Do Re Mi House

*** Do Re Mi House has closed

***An update on De Re Mi House can be found here.

Yes, I know it's a strange name. Can you guess what kind of food Do Re Mi House serves? Let me give you some help:

Do Re Mi House serves Korean BBQ and basic Korean dishes in a small dining area, that almost feels "homey", or even like a little countryside Inn perhaps. I've never seen this place reviewed or mentioned anywhere, and the only reason I really know about it, is that a Gal at one of those "mailbox" places once told me that she takes Her Family there because it's affordable, and the food is good. So I've been dropping by off and on for the last few years.

The best bargains are the lunch specials, ranging from $5.99 - $7.99(Kalbi). For lunch this past week I had the Daeji Bulgogi ($5.99):

This "box/bento" style lunch consists of a small portion of BBQ spicy pork, rice, a green salad, 2 pieces of mandoo, and some panchan. The pork was flavored well, it's simply pork bulgogi with gochujang, and was moist, tender, slightly sweet, mildly spicy, and well flavored. The panchan is routine,except for the marinated potatoes, which I love. And the mandoo is terrible, a wrapper like thin cardboard, and not worth my time, neither was the green salad.

What sets Do Re Mi House apart was the service. Alot of places have a low-margin lunches going, basically inexpensive lunches in hopes of attracting volume. Many of these places do what I call the "dump and duck". That is once your order is placed, everything is "dumped" at your table, and the server "ducks" out, never to be seen until your check comes. During this lunch, for instance, the Young Lady saw that I plowed through the panchan, so she came by with two more bowls, saying, "you like kim chee, here's some more". Noticing my rice was running low she asked if I needed more, and brought me a bowl, as well as filling my water 3 times. So by the time I left, what started as a small lunch ended up being a little larger.

One evening I stopped by and ordered the Dak Bulgogi ($10.99):

There was a good variety of panchan, all totally routine,  except the potatoes which I enjoyed. The portion size of the chicken seemed deceptively small, I say deceptively because I couldn't finish. The chicken had a bit of a sweeter taste then I'm used to, but was perfectly fine. I enjoyed the carmelization and the onions on the bottom. The chicken was also well marinated, I've had many instances where the chicken is quickly marinated than cooked, with sauce added at the end, leaving the chicken somewhat bland. As I was eating the Waitress came by and said, you liked the potatoes, right? And brought me another little bowl of the potatoes:

Do Re Mi House fills a niche right below Boo Cho and Buga, in price and quality. I've seen groups of students and families coming in for dinner. The BBQ is not done at the table. Lunch is much more inexpensive, though the portions may be a little on the small side, I've always left satisfied, if not stuffed. Service has always been good.

One short funny story. One night I was just having the Chicken Wings ($6.99), which were fine, but they had changed the recipe since I last had them. They used to be battered and spicy, and now they were just deep fried:

I was having this with some rice and panchan, when an older Lady sitting and eating at the front table, watching Korean Soap Opera, would get up every so often. She would grab a fly swatter and start killing flies in the front area with extreme accuracy. She would eat a few bites while watching the television, get up, and "whap-whap" get a few flies, clean up, and go back to eating and watching her show. I'm assuming she worked there, but am not quite sure...... So I guess there's free entertainment on certain nights? BTW, the flies never really made it into the restaurant with her around; she was deadly accurate!

DO Re Mi House
8199 Clairemont Mesa Blvd Ste M
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 565-2085

Comments

[Rachel]

Hi Kirk,

That fried chicken looked a bit dry was it good? I wish I lived in San Diego ! All these cool places you get to visit *sigh*

[milgwimper]

The post was really good Kirk. I love those potatoes as well. :9 The restaurant looks pretty good, for the cheap lunch. It did not surprise me that the restaurant was Korean with that name. There used to be several businesses up here with that name.

[Kirk]

Hi Rachel - The fried chicken was not bad actually, but it wasn't as good as the one's I've had here previously.

Hi Mills - I could eat like 5 lbs of those potatoes....BTW, is there a Korean name for them? And what's in that name?

[howie]

It's funny I just tried this place for the first time a couple of days ago. I tried the bulgogi, spicy pork bbq, and this rice noodle dish with a spicy red sauce. I enjoyed all the dishes (yes, I loved the potatoes too). This would be a good alternative for people who like Korean BBQ, but hate getting all smoky in the process at cook-your-own places.

