Chām: Something Entirely Different

 

I’ve eaten lots of different ethnic foods but I’ve never gotten around to trying Korean. I got my chance when I visited Chām Korean Bistro.

The interior of Chām is über modern: all straight lines, blonde wood and gentle curves. Even their condiment containers have style.  And everybody is so friendly; I was greeted with a volley of welcomes when I walked in.

As for the food, “it’s all about freshness,” said manager Jerry Kang. The food is “based on tradition but we put our own twist on it.”

 

With dishes like Bibimbap, Ssam Garden, and Beef Bulgogi, I could see I was in for a few surprises. We began our meal with a bit of potato salad. I’d venture to say that this is not your family’s potato salad. It had no celery or onions; it consisted of potatoes and a sweet dressing. It came across a bit like sweet potatoes in taste (though not in color) and was a tasty start to the meal.

Next came pan-fried dumplings filled with kimchi and ground beef, lined up on a plate with mashed kabocha squash and sesame oil for dipping. A bit of tartness delivered from the kimchi added layers of flavor in every bite of the crunchy dumplings. The squash was a sweet accompaniment and the sesame oil added a nutty taste.

Rice Cakes (called Topokki) glistened with a spicy sauce accompanied by fresh broccoli, mushrooms and bell pepper. The rice cakes were similar in texture to gnocchi and the sauce was screaming hot. This is a great dish for those who like their food on the spicy side, but if you have a delicate palate you might want to choose something else.

 

Bibimbap is a sizzling pan of rice, vegetables, and your choice of meat with an egg. It comes steaming to your table, you add sesame oil and/or spicy red pepper paste and then stir it all up (instructions – with photographs – are on the back of the menu). Our Bibimbap came with beef bulgogi (thinly sliced rib-eye marinated in a special BBQ sauce). The rice gets all crusty on the bottom and you’re treated to a bit of vegetable and meat in every bite. A whole meal with sizzle!

If you want your food to go, no problem at Chām. They also cater if you’re looking to feed a crowd. Chām Korean Bistro is located at 851 Cordova Street, Pasadena. They are open Monday – Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. For more information call (626) 792-2474 or log onto www.chamkoreanbistro.com.