Hankook Taqueria: The Best of Two Worlds

By: Maggie Siu

     It’s the perfect marriage of two polar opposites: Korean and Mexican. Ever since the surge of food trucks hit Atlanta, Ga. in 2010, food fans have been chasing down Yumbii, a mobile Korean taco stand. Hankook Taqueria is the hole-in-the-wall headquarters of Yumbii, serving up affordable and delectable Asian-inspired tacos and snacks for crowds lining up outside its door.

     Sitting on the west end of town near The Georgia Institute of Technology, Hankook Taqueria is a short rectangular building housed in a tiny, but crowded, parking lot. The building is by no means glamorous. There are hard, mismatched wooden booths and wobbly tables with a staticky radio played in the background. Even though the tastes of two cultures collide, the room is absent of any diversity or color. It didn’t seem like a very welcoming place, but the winding line criss-crossing the front lobby and the spicy ginger aromas drew me in.

     It may not seem like much since the menu is limited to one page and there’s no table service. However, the menu is simple yet deliciously creative, and the self-service helps keep prices low. Tacos are priced at $2.25 and range from spicy marinated pulled pork to crispy, sweet and tangy calamari. Burritos are available too, which consist of the same ingredients as the tacos but include a larger portion and homemade kimchee fried rice. Generously portioned “street snacks” satisfy the appetizer or side dish craving, but they’re meant to be shared since the baskets are overflowing with food.

All tacos at Hankook come with lettuce, green onion, green cabbage tossed in soy sesame vinaigrette and onions, cilantro, lime and jack cheese.

     Once my best friend and I opened the door to Hankook, we were immediately handed a small paper copy of the menu. A medley of guests crowded each of the wooden tables. Everyone from a group of Georgia Tech frat guys to a well-suited group of businessmen chowed down on baskets of tacos. After hearing so much about the famous Korean tacos, we decided to share one of each – chicken, pork, beef, fish, tofu, calamari and shrimp. We also shared some sesame fries since the $2 deal was too much of a bargain to pass up.

     After finally scoping out an empty table, our fries arrived within minutes. Unlike most fries, these were cooked in sesame oil and seasoned with red pepper flakes and sea salt. The side of ketchup was mixed with sriracha, a popular Asian chili sauce, which gave it a savory kick. Our tacos were swiftly delivered by one of the cashiers about ten minutes after we started filling up on the sesame fries.

     The meat tacos were succulent and juicy– and the soy-sesame vinaigrette paired with green onions and pepper jack cheese was an oddly palatable combination. Where Hankook really shined was their seafood. The calamari and shrimp were both fried to light, crispy perfection and the panko-crusted tilapia was flavorful and fresh. Each taco was accompanied with lime slices, which adequately woke up each ingredient in the overstuffed tacos. We washed each taco down with water since the only other drink options available were sodas.

An atypical food item at a taqueria, Hankook's sliders.

     Roaming around the packed dining room were owner Chef Lee and his wife Mackenzie. They were busy mingling with customers and helping out employees with the rush of orders. Chef Lee briefly stopped by and asked if we needed anything. We assured him that everything was wonderful and having already paid at the counter, we prepared to leave so other waiting customers could occupy our table.

     While Hankook Taqueria focuses mainly on the quality of their dishes, I enjoyed visiting a laidback environment filled with a wide spectrum of guests. It’s a departure from other Atlanta restaurants and remains one of the best secrets in town. The Korean tacos are a rarity in the South, so I was overjoyed I’ve found a place that sells this new food truck staple. Now instead of hunting down Yumbii, I can grab a quick and affordable lunch or dinner in the heart of Atlanta without worrying about what I’m wearing.

Hankook Taqueria 
1341 Collier Road
Atlanta, GA 30318
404.352.8881

Mama's Boy: A Slice of Southern Hospitality Done Right

By: Lilly Workneh
Girls, don’t take heed to Mama’s Boy’s title because this Athens-based restaurant of southern cuisine dishes satisfies all hungry customers, both boys and girls alike.

The locally-owned modern diner’s slogan is “Southern Fun Dining” and if you’re a fan of pure hot, out-of-the-oven biscuits, home-fried chicken and fresh fruits and vegetables, look no further than 197 Oak Street.