[Kirk]

Hi Howie - I hear ya', sometimes you just don't want smell like you've been barbeque'd!

[Pam]

This place totally reminds me of a place we have out here in Glendale called Seoul Cafe, same price and quality it seems (good value bento lunches) and funny enough, is not a "dump and duck" place either. In fact, one of the reasons I like Seoul Cafe so much is because of the great customer service!

[milgwimper]

Kirk,

Yeah They do have as name, but its late and I can remember. When I am more functional memory wise I will post it here. :D

[Angie]

Kirk--

Where is this restaurant exactly? It looks like it's east of Convoy. How on earth do you find these places?!

After your homemade dumpling post I can see why you wouldn't settle for lesser dumplings.

[Kirk]

Hi Pam - Yes, service does make a difference doesn't it? The food may not be top notch, but the service makes up for it all!

Hi Mills - Thanks! I love those potatoes!

Hi Angie - It's in the strip mall just West of the 163. A little Mom and Pop operation. Someone recommended it to me, and I try to follow-up on recommendations. It's not great Korean Food, but well priced, good food. The lunch specials at $5.99 are a bargain if you're not too hungry. And my Wife can tell you, I'm always on the look-out!

[milgwimper]

Kirk,

The potatoes are called kamja chorim or "stewed" potatoes. The potatoes are cooked in soysauce and sugar, but each family has their own recipe. My family makes both a sweet one and a savoury one with the same name. ;P :D There is another Korean sweet that is roasted potatoes with a sweet/soysauce sauce.

[Kirk]

Hi Mills - Thanks for the info!

[Annie]

hi kirk, i went there a few months back. just tog too busy to write about it! heh!

i thought the service was very nice and homelike -- but the ingredients in the bi bim bap was kinda dismal. it didn't look or taste fresh, either that or it was overcooked! looks like the dishes you ordered there were better than what i got though!

the price is not bad for korean restaurants though -- certainly cheaper than buga!!

[Kirk]

Hi Annie - Ack! So I guess the BiBimpBap is not good. I've always gotten Bulgogi, Dak Bulgogi, that kind of stuff.

[Reid]

Hi Kirk,

Seems like the food was a good value, but just OK tastewise. I like that fact that the Korean restaurants there will also give you more ban chan when you ask for it. It's the same way here. I like the potatoes too, they are probably some of my favorites.

[Kirk]

Hi Reid - It is a good value, and fills a niche. I can't just go to Kim Chee II or Gina's here! ;o) I wish I could.....

[Jack]

I have driven past this place countless times and have always wondered what it was like. And no, it wasn't because I was visiting the establishment a couple doors down ;)

[Kirk]

Hey Jack - It's a pretty good value - especially lunch, the portions aren't huge, but the food is ok. BTW, are you talking about the establishment that our Former City Councilmen are known for? hehehe, and I ain't talking about the sports bar! When Angie asked for the location, I almost mentioned said establishment as a landmark! ;o)

[Annie]

Kirk, have you seen this recipe for the potatoes from the Honolulu Advertiser?

This recipe from Chang Bon Choi of Kim Chee Restaurant is the real thing; Jeanora Chang of Honolulu sent it in.

Korean potatoes: Peel and cut 2 pounds potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Immerse them in a brine of 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon rock salt for 10 minutes; drain. Combine 1 cup water, 1/4 cup shoyu, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Place potatoes in shallow pan or skillet and pour shoyu mixture over. Cook over medium-high heat 10-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Remove potatoes with slotted spoon and drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons of remaining sauce.

[Kirk]

Hi Annie - Thanks for the recipe.

[Denver]

Kirk,

Finally tried this place for the lunch special. You were spot-on regarding the portions and the marinated potatoes (which are awesome!).

One place you should try is the Happy Meal (funny name) at the Zion Asian Supermarket. I've been going there pretty regularly for the past couple of years to get my Korean fix (pretty much every week, probably 'cause I didn't know better). In fact, I felt like I was cheating on a girlfriend by trying out Do Re Mi, heheh. Lunch menu is reasonable and they give you bigger portions (including soup and 5 pachan). Spicy pork is awesome. For me, this place edge's out Do Re Mi for good, quick Korean BBQ.