Local Restaurants Get Some Pricey Real Estate On Washingtonian's 2012 Cheap Eats List

Bon Fresco makes Washingtonian's Cheap Eats list

Local restaurants represent a serious slice of new Washingtonian's Cheap Eats edition -- getting the nod for everything from Mexican to Cuban to sandwiches.

The list includes praise for Red Pearl and Bon Fresco in Columbia, Cuba de Ayer in Burtonsvile, and R&R Taqueria in Elkridge.  It also highlights a few local restaurant chains without noting the Howard County locations, including BGR The Burger Joint in Columbia and Honey Pig Gooldaegee Korean Barbecue and Lighthouse Tofu BBQ in Ellicott City.

The Washingtonian critics write short blurbs about each place, and they give practical suggestions -- lots of ideas about what to order and what makes a place special -- like the chilaquiles that they recommend at R&R.

One spot that I'd love to be considered for this list would be Mango Grove in Columbia.  They were closed while this list was being assembled, but I think the Indian there and spots like House of India compete with any "cheap eats" level Indian that I have every had.

The June 2012 edition is really worth your $5 to pick up at a grocery store.  It's not on line so far, and I think it's great to have around.  You could definitely flip through to see what inspires you.  There are some great-looking places within striking distance like Rockville, Beltsville, and Silver Spring.

Link: Honey Pig in The Sun

The Sun reviewed the new Honey Pig Gooldaegee Korean BBQ in Ellicott City, and Rob Kaspar wrote the line that I wish I had thought of: "It reminded me of fondue without the oil."

Kaspar liked the pork bellies and also tried an octopus mix and a LA Beef Rib lunch special.  The octopus was chewy, but he really liked the ribs and the cold buckwheat noodle soup as well.  Kaspar's review is bound to send more people Honey Pig's way.

Thanks to Sarah for the tip.  Click here for all my Honey Pig posts.

Honey Pig Gooldaegee Korean BBQ in Ellicott City

Everything is an open kitchen at the Honey Pig in Ellicott City, which has added a casual, boisterous barbecue to Howard County's deepest ethnic cuisine.

Everything is an open kitchen because everyone at Honey Pig grills their own meat.  This is a place to go for fun and meat.  It's a limited menu.  It's a modern, almost-industrial feel.  Tables fill with young people, and servers work the floor offering more meat, more kimchi, more soju.

Honey Pig is a great option for casual food.  It's a lower price point and a smaller menu than standards like Shin Chon Garden.  No bi bim bop, which is one of the dishes that I recommend for a Korean feast.  But that's the point.  Consider Honey Pig like a pizza joint or a burger spot.  You go for the house specialties and the casual vibe -- either an easy meal for the aficionado or a low-key introduction for people new to Korean barbecue.

I'm no expert, so I invited advice in a prior post asking "What Do You Order At Honey Pig?"  The consensus is that you need to start with the pork belly (samgyupsal) and either the brisket or kalbi.  Unfortunately, Honey Pig's service was so fast that I didn't have time to download my own blog page, so we ordered the thin-sliced pork belly and the bulgogi.  Say "yes" to the kimchi that they'll add to your grill. You'll get a small plate of panchan, the kimchi and small dishes.  You'll get a spicy red sauce for bulgogi and a two-sided dish with clear sauces to dip your pork belly.

You can't really go wrong with Korean barbecue.  It's thin-sliced meat.  You can tell raw from cooked.  Let them char, plus the Honey Pig servers will barbecue the meat for you.  They aren't all fluent in English, but they're happy to answer questions.  You can eat the meat straight with just dipping sauce.  You can get a rice bowl, then add little pieces of meat and kimchi to eat from the rice.  Mrs. HowChow and I like the plates of lettuce, and we make little rolls with lettuce, a piece of meat, some rice, some sauces.

Honey Pig offers that all, and next time, I'm trying the spicy pork and seafood recommended by Matthew.  Generally, I agreed with the comments that Honey Pig was less spicy than other Korean places.  The side dishes are smaller and less varied than full-menu restaurants.  But the meat was delicious, and Honey Pig is exciting because it's different.  Korean restaurants run on Rte 40 from Bethany Street to Catonsville, and they truly differ -- even to my uneducated eyes -- in ways that make Korean a broader range than any local ethnic food except for maybe Italian.  Shin Chon or Mirocjo for the barbecue feast.  Rainpia for fried chicken and a beer.  There are Chinese-Korean and cafeterias.  

