Dining pick of the week: Soyo

PICK OF THE WEEK:

SOYO

7775 S. Rainbow Blvd.
at Robindale Road, 897-7696

Korean food is an acquired taste. Once acquired, it becomes a friend of the palate. Largely based on rice, vegetables and meats, the dishes incorporate ingredients such as sesame oil, doenjang (fermented bean paste), soy sauce, salt, garlic, ginger, pepper flakes and gochujang (fermented red chili paste). At Soyo, featured entrees are beef short ribs and vegetable stew, sweet and spicy marinated pork, tofu and vegetables in fermented bean paste broth, grilled mackerel, kimchi fried rice, spicy fish egg soup, hot and spicy vegetable and shredded beef soup, and sliced beef and vegetables in a sweet and soy flavored broth. Popular tapas, perfect for late night, are soft hot tofu, steamed pork with cabbage and oysters, kimchi pancake, Korean sausage, fried dumplings, seafood and scallion pancake, grilled squid and garlic, assorted tempura, green mussels soup and rice cake with vegetables and noodles in spicy sauce. House specialty casseroles are prepared for two: one has seafood, tofu, vegetables and noodles, while another is made with beef intestine, tripe, vegetables and noodles in spicy broth. Entrees start at $7 and tapas at $4. Soyo is open from 11:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 2 a.m. Sunday. -- Jack Bulavsky