Momofuku Ssam Bar

After many battles and much hesitation, I found myself at the front door of Momofuku Ssam Bar last night. Countless negative reviews from my trusted friends that have been to the Momofuku Noodle Bar have kept me away. But the never ending praise for the Momofuku Ssam Bar from top notch critics and magazines kept me wondering, “Could there really be such a difference between two shops that are owned by the same chefs and have the same influence?” I’ve never been to the noodle bar and don’t plan on it. The opinions are unanimous and I don’t have the luxury of spending $$$ just to confirm for myself that a place is bad. As for Momofuku Ssam, I had to try it not just for myself but for my fellow cids that are always kicking themselves for trying a place for the hype. Let me save you the time and money by going myself. Yes, I am a bit sadistic.

We had an early dinner and a good thing for that because I was rubbing elbows with the awaiting guests by the bar an hour later. We started with the infamous steamed, juicy pork buns to stir our appetites. Though it could’ve used a bit of garnish or some pickled vegetables on the side, the dish lived up to it’s reputation. Maybe that was the point for the lack of decoration. The buns speak for themselves. I was blown away by the subtle flavor and yet exquisite texture of the pork belly. Ice cream would’ve taken longer to melt in my mouth than the two chunky pieces of pork belly stuffed in the Man-tou (steamed bun). The hint of sweetness from the bun mixed with the coolness from the slice of cucumber wedged in between two chunks of pork belly made the dish complete with texture and flavor. Would I pay $9 for this dish? Yes, every time I crave it. Would I crave often a $9 dish that gives me only a couple of bites of heaven? Probably not. This dish will go on my list of things to have twice a year along with the sinfully delectable and ever so moist Cinnabon (Cost: about $4, Satisfaction: Enough to last me another six months).

Next to come was our Spicy Honeycomb Tripe with a bed of frisee sitting atop and a poached egg nestled in the middle. The transition could not be more perfect between dishes. The tripe was infused with flavor though it could’ve used 3 more minutes in the stew pot just to add a bit more bouyancy and bounce to my bite. Was the flavor star anise mixed with a bit of soy sauce and five spice? I don’t know but the heat wasn’t quite there. By itself, the heavily flavored tripe would’ve been too much but balance was found with the combination of crunchy croutons and bitter, sweet frisee.

Though our Marinated Hanger Steak Ssam was supposed to be our entree (the main course), the two dishes prior had escalated our palates and expectations for something more than what this dish had to offer. Undeniably the steak was grilled to perfection (medium rare just the way I like it) but the kimchi puree and scallion sauce left something more to be desired. This dish would’ve been great if it were the only item I ordered but that knowledge that the skill level in the kitchen can create much more heightened dishes left us wondering where they went wrong with this one. Maybe a little more heat on the kimchi puree, or the addition of a spicy peanut sauce would do this dish some good?

Unfortunately, we did not have time for dessert and my already thinning wallet was gasping for air from the $24 steak. My verdict? A 3.75 out of 5. The prices drove the rating down from a 4 out of 5. Momofuku Ssam was worth the visit and probably another visit again in the near future. The staff was nice and prompt (like every trendy spot, the earlier the better for seating). Though the constant shouting of “Pick Up!” left our ears ringing a bit but that was because we sat right next to the kitchen. Steer clear of that area and you’ll have a pleasant meal.