Tonight, following a great happy hour at Brit’s, I was riding the bus home and saw that Arby’s was doing it’s “free” Wednesday deal. Tonight’s “free” item was a regular roast beef sandwich and knowing that Kim is a fan I gave her a call and suggested we pick some up. Kim replied that we should celebrate some good news I received today and as such we should go out to dinner somewhere else instead. When I got home I asked what she was in the mood for and she said Asian. Being that we have cleared out most of the Asian places we haven’t already been to that are probably worth trying, I suggested Hoban in Eagan following many suggestions to try it, especially from Sank.
We arrived to the nearly empty and large restaurant. The space is lined with booths and in the middle are many tables offering seating to quite a crowd. Tonight there were plenty of people sitting in the restaurant eating but it was no were near full. We were seated along the wall near the front door and handed our menus. Kim immediately ordered some vegetable tempura which was delivered in record time. The tempura was light enough but a bit greasy towards the bottom. The dipping sauce was apparently their seasoned soy and was decent enough for the food. While eating our appetizer we continued to look over the extensive menu which was marked with numerous options that claimed to be “new”. Prices averaged (without any math) in the $11 range.
After much deciding, Kim finally went with the Chicken Bulgogi which is described as tender chicken marinated with soy sauce and rice wine vinegar, and grilled with Hoban′s sweet teriyaki sauce. I spent a lot more time looking over the menu than she did and decided to go with an item that claimed to be served with a “fiery hot sauce”. The Dolsot Bibimbob claims to be sizzling rice topped with an assortment of vegetables and beef. I don’t remember what each of the items cost (sorry, I left my phone at home thus I had no notes) but our total bill was just under $30 without drinks so figure from there.
After ordering the servers delivered a multitude of side dishes including beansprouts, sweet potatoes, radishes, Kimchi, and lettuce/spinach. While I didn’t catch everything that was described to us, I did try it all. My favorite was the lettuce/spinach and even though I ate nearly everything that was presented, the majority of it just didn’t have much flavor to me. While digging through the various bowls, I heard a sizzling snap, crackle, and pop coming from behind me. I turned around to find a large stone bowl heading for our table containing my dish. After being warned at how hot it was, I took a photo or two and started peeking at the vegetables, meat, and egg.
The vegetables were fresh and sliced thin, the egg was cooked well but still runny, and the rice was sticky but not overdone–yet. Unfortunately the meat which I expected would be plentiful in my big dish turned out to be limited, extremely limited. I slathered on the “fiery hot sauce” which I had predetermined through testing with the tempura appetizer to not be hot nor be something I particularly enjoyed hoping it would taste better with the meal–and it did. Unfortunately, as I stated before, it wasn’t fiery and it certainly didn’t help to bring back any of the meat I felt was missing. As I ate and the rice cooked more, I spent quite a bit of time scraping the now caked rice from the bowl. The flavor was ok, the ingredients were fresh, and the dish was certainly filling but I must admit that Korean food just isn’t my thing. It’s not that I wouldn’t eat it again, I just won’t be rushing out tomorrow to do so.
After I ate for a while, Kim’s dish finally arrived at the table. She was immediately turned off by the fact that it was lying on a bed of very abundant sliced, raw onion. The chicken tasted fantastic and reminded me more of BBQ sauce than teriyaki. Kim didn’t eat much of her meal and saved the rest for my lunch tomorrow. If I had to do it all again I’d definitely take her dish over mine but that’s just me.
Service was good, price was reasonable, and the location was kept up fairly well. Definitely seems like a place that would be fun with friends and/or family. Overall the food was ok but it just wasn’t our thing and I can’t imagine that we’ll be starting to review every Korean restaurant we come across based on what we had tonight. Perhaps it was just the options we chose?
Have you eaten at Hoban in Eagan? If so, what do you enjoy there? Do you have any other suggestions of Korean restaurants in the MSP area that people should try instead? Whatever you think about Hoban Korean Restaurant go ahead and comment on and let others know too!
Address:
Hoban Korean Restaurant
1989 Silver Bell Rd
Eagan, MN 55122-3167
Phone:
651-688-3447
Hours:
11 AM to 10 PM (Mon to Sun)
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June 25th, 2009 at 9:35 am
I’ve eaten at Hoban though it has been a while. King’s up in the northern suburbs is supposedly the best Korean in MSP. I’ve also eaten at Mirror of Korea on Snelling which seemed OK but not great.
I have less experience with Korean, Thai and some of the SE Asian cuisines but I get the impression that Korean has less bold flavors than, say, Szechuan food or Thai. The food at Hoban always seems fresh, well-prepared and the service, I agree, has always been very pleasant to me, even going so far as to make an off-the-menu tofu side dish once when I asked if they had tofu.
Because of that, I share the level of enthusiasm you write in your 2nd to last paragraph. No hesitation to send people there or go back, but it isn’t a culinary revelation.
One other thing: I’d like to hear your (or others’) impressions of Classic Sai Gon up the hill from Hoban (on Beau d’Rue, in the same complex as the busted “massage parlor”). Also very friendly people, fresh foods and they are willing to talk about “authentic” dishes, etc.
June 25th, 2009 at 9:41 am
MSPD, I haven’t eaten at either but they are now on the list per your suggestions.
After dinner at Hoban Kim was still craving dessert so I drove over to Ring Mountain Creamery in Eagan (Rahn Rd was closed causing an annoying detour through the adjacent neighborhoods) where I said I had heard good things from several of the people here including dmh. Low and behold, as we walk in the door I hear, “BILL!” and see dmh sitting with several friends. I wonder if her ears were burning :-)
Kim said the gelato was fine but she was in the mood for something different so didn’t give it the raving and resounding acceptance I expected. I didn’t try anything there as dessert isn’t my bag and I was still absolutely bursting from the Korean (I am still kinda full to be honest).
