Review: Secret Garden/Bi-Won

Name: Secret Garden/Bi-Won
Address: 2731 Erie Blvd E, Syracuse, NY
Phone: (315) 449-3333
Neighborhood: Salt Springs (Erie Boulevard East)
Website: www.sushisyracuse.com/secret-garden.html
Menu: View Menu
Cuisine: Korean, Japanese
Restaurant Hours: Monday-Tuesday 11:30 AM to 10 PM, Thursday 11:30 AM to 3 PM and 5 PM to 10 PM, Friday-Saturday 11:30 AM to 11 PM, Sunday 1 PM to 9 PM
Parking: Private Lot
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Delivery: No

Before hitting up the "Turner to Cezanne" exhibit at the Everson Museum, my family and I decided to head over to Secret Garden on Erie Boulevard to fill up with some Korean food beforehand. Situated across the street from Erawan, Secret Garden is actually owned and operated by the same family that owns the Sakana-Ya sushi restaurants in Fayetteville and Armory Square, as well as Han's Oriental Supermarket located directly next door.

The inside is clean and open with separated, general seating sections, large tables, and a newly remodeled sushi bar near the back. There is also outdoor seating (weather permitting) with each table having a traditional barbecue pit. Personally, I wasn't too crazy about the interior. It was definitely clean and bright, but there was wood everywhere (wood paneling, wood tables, wood chairs). In theory it's nice, but it was a little too polished and hoity. And the chairs themselves actually became a bit uncomfortable after a while.

On the menu, you'll find a lot of different types of dishes like sushi, soups, salads, teriyaki, casseroles, stir fry, appetizers like tempura, fried tofu, and soft shell crab, a small vegetarian menu, and drinks like cocktails, sake, wine and Asian beers. If it's your first time here or at a Korean restaurant in general, the 7 pages of offerings, each with its own translation, might all seem a little intimating. Luckily there are pictures along the sides of the menu to help out.

The order...

Tea: $1.95
Shumai: $4.95
Galbi BBQ: $19.95
Total Money Spent with Tax & Tip: $31

The tea was excellent - very soothing and had almost a sesame taste to it.

Pictured below is the kimchi with other variations (pickled radishes, potatoes, and cucumbers).

I'm still new to Korean food (have only had it a few times) but it seems like kimchi is somewhat of an acquired taste. Essentially, it's salted and fermented cabbage (or veggies) seasoned with chili pepper and served cold. The first time I had it, I had no idea what to expect, but I'm liking it more the more I have it. Here, I particularly liked the pickled radishes and potatoes.

Above are the Shumai: essentially tiny, steamed dumplings with shrimp. I liked them - served warm and the dipping sauce was sweet. Though the dumplings were a tad too mushy for my liking.

Pictured here is the Galbi BBQ: thin, cross-cut beef short ribs marinated with special sauce, served with mushrooms, scallions, and onions, with a side of white rice.

This was great. Tender and juicy pieces of short ribs with a really sweet and tangy soy sauce. Add in some caramelized onions and mushrooms and it really kicked the whole meal up a notch. I would absolutely get this again. I don't even like mushrooms and I found myself eating them.

All the food tasted fresh and best of all, healthy. The nice thing about this cuisine is when you pig out, you don't feel weighted down or guilty or like you need to take a nap afterwards.

And you know the food is good when you've finished your meal and you keep finding something else on the table to pick at.

Other things of note...

- Not only was it a cold day, but it was very chilly inside on this particular visit. Though, maybe it was just be a fluke thing.

- There is an all-you-can-eat buffet on Tuesdays from 5 PM to 9 PM

Overall, I liked it here and would return. There were a lot of other dishes on the menu that looked interesting too. I didn't try the sushi, but I wouldn't rule out giving it a shot when I come back.