The notorious Mama's Boy biscuit and Salmon Cakes Benedict.

And the place sure is fun! Take a seat on the 80’s inspired décor, sip sweet strawberry lemonade out of jars and chatter away in this laid-back and comfortable setting.

The restaurant specializes in serving an array of breakfast items and often finds its busiest hours to be from 8 to 11 a.m., which also seemed to fall around the times I decided to go one busy Saturday Morning.

A decadent serving of French Toast.

Despite the crowd, the wait didn’t last very long and hosts and hostesses all acted swiftly and politely. In a matter of minutes, we were seated at our table, delivered our menus and as expected, ordered a round of their famous sweet strawberry lemonade.

After arriving on a hungry stomach, the wait for the food was excruciatingly long. I ordered the Mama’s Boy Biscuit Sandwich, which the menu described to be a hot, out-of-the-oven biscuit with scrambled eggs, thick cut bacon and smoked cheddar. I also ordered a side of their potato hash to add to my breakfast combo.

What seemed to be hours ticked by and eventually, our steaming hot plates were delivered to the table and my eyes widened in excitement. My biscuit was fluffy, the bacon was thick and crispy, my eggs were scrambled well and the side of potato hash were diced and seasoned perfectly.

The smell of the food made it even more enticing and made my taste buds salivate out of eagerness. It was almost too much and after I dug in for my first bite, I immediately dug in for several more.

I broke apart the sandwich to examine each ingredient individually. The biscuit was sweet and warm and the sausage gravy drizzled over it was a perfect combination. The bacon seemed to still sizzle on the plate and was slightly chewy with a touch of crisp. Two eggs were scrambled and tasted great – I mean, you can hardly ever go wrong when making eggs, and the potato hash had a hard exterior doused in southern seasonings that soon gave way to a warm and mushy center.

Those around my table ordered an array of dishes. One friend of mine chose the salmon cake benedict; two homemade fresh Atlantic salmon cakes topped with poached eggs, fried capers, chive hollandaise, and a biscuit. The salmon cakes were not much to my liking; they were a little too soft and probably needed a few more minutes in the fryer.

Another gal ordered the two biscuits and gravy, which came with two large biscuits with sizable cuts of bacons slapped on topped and drizzled in gravy. Her order was similar to mine, except that she asked for her gravy on the side, which resulted in her plate looking a little bare and dry. While the diner is an expert in breakfast foods, lunch is also served between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. However, I advise you to try their breakfast dishes first as they were voted Best Breakfast in Athens for 5 years in a row.

Overall, the place has a great homestyle feel. The vintage style décor, the young and hip crowd and delicious, warm meals are a pleasure to experience.Boys and gals, Mama’s Boy exudes southern hospitality to the core and it would be a frightful shame for you to not enjoy a true down-south meal here someday.


197 OAK STREET
ATHENS, GA 30601
(706) 548-6249 

The Local Jam : "E.njoy A.thens T.ogether"

By: Deanna Heibeck

As soon as you cross the threshold into The Local Jam your nostrils will be overwhelmed with the sweet smell of bacon, pancakes, and biscuits. That is, if you visit at breakfast time. Personally, breakfast is a big deal to me and from the first scents to the last bite I fell in love!

Located in the heart of Five Points in Athens, Georgia, The Local Jam has been serving the community awesome food for almost a year. It prides itself on being apart of the neighborhood by using fresh and locally grown products, serving Jittery Joe’s coffee, and incorporating Terrapin spent grain across their menu. Also, its signature “Jam of the Day” always entices guests to come back and try something new.

The Local Jam’s menu has a variety of items for breakfast and lunch with an ample amount of options for vegetarians as well. Since I’m a carnivore, myself, I ordered the French Toast meal with a side of thick cut bacon. Minutes later, three thick slices of toasted bread covered with what looked like a snowfall of powdered sugar appeared in front of me. With every bite you could taste hints of cinnamon amongst the soft, sweet bread. The taste and smell alone reminded me of my grandmother’s homemade French Toast in her country kitchen. Everything at The Local Jam is made to order so my bacon was perfectly cooked extra crispy just the way I like it. There were several other options for breakfast including pancakes, granola and yogurt, biscuits, and eggs. The menu includes some specialty meals like Mac N Eggs and Black Bean Chili Jammarito. And that’s just for breakfast. The lunch menu seems just as yummy with several different sandwiches like Grilled Cheese and The New York Reuben. Also, several soups and salads appease the anti-meaty lovers. Can’t wait to visit again and try some of their appetizing lunch meals, as well.


