By Sherman Chan,
Special to The Post

We started off with Banchan in the form of kimchi, pickled daikon, stewed potatoes, Napa cabbage and salad. Everything was as expected except for the kimchi as it was more sour than spicy. The Seafood Tofu Soup came with a bevy of well-prepared octopus and shrimp, silky tofu and a raw egg. Texturally, the soup was on point. There was an impactful spiciness from the peppers as well as the brininess from the seafood.

The best dish of the meal was the BBQ Kalbi which was nicely caramelized with a smokiness accented by a rich sweetness and spice. Most of the pieces were buttery and melt-in-my-mouth tender. The Rice Cake and Dumplings was slightly sweet and pleasant tasting, yet it lacked depth. The rice cakes were on point. I found them meaty and dense with a thin dumpling skin.

The Bossam consisted of the usual sliced boiled pork belly, kimchi radish and pickled daikon. I would've preferred some napa cabbage to wrap the belly. The belly was sliced thickly. The fat was nicely gelatinized while the flavours were mild. The radish could've been spicier. One dish was a take on Bibimbap with spicy pork. The chewy and sticky rice was texturally on point while the veggies were a bit greasy. The pork was on the drier side and could've used more spice. Overall, Yook BBQ has plenty of potential due to its location, food quality and modern dining space. Since it just opened, some more refinement in terms of seasoning and flavours are needed.

Yook Korean Grill BBQ & Bistro

2408 Nanaimo Street, Vancouver, BC

The Good:

• Nice dining space

• Ample portion size

• Service is responsive

The Bad:

• Soup bases could be more impactful

Sherman Chan is the #1 ranked food blogger on the Vancouver portal of Urbanspoon.com. Read more of his reviews at www.shermansfoodadventures.com.