NYC — Spring 2013: Kum Gang San

On our third day in New York, again left to our own devices to figure out what to have for lunch, my mom really wanted to get some Asian food (Asian moms can only go so long without eating Asian food, apparently). I usually make a point of avoiding Asian restaurants in New York because I find that you can generally get better (read: tasty and authentic) Asian food in Toronto, and for cheaper. But, to satisfy my mom's request, and because our hotel was mere blocks away, we decided to walk over to Koreatown. After passing by a few restaurants, we went to the one that looked most promising on Korea Way, Kum Gang San.
Housemade tofu in chili oil and soy sauce
Deep-fried beef dumplings
Seafood pajeon
Dolsot bibimbap
Kum Gang San serves traditional Korean fare in fairly large portions and everything we ordered was authentic and satisfying, though nothing incredibly special. The beef dumplings had a good amount of filling that was well-seasoned and flavourful, but I found the wrappers to be a bit too thin and flimsy to uphold all the beef inside. The seafood pajeon was actually quite delightful; it was the first time I'd ever had a Korean-style savoury pancake (I only ever get the Chinese version). It had a good amount of seafood in it, just the right amount of chew without being too dense, and a nice crispy golden exterior. However, you have to eat it fresh while it's still hot and crispy on the outside, because they get soggy fast. The dolsot bibimbap is also a reliable choice, and they offer a good amount and variety of vegetables and meat, though I thought it was pretty standard — you can easily find this in Toronto, and for less. Everything is slightly overpriced, but that's to be expected in Manhattan... plus, they give a generous amount of banchan, which kind of evens it out. Weirdly enough, my favourite thing was the housemade tofu, which actually comes for free with your meal as a starter. It was just ridiculously plush and silky, and in a classically addictive chili oil and soy sauce combo. Simple, but just so well done. 
The service was friendly, attentive, and efficient, but we also went during a slow period in the afternoon — I find that the quality in service at restaurants in New York is directly correlated to how busy they are. The space is surprisingly large, especially by New York standards, and actually takes up two floors. The decor can be seen as either charming or gaudy, as it features a giant mountain on one side of the restaurant (it's named after a mountain in North Korea, after all). Either way, I'm no expert on Korean restaurants in New York, but this is a nice place to get standard, authentic Korean food in Manhattan — there's probably better or similar restaurants along the same street, but it's reliable, it's open 24/7, and they offer Korean BBQ, too.

Kum Gang San 49 W 32nd Street New York, NY 10001 (212) 967-0909