You need to check out this hidden gem Korean restaurant in Gastown! When you think of Gastown, your first thought probably isn’t Korean food, but this spot is amazing. Zoomak is a relatively new restaurant that takes authentic Korean cuisine and adds a modern twist. I am always wary when restaurants take the tried and true and try to add modernity, but Zoomak proved me wrong. Zoomak is flying under the radar right now, but I definitely hope they get the hype they deserve. I went to try the $20 Korean lunch special and I was blown away by the refinement and taste of every dish.
$20 Lunch Special – “Han Sang”
While there are a multitude of Korean restaurants in Vancouver, only a few offer such a comprehensive lunch special. When you think of a spread like this, you’d probably think of Sura. Well, as much as I love Sura, Zoomak completely blows them out of the water. The “Han Sang” lunch special come with 12 delicacies and your choice of a meat main (Mackerel, Pork Toro or Hanger Steak (+$3)).
The presentation of this lunch set is stunning. It comes to you on a large wooden tray and each component is in it’s own dish. I believe that the dishes will change depending on availability. Every dish was well balanced and each component works with each other.
On the top row of the tray we had the following (left to right) – Kimchi pickles, beef tartare, kimchi, pickled cucumber and crispy konbu.
The kimchi on this tray is some of the best I have had in Vancouver. It had the right amount of pungency, but still a crisp texture. It went really well with the pork toro. The crispy konbu was very unique. It was light and airy and was a great crunchy snack.
On the next row we had – Stewed beef tendon and shank, steamed egg with mentaiko, deep fried tofu, deep fried chicken with wasabi aioli and steamed pork belly.
The beef tendon was so tender and melt in your mouth. The egg was light and the mentaiko added a nice salty punch. The deep fried tofu had a lovely sticky soy glaze which was so savoury and I wish I could bottle the sauce to go. The chicken was well fried and the wasabi aioli added a nice kick.
To round off the tray you have a choice of protein (the steak was fantastic), a bowl of rice and a hot bowl of soup.
Conclusion – Worth a Try!
Overall, I had a fantastic experience. The food was top notch and the lone server did his best to be friendly and on top of service. I am already planning my next visit, because the Jjampong on their menu caught my eye. But for your first (of many) visits, I highly suggest going for the $20 Korean lunch special to get a full tasting of what they have to offer!