Danji
Centreville / Korean / $$
To many of us, Korean food means barbecue. And while bulgogi is absolutely in the pantheon of the world’s great foods, there is so much more to love. Bossam, for example, will enchant meat lovers just as much, without getting the smell of smoke in their hair.
The pork belly dish is prepared to perfection at Danji, leaving the meat so tender it’s difficult to discern it from the thin layer of fat that lines it. Wrap it up in napa cabbage leaves with spicy soybean paste; pile the pork with skinny strands of chile-flecked pickled daikon, jalapeno slices and slivers of raw garlic for a bite that will (at least temporarily) purge Korean barbecue from your thoughts.
See This: It’s all about the food at this bare-bones-but-comfortable restaurant, where servers whiz by with fragrant, sizzling dishes.
Eat This: Bossam, galchi jorim, tteokguk
When to Visit: Feasting is on the menu, and you have friends ready to share. These meals are portioned for a group.
This post originally appeared in our November 2020 issue’s Best Restaurants cover story. For more food reviews, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
