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A Korean restaurant is not something one would expect to find on the border of Forest Hills and Rego Park. If anything the neighborhood is better known for the plethora of Central Asian kebab joints. Nor is Korean chow something you'd expect to find at an old-school spot like the #1 Coffee Shop. Years ago local legend Robbie Richter, pitmaster of Hill Country, worked the flat top one day when the grill man was out sick. Despite it's improbability, there they were, handwritten signs advertising bulgogi and bibimbap. We hastened inside out of the rain to see what #1's bibimbap was all about.
It was quite the disconnect to order bibimbap, considering that most of the folks in the shoebox-sized spot were having eggs and coffee or sandwiches. The owner told us that the ancient coffee shop has been serving Korean fare for about two weeks. It was somewhat unsettling to see the Spanish short-order cook drop something in the fryer. Dear God, he can't be frying the bibimbap, can he? Our nervousness was dispelled when an older Korean woman came out from the back with the ingredients for our rice dish and proceeded to prepare it.
As you can see, the stainless steel bowl of white rice came topped with a bounty of vegetables, strips of beef and a fried egg. Adding the contents of a little container of fiery gochujang gave the whole affair a nice chili kick. It was served with three types of kimchi, including some refreshing water kimchi. All in all, it was the best bibimbap Gothamist has ever eaten in a diner.
#1 Coffee Shop, 100-12 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, 718-544-5766
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they also have a fine selection of newspapers (I should know, since I buy a newspaper there everyday before dipping into the subway.) they used to have really cheap carrot juice too, and they also have the korean natural yogurt (jumping on the pinkberry craze). the current owners have been there for about a year, the previous owners (an indian family) made an excellent hungry man special but the koreans kicked out the old grill man (grizzled by grease fire and a total character, I forget his name).
They kicked out the old grill guy -- the black guy who said hello to everyone, had a pound of grease slicking his hair back, and who made some mean french toast?
I used to live around the corner from there. First the Knish Nosh moved across the street to make room for a Starbucks. Then I learned last week that Mickey's Place is closing and moving to Bayside. And now you're telling me that the grill guy at the coffee shop is gone! Even this coffee shop was relocated several years ago from down the block to make room for a CVS.
OY!
I too live just a block away, walk past the place every morning on the way into the subway. When I saw the signs for Korean food up I was seriously confused, pretty funny to hear that its good, I will have to stop in and try it one day.
I'm not really sure why you'd be surprised to see anything pop up in any neighborhood in NYC. They've got 24 hour korean sushi spots under the tracks in Jackson Heights, and you can find spanish chinese food at La Chinita Linda.
Hey Joe, pics are looking better! Nice color in that shot. Looks appetizing. The egg with that scallion or chive is pretty.
You can find Spanish Chinese food througout the city--and even in suburbs that are heavily Peruvian or Cuban, like Paterson and Passaic, NJ
old grill guy's name was charlie and . . . he was a good man.