[nyc] gahm mi oak

for first breakfast (brunch, rather) in new york, we went to gahm mi oak as mimi recommended. it specializes in sul-lung-tang, an ox bone broth soup, excellent to relieve your hangover. i loved the design of the table (sorry i couldn't snap photo of this beautiful table) which looked like a giant tree cut in half.

many korean restaurants have plenty banchan but sul-lung-tang places often only serve kimchi. it is because sul-lung-tang is best enjoyed with really good kimchi, especially radish kimchi, kkakdugi. so it is safe to say that famous sul-lung-tang restaurants also have the best kimchi. at gahm mi oak, we got a little more than kimchi (which the wait staff kindly cut them up to edible sizes for us), some hot pepper, cabbage leaves and ssamjang. ssamjang is a spicy paste mixed with soy bean paste, pepper paste and other various ingredients. the ssamjang here was amazing! i am lacking adjectives to describe this paste. arg! i wanted to steal the recipe. you are welcomed to have the ssamjang as dipping sauce for vegetables or bbq meat.

we ordered one sul-lung-tang ($12.95/ea) each and one soondae ($18.95) to share. soondae is korean style blood sausage. soondae was packed with yummy stuffing and lots of vegetable. soondae is one of my favourite street korean food along with ddukboki. it is one of those food i wish i could make it home to enjoy more but i can't.

sul-lung-tang often requires you to add bit of salt to taste, but i didn't have to add any. not that it was already seasoned, but the broth was very rich in flavour that i didn't want to spoil it with salt. sul-lung-tang can be found in many korean restaurants, but those who do not specialize in it, sometimes add milk or cream to get the milky colour and texture. but authentically, the broth should be prepared by boiling the bones over a long period of time until it turns milky on its own. the dish came out with rice and vermicelli already in the bowl, which saved me hassle of dumping the rice and splashing the soup everywhere (or maybe i am just so clumsy). we were so hungry and devoured the entire thing, left feeling very very satisfied. it was a sensational eating experience ;D


감미옥
Gahm Mi Oak
43 West 32nd Street
New York, NY 10001
view menu here

posted by rin