Utah County’s first Korean BBQ restaurant drives diners to Springville
A dinner menu is pictured at E-Ga, Utah County's first Korean BBQ restaurant on Tuesday, July 18, 2017, in Springville. The new establishment offers seemingly endless combinations of meat and side dishes, perfect for a date night or bringing the whole family out for a meal. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
A dinner menu is pictured at E-Ga, Utah County’s first Korean BBQ restaurant Tuesday, July 18, 2017, in Springville. The new establishment offers seemingly endless combinations of meat and side dishes, perfect for a date night or bringing the whole family out for a meal. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
A dinner menu is pictured at E-Ga, Utah County's first Korean BBQ restaurant Tuesday, July 18, 2017, in Springville. The new establishment offers seemingly endless combinations of meat and side dishes, perfect for a date night or bringing the whole family out for a meal. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
A dinner menu is pictured at E-Ga, Utah County's first Korean BBQ restaurant Tuesday, July 18, 2017, in Springville. The new establishment offers seemingly endless combinations of meat and side dishes, perfect for a date night or bringing the whole family out for a meal. DOMINIC VALENTE, Daily Herald
Two of my favorite Utah County restaurants are now located in Springville.
Who would have thought?
While I am always desirous for delicious new places, I was surprised to hear from a foodie friend that she and another friend from Salt Lake City traveled down to Springville to eat at E-Ga Korean BBQ. As Utahns, can we all admit there is a cultural distaste here for traveling beyond five to 20 minutes? We get lazy, and when we do, we miss out on wonderful food (or sights) like E-Ga.
But E-Ga seems to be inspiring people to drive lengths and fill tables only a month into its opening in a space tucked away by Springville’s Walmart. Why?
The service is one of the best experiences I’ve encountered in Utah County.
The food is plentiful and delicious.
The restaurant creates an experience, much like other Korean BBQ joints, that goes beyond scarfing down food next to friends, family or business associates. It is an experience many Americans are just not acquainted with anymore — taking time over a meal and engaging with the person across from you.
One of the owners told me their grandparents, who once owned a popular restaurant in South Korea, inspired the family’s rekindling of opening something new in Utah County that wasn’t offered anywhere else in the region. When other locations didn’t seem to pan out and a spot opened up in Springville, they jumped in and built out the setup and custom tables required for the new venture.
So, on a busy Friday night, my friend and I sat down without much wait at a red table with a small, square grill at E-Ga, surrounded by more than 19 bowls and plates of meat, vegetables, sides and sauces.
We emerged nearly 2.5 hours later.
For those that have never experienced Korean BBQ, diners are allowed the fun experience of grilling their own meats right at the table. E-Ga’s all-you-can-eat menu includes selections of beef, pork, seafood and chicken. We sampled heavily of the Beef Short Ribs, Beef Flank Steak, Spicy Pork Belly, Spicy Pork Bulgogi and Squid Bulgogi.
As we grilled and consumed one plate of meat after another, our cheerful and eager server would ask us what he could bring next.
I am quite sure I have never been asked in all my life (and during thousands of meals eaten out) by a restaurant’s staff “What can we do to make you happy?” Until last Friday.
And, I loved it.
With the courteous experience, and table surrounded by plates and plates of Korean Pancake (Jun), Pickled Radish, Kimchi, fried potstickers, Zucchini Salad, Potato Dish, hot rice, Noodle Salad and Pineapple Slices, I felt encapsulated in a new kind of Thanksgiving.
The Pickled Radish, white in color, is light and refreshing. Don’t be afraid to try it and subsequently eat multiple plates of it. I also really enjoyed the Korean Pancake, with bits of carrot, zucchini and green onion in it.
To echo the words of our server, “Am I converting you enough?”
If you’re not yet vigorously nodding your head “yes” as I did, then I think the meat will interest you.
You cannot go wrong with the Beef Short Ribs. They are the most tender of the meats we ordered and the flavor alone (or dipped in the sesame oil and sea salt) is insatiable.
I also really enjoyed the two spicy cuts of pork. The spice level was not overwhelming, and the marinade, when grilled, actually left a sweet char.
While the cuts of meat are not as consistent in size as one might find at other Korean BBQ restaurants in larger cities like Los Angeles, it is all still very delicious. Our waiter was acquiescent about replacing our grill top a couple times, as repeated plates of meat and vegetables dirtied it up.
The meal does include sodas, which we chose to forgo for water, and vanilla or chocolate ice cream at the end, which I believe you and the restaurant could both also forgo because the meat and sides leave you on the verge of the most delightful, self-induced food coma.
If you have room for chocolate ice cream, then you surely did not order enough plates of the Beef Short Ribs.
E-Ga Korean BBQ
Where: 1851 W. 500 South. C-5, Springville
Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Price: $23.95 all-you-can eat for dinner (ages 7-11 $12, 7 and under free)
Info: (801) 491-2198, egakoreanbbq.com