Cheap Eats 2009: Gom Ba Woo

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Cynthia Hacinli , Ann Limpert , Kate Nerenberg , Rina Rapuano

Great food, low prices, lots of fun

Gom Ba Woo

7133 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA
Phone: 703-642-1577

Cuisines:
Barbecue, Korean

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
Van Dorn St.
Dunn Loring-Merrifield

Price Range:
Moderate

Dress:
Informal

Noise Level:
Intimate

Reservations:
Not needed

Best Dishes
Kimchee; oxtail with green onions; grilled short ribs; pork with red-pepper sauce.

Price Details:
Appetizers $8.95 to $12.95; entrées $7.95 to $27.95.


 

Reader's Rating:
No Reader Reviews

Why go: An anomaly in Little Korea: a ten-table mom-and-pop that boasts no signature dish or theme and steers clear of any entreaties to the much-coveted youth demographic. It’s content to let its quiet excellence speak for itself.

What to get: Steamed dumplings called mandu; seafood pancake, a scallion-veined frittata studded with octopus and shrimp; soondubu, spicy tofu soup with oysters; spicy pork-belly barbecue; sul lung tang, the Korean version of Vietnamese pho—long-simmered beef broth garnished with chewy rice cakes, egg, and scallions.

Best for: Anyone intent on giving Korean food a try. Or another try.

Insider tip: Appetizers and entrées are large, so splitting is the way to go. Take advantage of the panchan, the array of small dishes that precedes a Korean meal; it includes some of the freshest, liveliest kimchee around.

Open daily for lunch and dinner.

>> See all 2009 Cheap Eats restaurants here