Haroo
GO HERE: for beautifully prepared Korean food by a quietly hospitable husband and wife team named Richard and Sophia Kang. She cooks, he serves—looking tidy and welcoming in a folded apron—and they do it all at Haroo, a quirky upstairs space at the end of Richmond’s Alexandra Road (nicknamed Food Street for its plethora of restaurants).
ORDER THE: delightfully crisp seafood pancake; cheese tteokbokki in targin (Korean rice cakes smothered in a smoky, spicy tomato sauce and topped with cheese); and bibimbap with all the banchan. But for a crowd, the special flower-shaped bibimbap is really great: layers of rice, bulgogi, kimchi, and vegetables are pressed into a flower-shaped mold, which is removed before an elaborate display of garnishes are added on top.
THE VIBE IS: down-home Korean grandmother with quaint curtains and apple-print pillows. Diners predominantly include young couples and groups of friends in the know. If there’s music, it’s barely audible; instead, it’s all about the quiet enjoyment of food and friendly service.
PRACTICAL STUFF: Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Monday. Reservations welcome by phone.
—Lindsay Anderson
