The Barbecue Issue
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Ombu Grill provides plentiful condiments
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Spread Ombu Grill
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he design of Ombu Grill might seem unusual at first, with personal grills built directly into each table and state-of-the-art ventilation systems snaking from the ceiling. Yet once diners have embraced the overall experience, it’s hard to resist the charms of Korean barbecue. A vast menu of raw proteins and vegetables await as you try your hand at tabletop grilling. Choose from 33 items at lunchtime for $14.99 or the entire menu for $19.99 at dinner. As ingredients are being readied for cooking, the restaurant design’s genius is revealed as servers lower the fans above the tables down to suck up the barbecue smoke as the grills heat up. At Ombu Grill, the Korean barbecue fun really begins with the meat and seafood choices—most of which are offered in plain or marinated varieties. Chicken, shrimp, calamari, pork belly and steak are all excellent options. The bulgogi (steak marinated in soy sauce, garlic and sesame oil) is a well-rounded option for both flavor and ease of preparation. The tender, thinly sliced meat sizzles to the desired temperature quickly and an impressive amount of smoke-tinged flavors can be coaxed into the beef. 32 Devour Utah • June 2019
BY HEATHER L. KING
Encase the grilled proteins in fresh lettuce leaves to counter their richness and pair everything up with any of the ready-to-grill vegetables. Try the bundles of firm, slender enoki mushrooms wrapped with bacon strips. The longer the bacon and mushrooms cook, the more flavor is imparted. Enjoy each bite with a selection of traditional banchan or side dishes—typically featuring kimchi and a pickled vegetable—that balance the cooked offerings nicely. And everything at Ombu can be enhanced with a variety of dipping sauces, including spicy gochujang, hoisin, lemon and house sauce. In short, this Korean barbecue spot on State Street has transformed the cook-your-own-meal concept into an allyou-can-eat barbecue adventure for Utah diners. ❖ Ombu Grill 1438 S. State, SLC 801-484-4848 UtahOmbuGrill.com