CLOSED: Lunch Ladies visit Sam Hawk Korean Restaurant
The Lunch Ladies enjoyed catching up on their recent visit to Sam Hawk Korean Restaurant in Provo.
Gabby ordered the Jop Chae at Sam Hawk Korean Restaurant in Provo.
Jennette enjoyed the Fusion Chicken Kalbi during the Lunch Ladies' recent visit to Sam Hawk.
Janell ordered the Stonebowl Bibimibob With Chicken. The stonebowl came with cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, seaweed, chicken and a fried egg on top, with a side of red pepper paste to add the right amount of spice.
So what happens when you reunite the Lunch Ladies after several weeks of separation? A lunch at a Korean restaurant hashing out their latest K-drama exploits of course!
Obviously, when you combine three K-drama fanatics, this topic is going to come up. And after a long break, it’s only natural to discuss the recent shows everyone has seen and their corresponding recommendations, as well as, shows to avoid.
So we hopped in the car and headed over to Sam Hawk Korean Restaurant, an apt venue of choice for this lunch hour.
We immediately began yapping about “Twenty Again,” “Modern Farmer,” and “Angel Eyes” (three wins in our books), as well as, “Fashion King” and “Will it Snow for Christmas?” (two Jennette suggested passing on).
It was some fun chatter about biases, oppas, aegyo, feels, and all things hallyu. We had so much to discuss, that it almost distracted us from reading the tasty menu options. But we eventually were able to reel our focus back in and make our selections from the menu.
We placed our orders with the friendly waiter and then took in our surroundings a bit more. The small restaurant had a very casual atmosphere that was initially hard to see from the outside due to the blind-covered windows. But now that we were looking around from the inside, we enjoyed noticing the Korean trinkets and cultural items filling the bookshelves in the back of the dining area and the simple ribbon textile artwork hanging on the two main walls. Honestly, the space just felt laid back, and we liked it.
Our food was brought with several sides for the group and in a reasonable time for a busy lunch hour, and for food that was freshly made. Here is what the Lunch Ladies ordered:
Jennette: Fusion Chicken Kalbi — $11.99
Have you ever been watching a movie or TV show and the actors are eating something that looks totally delicious and then you just crave that food? Well that happens to me all the time! Lately I have been watching a lot of Korean dramas and they always eat the best food. So when we decided to go to the Korean restaurant, Sam Hawk, I was thrilled. After scanning the menu and discussing it in some detail, I chose to have Fusion Chicken Kalbi. This dish is a mix of grilled chicken breast in a spicy sauce with rice cakes, cabbage and onions. This was my first experience with rice cakes (they look like noodles), and I quite liked them. It was all very good! My meal was also served with a variety of sides, which were all delicious. Sam Hawk only serves Pepsi products.
Janell: Stonebowl Bibimibob With Chicken — $9.99
I went out of my comfort zone and tried something new. I have never strayed too far from a noodle dish when going for Korean food. Taking my own advice for the New Year and trying different foods, at Sam Hawk today I went for the Stonebowl. You can choose to have it with chicken, beef or tofu. If you are paying attention you will notice that I usually get beef, but today I decided on chicken. My dish came out in a piping hot stonebowl. It was so hot that the food sizzled and the rice got crunchy as it cooked in the bowl. The stonebowl came with cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, seaweed, chicken and a fried egg on top, with a side of red pepper paste to add the right amount of spice. Fresh food with fresh tastes, really made for a wonderful lunch time experience.
Gabby: Jop Chae — $9.09
This excellent noodle dish came with glass noodles, bulgogi style beef, mushrooms, carrots, green onions, cabbage, an amazing sauce cooked throughout and sesame seeds on top. The noodles were cooked perfectly; firm enough to not be mushy, yet pliable and tender. The beef was extremely moist and cut in a shaved manner to allow for great sauce absorption. The vegetables all maintained a proper amount of crispness, yet still had the needed quality of steamed vegetables to make them cohesive with the rest of the dish. The cabbage especially managed to avoid any sogginess, but still be cooked thoroughly and have the perfect amount of sauce as well as natural flavor and freshness. It was a truly great dish; it was filling, flavorful, and fantastic! This meal was also served with a side of rice, which I enjoyed with the array of kimchi, including potatoes, cucumbers, beans, cabbage and bean sprouts. Delicious!
We definitely enjoyed our reuniting this lunch hour. The food, the chatter and the friendship were all three wins, leaving the Lunch Ladies ready to take on the rest of the day. Fighting!
– Sam Hawk Lorean Restaurant: 660 N. Freedom Blvd. Provo. Open Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Closed Sundays.