Seoul Hot Pot

3709 Payne Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
216-881-1221

Ok, people it is cold here in Cleveland. It is cold and there is a whole bunch of snow outside. One thing that Clevelander's love to do and know how to do in these conditions is eat, and eat well.
If you are looking for that soul satisfying, toe tingling, and that cure for bone chilling cold, then Seoul Hot Pot is the place to go.
Seoul Hot Pot is situated in an unassuming free standing building in Asiatown. There is an entrance in the front and one in the back that takes you through the small produce-packed kitchen. I have yet to visit when they are busy, but that does not change their delicious offerings. Appetizers, grilled meat lettuce wraps, and hot steaming bowls of veggies and meats.
Every meal starts with little bowls of succulent selections including Kim Chi to nibble on.
This visit we ordered the Shrimp and Scallion Pancakes, grilled beef lettuce wraps and the Rice Cake and and Egg Drop Soup. All three were delicious. The appetizer pancakes were sweet and savory. The Beef was seasoned and cooked perfectly, and the soup was fantastic.
The little rice patties floated through the strands of cooked egg, and the broth was light and satisfying.
Seoul Hot Pot is a must for this chilly season, if not any other part of the year.

Sun Luck Garden

1901 S Taylor Road
Cleveland, OH
(216) 397-7676
www.sunluckgarden.com

I have passed this little restaurant located in a strip mall many times and never thought anything of it. It is located in such an unassuming area that you wouldn't expect to find such a beauty as Sun Luck Garden. A fellow Cleveland food blogger, clevelandfoodie, mentioned this little spot awhile ago and I realized that something was hiding behind those covered windows. What that something was, I had to find out.
About a month or so ago we decided to give it a try. As you enter you are surrounded by a perfectly dimly lit small space, with dining areas on either side of the entrance. We were warmly greeted and seated. The menu was extensive. Choices from many styles including Szechwan, Cantonese, and Mandarin, as well as great vegetarian options were on the menu. They have a large wine list that one would not expect from such a small place and a nice beer menu too. I started with some warm sake, and we ordered the Egg rolls and a Halibut appetizer that was a special for the evening. The Egg rolls were crisp and fresh, and you could tell were hand rolled and not frozen. The Halibut appetizer was such a pleasant surprise. Thinly sliced Halibut rolled with ginger and scallion and wrapped in a crisp shell and tied with thin strips of scallion on the ends. The Halibut dish was perfectly well rounded with bursting flavors.
Next, we ordered the Egg Flower and Wonton Soups. The Egg Flower Soup is basically an Egg Drop Soup but not as heavy. The Egg Flower was delicious; the egg strands floated in the rich broth and had just enough sweetness. The Wonton Soup was savory and the wontons had a great texture.
Finally, we ordered the Beef Chow Hawphen, which was from the "Pasta Dishes" area of the menu. The Soft wide rice noodles served with beef, bean sprouts, pea pods, and tossed with a hot Szechwan chili sauce. We were asked if we wanted the dish mild, medium, or hot. We chose the hot since we both enjoy spicy and it couldn't have been any better. It was spicy but did not overpower the flavor of the dish.
I am so glad I finally got to peak behind the curtain and discover the pleasure of Sun Luck Garden. I can't wait to return to try more of their fresh and flavorful offerings.