The location of The Local Jam is ideal. The inside is actually much more spacious than you might expect from the outside appearance. A wrap around bar counter and deli-style glass display makes up the center of the establishment. It’s perfect for people eating solo or ordering to-go and the display window offers jams, sweets, and a selection of organic breads they sell. I thought the spacious environment made the restaurant feel very homey. Each table had floral centerpieces and brown craft paper table coverings for children to color on. Its open environment makes The Local Jam a perfect place for large and small parties, college students and families. Enjoy the outdoor patio on nice days or sit at a table inside to beat the heat. It truly fits well in this small college town and I hope it will become a staple Athens restaurant to visit.

Customer service is important at The Local Jam. Don’t worry about being treated less than awesome at this establishment. My waitress was very attentive to my order and as a first-timer she was very helpful in assisting me in what to order. They are just regular people who aim to make sure customers are taken care of. If its not cooked the way you like, they’ll make it for you again. (But, no worries they cook it right!) There wasn’t along wait for my order or my check and there was no rush to ever leave. It could be a nice place to grab a bite to eat between studying or a relaxing brunch. Other patrons seemed happy with their service, as well. No complaints here!

Check in to see what the specials for the day are, you might just be in for a treat! The Local Jam is open daily from 7am to 4pm. With such great service, atmosphere, and (most importantly) food, you have to check out the next hot spot in Athens.

1650 South Lumpkin St 
Athens, GA 30605
706-850-7232

Mama Mia! Mama Lucia's..

By:Allison Kwan
I’m going to shamelessly admit that I’m a food snob when it comes to Italian. I love Italian food. I love powerful espresso shots, creamy gelato that drips off its cone, and hearty helpings of pasta. I love how buffalo mozzarella melts in your mouth and how everything is covered in cheese.

All this food love stems from spending a summer in Italy, filling my belly full of authentic Italian food cooked up by authentic Italian mamas and papas. Since then, Italian food has never been the same. But even before my ventures in Italy when I needed to appease my Italian cravings, chain restaurants like Olive Garden or Carrabba’s would never do. Small, locally owned places with quant Italian names always seemed like the more “authentic” choice to satisfy my hunger.

And so to fill my most recent Italian cravings over the weekend, I decided to revisit a family owned restaurant called Mama Lucia’s down in Newnan, Georgia.

Opened in 2005, Mama Lucia’s is run by the Guillaume family. Father, Leonard, and son, Leo, run the kitchen as executive chefs with Leonard’s wife, Barbara, as wine connoisseur. Mama Lucia’s was inspired from mama Guillaume’s traditional Italian recipes. I had been there once, about three years ago and remember it being oh-so-delicious and always wanting to return.

But either my memory served me wrong, the cooking had gone downhill, or my Italian acquainted palate has become too hard to please. And while I admit I have much higher expectations now, I am positive even my pre-Italian, ordinary taste buds would have found Mama Lucia’s remarkably horrible and depressingly disappointing.

Starting off with an Italian classic, Mozzarella Caprese, I was surprised at how one could take something so simple and make it so bad. While the mozzarella was smooth and glistening white when it came out, it looked better than it tasted; in fact, it didn’t have much taste. The only time it did have any flavor was when hints of basil graced its presence or if it was topped with too much salt. The tomatoes didn’t add anything pleasant either; they weren’t sweet but watery and bland. And while the appetizer looked cute on the plate, the entire first course was very unexciting. The only thing keeping me hopeful was my glass of Chianti, which was full-bodied without being too overpowering and carrying a hint of fruitiness—just how I love my reds.

