Immediately upon walking in the door of Korean restaurant Emonae, my family and I were bombarded by scents of perfectly grilled beef, tangy chicken, and flavorful noodles. Our mouths watering, we were quickly seated at one of the restaurant’s several barbecue tables.

The extensive menu covered all corners of Korean cuisine. There were rice bowls, noodle dishes, and soups. However, the highlight of the restaurant was its barbecue, so we settled on a mix of chicken, beef, and squid. The food was quickly delivered to our table and our waitress turned on the grill that was built into our table.

The catch to Korean barbecue is that you grill all the food yourself. Although going to a restaurant to cook your own food may seem counterintuitive, it is actually an extremely enjoyable experience. The food arrived raw, and we were instructed on the best way to cook it. After getting the hang of it, we successfully cooked our food on the grill and were able to eat it piping hot after.

The food served to us was amazing and tasted like authentic Korean food. The restaurant’s special, bulgogi, was a thinly sliced beef perfectly marinated in a tangy Korean sauce. After sizzling and searing on the pan for a few minutes, it melted in our mouths as we quickly grilled some more of it. The other dishes we ordered, including the chicken and squid, were also delectable. All of the food was prepared perfectly, allowing us to effectively grill it.

Emonae is located on 28th Street, near Jet’s Pizza and Culvers. Although it looks perfectly ordinary from the outside, you’ll soon find that it is like no other restaurant in the area. Hiding in plain sight on 28th Street, Emonae is a hidden gem.

The only downside to our experience was that the restaurant was on the pricier side. At around $10/$15 per dish, it is definitely not the cheapest option around. However, the unique experience you get is well worth the higher price you pay. It totaled around the same as an expensive Italian dinner would cost, and I felt that the experience here was much more enjoyable.

Lastly, the staff at Emonae was extremely helpful. They were there to guide you if you had never tried Korean barbecue before or simply lend a hand to those who were experts. They were friendly and very knowledgeable on Korean cuisine. They gave very good recommendations and explained many of the dishes thoroughly.

All in all, I had a wonderful dinner at Emonae. The food served was delicious and the grilling experience was like no other. Although it was expensive, the price was worth the unique food and friendly staff. I would recommend Emonae to anyone looking for authentic and unique Korean food that would be hard to find anywhere else in the area.