Dong Won Garden Korean Restaurant

Tucked away at the corner of Jupiter and Polaris Street is Dong Won Garden Korean restaurant. From the outside, Dong Won looks like one of those restaurants that have been around for ages; it has the look of an old house which has been transformed into a restaurant. Inside the restaurant, the ambiance and furnishing of the place has a blast from the past look - possibly from the late 80's to early 90's. But what Dong Won lacks in decor, it makes up for in food that is deliciously diverse.

Appetizers & Sidings
After we ordered, the waiter lays out almost 10 small dishes containing different appetizers and sidings. All of which are free. Yes, you read that right FREE (which might be my favorite word next to SALE). Some of the appetizers include kimchi (but of course!), sweet potatoes, spiced vegetables, salted bean sprouts - to name a few.






More appetizers. Fried cucumber, omelet and I forget what the one in the middle is.



Barbecued Pork Strips with lettuce
Dong Won is best known for its Korean barbecue which can be grilled right on the tabletop. Customers are served raw meat and they can cook it according to their liking in the grill installed in the tables. During our visit however we opted for the pre-cooked barbecued pork strip to avoid smell of food sticking to our clothes. The pork strips can be wrapped inside the lettuce leaves and then eaten. The combination of the crunchy freshness of the lettuce and salty flavor of the barbecue is delicious!

Mackerel Fish Stew
The mackerel fish stew was just okay. It was mildly spicy salty fish mixed with boiled lettuce, radish and other veggies. However, mixed with the Japanese rice served in Dong Won, it becomes quite enjoyable. Actually any viand becomes more appetizing when mixed with the yummy Japanese rice which is soft, sticky with just a hint of flavor.

Verdict: Dong Won may not be the place to bring guests if you want to impress them, but the home-cooked style Korean food has a charm of its own. The price of food is pretty steep (P200~P400 per dish) but each dish is good for 2-3 persons so its actually good value for money.

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Dong Won Garden Korean Restaurant

Jupiter Street corner Polaris Street
Makati City, Philippines

898-3558