In the mood for food at Food Mood: Korean Kitchen

For food explorers one of the great joys of the hunt is finding that little-known hideaway, that year after year delivers its traditional cuisine at a high level. The food may appear modest but it hits all the right notes in both taste and quality and the pride of the people behind it.

No one would really consider Rideau St. a place for hideaways, but driving up and down that road, you know very well how hard it is to see anything. You just don't have the luxury of driving slowly enough to take it all in. It is for this reason that in the next editions I'll be talking about a couple of Rideau St. takeaway places that are worthy of your attention.

Food Mood: Korean Kitchen opened its doors in 2017 and has been supplying locals and shoppers with savoury and well-prepared Korean street food six days a week (closed on Mondays) from their tiny location at 178B Rideau St., just steps from Dalhousie.

Sang Jin and his wife do all the cooking and for a couple that appear to me as if they might have retired years ago, it's no surprise to me that people who work in food and drink have a passion for the nurturing of family and community that goes beyond that of most mortals. I've seen it many times.

When you enter Food Mood you're aware that the deep fryers are being given a workout. But you don't want to let that stop you from enjoying the Rideau Crisps. Squares of Nori are pasted with perfectly cooked and seasoned short grain rice then tossed in potato starch and fried, after which they are drizzled with sweet and spicy gochujang sauce and sprinkled with fried onion threads. This item was relatively new to me but what a terrific beer snack.

And while you're thinking about that beer, do not by any means miss their plump, steamy, crispy sweet chicken wings finished with black and white sesame seeds. After your first bite, you're already thinking of the second order and as you chew, the sesame becomes an added flavour reward for a choice well-made.

Red (spicy) and white rice balls are filled with either melt-in-your-mouth bulgogi beef or tofu and are a Korean version of the much loved Japanese classic onigiri. Rather than triangular, these are actually ball shaped and at two for $6.99 are a terrific option for when you don't have time for a full lunch.

Take that same Bulgogi and lay it on top of perfectly cooked rice along with an egg, shredded vegetables, sauces and sesame oil and seeds and for $13.00 you've got a beautiful Bibimbap that competes with the best of them. Along with that, order the house-made kimchi. The mistake I made was ordering the small ($4.50) rather than the large ($8.00). It may not be as fiery as other store-bought versions, but it's no less flavourful for that. Its sweet crunch is now something I cherish over the more well-marinated versions.

I know that I have a few visits ahead of me yet as I'm eager to try the Kimmari, a Korean street food classic of deep-fried seaweed wrapped sweet potato noodles and a perennial favourite, the Teokbokki (spicy rice cakes). Oh and then there's the Korean Ramen as well as the KFC (KoreanFried Chicken) in honey soy or.... you get my meaning.