TL;DR: Kimchi Cheese Smile is like the places which truly are the best in a way - you definitely know how to describe them, with how they will work yet somehow it is on the tip of your tongue exactly what makes them click from other places. A unique approach always helps, and unique is the right word to describe pretty much every aspect of the experience - not just the restaurant. Whether it be at brunch time on the weekends, or during the after work hours to unwind, they got something brewing in the kitchen that is not only hot and delicious, but keeps your taste buds on edge and excited. Even then, that is not enough to see it click - it is about the atmosphere, and the hostess who truly made the eatery what it was. Without competition, this is Brisbane's best Korean.
I can't attest for it, though I could easily infer that with all the lane ways and such in Seoul et al, the best places for any kind of bite to eat or drink can be found there. In a term, we are talking about hidden gems. Hidden gem is the right word to describe Kimchi Cheese Smile, and while not necessarily hidden per se one could easily walk past it due to how unassuming it is. Helping compliment that, sitting inside is almost like a world away from the busy main street not even five meters away. Welcome to one of the quirkiest yet down-to-earth eateries in Brisbane. After all these years, it seemed like it was an impossible task which happened all of a sudden - my house mate was finally won over with some Korean cuisine. If there was ever a place within the entire Brisbane area to put forth and showcase the best, and tastiest example of Korean food - you have it right here, quiet and unsuspecting only a stone's throw away from the Gabba stadium.
Getting to this place was all a matter of happenstance. The original idea was trying another location that was just down the road a bit, only to find that it was closed for the next couple of hours. I don't know about you, but for me when the stomach is empty and rumbling waiting for that time is an arduous task at the very least. Usually when that happens, a back-up plan is in order - this was well an exception. The next decision was to take a walk to see if it led to any other possibilities. What happened next proves that sometimes what doesn't get projected or planned too much can lead to the best results at times - one look at the menu, and both the house and I thought this could be good.
Much like a place that wants to be a hidden gem, they keep it on the lowdown with their decor and design. If it were the right time of day - that is, night-time - it would be one intimate spot. Only a couple of dozen patrons can be here at once, which helps with the atmosphere. The architecture is beautiful, and old-style, adding more charm. Its whole set up is like a friendly local bar, and everyone there will know your name. This was definitely planned well from the start, and that effort is commendable.
It is one thing to discuss how the service with a restaurant is, with how well organised they have the operations to the attention to detail with small aspects and everything else in between. When the person of interest is above and beyond in some way, that is when my ears prop up and pay closer notice. This is 100% the case, with the waitress that was serving us today. Starting off the very least, she was a friendly lady. Going from there, she was one interactive lass. You could easily strike up a conversation with her about anything - from the hidden genius behind the restaurant's name, to her joy with an erudite request as an extra for my meal, and even when getting asked about where the beans for the coffee were sourced from. Great customer service can be taught, but you need a certain "it" factor to get it all to stick through the thick and thin and this lady had that factor in droves.
When that factor is apparent, what then becomes additionally apparent is the level of care for how the food is and making sure every client enjoys their stay just as much as they can. The food comes out efficiently, and it is piping hot when it does. Give it about five minutes afterwards - maybe even ten, and the waitress will be at the table checking to make sure that everything is good. You might get good service at most places, but lots of them can only wish to be as good as this.
At first glance, the skin and bones of the menu is Korean cuisine. Fleshing it out even more, they have food from all the round the place which might give clients the idea of it being classified as Korean fusion. However even with an elementary knowledge of Korean cuisine, what quickly becomes apparent is that is already is a fusion cuisine itself. The cooks there willingly take influences from all the way west and put their twists and influences into the mix, coming up with a formula that is uniquely their own. That is quite apparent, since each item on the menu showcases something quite different from the last item.
We start talking about the menu by starting with what enticed us in - the breakfast/brunch menu. Peaks and furrows occur with finding places that do breakfasts differently, with what truly makes the impression is seeing how different cuisines spin it. I wouldn't have told you beforehand I would see Korean being one of the contenders, and you won't see my complaining about it at all. They manage to keep it fairly simple, having it be a few brunch favourites with most of them having a characteristically Korean twist on them. Even with it being countable on two hands, the options prove difficult to just pick one - and then they bring out the specials. For the beloved elevensies, some bar snacks become available.
