Golden Bell’s healthy, tasty Korean cuisine

Let’s Eat paid a visit to the restaurant’s new branch at Royal Palm Plaza, Saddle Road, Maraval and chatted with owner Minsoo Lim.

He is from South Korea and explained that his family had a restaurant in the East Asian nation.

So how did he end up in Trinidad? Lim explained that he had a Korean friend that lived in Trinidad for a long time working in Chaguaramas.

“All the time (he would be) talk(ing) about Trinidad and Tobago,” he recalled.

Lim first visited this country eight years ago and after spending just two weeks he decided to open a business here. He said that it was “very easy to make the decision” because he liked the country. He was particularly drawn because of the stability of the local currency in relation to the US currency, as well as the economy being very stable.

“There is good business in restaurant in Trinidad. In Korea and States, economy too much up and down,” he explained.

Golden Bell first opened their doors at Marli Street, Newtown, Port-of-Spain seven years ago and subsequently moved to its current location at Maraval Road three years later. Lim recalled that when the restaurant first opened people were not familiar with Korean food and some assumed it was Chinese. On one occasion a man came in and asked for chow mein chicken.

Golden Bell expanded this year and the branch at Royal Palm Plaza, Maraval, where we met with Lim, has been open for six months.

This branch has a bright, clean aesthetic and cozy, simple layout.

But just don’t confuse it with a fast food restaurant.

So at this point you may be wondering what is the difference between Chinese and Korean food? Lim explained that the two are “totally different” - Korean food is more healthy, they do not use too much oil or frying, but instead they grill, steam and stir fry. And they also avoid using Mono sodium glutamate (MSG).

At Golden Bell the stir fried chicken with Korean sauce - a traditional pepper paste sauce called “go chu jang” - is among the most popular. He said that Korean food is “a little spicy”.

“Korean people like a lot of pepper.

Like Trinidad (people),” he added.

Other favourites are the “bibimbap” (mixed rice), which features Jasmine rice and four types of vegetables, topped off with either beef or a fried egg. It is then mixed together with the go chu jang sauce.

For our meal we had it with beef.

The bibimbap was mildly spicy and you were not getting too much of everything in one spoon.

There was a sweetness from the beef. It was also a nice mix of sweet and savoury.

We also had “gimbap”, which is a seaweed roll done Korean style which looks like a sushi roll. Inside everything is cooked and you can have it with beef, shrimp or chicken.

It was flavourful and a great textural mix of soft and crunchy.

We also had beef ribs, which was bursting with flavour, paired with a delectable Jasmine rice and fresh salad or “galbi”.

During the interview there was a steady stream of customers, some dining in and a few carrying out.

Lim said that people like the food especially because it is healthy and, he reiterated, totally different from Chinese food. He also pointed out that currently many Trinidadians are looking for more healthy food options, which Golden Bell offers.

The restaurant has an impressive 4/5 rating on website tripdadvisor.

One reviewer wrote: “Every thing was delicious, and there were times during the meal that I actually forgot I was in Trinidad. The beef for the barbeque was melt-in-themouth tender.” Another reviewer wrote: “Always fresh and great flavours. Service is pleasant and efficient.

Great for a lunch time meal sit in or take away.” A third reviewer wrote: “I always write about vegetarian foods and you must try this place, at least once! A quaint place in the middle of Maraval Road, Golden Bell offers really tasty Korean food at a decent price. I always order the bibimbap and never regret it. The sauce is a bit spicy but worth it.” Lim said they are planning to expand further, most likely in the Diego Martin area and possibly with slightly different menus. For more information you can contact Golden Bell Kore- .