Hard as it may be to believe, a restaurant is not great solely based on its food. Good food goes together with good service, and neither should be lacking. Hence, if you want both good food paired with good service, look no further than Ticket to Korea.
A charming restaurant with charming owners
This quaint little restaurant is tucked away in Tropicana Damansara and is something of a gem hidden in plain sight. Facing the main road, Ticket to Korea has a welcoming appearance, with its wooden panel doors and cerulean blue walls.
If it looks welcoming, the owner is even more so. Ticket to Korea is run by Jeff Yoon, a man who can be aptly described as having the energy and demeanour of a golden retriever. Warm and bubbly, he will have you feeling right at home the moment you walk through the door.
Great food & great service
Jeff runs Ticket to Korea alongside his wife Soo Nam. The happily married couple have been living in Malaysia for over a decade now. Their little restaurant is their way of sharing home-cooked Korean food with the Malaysian public.
With such great hospitality, one is primed to expect a great meal to come your way as soon as one is seated. And great meals are what Jeff and Soo Nam are good at providing. In fact, most of their ingredients are made inhouse, with Soo Nam making the sauces every morning.
Cheese pork ribs
The highlight of the menu here has to be the Cheese Pork Ribs. It is served atop a portable stove, which keeps the cheese melted and bubbling for as long as you wish. If you are wary of operating the stove, feel free to ask Jeff or the staff to help.
Tastewise, this dish is nothing short of marvellous. The mozzarella cheese has its flavours brought out when melted into a delicious goo. That same goo coats meaty pork ribs, which are tender and easily fall off the bone.
Mushroom bulgogi
Are you one of those folks who get high on shrooms? Mushrooms, that is. Then, the Mushroom Bulgogi is a must-try for you. This dish, also served atop a stove, comes with four different mushrooms: oyster, enoki, shiitake and shimeji.
The Mushroom Bulgogi also comes with the choice of pork and beef. Whichever protein you choose, you will enjoy the warm, savoury broth overflowing with mushrooms. Scoop into your bowl as much meat and mushrooms as your heart desires and be content!
Sous vide pork belly steak
Speaking of meat, pork lovers will fall in love with the Sous Vide Pork Belly Steak. This comes with a side of sweet, red sauce, made by Soo Nam of course. The steak itself is delicious on its own, with the right amount of umami and juiciness in each slice.
Sous vide braised pork belly
Soo Nam is also responsible for inventing this dish: the Sous Vide Braised Pork/Beef. Thus, Ticket to Korea is the only place in town where you can enjoy this slow-cooked delicacy. Prepped over two days, it is delightful to bite into the ham-like braised meat.
Baby octopus with pork belly
If you wish to have some seafood, Ticket to Korea has just the thing. Baby Octopus with Pork Belly make for a strange but delicious combo. The octopus is springy and sweet, and the pork belly has an addictive crunch to it.
Bibimbap & beverages
In the event you are visiting Ticket to Korea on your own, a bibimbap might be better as an individual dish. If that’s the case, order the Avocado Bibimbap. It is Ticket to Korea’s bestseller, despite how unorthodox it is.
As for refreshments, ask Jeff for recommendations. Chances are he will offer you some of the restaurant’s alcoholic options. Of these, the Coconut Soju and the Grapefruit Soju are good choices.
Worth your time?
Thus, if you love Korean food or just want an excellent restaurant experience, Ticket to Korea beckons. Jeff’s warm smile and Soo Nam’s scrumptious offerings will have you coming back for a second and third time, no doubt. They’re just that good!
Ticket to Korea
Address: P-G, 10, Persiaran Tropicana, Tropicana, 47410 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening Hours: 12 pm – 11 pm daily
Contact: 013-4538819
Halal Status: Non-halal
You should also check out: This ajumma was unhappy with Korean food in M’sia, so she opened her own lil resto in Sunway Geo
