The Korean Secret Garden in Santa Clara – Bi Won Restaurant
It’s late April and the wind still blows cold. The tiny coffee plant I got last winter is still grudgingly hiding in my room for warmth, while I desperately crave a big hot soup with kimchi. Since coffee leaves wouldn’t make either great broth or pickle, we set out to Sunnyvale.
But driving in Sunnyvale on an empty stomach is no fun. The signs and loops are out to get you, and your tummy makes you rush running around. It was supposed to take less than thirty minutes, yet we’ve been driving for over an hour. After lots of wrong turns and backtracking eastward and westward, we thought we wouldn’t make it before closing time. Then as Hope faints, we see it. Secret Garden timidly stands at the end of a strip mall’s parking lot.
The restaurant may not have a snazzy outlook, but its spacious interior is quite nice. I’m a fan of booth seating and its privacy, but it’s a luxury in Berkeley. Here, the mahogany tables and thick cushion benches fit snuggly in enclosing of wooden planks, so that conversations can be spilled out somewhat comfortably and elbows do not touch. But the loveliness of food on neighboring diners’ plates is still in sight. It’s torturous to look at others eating merrily while you’re hungry, you know. Thank goodness the banchan is served quickly. Within minutes after placing our orders, plates after plates come out that I barely have enough time to snap a picture of them all. As light shines directly onto the crisp white melamine, the color contrast is so brilliant I suddenly don’t want to disturb any plate with my clumsy chopsticks.
From left to right: napa cabbage kimchi, nokdumuk (녹두묵 mungbean jello), kongnamul (콩나물 boiled and seasoned soybean sprout), and very tasty firm red strips (name help, please? is it eomuk strips in chili sauce?) nakji bokkeum (낙지볶음 fried octopus). The soybean sprouts are bigger, fatter, and nuttier than the usual mungbean sprouts, which means they’re more satisfying. The nokdumuk tastes as translucent as it looks, a refreshing heal congealed and coated in soy sauce that playfully wobbles on the tongue.
To the right of the kongnamul are cucumber kimchi, radish kimchi, eomuk (fish cake), and crunchy green strings (again, I love it, but I don’t know its name. My guess is sliced seaweed?) seaweed with gogumajulki (고구마줄기 dried sweet potato stem). Something about rings of jalapeno in banchan bugs me, just like jalapeno in banh-mi. Not that I have anything against Mexican peppers, but the taste doesn’t belong.
Just as I thought the banchan list ended at eight, a generous plate of japchae (잡채) fuming sweetness comes…
… with two stylish inox cups of miyuk gook (미역국). Whether or not it can enhance my brain function, it well enhances the sizzling goodness of the dolsot bibimbap (돌솥비빔밥).
White rice mixed with veggies, beef strips, egg, and gochujang (고추장) until crimson has been Mudpie’s No.1 favorite for a while now. He treasures every spoonful and guards the forming crust at the bottom against any careless scooping. At the end he then scrapes and eats the well seasoned crust with the joy of children eating s’mores. He orders it almost every time we go to a Korean restaurant, I feel like he should have a bibimbap blog much like Adam Kuban with Slice. And he claims this dolsot bibimbap is the best he’s had.
Meanwhile I am busy slurping what I have dreamed of for days: a hearty beef soup. A bowl of wet steamed rice comes with the galbi tang (갈비탕), but I wish they had given me more. The rice goes quickly as I pour the mild yet sensuous broth over it, with a piece of meltingly soft short rib, and maybe a bit of kimchi. I even eat the shiny green chives, since they now taste so sweet.
When I get near the end of the big soup bowl, a pleasant surprise surfaces: a small bundle of dangmyeon (당면 cellophane noodle) has been there all along, soft, clear, quietly soaking up flavors from the darling broth. I have rarely felt more gluttonously satisfied after a meal dined out.
Address: Secret Garden (Bi Won Restaurant)
3430 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95051
(408) 244-5020
Money matters: $26.11 – dinner and happiness for two.
