Why go: If a Korean barbecue spot and a Southern barbecue joint had a love child, this Koreatown place would be the result. The air is smoky, the room is noisy, the pace is fast—especially when late-nighters crowd in—and the portions are big.
What to get: Thin-sliced bul goki, flavorful strips of marinated beef; pork or beef ribs that servers cut with scissors as they cook and that diners then wrap in lettuce with rice and jalapeños; fatty black pork belly with kimchee; pork-and-octopus chul pan, a dish that recalls fried rice; seafood pancake; dumpling casserole, a soup filled with cabbage and beef dumplings that’s large enough for eight.
Best for: Before, during, and after a party. Because it’s open most days around the clock, you can get soju shots and a beef broth called “hangover soup” all in one place.
Insider tip: At off-peak times, the party vibe is toned down by a family crowd. Honey Pig fans who find themselves in Ellicott City can check out a newer, bigger version of the Annandale restaurant (10045 Baltimore National Pike; 410-696-2418).
>> See all 2010 Cheap Eats restaurants here
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
