There was a time when I had restaurants’ grand openings pencilled into my calendar. I felt like it was my personal mission to be the first to try out a new venue and give my review to friends, family members and any co-worker willing to listen.

But in the past year or so the tables have turned, and I’ve started waiting for my friends to tell me where to go and what to eat.

Recently, my book club chose to meet at Chop Chop Korea in Mt Lawley. While it was an unconventional spot to discuss Dostoyevsky, it left a pleasant impression on my tastebuds.

The spicy soybean stew ($24.95) comes with slices of beef, tofu, mushroom, zucchini and spring onion. Sipping on the stew was like being covered in a warm blanket and had me questioning why I don’t eat stews more often. The side of rice was fluffy and helped balance the stew’s strong flavours.

Included in the set was an array of banchan (Korean side dishes). We had kimchi, pickled onion and mashed potato. A plate of coleslaw with an intriguing mint green dressing tasted decent, but was not the star of the show.

We also shared a plate of boneless chicken ($40.95), which weighed a hefty 700g. It was incredibly crunchy and arrived in our selection of hot and spicy and soy garlic sauce. I was very impressed by how juicy the chicken was, and even more surprised at the absence of oil with each bite. I thought 7 Grams was my favourite Korean fried chicken restaurant, but I think Chop Chop Korea has them beat.

The rose tteokbokki ($24.95) was delicious. The rose sauce was bold, with a strong salty and creamy flavour profile. There was a generous combination of rice cake, fish cake, glass noodles and sausage. I was living out my mukbang fantasy.

The beef bulgogi bibimbap ($26.95) featured an assortment of vegetables, beef bulgogi and an egg over a stone bowl of rice. The colourful arrangement of vegetables resembled fireworks, and each bite was packed with explosive flavour. The beef bulgogi was very tender and sweet and the heated stone bowl made the rice deliciously crispy, though I wished it got hotter so that I could get a proper sear on each granule.

A big shout-out to my book club for this find. I’m well read and well fed — it doesn’t get much better than that.

Chop Chop Korea

1F Chelmsford Rd, Mt Lawley

OPEN

Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday 11am-3pm, 5-9pm; Friday-Saturday 11-3pm, 5-10pm

CONTACT

0476 018 887

BOOKINGS

Yes

THE VERDICT

Belly-warming Korean food that will make you smile.

16/20