June 25th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I have eaten there several times, and even had them cater my son’s 1st birthday party. (He’s Korean.) In a nutshell, we’ve always loved their food. I’ve also been told by many that it’s about the most “authentic” in the area. Sadly, they don’t have the bulgogi grills at the table like many Korean restaurants.
Your selections actually mirror what my wife and I typically order. SHe loves the chicken bulgogi, a dish that is traditionally beef. You’re right: it’s more fun w/a group. you’re right: that sauce is not all that spicy.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Hoban – a family favorite for 15 years of ours. Introduced to Hoban by a Korean co-worker / friend we try to frequent Hoban every few months. The Mrs. enjoys the do-so, Dolsot Bibimbob that you ordered Bill. I often get the Chicken Bokum or Seafood Bokum, and the picky eating children from hell enjoy a few of the side dishes and usually split a Chicken Katsu. I would say that Hoban has become a restaurant for our family that meets all of family members likes, they cater to the kids by replenishing the side dishes that the kids enjoy and it is moderately priced. I did stray once to explore a different dish which I do not see any longer on their menu, the honeycomb beef. After taking the first bite and feeling like I was eating stale gummi bears I asked what it was, (or described by the waitress as, you know, you know, cow insides, as she wiggled her fingers by her stomach), beef intestine, so I have learned to be more cautious prior to straying from the normal staples at Hoban.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Glad to here you tried it. We eat Korean as often as we can, being 1/5 Korean as a family.. Actually I like Mirror of Korea in St. Paul better, the lady who runs it does a nice job, but Hoban is fine when you don’t want to make the drive.
I’m a bit surprised to hear about the great service. My only big beef about Hoban is the service. Typically its slow as can be.
The little plates you got when you sat down are all different kinds of kimchee and pickled veggies Occasionally there’s a dried fish dish I like, but they haven’t had it the last couple times.
Try the Chigage next time.. fantastic hot and spicy soup. I like beef over chicken bulgogi. Also like the ChopChe with the soy noodles. Delish!
June 25th, 2009 at 11:28 am
After you left RM, we shouted out “Bill” a few times, just to see if anyone walked over. We then tried “Tom” “Steve” and “Jim” too. We got no responses.
June 26th, 2009 at 4:47 am
[...] hype, a neat shot of veggie tempura from Hoban Korean Restaurant in Eagan, MN in our Flickr pool (read Bill’s review here), and Mecca got uninvited to the Butcher Block preview after being invited (if it’s any [...]
June 26th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Yes, Hoban is a favorite of ours… their stone bowl bibimbop is very authentic. The side dishes are all home made, and generally very good, although the potatoes are nothing special. Their kimchee is pretty mild but crispy and excellent with beer.
I prefer their kalbi short ribs to the bulgogi… the bulgogi tastes like it was cooked earlier and sitting… their short ribs when i last had them were very fresh tasting off their grill with that great soy/garlic/barbq taste… they werent extremely tender… but they come in huge heap on the platter and are more than enough for 2 people.
the downside is that they cannot have table grills to truly experience Korean BBQ the way it should be done. I think that is either an Eagan or a MN fire regulation?
I have heard that the Korean places on the North Side and St Paul are better and i have not been to Mirror of Korea in years… but the upside is for a short drive you can have authentic Korean food for a pittance… my wife and i regularly have 2 entrees , a beer and a glass of wine and come out satisfied with a tab of $25…. so the quality to cost ratio is very high.
June 27th, 2009 at 11:11 am
My wife and I tried it last night, since we’ve been meaning to for a while and she didn’t want to wait for me to cook dinner after I got home late from work. :)
We got the sweet potato tempura for an appetizer and thought it was quite good — the batter was a bit light compared to some places, but we still liked it and I liked their dipping sauce better than what most other places have.
For our entrees, my wife ordered the chicken bokum and I had the bulgogi (the standard beef version). I really liked mine; it reminded me of sukiyaki but with more ginger and garlic. My wife enjoyed hers as well; she described it as being just spicy enough to not be overpowering but still have a kick. Since the portions were big and there was the appetizer as well as the side dishes, we both took about half our entrees home with the leftover rice.
We thought the side dishes were good except for the bean sprouts. I normally like them, but not when they are pickled, I guess. I think the daikon (radish) was my favorite.
We’ll definitely be back at some point and I wouldn’t think twice about sending people there. Oh, and the service was great; maybe it was because it was Friday night and they were better staffed than they would be during the week.
I’ll also admit to being very curious about the karaoke place next door (which is owned by the same people, I think).
March 31st, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Hoban is amazing!! You just need to know what to order. For an app try bin dae tuk or mandoo. For meal get kal bi or bulgogi ( beef!). People always expect americanized Asian food… Hoban is different. And delicious
January 26th, 2012 at 12:08 am
I’ve been to Hoban multiple times and meh. If I’m jonesing for K-food I go to Dong Yang up in Columbia Heights. Think Ramadan only Korean. Dingy, cramped, cafeteria style, but great food and interesting market. IMO best K-food in the TC.
November 1st, 2012 at 7:02 am
[...] to Eagan’s newest restaurant, Betty’s Cafe and Pies located in the same strip mall as Hoban. According to a recent SunThisweek article, the restaurant is modeled after classic 50s diners and [...]