Mul Pajun! Ha! It was as good as it looks, more filling than I thought it would be, too.

Hi Jo - Yes, the price is what prevents me from eating this stuff more often, which might be everyday. I'd always thought that Korean food on the Mainland was alot more expensive than what I paid back home, but looks like these prices is about right. I think you need to eat red soup that should be white, actually!!!

[milgwimper]

Jo,

The flavour of sujonggwa is similar I guess to Hobbees ice tea but it does not use tea leaves. I would not drink a tall glass of sujonggwa, and most people would think having a half reconstitued persimmon in their ice tea glass a little weird and hard to fish out.

Kirk,

That reminded me, did you get a persimmon in your tea, or was it just the tea and pine nuts? I will have the recipe posted on my blog, I just have a lot of things pop up, and should have it up in about a day or two! Sorry

[Kirk]

Hi Mills - No persimmon in my tea (though the Missus woulda' loved that!), just a little glass bowl with the tea and 3 pine nuts. Sounds like you and Jo may be hitting a Korean Restaurant soon - don't forget the camera!

[Jo]

ARGH! THE CAMERA! THE CAMERA! THE CAMERA!

[Kirk]

The camera, the camera, my kingdom for a camera!!!!

[Jo]

I thought that was a horse Kirk. =o) You're gonna have to wait until I become a multi-billionaire real baklava estate tycoon!