A Korean Feast

CEBU, Philippines - Dol Harubangs are famous stone statues in the famed Jeju Island located at the southern part of Korea. Locals consider these statues as gods of fertility and are also believed to ward off evil spirits. Because of this historical significance, a Korean restaurant was named Harubang to represent Jeju in Cebu.

While my knowledge on Korean cuisine is limited to the tangy, pungent, spicy kimchi (fermented vegetable dish, usually of Chinese cabbage and radish) and the potent liquor Soju, I was surprised on how an authentic Korean meal can be lavish with banchan (side dishes) that go well with main dishes such as noodles, grilled fares, pot stew and pancakes. What was supposed to be a casual dinner among friends turned into a feast of rich and savory strictly Korean eats at Harubang.

We we’re settled before a wooden table with a burner/grill installed in the middle. We later on found out that it’s where we dunk our Chadolbagi, thinly sliced raw beef brisket, until cooked to a crisp. When it turned brown all over, we dipped it in sesame oil and or samjang (red pepper sauce) for added flavor. Our amiable server informed us that their Chadolbagi is an all-you-can-eat main dish, and once again, we were surprised. With all the seven on-the-house-banchan — kimchi (pickled cucumber and radish), peanuts with sesame seeds, salad (carrot, white onions and cabbage with salad dressing), another salad of greens, and Dongrangtang (deep fried ground pork with vegetables mixture) — who wouldn’t be? However, for your pork fix, Samgyubsal is the closest alternative to Chadolbagi.

We tried Korea’s famous soup called Denjangchige listed under the Pot Stew choices for a bowl of comfort food. It’s a soy bean paste stew with beef and vegetables, largely with potatoes and white onions, in a hot pot. But before we could take a final sip of Denjangchige, the Budaejige was served, steaming atop a burner. It’s an Asian staple of Korean noodles topped with liberal amount of vegetables, ham, tofu, sausage and pork slices – that seemingly is a rich explosion of flavors. I’d actually recommend it.

A traditional Korean meal wouldn’t be complete without a rice bowl and so we had Dolsotbibimbap served in a hot stone pot. This is a combination of sliced veggies, rice, pork and hot sauce with egg on top. Delish! Jeyukbukum is a great rice pair. With its sweet, spicy and tangy taste, I can say it has a very Filipino kick. Match it with Soju as you wish!

We ended this gastronomic indulgence with a Haemulpajun, which, according to the service crew, is their version of Italy’s pizza. It turned out to be a seafood, veggies and onion pancake shaped and sliced like a pizza…perfect with a certain sauce which is a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, chili powder and sesame seeds. To confess, I had an instant obsession with this dish, which is more of a snack to me.

‘Twas a guilt-free feast though since I had approximately 80 percent veggie overload and 20 percent pork/beef meat intake. The healthy eats we devoured that night complimented well with our healthy relationship! So, if you’re a group of six or more, make it Harubang.

Harubang is located at Salinas Drive Lahug, near Sun Flower.