Korean cuisine has an incredibly diverse range of flavors, but the most well known and popular is probably Korean barbecue. For non-Koreans, pork belly and marinated short rib are worthy competitors of American-style barbecue ribs and pulled pork. It was therefore with great anticipation that Ann Arbor residents awaited for the opening of Tomukun Barbecue last spring, especially after Tom had already established his reputation with the well-liked Tomukun Noodle Bar next door.
As a Korean, I have relatively high standards for Korean food. I find that most Korean food in the US is overpriced and filled with MSG. Therefore, it was with great skepticism that I first tried Tomukun Barbecue. However, I was not disappointed. My party of six ordered the Combo 2 and were very satisfied, with quite a bit of meat left over. The pricing was very reasonable, the meat tender, the flavors on point. The short rib and chicken were a little too sweet for my taste, but knowing that the food is somewhat Americanized and catered toward college students, I can see why this was necessary. Two suggestions: (1) Provide lettuce, sesame leaves, and hot peppers! These are staples when it comes to Korean barbecue, and it’s key to have some fresh greens to balance out all the protein. (2) Open later, and create the same bar-like atmosphere that is available at Tomukun Noodle Bar. Noodle Bar has become a hot spot for weekend nights, especially for Asian Americans, and it would be great to create that same sort of feel at a Korean barbecue restaurant similar to the aura in downtown Seoul.
Overall, my experience at Tomukun Barbecue was very enjoyable. I go there quite often, and often order some of the non-barbecue dishes. Great atmosphere, great customer service, great food, all for reasonable prices. I highly recommend the place.
Contributed by Jieun Lee