Bear with me. I know the name of this restaurant is very odd but they do not only serve frogs. Do they serve frogs? They must to have this name. Frog House Restaurant has been around quite a while, I tried it once years and years ago and wasn’t impressed so I haven’t been back. Well, I had a hankering for bossam last week and my favorite restaurant Jagalchi closed down (MAJOR BUMMER) so I had to find another restaurant to fill the void. It is not easy finding a good bossam place you know! I think this post will probably be mostly for V. LOL.

By the way, this place has horrendous parking. There are a few stalls fronting the restaurant and they are right next to a noodle shop which I no like even name but there is the word Joy in it and they seem anything but. I was trying for park in front and was having hard time, just as my friend was going to ask Frog if we can park there, I see the “joy” lady screaming and yelling at me from her restaurant and gesturing me to go somewhere else. I couldn’t hear her cause she was inside her restaurant with the door closed. She looked so mad. And you know what? What if I was trying for go her restaurant? Well I won’t ever go now.

Anyway, I found out the parking is in the back of the building for Frog and it’s a very tight lot with tandem spots so basically, you will always be blocked in. They know this so as you’re leaving, the waitress will either help you manuever out or ask the other diners to move their cars.

I judge a Korean restaurant by the quality of their banchan and they did not fail here. In fact, their banchan reminded me of Jagalchi’s banchan in its heyday. Near the end, they were giving less and less banchan and with no variety.

From top to bottom, steamed egg (so savory and soft), choy sum, fishcake, bean sprouts. All four items were marinated to the max, no blandness here!

I also judge a Korean restaurant by their kimchee. Frog has some good kimchee, both cucumber and wonbok. I liked these potatoes, it’s the sweet shoyu one. Cooked perfect, not too soft but not hard at all. All three seasoned wonderfully.

Spicy Beef and Vegetable Soup Lunch Special | $12.95

Not my dish but I got to give it a try. So good. They give really good amount of meat and fill it up with all the good veggies (fern, beansprouts, etc.). A nice helping of long rice. I would absolutely order this myself next time.

Korean Sausage Soup Lunch Special | $12.95

I always go for the blood sausage. I know, not everyone can handle this. In fact, this soup not only included the blood sausage, it included all kind intestine and either sliced pig ear or some kind of cartiledge. I enjoyed it but it’s not for the faint of heart. I would get the yukkaejjang next time though this soup was good!

Oysters & Steamed Pork | $34.95

The dish you have been waiting for (well V). The biggest difference so far? The pork. Jagalchi used to make the pork in a nice soy/coffee broth so the pork always looked so nice and brown and juicy. This one, just looks so white and bland yeah? The wonbok “wraps” had a bit of a vinegary taste. The daikon mixture, gosh it was missing the chinese chives that Jagalchi used to use.

In the end, I think it was still a good dish but here is my warning, but I think it was just me. And sorry for the TMI, but I got major stomach problems (ahem) right after lunch. I’m talking, all afternoon kine. I’m talking, I didn’t ask for a full body cleanse but certainly got it kine. But my dining companion seemed to react with it fine so it really could just be me. I have had bad reactions to raw oysters before. Eat at your own risk.

ALSO, the waitress working in the restaurant is SO NICE. Very sweet, seems like a small family owned place and I really liked how homey the restaurant felt and how homey the dishes cooked felt. Reminded me a lot of Jagalchi. Also, I love that each table has a button/buzzer so you can call for help when needed. And small thing but I liked that she brings every table a pitcher of water. It’s the little details.

I am too lazy to look now but I am pretty sure I have posted Jalgachi before. They are still the top makers of bossam in my opinion, if there is a better restaurant out there, please let me know! I came in for lunch about 2 months ago, food was still delicious. Prices have gone up, but where haven’t prices gone up? Their Yelp business hours have not been updated but they are closed on Wednesdays – FYI! We learned the hard way.

Bossam (Steamed Pork with Oyster) | $37.99

Yes, it’s pricey but it’s so worth. I really love that they season the pork so well. The oysters and the mixture beneath? *chef’s kiss* It’s just the perfect dish. Honestly, I could eat this as my entire meal. Not that I should. (Let me live!)

