Fusion or Con-Fusion Part 2: Jiggle Jiggle Korean Grill

*** Update: This restaurant has closed.

Yes, i'm finally getting around to doing this one.....which I promised with "part 1" on fuze. I had actually stopped and looked over the menu when JJ first open, some Korean standards, fad following Korean tacos......a carne asada fries knock-off, which is kind of redundant because CAFs are a knock-off itself....so what is a copy off something that's a copy? My friend Candice even mentioned the place in a text, to which I replied, the "the name and the menu makes me giggle giggle".

And yet, there were a couple of folks I knew who liked the place. My usual query would be the one where I asked whether it was a location thing (Midway) or not. Several folks assured me that wasn't the reason. They also told me the Korean tacos were ,"the bomb". And even faced with the fast-food looking facade who am I to judge. If this place could be half as good as....say Gina's BBQ in Honolulu, I would be happy. Sorry to say, it ain't quite that......so if you decide to stop reading here, I wouldn't hold it against you.

On my first visit, I did order "the trio" ($8), one each of the kalbi, dak bulgogi, and daeji bulgogi.

It was a bomb all right; a gut bomb, a lettuce and spicy mayo-fest. I gotta say, if it's pure capacity you're trying to fill, then these might do it. The tortillas were the worst this side of El Pollo Loco, as they just fell to bits and had almost no flavor. I tasted each protein separately and the kalbi was by far the worst, pale, flavorless, and really tough "LA Kalbi" type shortribs. The pork was tough, but at least it had some heat, but all was really lost in the wilderness of lettuce. The chicken bulgogi was probably the best of the trio, decent, but again just covered with "stuff". Let me say however, if you're looking to fill yourself up....this might do it.

So I figured that would be pretty much it......but, the folks running the place were really nice, so I decided to visit one more time. This time I started with the Yaki Mandu ($4).

I really liked the way these were fried....light and crisp. The dipping sauce was a bit watered down and the filling really bland, otherwise this would have been a winner.

My curiosity got the better of me and I decided to try the Korean Fries, which, priced at $5.50 are really worth it. But man, this was a mess......

On the good side, I enjoyed the interplay of the kimchi and the fries. On the bad side kimchi and nacho cheese.....that's a bad partnership. I did wonder why the menu said Spicy Mayo and Korean Aioli, which seems to be somewhat redundant. Too much mayo and cheese for my taste and the bulgogi....well you could see it, but not really taste it. Though I did have sort of an epiphany while trying to eat this....if we had a category on the blog for "stoner food", this would be right up there! After all, it was salty, tons of fat, interesting textures.....hmmmm...

To me, the food at fuze is executed better, with higher quality ingredients. Still, the prices here are reasonable and if anyone could give me a recommendation that's not kalbi, spicy pork, bulgogi, chicken bulgogi, or mandu oriented, I may just check them out again. Though I might recommend Jiggle Jiggle to you at the end of a hard night of drinking a la "grease-berto's"....but JJ closes at 9 during the week and 10 on Friday and Saturday.

Jiggle Jiggle Korean Grill
3146 Midway Drive
San Diego, CA 92110

Comments

[Cheezpweez]

They make a half decent soondubu (the last time though, I got the kimchi one and it tasted a little overfermented sour). The japchae is alright, just the kind I like but it isn't too authentic. And I get the kimchijun every time. One time they had a daily soup that was amazing, I don't know what its called but its a miso-based with cabbage.... the yugaejang is okay but honestly there will never be one better than my mom's.

TL;DR: I only go there because it's the closest korean-ish place to downtown.

[Kirk]

Hi Cheezpweez - Thanks for the update....I figured a lot of it was due to location.

[Alan in Clairemont]

Kirk, I would like to personally thank you for taking these kimchi / nacho "bullets" for us, all in the name of blogging! I've learned a lot from your site though, keep up the great work.

[Janfrederick]

"The tortillas were the worst this side of El Pollo Loco"

Kirk is telling on himself. Desparate EPL run a few years back? :)

Any recommendations for good grilled Mexican (or Central American) chicken in SD. I've seen quite a few places in OC.

[MrZ]

Hi Kirk,

As I said before, your bad reviews are more entertaining than the good reviews! Thanks for throwing yourself on "the bomb" and saving the rest of us from the experience.

[Faye]

You don't like EPL tortillas? I think they're 'alright' but not the 'worst' :)

Did you prefer this place over Fuze? I haven't tried Fuze yet either but it's closer to me - so I'm wondering if it's better to try Fuze my first time around (for Korean Fusion food). The pic of the fries literally made burp b/c it just looks like a volcano oozing pure cholesterol driven fats :)

Nice post !

[Kirk]

Thanks for reading and commenting Alan!

Actually, Jan, I do have EPL once in a while....it's on the way home.....I do eat like everyone else I think, don't I?

Hi MrZ.....you like these huh? LOL! You should try out those Korean fries.....

Hi Faye - The tortillas at ELP have no flavor and fall to pieces easily....they are not the worst, but pretty lousy. I think fuze is definitely better. Those fries are a total calorie/fat bomb...mayo and nacho cheese!!!

[kat]

whoa, nacho cheese & kim chee...

[Kirk]

LOL Kat....don't forget the mayo.....

[grey]

Looks like those fries are trying to emulate carne asada fries, with a Korean twist. I think you nailed it when you suggested "Stoner food". I think this would be an imprecation were their goal to be traditional Korean but seems the goal is a more relaxed/ fusion version of it. Carne asada fries are also famously exorbitantly rich but there is a strong customer demand for this local dish. My friend says they are good when you have the munchies.

[Kirk]

Hi Grey - Yeah, it's pretty obvious that's what they're trying to do. This is even more rich and greasy than CAFs.