My rating of Secret Garden/Bi-Won:

Review: Tokyo Seoul

Name: Tokyo Seoul
Address: 3180 Erie Blvd E, Syracuse, NY
Neighborhood: Salt Springs (Erie Boulevard East)
Website: www.tokyoseoulrestaurant.com
Menu: View Menu
Cuisine: Korean & Japanese
Alcohol: Full Bar
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 4:30 PM to 10 PM, Friday 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 4:30 to 11 PM, Saturday 11:30 AM to 11 PM, Sunday 2 PM to 10 PM
Parking: Private lot
Accepts credit cards: Yes

Note: I understand that Tokyo Seoul (and most Erie Blvd establishments) may be technically outside city boundaries, but I'm going to include Erie Blvd as far East as Bridge St on the reviews.

I went into Tokyo Seoul for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The interior is a little dark, but very cozy, relaxed, and perhaps even good for a date. I would even go out on a limb to say that this place is kid-friendly, as hibachi usually seems to be a great draw for children. Inside you'll fine booths for more intimate dining, an open hibachi room, and a sushi bar towards the back.

The order...

California Roll: $6
Hot & Spicy Shrimp Bento Lunch: $10.50
Total cost with tax and tip: $21.66

There are different main entrees that come with the Bento Lunches such as chicken teriyaki, crispy pork loin, or marinated fish (check the lunch menu for details). They're a great concept as you get a little variety of different foods and tastes with your meal. First is the Miso Soup (excuse the picture quality).

This soup was really good. Tiny pieces of tofu and sliced scallions in an oniony broth.

Next was the sushi...

Ginger, wasabi, and the California Roll with crab and avocado, topped with masago (fish eggs).

I have very little knowledge with Japanese cuisine, but didn't really expect that the masago would be covering the sushi. I don't know if this is commonplace or if it was a fluke thing. I suppose it was a little overwhelming and I really had to scrape some of it off. The sushi was good, but nothing to write home about. I really should have gotten a more authentic style of sushi and maybe some sashimi as well.

I'm not going to dismiss Tokyo Seoul's sushi by any means, because I have only had one experience with it. I'd be willing to go back and check out the sushi bar at some point, just to try out some different kinds (and they did have a wide variety of choices). But, I suppose I was a little let-down by the California Roll in particular.

Then my Bento Lunch was next (and came pretty fast after the sushi).

From top left to bottom right: rice, ginger salad, Japanese chae noodles, hot & spicy shrimp, deep fried tofu (I think?), and vegetable tempura and dipping sauce.

OK first off, the shrimp was awesome. Just a perfect amount of lightly-breaded crispiness and spiciness with decent-sized, juicy shrimps. This was so good. (I'm always a little apprehensive about ording shrimp for the first time at any place that isn't along the Atlantic or Pacific coastline. It's more of a gamble because you never know if they are going to be small or regular sized - Tokyo Seoul did not disappoint). The vegetable tempura (carrot and zucchini) were both good, but the dipping sauce could have had a little more flavor to it as I though it was a bit bland and I'm not really sure what it was because it wasn't listed on the menu. The deep fried tofu was sweet and airy with some crunchiness mixed in. For someone who doesn't like tofu, they might even like this. The rice was a little dry and could have been a little more like "sticky rice". The Japanese chae noodles were some form of boiled vermicelli. I was not a fan of them, but I think that is more of a matter of taste. Just an odd texture of noodles that I'm really not used to. Again, just my own preference though. The salad was meh. I thought that the spicy ginger salad dressing was a little heavy and the whole salad-aspect probably could have been presented better on the plate (perhaps a different style of lettuce or thinner dressing?). Overall though, I'd say the Bento lunch is a great. Not only for the variety of food, but also for the amount of food that you get. I was totally stuffed.

You are given a few small packets of Japanese gum with your check. I don't care for melon-flavored gum, but it's a nice touch.

Some other tips...

- It can get crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, so make reservations ahead of time.

- It is also a favorite spot of college students. Just a heads up (or fair warning).

I would definitely go back here for lunch, dinner, or drinks (mmm, sake). And their lunch menu is worth trying out especially if you are new to either Korean or Japanese cuisine.

My rating of Tokyo Seoul: