AURORA | Terri Lee has seen a look of bewilderment come over the faces of first time customers at Mr. Kim’s Korean BBQ in Aurora.
The towering exhaust hoods over the tables, plus the gas grill smack in the center of it, create an atmosphere that can be a little intimidating to newbies.
And that’s before the staff comes out with close to 20 different side dishes and sauces to accompany a heaping platter of raw meat dripping in seasonings. That crowded table, plus the array of equipment, can be a bit much.
“They can be a little overwhelmed,” Lee said with a laugh.
But that hasn’t stopped customers from packing Mr. Kim and several other local Korean BBQ spots in recent months as the cuisine’s popularity continues to grow.
And as is the case with pretty much any ethnic cuisine, Aurora is the metro area’s hub when it comes to Korean BBQ, boasting close to a dozen restaurants, including several along Havana Street.
At Mr. Kim’s, an order of garbi — marinated steak cut thin and cooked on the grill at your table — comes with an impressive array of sides and dipping sauces.
Danny Kim, the manager there, said the mix of side dishes — including kim-chi, calamari strips, peanuts, zuchini and vegetable pancakes on this particular day — always varies. Sometimes there are about a dozen, other times close to 20, he said.
Lee, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Chris Kim, said the sides vary in part bases on the seasons and what fresh vegetables are available.
That freshness is a key to Korean BBQ, Lee said. Everything from the kim-chi to the bean sprouts slathered in savory sauces are made fresh at the restaurant, she said.
Lee said that beyond the obvious differences between a Korean BBQ restaurant and a typical restaurant — mainly cooking the food yourself and the array of sides and sauces — there is another important distinction.
While at other places the whole meal comes together, like a bowl of pho or some other Asian dish. But with Korean BBQ, everything is separate.
Once people get past that, she said, they tend to enjoy themselves.
“When they actually try it they are kind of amazed by it because it’s something different,” she said, the sound of an exhaust hood blaring near by.
Mr. Kim’s opened last fall and Lee said they are still seeing a steady stream of customers who aren’t just first timers to their restaurant, but first timers to Korean BBQ in general.
As for the newbies who might get a little spooked by the exotic array of foods, or the strange equipment adorning their table, Lee said she always tells them to relax and enjoy the meal.
“Just come in and try it, she said. “You wont regret it.”