Tonight I had dinner at Bae Bae’s kitchen. They market themselves as a Korean restaurant. They have various Korean style dishes.
I’ve been wishing and waiting to try this restaurant for months.
They don’t serve kimchi. On their online website they have it listed of course. But being at the restaurant tonight they told us they only serve cucumber kimchi.
It tasted like super sugary gherkin pickles. Everything was so SWEET. even the beef bulgogi tasted so so sweet. The salad was super sweet.
My question for everyone here is…
It is an authentic experience if they don’t even have kimchi??
Either way, I was super disappointed.
by Emotional-Maize9622
12 Comments
Pittsburgh? I checked out their menu, and it’s like a far neighboring countries version of Korean Food.
The golden pig is good. Not much of an atmosphere, but good Korean.
As a Korean, I wouldn’t consider it authentic if they always served food without kimchi. If it were strictly street food dishes, that’d be a different thing entirely. They seem to be aware of this, though. And looking at their menu it seems like they have a rotating assortment of kimchi that isn’t always available. So maybe you were just unlucky.
From their website: We are a ***Korean Inspired*** eatery focusing on local, healthy, organic ingredients.
[https://baebaes.kitchen/pittsburgh-cultural-district-bae-bae-s-kitchen-about](https://baebaes.kitchen/pittsburgh-cultural-district-bae-bae-s-kitchen-about)
Edit: I dug a little deeper. One of the owners is in fact Korean and in [this article](https://eatatpitt.weebly.com/baebaeskitchen) it says that their focus is Korean dishes with an American twist.
Looking at their website, as well as the owners/chefs, they make it very clear that this is “Korean-inspired.” Korean cuisine is not a monolith. From a place like this, I would go in expecting fusion, not necessarily traditional Korean food. Is it authentic? Yes. It’s Korean-fusion. Is it traditional? No, but I think that’s the point they’re trying to make.
r/mildlyinfuriating lol
If you are still in Pittsburgh, go to Green Pepper in Squirrel Hill. The Korean food is more authentic. Each dish comes with kimchi!
That does not look or sound like authentic and delicious Korean food. If you want the best Korean food in the us, go to LA.
Most of the Asian food in Pittsburgh is way too sweet. Don’t point it out, though, trashing local eateries brings out the crazies.
I had a moment like this once at PGH Tortas. They make “Latin-inspired” dishes. I ordered their asada sandwich. Super bland, but on the side they just gave me dry tortilla chips. I asked if they had salsa. They said they never had any salsa. 🤷 completely thought they were pranking me.
the kimchi at the 2nd Korea garden at novo Asian food hall is to die for. Since you’re in pgh I highly recommend it. They also have delicious bulgogi
The menu says you order two daily sides with the entree
The daily sides include kimchi
So i think they are giving options for guests who don’t want it? The menu looks very “safe”
Even the plating is very bizarre. What’s up with the rice in an onigiri shape? Salad doesn’t belong. This picture makes me very sad. If you ever come to San Diego (not as good as LA/OC but pretty good) your first Korean meal is on me
I’ve been to restaurants in Korea that don’t serve kimchi. But they’re usually some sort of pickle (like kkadugi)
GET.OUT.OF.THERE