Honey Pig fills the spot for the casual joint.   A small menu done well, done affordable for the young and the curious.  More Looney's or Eggspectations than Bistro Blanc or Aida Bistro.  Go get some pork belly and make yourself part of the fun.

(Update: I hear on Chowhound that Honey Pig now offers bi bim bap as well as the barbecued meat.)

I'd love someone to guest post about the special reasons to visit other Korean places.  We fall into the Shin Chon pattern.  What dishes or experiences should draw me away to Chum Churum, Yet Nal House, or some other place?


Check out Kevin's great comment about service at Korean restaurants -- pushing the point that you need to ask for items and not expect pre-emptive questions like you get from American waitresses.  Suddenly, it makes sense.  If you're looking for more about Korean food, check some of my prior posts about Shin Chon Garden, the fried chicken at Rainpia, or Bethany Seafood Restaurant.  Or check out all the posts about Korean food.


Honey Pig Korean BBQ
10045 Baltimore Pike (Rte 40) 
Ellicott City, MD 21042 


NEAR: Honey Pig is in the shopping center behind the Double T diner. From east-bound Rte 40, you turn right at the red sign for Quest Fitness and drive up hill. This is west of Rte 29 near the Soft Stuff ice cream stand and the Enchanted Forest shopping center.

 

What Do You Order At Honey Pig? Or Shin Chon?

I still haven't been to Honey Pig 2 in Ellicott City, but AGussman posted a question that I thought should be answered before I get to try Ellicott City's newest Korean BBQ:  "This sounds like a cool place, but I'm completely unfamiliar with Korean BBQ.  Does anyone have recommendations what to try?"

Personally, I have some recommendations.  As I said in a Shin Chon Garden post, we tend to order either bulgogi or kalbi and the dolset bi bim bop.  That's barbecued meat and a stone bowl of mixed rice, vegetables and a little meat.  If we can work up a group, we order the feast where you get a couple meats to grill yourself and augment with that bi bim bop.  Either way, you get a table full of panchan -- the little bowls of vegetables, tofu, shredded meat, and other side dishes that make Korean so spectacular.

But I'm no expert on Korean food.  Yelp seems full of young people who grew up with Korean cuisine, and I have loved reviews like AK J's live lobster sashimi post about Bethany Seafood Restaurant.  I'd love if anyone wants to answer AGussman's question in the comments.  What do you think makes a good introduction to Korean food?  What do people miss when they stick to the tried and true?  Anything special at Honey Pig?  Please comment below.

(Update I: I inspired myself to go to Honey Pig.  I'll post later, but I my big discovery is that this is a limited menu.  It's great, but you can't get the dolset bi bim bop that I mentioned above.  My advice for a beginner at Honey Pig is to order a thin-sliced pork belly and the bulgogi.  As Lee says in the comments, you can order anything.  You pick a meat.  They grill it in front of you.  You can't go wrong.  I'm just starting with basics.  I'll add more later.)

(Update II: Check out the photos and post on This Is Gonna Be Good.  Spectacular photos.  These folks aren't running around my little cell phone camera.)

(Update III: My full review of Honey Pig is now up.)

My real advice is that you ask for help.  Shin Chon Garden has always been wonderful to us.  The first few times, I asked for help knowing when the meat was grilled, and the waitresses showed us exactly what to do.  I pointed out the rice noodle wrappers, and the manager explained them.  You might hit a few people with limited English, but you're just as likely to find a waiter who grew up in Howard County and has been explaining Korean food to non-Koreans for 20 years like the guy who explained the great fried chicken at Rainpia.  If you like vegetables, meat and pickles -- and especially if you like some spice, then you could happily eat for years in Korean restaurants.

Honey Pig In Ellicott City: What Did You Think?

Honey Pig Gooldaegee Korean BBQ opened its new Ellicott City location on April 1, 2010.  Have you been?  What did you think?  How long was the wait?  I'm gearing up for a visit, and I want to know what we should order.

If you're going to try Honey Pig, save a little room and enjoy either an ice cream at Soft Stuff or frozen yogurt at Tutti Frutti.

The first comment came in before I even posted this from Mr. Dai, who seems satisfied.  


Definitely check out Arthur K's Yelp review, which starts with "Honeypig has just upped the ante for Korean restaurants in Howard County. My solemn duty as a Korean man required me to visit Honeypig as soon as possible. I got the opportunity to go opening day and I was not dissapointed. The wait was reasonable, 25 minutes; though it was Thursday and earlier in the dinner rush (we arrived at about 6)"

Honey Pig: Folks Say Opening April 1

The Honey Pig Goldaegee Korean BBQ will open in Ellicott City on April 1, according to several comments on prior posts from people who say they called the place like Mr. Dai or can read the sign.

