Insadong is a very well known Korean restaurant in Burquitlam, as well as the only Korean Restaurant I used to recommend (until I found out about Wang Ga Ma and Toe Dam Korean). This is my third visit since January and prior to these visits, the last visits were during my high school years. I have always enjoyed Insadong, thought the prices are pretty decent and always ordered the combos for two to three, or more. However, rather than going for the combos, my friend always chooses a la carte and on the three separate occasions this year, the food sucked. Finally for our fourth visit this year, I was firm on ordering a combo because I have never been disappointed with them. The only reason she does not prefer the combo is because we cannot finish everything and she is not the type to overeat (personally I love to and am guilty of that).
This is my first time coming to Insadong on a weekend and usually on weekdays, the restaurant is pretty empty. After waiting fifteen minutes for parking, we waited forty minutes for a seat. Honest to truth, the only reason I waited forty minutes was because I have not seen my friend in a while and on any other occasion, I would have passed on mediocre food. Come on, I cannot even wait forty minutes for a good restaurant (unless I had cravings). In addition, the restaurant had enough empty tables to kill the line but the waiters were slow at clearing them. 
After the staff finished clearing up some tables, the tables as well as chairs were still dirty and napkins, candy wrappers and other miscellaneous trash was left on the ground. Insadong is a huge restaurant with three to five private rooms, at least twenty tables for two to six people, and are always overstaffed but never efficient. It is such a shame because the interior was pretty nice before, especially a couple of the private rooms.
COUPLE BBQ COMBINATION FOR 2-3 PEOPLE ($59.99).
RADISH SEAWEED ROLL WITH JELLYFISH AND SWEET AND SOUR GARLIC SAUCE.
BEEF SALAD.
The beef salad comes with watercress, broccoli, tomato, arugula, spinach and slices of beef sirloin. In addition, the salad tastes fresh, refreshing and definitely better than generic green salads. Furthermore, the slices of beef taste tender, flavourful and pretty good.
SEAFOOD NON-SPICY SOFT TOFU SOUP.
BULGOGI JAPCHE, STIR FRIED NOODLE WITH MARINATED BEEF.
The japche tastes flavourful as well as cooked to order, and is one of the better japches I have had. Seriously, this was the highlight of dinner. The glass noodles taste perfectly cooked and the sliced zucchini, cucumber, radish, scrambled egg, onion, green pepper as well as beef, are properly fused with the noodles. Furthermore, the noodles have a slightly sweet soy sauce taste.
BANCHAN, KOREAN SIDE DISHES.
KIMCHI, SWEET POTATO, KIMCHI CUCUMBER, AND RADISH.
The kimchi tastes very spicy and is definitely one of the better ones I ever had. Next, the sweet potatoes taste barely cooked and bland, with not even the slightest hint of sweetness. Continuing along, the kimchi cucumber tastes refreshing with a nice spiciness that lingers in the mouth. Up last, the radish has a light refreshing pickled flavour. As for the accompanying sides, garlic, jalapeño, ssamjang and sesame oil are provided for the barbecue dishes.
MARINATED BEEF RIBS, GAL-BI.
The ribs are cut and placed on the grill by the waiter. Although unfortunately, the grill was not hot or even luke warm when the waiter placed the galbi on the barbecue. Therefore, the meat tastes slightly chewy and boiled for a bit than barbecued. However, the marinade is flavoursome and has a light sweetness.
MARINATED BEEF BULGOGI, MARINATED CHICKEN BULGOGI, MARINATED SHORT RIBS, MARINATED SPICY BULGOGI, OYSTERS, MUSSELS, PRAWNS, MUSHROOMS, AND ONIONS.
MARINATED CHICKEN BULGOGI, PRAWNS, AND MUSSELS.
The slices of chicken breast taste tender as well as juicy, and have a light marinade. As for the seafood, the mussels taste like grilled mussels with no sauce which I enjoyed, and the prawns are nicely butterflied as well as tasty.
BEEF SHORT RIBS, MARINATED SPICY PORK BULGOGI AND OYSTERS.
The LA cut ribs taste dry, chewy, not flavourful and does not have enough marinade, nor has the meat been marinated long enough. As for the spicy pork bulgogi, the meat does not taste spicy and also tastes quite chewy. Up next, the oysters are surprisingly fresh and somewhat tasty.
MUSHROOM, MARINATED CHICKEN AND MARINATED BEEF BULGOGI.
The chicken again, tastes tender, juicy and delicious. However, the beef bulgogi tastes somewhat chewy and not flavourful. Pretty much average in my opinion, there are better as well as worse.
MARINATED BEEF BULGOGI AND MARINATED SPICY PORK BULGOGI.
On the left is Hannya, a jealous girlfriend who becomes a demon because her boyfriend cheated on her. Just a fun photo, never too old or unpresentable to be playing with your food!
A LA CARTE FROM PREVIOUS VISITS.
The tempura had a hard, oily as well bland tasting batter, and the prawns were not tasty or snappy. As for the dolsot bibimbap, it tasted average, was nothing special, and was not served hot. These are the only photos I could find and I could not find any photos of the rice dishes or BBQ meat, probably because I stopped taking photos after tasting the "meh" food.
POSITIVES
- Chicken tastes good
- Combos are a good value
- Owner was at the restaurant and guiding the waiters, so there was a bit of service this time
NEGATIVES
- Average eats at best
- A la carte (including cooked or BBQ table top dishes) does not taste good and gets pricey
- Short ribs are not tender or tasty (as well as the beef and pork bulgogi)
- Usually no service or the staff looks miserable
- Restaurant gets dirty due to laziness of staff which is a shame because the interior is pretty nice (looks old but if it was touched up it would look better)
LITTLE THINGS
- Push button service... but how many times do you need to push the button for a waiter to show?
- After three tries of ordering a la carte, my friend finally realizes the best value as well as taste is from the combos!
- For table top BBQ I recommend Toe Dam Korean
- For soups I recommend Wang Ga Ma
- For a good value, get the combo here
Food: 2.5/5
Service: 2/5
You wait in line to order your food at the counter and then take a ticket back to your table and wait for your food to arrive. Food Truck Catering
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