At 8423 Olive Blvd., St. Louis’ unofficial Chinatown lies a hidden gem – Asian Kitchen Korean Cuisine. Surrounded by the establishment of many Asian owned businesses, the slightly dinghy restaurant looks like any other on the bustling street. A green awning with faded white letters, an advertisement for a foot massage plastered on the beige brick wall and the cracked concrete sidewalk makes the authentic Korean spot unassuming. 

Upon entering, one will be hit with the aroma of pickled daikon, kimchi and gochujang. Though the outward appearance was slightly run-down, the interior was extremely clean and well kept. Thin bamboo wood strips ran along the periwinkle walls to create square-like patterns.  K-pop music floated through the otherwise quiet air and the slight chatter of customers made the environment casual. 

As soon as I was seated, the lady handed us each a menu, a glass of water, a pair of disposable chopsticks and a stainless steel spoon. The service was slower than most restaurants due to the small group of employees working there. Not many of them speak English fluently, but they care for their business and treat each customer with a happy smile. I decided on the Kimchi Jjigae, a hearty kimchi stew with fish cake, while my friend ordered the Bibimbap. 

Small plates of free banchan, or Korean side dishes came first: kimchi, spicy cucumber salad, fish cake, bean sprouts and steamed broccoli; all piled on small plastic plates. My favorite, the spicy cucumber was delectably flavorful while maintaining the crunch of a good quality cucumber. It’s not yet spicy, but more of a fermented sour taste that emanates the entirety of Korean cuisine. Along with the banchan, white rice to pair with the kimchi jjigae was set beside me in a somewhat polite metal container.

Half an hour later, our steaming stone bowls appeared in the hands of the waitress. The generously sized bibimbap was beautifully presented, perfected with a seaweed-covered egg. A pleasant concoction of white rice, bulgogi, thinly sliced carrots, bean sprouts, radish, zucchini, cucumber was topped off with a runny egg, sesame oil and gochujang. The busy blend flavors of Asian vegetables paired with savory bulgogi made the dish balanced.

The kimchi jjigae was of a thinner consistency, but was balanced out with the amount of kimchi and fish cake mixed in. The taste was a vibrant mixture of slight acidity paired with the combination of classic Korean spice. It’s tangy, savory and absolutely perfect for the bone chilling St. Louis winters.

We left with a full stomach and a happier mood, because that’s what authentic food does to you. If you’re a fan of affordable plates and want to support a local business, go visit Asian Kitchen Korean Cuisine. It isn’t a place for aesthetic Instagram photos, but for true, good quality food that feels like home.

The steaming stone bowl holds Bibimbap.