It is the closest to real, off-the-grill Korean barbeque that you can get in Shanghai.
As a Korean living in China, I can tell you that Korean food in Shanghai and Korean food from my hometown are worlds apart.
However, QingHeGu was an exception. As soon as I walked into the restaurant, the sound of sizzling fat dripping through the skillet and the lively chatter brought me right back to Seoul.
Complementary and refillable side dishes are a trademark of Korean restaurants. The spring onion salad and kimchi at QingHeGu were tangy and saliva-inducing.
The quail eggs, dunked in soy sauce, and slices of pumpkin covered in egg were favorites.
Fluffy Korean egg soufflé is also a great accompaniment to the barbeque meats that they serve. There are two main options, in my opinion, as to which pork/beef cuts to choose from - the standard pork belly or their signature marinated pork ribs. If you like a sweeter and saucier taste, go with the pork ribs. For anyone who prefers a pure flavor of pork, I would recommend the plain pork belly.
The seasoning at QingHeGu is relatively sweet, and a Korean kimchi pancake can balance that out with its acidity. They also make it right in front you when you enter the restaurant. Crispy, filling, and satisfying.
There's one more thing at QingHeGu that really reminded me of BBQ restaurants back in Korea: the abundance of vegetables to place your pork and beef in, to create a ssam(Korean way of saying wrap), is a necessity to enjoy Korean BBQ.
During the hot summer days of Shanghai, barbeque doesn't seem appealing. That's why traditional ice-cold Korean noodles are on the menu(which people usually order at the end of the meal to cool themselves off and finish their meal). There are literal ice cubes in the broth.
QingHeGu is a worthwhile place to try out. It received the award of best Korean restaurant by DaZhongDianPing(a chinese restaurant rating app) for five years straight. The restaurant also expanded globally to Malaysia recently. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is buzzing!
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