Somehow, I feel like Korean cuisine got a tough rap... somehow spice (as in hot) seems to automatically associated with Korean food. But I guess I can see how this happened since kim chee (or kimchi) is the most well known Korean dish, and is automatically associated with authentic Korean cuisine. Granted, it can by spicy, but the flavors really depends on the chef's recipe. These recipes for the traditional kim chee are handed down from generation to generation, which is what makes the food at Little Seoul as authentic as can be.
Little Seoul is a family owned and operated restaurant with a variety of dishes on their rather extensive menu, and each dish is prepared by mom and dad, and then served by their daughter (it doesn't get any more family owned and operated than this!). Now I will say that the menu is split between Korean and Japanese dishes, which can be slightly confusing considering Little Seoul is supposed to be a Korean eatery. But the idea here was to offer a variety of foods to the first timer of this place... you can have something familiar like chicken teriyaki, and then paid it with bul-go-gi which is beef barbecue - Korean style.
All of Little Seoul's Korean dishes are authentic! That's not to say that their Japanese dishes aren't, but dishes like soon-du-bu-jiggae (spicy tofu stew) and bi-bim-bop (a rice dish with sauteed beef, vegetables, and topped with a fried egg) are prepared just like the chef/family had when growing up in Korea... a truly generational recipe.
Their kim chee is fabulous, combining just the right amount of spice, with some delicious nappa cabbage. But remember, kim chee is a side/condiment dish... it's like the Korean cole slaw with a little kick! If you like spicy, I'd highly recommend it paired with the bul-go-gi which is the Korean version of beef barbecue. The beef is slightly sweet which balances well with the spicy acidity of the kim chee.
For those cold nights (and this is probably my favorite dish during our Maine winters), the soon-du-bujjigae is perfect! The chef's recipe for this tofu stew with seafood is absolutely fab! If you're not a seafood person, then you can have this with beef... and if you're a vegetarian, then you can have this stew with simply tofu. When the dish arrives, it may look a little intimidating given it's bright red color. But after one taste, the complexity of flavors that comes through will be a totally different experience - fresh vegetables, seafood, and some spice ... and if you're not much of a spice person, then just ask to have to toned for you.
Now I'd mentioned that Little Seoul's menu has a combination of Korean and Japanese inspired dishes - their dishes also include sushi. As you probably already know, sushi is a very traditional Japanese cuisine and Little Seoul does have a lot of the traditional items such as tuna sushi/sashimi/maki rolls. However, they also have some maki rolls which combines the traditional maki roll techniques/preparation with Korean flavors as found in the 'Seoul roll' which has lettuce, spicy tuna, cooked salmon, crab meat, kim chee, and avocado... a very delicious roll, and definitely one of my favorite maki rolls here!
So if you find yourself on downtown on Exchange St., and want to try something different, I'd say walk in here and give Little Seoul a try. The prices are reasonable/moderate, the service is great, and most importantly ... the food is rather delicious.
Tony