Second course came—an order of Eggplant Parmigiana over marinara sauce and bowtie pasta—and it didn’t get any better. After a first bite of cold pasta and a second bite of steaming hot eggplant, I got angry. I started to question why I was wasting my time, money, and unnecessary calories on food like this? I ended up burning my mouth with that first bite of eggplant, not only ruining my hopes for something better but also my tongue. This caused the red wine I found previous comfort in to become displeasing; it wasn't tasty with a numb tongue. Plus, the eggplant on my plate was so heavily breaded I could barely find the actual eggplant. After shredding and digging through the breaded-ness, burnt cheese, and marinara, I finally gave up. My plate looked like a food massacre had just taken place. A mound of Eggplant Parmigiana guts laid beaten over cold bow-tie pasta and red sauce that was so dull, it made Ragu more preferable.

One of Mama Lucia's renowned Lasagna dishes  

Defeated and perplexed at how wrong this meal was, I decided to give Mama Lucia’s one more chance in the desert course. Mama Lucia’s Tiramisu (another Italian classic) consisted of ladyfingers soaked in espresso and marsala wine and layered with mascarpone cheese. And how wrong I was to keep hoping for better. Too much mascarpone and not enough actual ladyfinger layering. There was no consistency to the cake because of all the mascarpone. And while the menu described the ladyfingers as “soaked,” mine present on the plate were just plain soggy. While I find most tiramisus to be heavily flavored with coffee, I didn’t have to worry about that here since there was no coffee flavor at all. It was just a heaping slab of mascarpone cheese that wasn’t appetizing with watery cookies slapped in the middle. And as I sit here, now I wonder what those ladyfingers were really being soaked in because it surely wasn’t espresso or wine.

Mama Lucia's trademark dessert dish-- looks good, but just plain soggy. 

After a night of lifeless food, an array of frustrating moods, and a check that was unfitting for this meal, I left the restaurant feeling robbed. Robbed of a week’s paycheck, a healthy tongue, and a lovely dinner. I should have been suspicious when my date and I walked in and found the place less than 25% filled on a Saturday. As a result, the meal had me praying for the day I could eat great Italian food again and vowing to never return to Mama Lucia’s.

Contact:
236 Newnan Crossing Bypass
Newnan, GA 30265
770-253-2501
http://www.mama-lucias.net/Home.html

Come Hungry, Leave Full...An Outdated Lifestyle

The dining area at Lunacy Black Market

By: Mei Brasel


Let me just start off by saying this: I enjoy my salad and healthy grub just as much as the next college health-obsessed female.Okay, I lied. Rather, I enjoy it only when I start reading all the health and fitness articles that warn me that my eating habits could be disastrous at an older age. Instead of taking cheat days off of a healthy diet to indulge in some good eats, I take cheat days off of my hamburger and fries to help ease my troubled subconscious that screams and tells me to be more healthy. 

This is who I am. This is who entered Lunacy Black Market- a place in the heart of Atlanta that is revered for its organic cousine. Oh, and another problem- I came hungry. The Atlanta Braves were having their home opener on this particular day which pushed my travel time from a regular 30 minutes to close to 2 hours. Not acceptable. When my stomach starts to sputter and growl , it is like an angry toddler that craves attention.

"Oh , but you will be fed soon! I am going to a fancy restuarant." 

LBM has been given the title of Best of Atlanta since 2010 and has rave reviews on Yelp and other leading websites. I had read about their quirky set up of having couches instead of the conventional table and chair arrangement- although that was offered as well. I entered the dim-lit room and was romantically cliche yet still

refreshing as well. I opted for the couches simply for the thrill of it.

The menus, written on two slabs of cardboard, were presented to me. The first thing I noticed was the prices were fairly low- all under $5. I did a backtrack and tried to figure out why this supposedly fancy restuarant was so cheap. That's when my eyes fell on the plates. They were maybe half a foot in diameter. Oh. It's one of those places- where you believe you're ordering an awesome dish that is brimming over the edges with delicious food. Then you have to hide your disbelief as the plate contains two quarter-size portions of the selected dish. At least LBM would not cost me an arm and a leg to eat at their establishment. 

With the portion-size dilemma fresh in my mind, I decided to make up for it by ordering more than one dish. That's  when I hit yet another brick wall. I had no idea exactly what to order. I chose the "braised beef dish" for my meat portion and a "mozzarella with tomatoes" for my vegetables. Seeing as this might not exactly fill up my impatient stomach, I ordered another dish- "steamed flash cauliflower" . 

