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We’ve eaten in every Korean place in town, and are mindful of the fact that Vegas is really second tier (as opposed to Southern California) when it comes to great Korean eats. But of all the kim chee and bulgogi we’ve gorged on around these here parts, this place seems to be the best.

Of course we at ELV make no claims to being Korean food experts. We judge these things on the basis of the varieties of ban chan, the quality of the meat, the helpfulness of the staff, and the freshness and snap in the vegetables and seasonings.

On that basis, Korean Garden Barbecue consistently outperforms the other venues around — including Mother’s Korean Barbecue and Tofu Hut, just down the street.

And based upon the “soccarat”  (as the Spanish call it) browned, caramelized rice crust on the bottom of our bimbimbap bowl, it wins hands down.

And the mandu (meat-filled fried dumplings) are mighty fine too.

As is the daeji bulgogi (marinated, spicy pork), which we prefer to let the kitchen cook rather that fiddle with all that meat at the tableside barbecue grills.

Because, let’s face it, they do a better job cooking their own food than a haolie like us ever could.

And if we wanted to cook, we would’ve stayed home.

KOREAN GARDEN BARBECUE

4355 Spring Mountain Road

Las Vegas, NV 89102

www.koreangardenlv.com