Review- lunch at Madtongsan I

Today's post is brought to you by the letter K.
K for Korean and K for kickass, as these two words describe yeterday's culinary exploits.

I must admit that I have oft wondered what korean food is like, but a slight ignorance of Korean culture, coupled with year 12 history's Cold War unit led me to conclude that Korean food is probably similar to its japanese counterpart, with just a healthy dash of socialism mixed in :)

However, an opportunity arose yesterday to try this magnificently multifaceted cuisine in the form of lunch at the charmingly tiny Madtongsan 1, located in Brisbane's Elizabeth Street Arcade.

Despite occupying merely a diminutive corner of the arcade, it's difficult for passers-by to miss Madtongsan 1. The kiosk-sized restaurant exudes a warm charm and certain aura of hustle and bustle as the waitstaff flit hurriedly between the cramped tables, and crowds of chattering, salivating customers wait patiently for a table outside, gazing longingly at the steaming bowls on seated patrons' tables and at the brightly-illustrated menus that paper the windows. Having witnessed the hype over the small restaurant, I decided to give it a go.

Decor/ambience- although cramped and somewhat minimalistic in terms of decoration, the amazing smells wafting from the nearby kitchen and the large portion sizes are enough to get anyone's tummy rumbling aggressively. Warm lighting and colours and a surprising lack of music create a homely feel that makes patrons feel relaxed despite the "get in, eat, get out" mood that is the hallmark of most lunchtime eateries.

Food- Despite a small menu, choices vary widely and all look positively mouthgasmic. My selection, bibimbap, a ricebowl dish, looked simple and plain on the menu, but when it arrived at the table, I saw that I was much mistaken in my initial critique. As illustrated in the accompanying photo, bibimbap is a fantastical concoction of steamed seasoned rice, Korean veggies all prepared lovingly in a variety of manners and a big dollop of Krakatoa-hot hot sauce, all topped off with a fried egg, sunny-side up. The point of the dish is to mix the bowl's contents together, stirring the hot sauce through, creating a cacophony of colours and flavours- delicious! We were also given two complimentary traditional side dishes- spiced potato and the ubiquitous kimchi (or kimchee).

If you haven'tbeen fortunate enough to have tried kimchi (the little dish in the left in the photo), it really is something. Like an Asian version of sauerkraut, it revolves around pickled cabbage, but that is where the similarities to its Germanic cousin, end. As well as vinegar, the cabbage is also favoured with chilli, salt and a number of secret Korean 'erbs and spices that create an unami-esque taste explosion that is truly unique. Eaten by the Koreans with every meal, you can put the versatile condiment with A-NYthing and it will taste wonderfully amazing. It really is one of those flavours that makes you say, "day-um!"

Value- For a paltry $9, this bibimbap was one of the most awesome Asian dishes I have ever had in my entire life (bear in mind that I just came back from a month in Vietnam), and the marriage of the salty kimchi, spicy sauce and flavoursome veggies definitely left me wanting more. In fact, if they eat like this ALL the time in Korea, I might consider taking my next holiday there. Now, when does the next plane leave for Seoul? :)

Madtongsan is located at 28 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane. Mains are $9-$11 each.