01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Arriving at the table still bubbling vigorously in its stone bowl, the samgyetang is one of the standout specialties to order at Zai's. Stewed until the chicken falls effortlessly away from the bone, the bird enriches a nourishing broth that warms you to the core. You can enjoy the clean, gentle depth of the soup on its own, or pair it with the house dipping sauce and a spoonful of kimchi to add an extra layer of pungency and spice.
For sharing, the crisp-edged chijimi pancakes are well worth adding to the table. Thick and satisfying, the savory batter holds up nicely against a zesty dipping sauce. In addition to classic seafood, the kitchen prepares potato and garlic-chive variations. Grazing on small plates like house-made kimchi assortments and japchae over a beer or a bowl of draft makgeolli makes for an easygoing meal.
At lunchtime, diners can choose from straightforward set meals such as sundubu-jjigae, kimchi-jjigae, and salt-seasoned kalbi beef rice bowls. Come evening, the tables fill with groups gathering around shared pots of samgyeopsal or dak-hanmari, offering a relaxed setting to explore the breadth of Korean home cooking.
