I am not going to say a single thing about the name of this place, but I will say this: the “Umma’s Lunchbox” deal kills. Choose from fried tofu, barbecue chicken, spicy pork, and bulgogi, and the generous leftovers of rice, japchae, and banchan will make a great midnight snack. Table barbecue here is pretty simple - mostly the hits like pork ribs and short ribs, plus some rosemary and garlic pork belly. What you really want to order is the super refreshing mul-naengmyeon (cold noodle, as it’s listed on the menu) and the bibim-naengmyeon (spicy cold noodle). They’re both hot-weather dishes that are sweet, spicy, and thirst-quenching. And if there’s no ice cube in your silver bowl, ask for some to make the broth extra frosty.

photo credit: Andrea D'Agosto