We’ve been super curious about a new Korean restaurant called Lee Hak which opened in the expanded wing of Pioneer Center in Kapitolyo. It’s where our favorite supermarket is located so we see the place regularly. Their banners also served to pique our interest after they proclaimed themselves – “The Best Korean restaurant in the Philippines”.
We finally mustered up the courage to try the place out one Sunday night a couple of weeks ago. We got there around 7:30 and the first floor was pretty full already so we were directed to the humongous 2nd floor area. Parking is no problem at all, if you can’t find spaces directly in front the restaurant, you can park in front of the supermarket.
This is what the ground floor seating area looks like, chairs are pretty comfortable and most tables have the common Korean resto exhaust system.
The 2nd floor has a number of private function rooms and larger tables perfect for big families. This mural above takes up an entire wall on the 2nd floor.
Their menu is pretty standard in Korean restaurants so the three of us each got an order of our preferred barbecue dish.
The appetizers/banchan came quickly after the waitstaff took our orders. Aside from 6 plates of appetizers, they also served a side salad could have used a better vinaigrette. The salad at Jang Ga Nae is still way better.
There was 2 more extra complimentary appetizers, a kimchi pancake and a Gyenranjjim/steamed egg casserole. The appetizer compliment seems to mimic the ones from nearby Jang Ga Nae.
Irene and I were surprised to find a dish called Hunje-Ori (P500), smoked duck. This is something we’ve not yet encountered in other Korean restaurants as of yet. We even had to ask the server how to go about eating it when they place the platter on our table.
We were instructed to cooked it a bit on the griller to sear the sides. We then got a piece of lettuce, add the duck meat dipped in bean paste then topped it with spring onion and onions. You just wrap it up and bite away, letting the smoky duck meat and aromatic herbs mix.
Irene got a Dwaeji-Galbi (P320) which was barbecued pork ribs since we were not sure how big a serving the smoked duck would be. Serving size was on the generous end while flavors were pretty standard with most Korean restos.
Lauren got her usual beef short ribs barbecue, Yangnyeom Galbi (P750). The price is quite high compared to our usual orders but Lee Hak uses premium US Beef short ribs, and the serving size is larger than usual. Lauren devoured it all, included a little more than 1 bowl of rice all by herself. I think I got a teeny tiny piece or two plus the bones. From what I had tasted the beef was very tender yet still flavorful.
Lee Hak may not be a legendary Korean restaurant nor the best in the Philippines but it is a pretty good Korean restaurant. The seating is spacious, serving are on the generous side while service is good and parking is a cinch. Irene and I adore the smoked duck barbecue dish and will be going back for more of that.
Lee Hak Korean Restaurant
Pioneer Center 8006 Pioneer Street corner United Street Kapitolyo, Pasig City Contact No.: (0916) 654-1234/ (02) 584-3476
Facebook Page – Lee Hak
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