Getting into the dinner time, they separate the meals into big and small plates. The small plates are the bar snacks, which are simply asking to get paired both with the range of drinks they have in store, along with the range of sides that they got. With the big plates, they are hefty and meaty suckers - both Italian and homegrown influence are present, plus no taste profile is wasted if the description is anything to go by.
For something to drink, to wet your whistle? You need to just look right ahead the moment you walk in the door. The bar is right in front of your face, and they have a big range of beers (bottled and on tap), a good range of wines, spirits, cocktails and everything else. They even have a juice or two for those more inclined for a softer beverage. Oh, and of course for the breakfast crowd we can't go forgetting about tea and coffee, where quality absolutely matters. For the tea, it is bottomless water with a range of standard favourites and more exotic choices. The espresso options are there with coffee, plus some colder options for when it is hot out.
Staring off business as usual, we are onto the drinks. That is none other than coffee, and the usual choice for me went with it - a trusty doppio. They go an extra mile with the coffee, getting their brew from Fox Coffee. This is a new one on me, and Fox and I are off to a good start. It starts me off on a good foot when the coffee is nice, and an even better one when the coffee is brilliant. Being welcomed in already, seating down and enjoying the atmosphere, and all that - the coffee being good was another link that kept up the high spirits of the experience. It was a strong sucker, which even the look it plus the colour of the crema could tell you that this was no ordinary coffee.
What I ordered was one meal I am surprised doesn't get more representation on the breakfast menu, and that is a fried rice. Many times, it has foods associated with breakfast mixed through it, can be done on the cheap without a sweat, and will always be a quick meal. Moving on, the kimchi cheese rice. Mixed through the rice was kimchi, bacon, and mozzarella cheese. As an add-on, I got a degree egg. To me, somehow a fried rice without egg seems a little incomplete. This was one delicious meal, that managed to possess that level of care going into a great meal along with something so homely, and akin to comfort food, that it has lodged itself into the recesses of my memory bank quite happily. It came out piping hot, and the amount of cheese was generous. This cheese had got itself all through the mound of well-cooked and fluffy rice, which would any cheese lover reading this already be won over. No fork was given with the meal, which it didn't have to - the egg broke with a soft touch of the spoon, and the yolk turned to sauce before my eyes. Adding to the delight only a runny egg can give, the additions of bacon and kimchi helped round out the flavours and gave their unique profiles. This is simplicity at its finest, folks. At the end of it, I was so full I definitely knew I was at capacity. When the meal makes me feel full, then that means I have left truly satisfied.
As for my house mate, honestly he went in quickly for the one that sounded the best to me - the confit duck omelet. This sucker came with a side of sourdough toast, and was filled with a generous portion of duck meat, ricotta cheese, and red onion, with it all being finished off with a kimchi relish. From the bite that I had, it was certainly a good choice. The duck was tender, and beautifully infused with a delectable marinade. The eggs were cooked just right with the omelet mixture, plus the ricotta cheese helped a lot with the texture. Kimchi can always deliver a unique finish, which describes that marinade very well.
Just have a look around the web for shoots on this place, and practically each item on the menu. Quite apropos to the name, they all ask for their close-up to be taken. Mouths water at the sight, and many laptops and keyboards probably need replacing as a result. Take that phrase as you will.
We have hit a rare case where the food is unique and different enough to take notice, and manages to live up to the reputation and hype it emulates. Then from there, the service that comes with the food is some of the best that I have experienced in quite a while where they have the personality to match the know-how of making it worth the clientele's time. On top of that, it has the atmosphere to match it all up - clients can be really relaxed and have a good time when dining here. Something good exists for practically each time of the day, which might well be what finishes this all up into one happy little package. With absolutely no joshing about, Kimchi Cheese Smile could be the next best thing in this neighbourhood. A full-on recommendation is given to whomever is reading, and to anyone finding themselves in town. Skip the pub, and go here instead - you will in no way be disappointed.
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