Note: Han Woo Ri Korean Restaurant is not certified as a halal restaurant
Our usual reviewer has gone on leave and so we have to get some replacements from one of our Editorial Team. They are not great reviewers but we suppose their enthusiasm for food made up for that defect.
With so many verbal recommendations of this unassuming Korean BBQ tucked in a corner in Ampang, we decided that we must go and have a try (especially when someone else is buying).
After so many years, the thought of travelling along Jalan Ampang still conjures up horrors of massive choc-a-bloc of vehicles in a jam. Well, after so many years and so many highway constructions, we're glad to report that traffic has not improved. OK. OK. Maybe it has improved but we were too distracted by the thought of perfectly barbequed meat with kimchi that it is highly possible that we might have mistaken the 30 minute car ride for an eternity.
After going over one flyover near Ampang Point, we turned right and then left then right (Ed: yah, right...that helped with the directions. I want my money back.). Yes! The famous Korean Town in Ampang is here. The advertising signs were peppered with those cute Korean scripts and interesting names. Don't ask me what those names are, they're too cute to mention (Ed: Sigh, forgotten no doubt)
We found our BBQ haven Han -Woo-Ri, without much difficulty but it was packed to the brim. A busload of Korean tourists just left the premises. Gosh! If they bring Korean tourists here it must be good-lah (Ed:Kiasu Eating Rule No.1).
When the group of us went in, we got a few stares, not only because we're probably the only non-Koreans there but we were so loud (Ed:There must have been hakkas in the group). We wasted no time in ordering (we were well briefed) and asked for marinated beef and pork (yes, yes it is non-halal, we're sorry, we'll write about the other halal one, next time) for BBQ (Gal-Bi-Sal). If you prefer the natural taste of meat, then go for the non-marinated meat and we were told that most Korean patrons prefer the non-marinated meat for BBQ. They will then dip the BBQ-ed meat in the special sauce provided. But as typical Malaysians whose taste buds have been permanently damaged by our frequent tastings of cili padis, fiery curries and chili sauce, we had to go for the marinated version. The plate of marinated meat costs us RM32 per plate, and believe us, the meat looked so good - even before the BBQ - it's well worth the money!
We got the Kimchi Soup (Kimchi Jike) at RM15 per bowl for sharing. The soup really packed a kick so we highly recommend it. As with typical Korean cuisine, the dinner came with loads of side dishes like kimchi, tofu, pickled asparagus, dried seaweed, etc etc. (We were too busy eating to bother remembering the names - afterall they came automatically anyway! Ed: I really want my money back, now.). The rice is fragrant calrose rise (rounded types) and cost RM5 per bowl - so go easy on the rice! Just in case the BBQ took too long, we ordered a cooked sliced pork dish and we never regretted that. It's superb!
Anyway, the BBQ is done on charcoal and this gives the BBQ meat more taste. The day we went (Saturday), the shop's packed so we had to help ourselves with the pit. Otherwise someone will actually help you BBQ those lovely meat. Just note that you might have communication problems as the staff either speak Korean or Burmese or something like that. We found one that spoke Mandarin - that really helped!
In a space of less than 40 minutes, we gobbled down everything. Everything tasted so good, we wished we had extra space to pack more. The highlight after dinner was the Shikhye, the traditional Korean sweet rice punch. It's sweet and have a cooling effect - great after that intense BBQ session.
There are plenty of other Korean restaurants in the vicinity besides Han -Woo-Ri but we haven't gotten the opportunity to try out the rest and compare. We were informed that there's another restaurant nearby that's famous for beef BBQ. But as it stands, we give Han -Woo-Ri two thumbs up! 