Complimentary Banchan

They used to give you six dishes of banchan – I guess covid has changed things a bit. And it seems like these are the mainstays – they used to vary up the banchans.

Bibimbap (Brunch Special) | $13.99

Actually, my friend and I shared the bossam and bibimbap. It worked out perfectly, we pigged out but didn’t overstuff ourselves. We had two Korean men dining next to us and both of them constantly left their table to go outside to smoke. They really slowly ate and drank…super slowly. Good thing it wasn’t that busy.

A new Korean BBQ take-out joint in Kalihi! I repeat, a new Korean BBQ take-out place in Kalihi! Griddle N Grindz is located in the Dillingham Plaza (the one with Foodland and Savers) and they are located where Yummy’s used to be (I didn’t even know they closed!). This place is take-out only, smallish menu but boy do they make that up in portions. Check it out.

Korean BBQ Chicken (Level 2 – Extra Spicy) | $13.49
Comes with 4 banchan choices, I chose fish cake, kimchee, cucumber kimchee and japchae

Been hankering for some Korean BBQ chicken, their chicken is good! Love the grill marks, the banchan is good. I like the fish cake and the japchae, the cucumber kimchee is just alright and the kimchee is okay too (nothing special).

I only got level 2 spicy and TMI, it was a small runny nose situation. I kind of want to risk it all and try their spiciest level (which they don’t charge extra for…!)

Fried Garlic Chicken | $14.79
Comes with 4 banchan choices, we chose macaroni salad, cucumber kimchee, japchae and fish cake

This is one of the plates a lot of people are getting, not pictured is the spicy mayo sauce that comes on the side for dipping (I am pretty sure it’s just mayo and sriracha). The chicken is good, nice juicy thigh pieces fried up light and crispy. Barely any garlic flavor. The mac salad is a bit bland, and I already critiqued the other three banchan choices above).

Menu as of July 2021 (their website has an outdated menu)

Not that this should matter, but I did not see a single Korean staff person here. LOL. I am not making any assumptions or trying to say anything, just saying the front and kitchen staff I was able to see were not Korean. It did not affect the taste of the food or my willingness to go back, I definitely would when I get a hankering for Korean BBQ again!

Have I really never done a full post on Jagalchi? I can’t believe this. This place has been my go-to Korean restaurant for years. Anytime I get a hankering for some good hot soup, jun or now…bossam, this place is IT. So glad it is still open and survived the pandemic, I can’t lose this place. Can I tell a funny story? A few years back, came to eat with a few friends and there was a car blocking our car in the parking lot. At the end of the lot is a place with no windows and is just completely closed out to the public…us geniuses decided to walk in there to ask if they had one car double parked out there. Uhhh I am pretty sure I walked into a place that is illegal and am lucky I was not hurt cause everyone in the room stopped, turned and looked at us. Lesson is, don’t go into that place at the end of the building. Onto the food!

Complimentary Banchan

Hot Shredded Beef Soup (Yukgaejang) | $10.49 (Brunch price, 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM)

All soups come with the banchan (shared) and your own bowl of purple rice (in those neat metal bowls with lids). My friend ordered hers mild and she believed they actually complied this time. In the past she would order mild but was still spicy.

Korean Sausage Soup (Soondaeguk) | $11.49 (Brunch price, 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM)

This is my go-to soup. I love this soup. I think the title might be misleading for folks who don’t know but it’s actually blood sausage. They also throw in all kinds of intestines into this soup, really good and hearty. I would recommend this!

Bossam (Steamed Pork with Oyster) | $37.00

OH MY GOD. Okay, I am convinced they have a new cook in the kitchen. New owners? I don’t know. But this is the best bossam they have served up. They definitely cooked the pork differently this time, it used to be like almost bleached white color but now they have boiled it in seasoning! I’ve seen recipes for this where they make it with all kind good seasonings and like instant coffee to give it this beautiful brown color. The mixture in the middle, now that is a huge star of the show. It’s not just kimchee, it’s a mixture of like onions, radish, carrots just swimming in their spicy sauce…and yes fresh oysters on top. Get the wonbok leaves to wrap the pork in with whatever toppings you want. Yes, not a healthy dish (look at the glistening meat) but is soooo good, get it and share with friends! Highly recommend.