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.
Hello there, I found your blog via Google while searching for a related topic, your website came up, it looks great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
1I conceive this website holds some real great information for everyone. “The fewer the words, the better the prayer.” by Martin Luther.
2Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any methods to prevent hackers?
3of course like your website however you have to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to inform the truth nevertheless I will definitely come again again.
4Hello there, You have done a fantastic job. I’ll definitely digg it and individually suggest to my friends. I am confident they will be benefited from this website.
5I enjoy you because of each of your labor on this web site. Gloria loves conducting investigations and it’s simple to grasp why. I hear all regarding the lively ways you make powerful thoughts through the web site and as well as improve participation from people about this idea plus our daughter is certainly understanding a lot. Take advantage of the rest of the new year. You are always performing a splendid job.
6Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely useful info specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such info much. I was looking for this particular information for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
7I’ll right away grab your rss as I can not find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
8Currently it seems like WordPress is the best blogging platform out there right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
9I am constantly thought about this, thanks for putting up.
10This design is wicked! You certainly know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
11Sweet blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Cheers
12I think you have mentioned some very interesting points, regards for the post.
13I’m now not certain where you’re getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend some time studying much more or working out more. Thank you for excellent info I was in search of this information for my mission.
14I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information.
15A lot of what you assert is supprisingly legitimate and that makes me wonder the reason why I hadn’t looked at this in this light before. This particular piece truly did turn the light on for me personally as far as this particular subject matter goes. Nevertheless at this time there is actually just one point I am not too cozy with so whilst I make an effort to reconcile that with the actual core theme of your issue, allow me see just what the rest of your subscribers have to point out.Very well done.
16Just a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw great design and style. “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler.” by Albert Einstein.
17I have been reading out many of your posts and it’s pretty clever stuff. I will surely bookmark your blog.
18Very interesting info!Perfect just what I was looking for!
19Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this website. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What an ideal website.
20Thanks for some other great post. Where else may anybody get that kind of information in such a perfect approach of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info.
21I rattling pleased to find this website on bing, just what I was looking for : D besides saved to fav.
22Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? With thanks
23I am impressed with this website , really I am a big fan .
24Wow, marvelous weblog layout! How long have you ever been blogging for? you made blogging glance easy. The total glance of your site is wonderful, let alone the content!
25Along with everything that seems to be developing inside this subject matter, all your viewpoints are generally relatively exciting. Having said that, I beg your pardon, but I do not give credence to your whole theory, all be it radical none the less. It seems to us that your commentary are actually not entirely justified and in reality you are generally your self not really thoroughly confident of your argument. In any event I did appreciate examining it.
26Hey would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using? I’m going to start my own blog soon but I’m having a difficult time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
27This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
28Fantastic blog you have here but I was curious if you knew of any message boards that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really love to be a part of group where I can get opinions from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Appreciate it!
29Hello. Great job. I did not anticipate this. This is a fantastic story. Thanks!
30Hi there, I found your website via Google while looking for a related topic, your site came up, it looks great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
31I liked as much as you will receive carried out proper here. The caricature is tasteful, your authored material stylish. however, you command get got an edginess over that you would like be delivering the following. unwell without a doubt come further formerly once more since exactly the similar just about a lot incessantly inside of case you shield this hike.
32Hey, you used to write excellent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring?K I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a little out of track! come on!
33It’s really a cool and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
34I have been browsing on-line more than 3 hours nowadays, but I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty value enough for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made just right content as you probably did, the net can be much more helpful than ever before. “Perfection of moral virtue does not wholly take away the passions, but regulates them.” by Saint Thomas Aquinas.
35I think you have mentioned some very interesting points, appreciate it for the post.
36I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks , I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your web site?
37Some times its a pain in the ass to read what website owners wrote but this internet site is really user friendly! .
38I am glad to be one of the visitors on this great internet site (:, appreciate it for posting.
39Hi, Neat post. There is an issue together with your site in web explorer, would test this?K IE still is the market leader and a good part of folks will pass over your magnificent writing because of this problem.
40Thank you for sharing with us, I conceive this website truly stands out :D.
41Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.
42I’ve been browsing online greater than 3 hours lately, yet I never found any fascinating article like yours. It is lovely value enough for me. In my opinion, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will likely be a lot more useful than ever before.
43I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
44Some really prime articles on this web site, saved to fav.
45What i do not understood is actually how you are not actually much more well-liked than you might be right now. You are very intelligent. You realize therefore considerably relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from so many varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs nice. Always maintain it up!
46I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back later. Cheers
47Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that I have really loved browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing in your rss feed and I am hoping you write once more very soon!
48Hello. remarkable job. I did not anticipate this. This is a impressive story. Thanks!
49What i do not understood is in truth how you are no longer really a lot more well-liked than you may be right now. You’re very intelligent. You realize thus significantly with regards to this topic, made me personally imagine it from so many numerous angles. Its like men and women aren’t interested except it is something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs great. At all times take care of it up!
50