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Appreciate it!
1I’m not sure exactly why but this blog is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.
2Very interesting subject, appreciate it for posting.
3Aw, this was a really nice post. In thought I wish to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and precise effort to make an excellent article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and certainly not seem to get something done.
4Terrific work! That is the type of info that are meant to be shared around the internet. Shame on Google for no longer positioning this publish upper! Come on over and seek advice from my site . Thank you =)
5Very interesting subject, thanks for putting up. “To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.” by G. K. Chesterton.
6I must express my respect for your generosity in support of individuals that need help on this subject. Your personal dedication to passing the message around had become really practical and has continuously permitted women like me to arrive at their objectives. The insightful hints and tips indicates a lot to me and additionally to my office colleagues. With thanks; from all of us.
7I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, appreciate it for all the great blog posts.
8I’m curious to find out what blog system you are utilizing? I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest blog and I would like to find something more safe. Do you have any recommendations?
9I like this website so much, saved to bookmarks. “Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life is still the mark of an educated man.” by Norman Cousins.
10I like this site so much, saved to bookmarks. “To hold a pen is to be at war.” by Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire.
11I conceive this website contains some rattling good information for everyone :D.
12Its such as you read my thoughts! You seem to know so much approximately this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you just can do with some percent to drive the message house a little bit, but instead of that, that is great blog. A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.
13Normally I do not read article on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very compelled me to try and do so! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thank you, very great article.
14I’ll immediately grasp your rss as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me know in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
15Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any tips?
16I have been examinating out a few of your articles and i can state pretty clever stuff. I will surely bookmark your blog.
17I’m really loving the theme/design of your blog. Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility problems? A number of my blog audience have complained about my website not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any recommendations to help fix this issue?
18It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or advice. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read more things about it!
19Hello, you used to write excellent, but the last few posts have been kinda boringK I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!
20Hiya! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog article or vice-versa? My blog discusses a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you’re interested feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Awesome blog by the way!
21Very interesting subject, thanks for putting up. “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” by George Ellis.
22Hello.This post was extremely interesting, especially because I was looking for thoughts on this topic last Thursday.
23I do agree with all of the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They are very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very short for novices. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
24Some truly nice and useful info on this internet site, besides I think the design contains excellent features.
25Respect to website author, some superb information .
26I’m still learning from you, while I’m improving myself. I definitely liked reading all that is written on your blog.Keep the tips coming. I liked it!
27Hey this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
28Im not certain where you’re getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend a while studying more or figuring out more. Thanks for magnificent info I used to be on the lookout for this information for my mission.
29As I website owner I think the subject material here is very superb, appreciate it for your efforts.
30As soon as I found this website I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
31Wonderful goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just too magnificent. I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it wise. I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is actually a great website.
32I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
33Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any tips and hints for first-time blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.
34What i do not understood is actually how you’re not actually much more well-liked than you may be right now. You’re so intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from so many varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated unless it’s one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!
35There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
36Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!
37Appreciate it for helping out, fantastic info. “The four stages of man are infancy, childhood, adolescence, and obsolescence.” by Bruce Barton.
38Just want to say your article is as amazing. The clarity in your post is simply spectacular and i can assume you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the rewarding work.
39Some truly great info , Gladiolus I discovered this.
40Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?
41This site can be a stroll-via for the entire data you wished about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and also you’ll positively uncover it.
42he blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me. Thanks
43Great post and right to the point. I am not sure if this is really the best place to ask but do you folks have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thanks 🙂
44I like your writing style truly enjoying this website .
45You are my intake, I own few web logs and very sporadically run out from to brand : (.
46I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Great work!
47Great amazing things here. I’m very satisfied to see your article. Thanks a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
48Use um formatador ABNT online para organizar TCC, artigo e monografia com mais rapidez, menos erro manual e estrutura acadêmica correta.
49Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!
50