Roaming Thonglor – Doriwon Korean Barbeque

Now located in a new building on Soi Sukhumvit 49/11

I have been eating Korean barbeque at Doriwon for about four years.  At it’s old location just down the street for its current location, the restaurant suffered from limited ventilation and as a result, whenever you ate there you reeked of smoke.  The food was always good including their excellent kimchi.  However the smoke got the better of me and I stopped going there.

About a month ago, I happened to be driving down Sukhumvit 49/11, which is the connector between Soi 49 and Soi 39 when I noticed that Doriwon had moved into a new building.  Since then I have eaten there five times.

Charcoal grill

In case you’re not familiar with Korean barbeque, the centerpiece is the charcoal or gas grill that you use to cook the meats you’ve ordered to your satisfaction.  There is usually a varied selection of meats including bulgogi which is beef marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil and sugar.  There will be several other cuts of beef, including steak, as well as, pork, chicken and seafood.

Accompanying your grilled meats are varied kimchis including the stereotypical kimchi, baechu, the fermented spicy cabbage.  I consider these side dishes, which are served complimentary as is the tradition in Korea and as much as you want, the highlight of the meal.  The sheer variety of tastes make the grilled meats taste even better.

Kimchi, as much as you want

The Doriwon menu is pretty standard fare with a wide variety of meats, and other goodies  like japchae (Korean stir-fried noodles) and kimchi soup.  I won’t go into detail about their menu as you can check it yourself when you visit.  You will not be disappointed in the menu although chances are good you will stick with the grilled meats which are very good.

The current restaurant is a two story affair with limited seating on the first floor and more seating in the upstairs section.  I prefer the first floor area as there is less smoke in the air.  Although they have ventilation, it is hard to escape the smoke.

More kimchi

In addition, dinner at the Doriwon is not an expensive evening.  Most items are well-priced.

Finally, remember that its located on Soi 49/11,  directly across the street from the Spring Restaurant.  Bon appetit.

The entree