Rarely do I encounter people who loves Korean food as much as I do - I'm talking about the whole shebang beyond samgyupsal, of coure. But luck is on my side these days that new found friends share the same appreciation. This led me to this tiny Korean restaurant in Ortigas Center Pasig City one afternoon when everyone could ever think of is good servings of food to celebrate an end of work week.
Welcome to Honey Danji, a small but nonetheless legit Korean restaurant manned by a friendly ahjumma who is more than willing to serve good Korean food to those who are interested enough to indulge.
Ortigas may be considered as one of Korean hubs in the metro - so, it is expected that when a Korean nationality put up a dining place somewhere the vicinity, you can expect authenticity to some degree.
We're a group of hungry kids and while prices at Honey Danji maybe deemed a tad steep, the serving portion commensurates with the level of our appetites. And boy we were hungry.
Everyone got their own choice of dish which comes with a side of kimchi, danmuji (Korean Yellow Picked Radish), and Doenjang soup (Korean soybean paste soup). But given the serving portion, we all ended up sharing - Joey Tribianni wouldn't be proud but in my opinion, sharing is always a good thing.
First on the table was Dakgangjeong (Php220) which is basically Korean sweet and spicy fried chicken. Those Korean Fried chicken we normally get from fast food chains got nothing on this one. Aside from the fact that the crisp and tender pieces of chicken smothered with downright delicious sauce, what made this meal a winner was the inclusion of Korean Purple Rice (Heukmi Bap) fried blocks of tofu, lettuce, and fried egg.
Then there's also Curry Deopbap (Php200) Korean's own rendition of curry rice. Compared to Indian curry which I adore, Korean's rendition is a tad lighter - almost the same with Japan's version that leans on the fruity side of the spectrum. It also comes with Heukmi bap, fried egg, and the band of banchan that makes this a complete satisfying meal. This is a good choice if you like curry but not too crazy about it being too spicy.
We also had Cheese Tteokbokki (Php220) because you just cannot visit Korean restaurant without having this one. Well, aside from the fact that we were craving for it too. This one has the right amount of spiciness that complements the creaminess of the generous cheese pontifically sitting atop.
I have a Tteokbokki recipe video up on my YedyLicious TV YouTube channel, just in case you are interested and have not subscribed yet. Please do, here is the link for that Tteokbokki recipe.
Another must have when having laidback Korean food is of course the ramyun. We had Cheese Ramyeon (Php150) which was reminiscent of that popular spicy Korean ramen noodles we all loved. The added cheese was of course a welcome addition to this spicy delicious grub.
There's no Jjajangmyeon written on the menu only Jjajangbap. Since I am all about Jjajangmyeon, I tried asking and I was given the option for Jjajang Udon (Php220) instead which is not bad.
It may not be the best one I have tried but it's good enough to curb those cravings for Jjajang. I wish it could have had more meat but flavor-wise, I must say it's good enough.
I have a Jjajangmyeon recipe also up on my YouTube channel. Here's the link for my Jjajangmyeon video recipe, yah know what to do.
There are other things on the menu I am planning to try soon, but judging from what we had, I could say that Honey Danji is that one Korean restaurant well worth visiting if you are craving for downright simple and humble Korean food.
Prices are reasonable considering the serving portion. As with all food of generous proportion, everything is best enjoyed with good friends who are equally crazy about all things Korean or anyone who has a taste for adventure of the palate.
Honey Danji
Address:
Ruby corner Garnet Road
Ortigas Center
Pasig City
Tel No.: 0917-6118765
