BlissFully Full: Mapo Korean BBQ Restaurant

No website.

14924 41st Avenue, Flushing, NY
(718) 886-8292

Ratings: 5 Stomachs - Blissfully Full

A friend couple told us of this place having the best Kalbi in Flushing/Murray Hill. It is a quaint little corner restaurant across from the Murray Hill LIRR station. There are several restaurants in this neighborhood so finding parking during prime dinner time is hard. Either get there early for dinner or enjoy a nice walk from where you can find parking.

A kind group of Korean speaking waitresses greets you in Korean as you walk in. As you are seated, the waitress will hand you their menu. But right off the bat, she will inform you politely and smilingly in Korean or Chinese (Mandarin), which we did not understand, that you need to order 2 BBQ dishes for cooking at your table. As you spend time perusing the menu, she will kindly point out, what you should order. Basically, 2 orders of their house special Kalbi and nothing else on the menu. As first timers and didn't understand the language, we were like to ourselves "Huh? What about the other dishes?". Well, after a few minutes of convincing, we took the plunge based on our waitresss' suggestion. In the end, it turns out this is how the locals order. Because the extra dishes they bring out along with your meat order was what we would have ordered through the menu.

As for the taste, it was phenomenally delicious.

Oh, this place used hardwood charcoal to grill the food. No GAS! Not many left for Korean BBQs places using charcoal. This added a wonderful taste to the grilled meat.

View of the restaurant's outside.

The collection of Banchans given to go with the meal. The onion dish (bottom right corner) is very good. No big onion flavor, just a mild tangy flavor.