Find something 독특한 in Carrollton Texas

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by Mark Henderson – Google Local Guide based in Texas 03.30.2019

독특한 adjective. def: peculiar, exclusive, individual, proper.

pronunciation: dog-teug-han

For about 6 years now my co-workers and I have eaten out for lunch a few times a week relatively close to our place of employment. We began a few lunch visits to different Asian places and were pleasantly surprised. I’m Irish, and my buddy is half Russian half Greek, so this was venturing out of our comfort zones of typical Americana type hamburger/chicken eatery’s. I can’t remember the first time I had Sushi but like most people that have never had it; one tends to be a little scared of trying a new peculiar cuisine not familiar to them especially if you can’t even pronounce the dish, food, or ingredients.

In Carrollton Texas on both the north and south sides of the intersection of President George Bush Turnpike (Toll Road) and Old Denton Road, there is a rising little village, a local community of mostly Korean vendors and patrons. A wild variety of Asian stores, and it’s not just food. I would like to take you on a “Tour” of this area and share some of our findings.

You can visit Asian grocery store/ super markets both with huge & varying selections (like whole aisles of soy sauce variety’s; that’s how big these are) and delis where you can eat a quick bite right there or take it to go. It’s where I know most local Asian restaurant entrepreneurs and managers source their wares, because they have told me so:

Or a little shopping store with an amazing mixture of eclectic Asian treats and drinks to knick-knacks and household goods.

Or how about the Korean BBQ restaurants, all with round gas grilles inset into each table that look like hub-cabs, to cook your own raw meats to perfection. Just think of it like sitting in your backyard with friends and family, grilling and barbecuing beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables and eating it right off the grille. I listed a few below in my order of personal favorites from top to bottom but there are more in the area and some are all you can eat:

  1. Manna BBQ https://goo.gl/maps/qz9XY2y6xzD2 & my review: https://goo.gl/maps/qy2kgu2LJDG2
  2. Yoon Korean BBQ https://goo.gl/maps/1KnynYRdhaS2 & my review: https://goo.gl/maps/S8dqSAWULL22
  3. Gen Korean BBQ House https://goo.gl/maps/jLk8bL42Szz
  4. Gui-Rock https://goo.gl/maps/6M4dJQJJQ5y

A few Shabu Shabu or “hot pot” restaurants that typically use flavored broths in table personal pots to cook meats and vegetables. In my experience Korean places typically use flavored broths where more Japanese styled Shabu Shabu places use water that you eventually season while cooking to then have soup:

Few excellent Ramen (traditional noodle soup) locations, I find that most Korean influenced ramen places specialize in pork-based broth ramen more than say chicken stock types of ramen:

Few Shushi and Poke (deconstructed sushi rolls served in a bowl; pronounced po-kay NOT poke as in poke you in the eye):

For Dessert:

-85C Bakery Cafe (Link) the bakery with a special Taiwan baking practice massive variety of desserts and baked goods and coffee/ tea,

  • Cocohodo https://goo.gl/maps/e2RjA2cekis & my review: https://goo.gl/maps/DdjaZzJCdoD2 featuring “So. boong” ice cream served in a cute fish shaped freshly baked ice cream cone as well as other baked goods and expresso/ coffee

  • Various other bakery’s and ice cream shops, some that roll the ice cream, and juice places as well as boba tea (or bubble tea) serving tapioca pearls in flavored teas.

  • Snow Factory, which was my ultimate favorite type of dessert ever, sadly didn’t make it in this area and has since closed down but was the most amazing Hawaiian Style shaved ice cream place, think of a snow cone but instead of using just ice they use flavored ice cream to shave onto your bowl then add toppings. Gosh I miss that place ?

So, give this area a try and visit these and the many places I didn’t mention. Take your time and explore on a Saturday or Sunday. Visit like two or three different places, do a little shopping, then go eat at any of the restaurants, then pop in to a specialty dessert or bubble tea place. Don’t be apprehensive if you aren’t used to or familiar with Asian styled flavors or dishes, you might find something special you enjoy that you might not have had before. If you are not sure of how do something, like grille your own meat or how to prepare your own soup (Shabu Shabu) just ask. Even if there is a slight language barrier you will have a good time being adventurous and figuring it out. Who knows, it’s possible you may get addicted to something that used to be peculiar to you before, but then you must go get it all the time like my co-workers and I have. Maybe the classic 1980 song by The Vapors “Turning Japanese” is becoming a reality for us, but because of our recent found love of Asian food. https://youtu.be/IWWwM2wwMww Enjoy!

Korean BBQ in table gas grille.
Korean BBQ in table gas grille.1501×1566 390 KB
“So. boong” ice cream served in a cute fish shaped freshly baked ice cream cone.
“So. boong” ice cream served in a cute fish shaped freshly baked ice cream cone.2280×3677 633 KB

2 Likes
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Hello @MarkHenderson ,

Thank you for the detailed post and for introducing so many great places where Asian cuisine lovers can go. I really like your choice of Korean word to describe your list. With such variety of different cuisines and restaurants you probably do not have a favorite dish, right?

By the way, you mention Hawaii style shaved ice ice cream, and I feel your pain for the place’s closure, since this is super popular style of ice cream in Korea as well and I miss its taste every summer.

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