Fifteen minutes drag by and the first plate is served. The Calliflour. My recollection of this particular steamed vegetable was that it is supposed to be white. Had I become such a carnivore that vegetables had already slipped my 21-year-young mind? Nope. As I took my first bite, soy sauce seeped through all my taste buds and 

I instinctively had to open my mouth to let some air in my stifled calliflour- filled jaw.After the third bite, I thought I was swimming in soy sauce. I put down my fork and let my companion finish up the plate. The next dish was the mozzarella cheese mixed with tomatos. Again, another dissappointment. This dish was simply lots of tomatoes piled sky high with two blobs of mozzarella cheese sitting on top like a king and queen upon their thrones. Excuse me if I'm being frank here, but how are these two pieces of cheese, both a little bit bigger than a quarter and with unappetizing craters enveloping them, supposed to fill up my stomach? Are we, as a culture, supposed to have a pre-meal before dining out? Had I become such a fast-food junkie in college that I had not noticed the change in times? 

Mozzarella & Tomato Dish.  

My stomach raged on as I tried to ease the pain by gulping down massive amounts of water (sidenote: LBM charges for water as well). My last dish was due up at any moment and I could not help put sound a little prayer that this dish would put away my frustrations and make me love the establishment. My braised beef was placed before my eyes. I gave a polite "thank you!" and stared down at the tiny plate carrying my tiny portion of tiny pieces of braised beef. I decided this was now or never telling myself that they make up for size with taste. This time, I was partly right. The dish was fantastic at mixing different herbs and spices to harmonize beautifully as the meat melted in my mouth. I could see fireworks. I had finally hit the jackpot. Unfortunately for me, that jackpot vanished four forkfuls later. 

I really have no idea what it was- but I did not click with this restaurant. Maybe I'm not classy enough and can not appreciate the delicacy of this food. Maybe I was just too hungry to start with. I loved the atmosphere with smooth jazz playing the background , coupled with the couches, it provides for a relaxing night and a great place to unwind from a stressful day with your significant other. Personally, however, I would trade all of this in for a foot-long meal combo from Subway. For food, I would choose quantity over quality any day. 

231 Mitchell St. SW

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 736-6164

East West Bistro: Delicious Dinners, Debatable Service

by: Natalie Wirtz

Located on Broad Street in downtown Athens, East West Bistro has the optimal location for Athenians to meet for a quality meal.

With different menu options for brunch, lunch and dinner, East West Bistro has quality choices for all price ranges. With tapas costing $6-$12 and main courses between $9-$28, the restaurant can be easily affordable for the collegians of Athens or for the more affluent crowd.

The bistro has two floors with downstairs seating for smaller groups of 2-8, and the upstairs boasting two banquet rooms with enough seating for receptions. Our group of 16 made reservations the day before and was promptly seated in the upstairs dining area overlooking Broad Street.  We had two and a half hours to eat before heading to a concert, which normally would be sufficient. Not in this case.

We were surprised to be the only party upstairs because the hostess was very insistent that we could not change the size of our party because they were booked to capacity.

My dining companions and I got settled and immediately ordered house cocktails and appetizers. My “Dixie” drink was not what I expected. The sprig of rosemary mixed with champagne and pomegranate juice was not a refreshing combination. One member of the group ended up sending it back. However, the mimosas were good with the surprising addition of strawberries. 

East West has an expansive drink menu offering many different choices.

The table split appetizers of fresh bruschetta (a delicious addition of oil and vinegar makes this dish stand out), fried calamari rings and crisp sweet potato chips with feta dressing. Our table seemed to be forgotten after receiving appetizers and some of my dining companions were still waiting for their drinks 30 minutes later.

After an hour wait, the waitress returned to get our food order. Starving, we quickly ordered in hopes that our meals would be served promptly. However, another hour later the dishes started to arrive sporadically.

My alfredo chicken pasta was one of the first dishes to arrive at the table. The aroma instantly made me want to dig in but I decided to wait until the rest of the table received their food.

The dishes were brought out to us randomly within a thirty-minute time frame. My meal was room temperature by this time, but I ate it anyway. This was not the case for others at the table and two plates were sent back to be re-heated.

