In this edition of Winnipeg Wok Hei, we finish off our two part series on Seoul Korean BBQ & Morals Village Hot Pot.
Winnipeg's Hottest Spot for Hot Pot (Part II)
This is part two of the Seoul Korean BBQ & Morals Village Hot Pot review. The hot pot experience at Seoul Korean BBQ is uniquely different than the grill experience and just as enjoyable, so lets dive in.
A cozy table for 6. Each of us could choose our own soup base for cooking ingredients.
The back of the restaurant is the area designated for hot pot dining. This area has table and chair arrangements instead of booths, which makes it a bit more convenient to get in and out when going for more ingredients. So in that way, it’s a bit more relaxed. We went with friends which is almost a must. It’s a fun time of eating and chatting which is what it’s all about.
First things first. After we got a table, we went to pick a “soup base”. Each flavorful broth adds another dimension of taste. I’ve found that there are only 2 schools of hot pot; spicy and non spicy. It's really nice that you can choose two separate soup stocks if you're sitting in the "individual pot" area. This way you can enjoy 2 different flavors.
I’m the only spicy guy in our group - my Cantonese family thinks that even plain black pepper is spicy :-) I chose hot and sour which has a really exotic flavor. It was like taking a trip across Asian in my mouth! Seoul Korean BBQ offers a good variety of soup bases to suit every taste. They offered 8 different kinds of soup stock when we dined. If you’re really conservative in your taste, you can just ask for hot water to cook your ingredient selections (although I would highly recommend a favored soup base, as it adds tons of flavor!). Go for the chicken stock at the very least. As for me, it’s go hard or go home! I picked the spiciest soup base, which left my Cantonese family members exclaiming waaaahhhhh!!!!!!!! (they also say that when I reach for the hot chili oil)
Now that we had the soup base simmering, we headed to the sauce station! This is totally fun and exciting (same as when you go for the grill)! Choose from: peppercorn oil, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, satay sauce, chive flower sauce, fermented bean curd, garlic paste, chili oil, soy sauce, black vinegar, green onion, cilantro and spicy dipping powder. My advice: be adventurous! The flavor combinations are endless!
We had our soup bases and “secret sauce” combinations at the table. And then, time to load up on ingredients! Again, they have a plethora of food choices in the coolers. Seafood, beef, pork…. you decide! Veggies and additional side dishes are all included in the price. We didn’t hold back! One of my new discoveries was the marinated seaweed. I paired that with some cooked seafood and bean sprouts. Every bite would take me to the pinnacle of flavorful gustatory nirvana! I should mention that I’m an adventurous eater. The more new things I try, the more I enjoy! They have a combination of ingredients and flavors that can accommodate any palate! Remember the saying….?...”try it, you’ll love it”!
Hot Pot is something that really needs to be experienced and it is like no other dining experience that you will ever have. There are only a few place in Winnipeg that offer hot pot and I can quite honestly say, there is only one place that does it right. And that is Seoul Korean BBQ & Morals Village Hot Pot. Take in a romantic dinner for 2 or bring a group of 10 for a celebration feast that you’ll always remember! And be sure to try new things! That's half the fun! As I say, "go hard or go home" ;-)
(Below is the price posted in January, 2025 when we went for dinner. We are not associated with Seoul Korean BBQ & Morals Village Hot Pot - we just love the food! Selection was plentiful and service was excellent. They totally deserve this shout out!! Please contact them directly if you have any questions regarding reservations, hours, menus and prices.)
