Umm, Where's the Hibachi?
Written: Jul 02 '02 (Updated Feb 04 '03)
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Pros: Hahn's Hibachi is cheap.
Cons: Hahn's Hibachi is a chain.
The Bottom Line: Come to Hahn's Hibachi for a casual Korean combo, not much else.
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| megugrrrl's Full Review: Hahn's Hibachi |
Like all chains, Hahn's Hibachi is cheap, filling, and mediocre. Unlike all chains, Hahn's serves up something that resembles Korean barbecue, sometimes even piles of it, and isn't that bad.
When it comes to Hahn's, my friends fall in one of two camps. One side refuses to patronize an Americanized Korean restaurant serving food a notch above food court fair, and the other side stuffs their faces here regularly. I'm setting up my tent somewhere in the middle; I'd much rather eat Korean barbecue elsewhere, but the food isn't really that bad at Hahn's; it's cheap, filling, and can sometimes satiate unlike any burrito or big salad can. Besides, you can wash your combo down with a beer here.
The Food
Hahn's Hibachi is not exactly a Korean BBQ kind of a place. It's like a Korean-influenced American joint or a super Americanized Korean place. It's a super casual kind of place that dishes out marinated meats - beef, chicken, or sliced pork. The marinade (and gravy-like sauce) at Hahn's Hibachi are a sliver on the sweet side, could use a lot more garlic but in all, pretty decent. Meats are charbroiled and served with steaming white rice, and topped with a yummy sauce, with a side pile of spicy kimchi, and pickled sprouts and cucumbers. Popular items here are thinly sliced tenderloin, shortribs and the spicy pork - all of which are decent.
And unlike the name of the place suggests, there is no fancy hibachi cooking to keep you occupied.
While not a traditional Korean place, it's a good place to sample Korean homestyle favorites like bibimbap (a plate of rice, egg, kimchi, spinach, carrots, tofu), chapchae (those elastic potato noodles with veggies) or those barbecued meats. Don't expect an impressive panchan (those little plates of kimchi, veggies, fried things, and such) plopped in front of you like they do at other Korean joints you've been to before. There's very little pomp or circumstance at Hahn's. Yet, the food here is passable - while not complex enough to drive you insane, nor really Korean, the food is flavorful.
The menu features witty names like "Mountain of Meat" and "Pile O' Pork" and you get just that - a hearty portion of meat. With barbecue combos coming as low as $6 for lunch, this is a great place to go while waiting for the paycheck in the mail. (Average for an entree falls around $8.) They also offer a variety of Japanese eats like tempura and teriyaki but the winner at Hahn's is definitely the Mountain of Meat.
The Scene
There is never a wait to get a table here, and yet Hahn's Hibachi is busy with neighborhood types, many of them picking up phoned in orders. There are a lot of small groups, couples, and singletons. The ambiance is plain Jane and the noise level is low.
Service
Unlike your typical chain service, the service at Hahns Hibachi is really bland, no one will ask how your meal is or care if it's your birthday. (This very well might be a good thing though.)
Other Locations
There are several Hahn's Hibachis in the Bay Area - this one on Polk, Lower Haight, the Castro, the Marina, and Jack London Square. The taste and menu are pretty similar but the set-up isn't always small and no-frills. The one at Jack London Square is by far the fanciest, with a cute, jazzy, arty feel to it.
The Final Word
If Korean barbecue is want you really want go to Brother's on Geary, Jangsoo Kalbi in the Richmond or Koryo on Telegraph. If you want a cheap alternative to a burger or sub sandwich, come to Hahn's.
wine/beer/sake, credit cards, no parking (this is SF), takeout, limited dessert menu
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Best Suited For: Friends
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