Macguli

Throw a stone in Desa Sri Hartamas and you'll probably smash the windows of a Korean restaurant. Whenever one closes, two more might open; wander into a random venue and here's what we can expect to eat.

A bevy of banchan _ cold cockles (yay!), sunny-side up eggs and sesame gelatin strips.

Of course, kimchi and various veggies are included, replenished on the house when finished.

Lots of meat is provided, including pork. We opted for well-marbled beef short ribs, which can be grilled in the kitchen or at the table.

A protein rush: muscular-tasting meat, tantamount to a sacrament of succulence.

Green onion pancake. Portions are hefty but prices are not; two can eat at Macguli and leave with swollen stomachs for about RM100.

Bibimbap. Decent, though our favorite version of this comfort food is still found at Gogung at The Gardens in Mid Valley.

Freebies keep pouring in: spicy seafood-and-cabbage soup.

Also on the house: some sort of mushroom consomme, nice and earthy.

Another attraction: Korean fermented rice wine, or "makguli," this restaurant's namesake. Mellow, easy-drinking booze, almost like a cross between shochu and tapai. Pear, apple and berry-flavored versions are also available.

Macguli,

16/1 (1F), Jalan 23/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2300-2819