Ap Gu Jung1642 RobsonSt.
Vancouver, BC
604-681-8252
www.apgujungrestaurant.ca
Restaurant recommended by food addict - Carol, Ap Gu Jung offered western-style setting but Korean-style cuisine.
Seeing that the restaurant is packed with people by 6pm, the restaurant, it has got to be authentic. Unlike most of the other Korean restaurants I've tried, Ap Gu Jung offered 6+ pages of selections to choose from. Since it was Zofia's first time trying Korean, we had to order some of what I think represents Korean dishes: Kimchi Rice Cake, and Seafood Pancake. To be safe, we also ordered chicken on skewers. Of course, there's also the complimentary and unlimited side dishes that is like an added bonus to the meal.
The portions at Ap Gu Jung were all quite large. Unlike my all-time-favourite Korean restaurant, Jang Mo Jib, I find that Ap Gu Jung's dishes were much more intense in flavouring. Could be a good or bad thing, I feel. The dishes were all served in generous portions of thick sauce. According to my cousin, real authentic Korean dishes ARE supposed to be like this; Chicken skewers splattered with BBQ sauce; Rice cake fully immersed in extreme spiciness and sweetness. I very well enjoyed the first bite of every dish, as it always burst rich taste and texture. However, as we worked our way through the dishes, I quickly get "sauced-out" by the added flavouring. To me, these dishes are not "team players" - they do well alone, but when combined, not so great. For example, a great choir is a team consisting of singers that well-compliments each other. When every sound is at its loudest, it then becomes noise, and not harmony. Maybe this is just a Vancourite depiction Korean food. Maybe an excellent Korean meal actually consists of all bold dishes. Maybe this is why the 20+ year old Jang Mo Jib is so popular amongst the locals. Maybe.
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