Thanks for the tips.  Click here for my original introduction of Honey Pig, which is a barbeque chain.

Honey Pig: Searching For An Opening Date

Anyone have a concrete date for when pork belly hits the grill at Honey Pig in Ellicott City?

Several comments and the Honey Pig Annandale's Yelp page say it will open on March 19, 2010.  Stephen C saw a sign that says Ellicott City will open April 1, he said in a comment today with a link to the sign.  This might be the difference between a "soft" opening and an official date.  I'm still hoping for next week.

(Update: Looks like Honey Pig is opening on April 1.  Check out this later post.)

Brandon and I both aren't exactly sure why we're so excited for Honey Pig since there are tons of Korean barbecue available on Rte 40.  But we are!

Honey Pig In Ellicott City On March 19?

The people at the Honey Pig Gooldaegee Korean BBQ in Annandale say that the new Ellicott City location will open on March 19, according to a comment by Mr. Dai who says that he called them.

Honey Pig In Ellicott City - An Update

From the parking lot, Honey Pig Gooldaegee Korean BBQ in Ellicott City looks ready to start grilling meats in its hipster atmosphere, but, up close, it's still a construction zone.

(Update: Looks like Honey Pig is opening on April 1, 2010.  Check out this later post.)

I rolled past Sunday afternoon.  The sign is up, and there is already a banner advertising grand opening specials.  But they're still building the restaurant inside.  Tables and grilling vents have been installed.  But there are tools scattered everywhere along with the corrugated metal that Honey Pig installs on the wall to import the feel of a cool university neighborhood in Seoul.

People were working inside even on a snowy Sunday afternoon.  That's good, but the place still looks weeks away from opening -- although I'm terrible at those estimates.

Honey Pig will open in the Princess shopping center on Rte 40 just west of the Soft Stuff ice cream stand and the Forest Diner.  From east-bound Rte 40, you turn right at the red sign for Quest Fitness and drive up hill.  The Princess shopping center is up behind Double T diner that directly faces Rte 40.

If you want Korean food before Honey Pig opens, definitely check out Shin Chon Garden or all of my posts about Korean food in Howard County.

Honey Pig Gooldaegee Korean BBQ
10045 Baltimore National Pike (Rte 40)
Ellicott City, MD 21041

NEAR:  Honey Pig is going into the shopping center behind the Double T diner.  From east-bound Rte 40, you turn right at the red sign for Quest Fitness and drive up hill.  This is west of Rte 29 near the Soft Stuff ice cream stand and the Enchanted Forest shopping center.

Honey Pig Korean BBQ Getting Its Sign

The Honey Pig Korean BBQ coming to Ellicott City has a permit to install its new sign, according to the Howard County Web site.

I wish the county would just post a flashing number that says: "Honey Pig will open on [date]."  I guess that isn't a core function of the building permit process, but it would be so helpful.

Honey Pig Korean BBQ Coming to Ellicott City

Honey Pig Gooldaegee Korean BBQ is bringing its Korean barbeque from Annandale to Ellicott City, according to an anonymous comment from yesterday and some Howard County building permits.

Does anyone know the time table to open?  The work isn't complete on electrical and plumbing permits issued in December 2009.  Honey Pig drew its first permit in August 2009, but they were still passing plumbing inspections yesterday.  (They got a 1,000 gallon grease trap.  Is that something that I want to know?)

Anyone have thoughts about how Honey Pig will compare to the Ellicott City establishment like Shin Chon Garden or Bethany Seafood House?  The Annandale location is a 24-hour joint that was very hot for a while after it opened.  The Washington Post review highlights the food and says that its cheaper than other BBQ restaurants and dominated by a young crowd.  There are comments on Chowhound and Don Rockwell.  You should also check out Arthur K who writes good reviews on Yelp, where there are dozens of opinions.  Lot of talk about Honey Pig looking like Seoul.

Thanks so much for the tips.  Check out my post about the other new restaurants in Howard County.  If you want Korean food before Honey Pig opens, definitely check out Shin Chon Garden or all of my posts about Korean food in Howard County.

Honey Pig Gooldaegee Korean BBQ
10045 Baltimore National Pike (Rte 40)
Ellicott City, MD 21041

NEAR:  Honey Pig is going into the shopping center behind the Double T diner.  From east-bound Rte 40, you turn right at the red sign for Quest Fitness and drive up hill.  This is west of Rte 29 near the Soft Stuff ice cream stand and the Enchanted Forest shopping center.