Definitely go for the food, but pray it arrives in a timely manner.

The lack of prompt service put a damper on the dinner, but the food was still delicious. The chicken alfredo with carrots and broccoli was rich and creamy with flavors that worked together and did not overpower each other. With large helpings, it is a pasta dish that can easily be shared. Same can be said for the shrimp pesto linguini.  With a surprisingly large amount of capers and a very salty yet lemon taste the dish is not for everyone. However, it is delicious if you like the ingredients.

The special of the day was a shark fillet with brussels sprouts which one of my adventurous dining companions decided to try. There was some confusion because the waitress initially insisted that he was served shark, however the plate in front of him was chicken. Any amateur foodie knew something was fishy (pun intended) and the waitress soon saw the error. He was given the correct meal and was satisfied by his bold choice of entrée.

After eating like a starving pack of dogs, which by that time we were, the waitress asked if we were interested in desert. Normally I am not one to pass up on the after-dinner treat, however, seeing that the dinner had already taken so long we were 30 minutes late for the concert.

Even though the poor service overshadowed the good food, I thought East West Bistro deserved a second chance. I returned two days later for brunch and was surprised by the change.  Our service was excellent and our waiter attentive. If you have the time to dine at East West Bistro I would give it a shot for simply the food, but I would not make reservations again. 

351 East Broad Street Athens, GA 30601 (706) 546-9378

The Royal Peasant: Your Neighborhood English Pub

By Jonathan Shealy

The Royal Peasant is a British style pub right next to Five Points in Athens, Georgia. At first glance to many Athens residents it may appear to be just another bar, but once you go inside you discover that it doubles as a restaurant as well, serving classic British dishes. The inside is small and cozy, with soccer jerseys and memorabilia coating all of the walls, and there is plenty of outdoor seating on a patio at the front. A Real Madrid soccer game was on the TV in the background.

A listing of the "Footie" being showed for the week.

It was a lively place, even for 8:00 pm, and most of the tables were filled, as well as the stools along the bar. On the beer list they had many British imports, and I decided to try something random, which turned out to be decent. It didn't quite go with my food, but it was on its own, it had a solid distinctive taste. The menu is not huge, but they seem to go for quality over quantity. The kitchen must have been very small, and tucked away in the back because I couldn't see any signs of it. The girls working the bar were also the waitresses, and they did a great job going back and forth and running everything. The room was slightly noisy, with many different conversations going on between people, but this was hardly noticeable, and I felt it really added to the pub feel.

Try one of "The Royal Peasant"'s selection of British imports.

I decided to go out on a limb and try something I had never heard of before, so I ordered Bangers and Mash. I didn't know what to expect, but it sounded interesting. When they brought it out, I could smell a strong smoky aroma, and my appetite grew exponentially. The dish contained the two large sausages on top of a pile of mashed potatoes, with cabbage and turmeric gravy on top of everything. It looked like a pile of pure deliciousness, and I couldn't wait to take a bite.

I cut off a piece of the plump dark red sausage, breaking through the tough outer skin with my knife and cutting through the juicy interior with ease. I placed it in my mouth and discovered the sausage was sweet, not what I had expected, but pleasantly surprising. The mashed potatoes were a perfect complement to the sausages, and I wondered why I had never through to eat the two of them together before. The cabbage I suppose was there to make it a little more healthy, and it was good too, especially when mixed with the mashed potatoes.

I finished the meal quickly, because of my great hunger, and was thoroughly satisfied. The portion size was perfect, as I didn't have trouble finishing it, and was full afterwards. My friend got the shepherds' pie, which was the special that night, and it was good, though I still have no idea what was in it. It was basically a lot of vegetables, meat, and bread all mashed together into one big, tasty clump.

The pub's house made English Blue Chips, with blue cheese, bacon, and garlic oil.

Overall I enjoyed the experience, and this would definitely be a place I would consider going back to. I liked the pub atmosphere, and the food was exceptional. It's open a lot later than most restaurants would be, and has good options for both food and drinks. I've never been much of a soccer fan, but if there was ever a match I was interested in watching, this would be the place to go. A great, fun, casual place to eat.

The Royal Peasant 

1675 S. Lumpkin Street 30606

Athens, Ga

(706) 549-7920