Korean Food in Indiana

I thought it would be fun to try some local Korean food at home in Indiana before I go to Korea for the real deal! So I went to Google, as I often do, and typed in "Korean restaurants Indianapolis". After looking through the restaurant locations and reading reviews, my mom and I decided to go to a Korean restaurant in Fishers called "Cafe Korea" last week.

Here is the website for Cafe Korea: http://www.cafekoreaindy.com/Default.aspx

We had a wonderful experience at this cute little restaurant, found in a strip mall off of Allisonville Road.

Two Korean women, one older and one younger, served us. They were charming and friendly. We told them about my plans for moving to Korea and planning a Korean themed going away party. We were given a couple suggestions on dishes to try and perhaps serve at a party. My mom and I ended up ordering Chop Chae and Bulgogi.

While we were waiting for our entrees the servers brought us a treat: Bindaetuk! It's a traditional Korean pancake, but to us it was more like hash browns with vegetables in it. We dipped the pancake in a soy sauce green onion mixture. I thought it was so yummy! Mmmmm I could definitely eat that everyday!

Korean Pancake

Next came our entrees in addition to kim chi, which is served at every Korean meal I've heard, and additional vegetables dishes such as spicy cucumbers, bean sprouts, and steamed spinach. I don't like kim chi because it is spicy. I did really enjoy the bean sprouts and spinach. The entrees were incredible!

Bulgogi: Grilled thin slices of tender beef & vegetables marinated in special sauce. Wonderful! We  are definitely making Bulgogi for my going away party!

Chop Chae: Sweet potato noodles with egg and vegetables. At first I did not know that the egg was in fact egg. I thought it was tofu or something like that. I asked the waitress and she said egg! I had no idea because I have never seen eggs cut in strips before! Vegetables in the dish included peppers and onions. This dish was absolutely wonderful. So delicious! After lunch, mom and I went to the Asian Market and bought sweet potato noodles to try and make at home! 

After our meal dessert was brought to us! Dessert was simple: a couple pieces of fruit. It was good though and healthy of course! Overall, a fantastic experience at Cafe Korea! 

One thing I learned at Cafe Korea is that Korean chopsticks are made of metal, which my mom and I witnessed, whereas Chinese chopsticks are made of wood. Korean chopsticks also come with a spoon. 

Today I got the opportunity to try more Korean food at another Korean restaurant called E. Miracle. It is another restaurant in Fishers my mom and I discovered on Allisonville last week. When I saw another Korean restaurant so close I knew I wanted to go there before leaving for Korea! And today I got to go for dinner! So exciting and so good! 

They do not have a website, but you can find their menu here: http://www.coupons4indy.com/ClientPage-118220.11312-17336.113129-E-Miracle.html

This restaurant is not strictly a Korean restaurant, there is Japanese food on the menu as well, including Sushi. While I love sushi, I wanted to stick to Korean dishes. I also wanted to try something different than what I got at Cafe Korea. My friend and I ordered, at the suggestion of our waiter, Took Bae Gi Bulgogi and Dolsot Bibimbob. So yes I did have another Bulgogi, but this one was different because it was in a soup. Also this dish had yam noodles as opposed to sweet potato noodles. 

At E. Miracle we were given all our food at one time. There were two large pots containing our main dishes, with many small bowls of vegetables on the side. The food was warm and satisfying. I loved it! Yummy!!

Our Korean meal at E. Miracle. In the middle is the Dolsot Bibimbob, which has an egg in the middle, which vegetables around it, and rice on the bottom. The pot was nice and hot, keeping our food warm. Next to the Bibimbob is the Bulgogi soup, which is gray with noodles and bean sprouts on top. Some of the side dishes you see here include kim chi (spicy cabbage), potatoes, bean sprouts, rice, radish, and spicy sauce (which I did not consume!).

Close up of the Bibimbop. You can see the egg in the center with beef around it and then lots of veggies! Underneath all the food you see on top is rice.

Close up of the Bilgogi soup. You can see the yam noodles and bean sprouts. 

We decided to order dessert for fun. We ordered what the waiter suggested: Tempura Ice Cream. While I'm not sure if this is a Korean dessert...because it was very sweet...it was quite a heavenly dessert. I have never had anything quite like it. It was superb. Delicious meal overall. Loved it. I don't think it was as authentic as Cafe Korea (our chopsticks were plastic), but just as wonderful food! 

Tempura ice cream. Deep fried ice cream with strawberry and chocolate syrup. Heavenly. Pretty too :)

On the way out of the restaurant I saw monthly devotional books from a Korean church on the counter so I snatched one. The book contains one devotional for each day in the Korean language. My hope is that by next year, I'll be able to read much of the devotional book. We will see what happens! One thing is for sure...I'll be able to read my favorite Korean dishes on a menu in no time :)