Following a craving for Korean food, I recently ventured to Sa Ri One (on Cypress Street, near I-275) to get my fix. Arriving at the small, yet cozy establishment, I was quickly seated and took a look at the menu. Being a beginner in terms of Korean cuisine, each visit presents me with an opportunity to try something new. I decided to try a Korean seafood pancake ($9.95), also called Haemul Pajeon, for the first time.
The first thing I had to ask the waitress was whether or not the dish was spicy, because I am extremely sensitive to spicy food. The waitress assured me the dish was not spicy and the order for a small seafood pancake was put in. A few more customers came in as I waited, and in about twenty to thirty minutes, my seafood pancake arrived. Just looking at it was a new experience. It had an interesting appearance that gave no clues as to what I was about to eat.
This article appears in Sep 16-22, 2010.