Nestled in Aberdeen street which is well-known for its bustling nightlife is a new Korean BBQ establishment. With budding reputation and worthy mentions from Koreans and Aussies alike, it was definitely a place I had to try.
Hwa Ro!
My first trip here was with a group of workmates after work. Based on what we ordered the first time, it seemed that Hwa Ro has little to offer that differs itself from an already saturated concept. However, it was in my second trip that we discovered more of what this Korean eatery had to offer.
To start, we had the Bulgogi Stew which was in my opinion yums!
With heaps of mushrooms, this was definitely a female pleaser. The girls found this dish yummy albeit being on the sweet side. What surprised me was the thick and rich sauce ones all the mushrooms had released all its water. Initially, there was almost no water besides the stock. But when the mushrooms were cooked, the pot was almost full! Quite a dish this one is. The beef was decently tender but that was expected as we might have overcooked it!
Another stew that we ordered was the herbal beef stew!
Unlike its bulgogi counterpart, this one carried a more subtle taste which had a sweetness of a different kind. It was more fragrant with the sweetness of the herbs. Not mind blowing but decently tasty! Moreover, having different kinds of beef meat in there made is richer and nutritious. In fact, mom says that all different parts is actually quite heaty and can result in fever or bleeding nose if one does not drink enough water. For me, unfortunately, the whole barbecue experience was not that good as my stomach felt too ‘hot’ as the Chinese would say. I had diarrhoea and tummy ache the following two days. Then again, its just me being me!
For me, the main thing that differentiates Hwa Ro from its competitors is its unique skewered BBQ meat which gives diners a different experience. The chicken skewer as you shall see below is fitted into a little socket which automatically rotates the meat around! It was pretty unique I would have to insist!
But be wary though! Being mesmerised by the ever so slowly rotating skewers is nothing more than trickery as foolishness shall leave on with stringy overcooked chicken. And that happen to all our 8 skewers! Talk about not learning from mistakes huh!? Funny but true! Nevertheless, more love could have resulted in better results!
From memory, diners are spoilt for choice. From short ribs to pork belly or even the simple scotch fillet, there are heaps which we can choose from. For the skewers, there is a good list of about 5-8 skewered meat. I wanted to try the duck skewers which were recommended by a friend. Unfortunately it was sold out when I tried to order it. It would be a priority the next time around. At the end of the meal, I cannot tell whether I was fully satisfied with what I have eaten. Over the course of 2 months, I have eaten more barbecue meals than I would have normally eaten in a year. However, that is not a fair reason to drag what could have been a good meal and make it bad! My experience at Hwa Ro was a good one. With a dashing red interior, this fiery establishment would have me back for more. Whether its the skewers or the stew, it was certain that it was just a matter of time. But I must say though, the Kimchee pancake here did not impress. For a moment there I felt as if I could have done better hahaha! Oh and the price here is pretty decent. The first time, it costed me 15 bucks while my second trip here was 21 bucks per person. Pretty OK in my opinion!
Regards,
WenY
