When Messy found herself craving JaJangMyung noodles (noodles in black bean sauce) that Picky used to make for her back when we had a car and access to a Korean grocery store, we decided to try out a restaurant that we've walked past a million times: Pastoral. Why have we walked past it a million times yet never ventured inside? We don't know. When we first stepped into Pastoral, we found that the clientle was ENTIRELY Asian! A promising sign. The interior was very nice, all wood with plenty of tables. There were also tables to accomodate larger parties. But sadly, the service was slooooooowww. We ordered barley tea (boree-cha) and got it for dessert. The noodle dishes Messy craved were only offered at lunch, so we had to pick something else. They don't have any vegetarian options on the menu, but you can ask for no meat or no anything-else-you-please and they'll make it to order.
As for their panchan (complimentary side dishes), Picky enjoyed the kim-chi much more than that at Miran. Messy had the opposite reaction, finding Pastoral's kim-chi pretty much unpalatable. (Note: Messy is not Korean). We had the reverse situation with the oi-kim-chi. Messy found it crisp and delectable, while Picky thought it was not yet ripe and way too sweet.
For our entree, we decided to order the same kind of mixed rice as at Miran, BiBimBap, in a hot stone bowl; at Pastoral, they call the dish kop-dol BiBimBap. We found it on par with Miran. Picky thinks they served their rice slightly underdone as to cook the last bit inside the sizzling bowl. Picky thinks that the kochujang (hot chili sauce) was nicer, a finer tasting blend. When we were almost done with our BiBimBap, our server brought over our boree-cha and apologized, she had completely forgotten we ordered it. Messy thought it was too cold and tasting just like the tea they serve at Chinese restaurants. Picky thinks it was watered down –perhaps a second pot of tea was made using the same barley– but plenty hot for his tastes.
Picky still has yet to try the traditional Korean BBQ dish, kalbi, at a sit down restaurant in Philadelphia.
Messy: ***
Picky: ***1/2
The final word: Good above average Korean food.
Pastoral Korean Restaurant
205 S. 13th Street
215-545-8511
Mon – Sat: 11.30am – 10pm
Sun: Closed
