Ka Wha Korean BBQ (Gua.com.my)

Originally published on gua.com.my
18 March 2008



by Max Koh

Recent years have seen a slow but steady migration of Korean expatriates to Malaysia. And with their arrival, countless Korean eateries have mushroomed in the Klang Valley, not only to satisfy the cravings of their countrymen but also food lovers here.

But it is not always that you find an authentic Korean restaurant that serves really good food. I’ve had my fair share of bad experiences where I have been left disappointed with the quality and authenticity of the food. And the price was not exactly wallet-friendly either.

However, nestled in the bustling hub of Bangsar is a Korean restaurant that offers some of the best Korean fare in town. My friends, the gem is Ka Wha – a cosy little restaurant that specialises in Korean BBQ. And surprisingly, it is affordable!

What is Korean BBQ, you ask? Well, it is not Lea & Perrins marinated burgers flipped over a grill or satay sticks being grilled to perfection over a slow fire.




While these images are enough to satisfy the most voracious gourmand, only true epicureans will gamely take on the most exotic of Oriental flavours that Korea has to offer besides kimchi and singer Rain (although some of my female friends call him a “yummy treat”).

Korean BBQ features a metal plate over charcoal located at the center of the table. Gourmands then cook their food (usually slices of marinated and un-marinated meat) over the charcoal fire.

The result is a scintillating dining experience, as you not only get to eat your food but play with it too! Okay, you should note that I am only kidding, as Koreans are known for their strict and proper dining etiquette.

For example, you should not lift your rice or soup bowls from the table. That is bad manners. And unlike the Japanese, you should never make any unnecessary noises while chewing your food. It is considered uncouth.

But I digress.



The restaurant is decorated in traditional Korean décor, with wooden chairs, tables and Korean lanterns. But as many of you know – the clothes do not maketh the man.

At the heart of the restaurant is a Korean lady helming a team of waiters and chefs. Therefore, you can be rest assured there are no wolves in sheep clothing here. It is as authentically Korean as you can imagine.

While the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, gourmands wanting to sample the whole spectrum of Korean cuisine should take advantage of the all-you-can-eat dinner buffet at RM38+.

Yup! I am not kidding you. For that price, you can order anything you want from the menu; all sorts of raw meat and their variant parts, salads (take your pick from Korean Style Lettuce Salad, Spring Onion Salad, Mixed Salad with Wasabi Dressing), Korean Pizza with Kimchi, Hot Stone Bowl Bibymbab (rice dish), steamed and grilled mackerel, prawns, squid, oxtail soup, seaweed soup etc. (Salivating yet?)

All in all, you have an unlimited (Yes, UNLIMITED!!!) order of 60 dishes that you can choose from. Besides that, you have the blue-marked items that allow only one order per person. This includes the ox tongue, beef stomach and intestines, raw beef with egg yolk and pear, and raw beef tripe. It may not sound appetising, but trust me after you’ve cooked it over the charcoal and put it in your mouth, you would want to order another plate. I know I did.


Speaking of which, the service is excellent! The waiter changes the metal plate periodically (it becomes black from the constant grilling) and would constantly keep a lookout for the intensity of the fire.

The result is a fuss-free dining and cooking experience that will not go awry. (Although we did burn some cabbage leaves on the charcoal. Oops, my sincerest apologies to my Korean friends. Mianhamnida! I promise to behave after this.)

Oh, I forget to mention that as with all Korean fare, dinner begins with more than 10 plates of appetisers to get the ball rolling. Yep, not one or two but 10 plates to satisfy your palates while you wait for your food to cook! How cool is that?

The appetisers include kimchi (of course!), potatoes strips, ikan bilis, taugeh, salad and other kinds of veggies to turn your face (and tummy) green.

To help you wash down the enormous variety (and amount) of food, I strongly recommend that you try the various traditional Korean alcoholic drinks available.

The rice wine is the usual choice but I would suggest the Jinro wine made from wheat. Although it contains 19.8% alcohol, it has a nice sweet taste to it.

And to cap off the hearty meal, you can choose ice cream or fruits for dessert. Talk about being spoilt for choice and stuffing yourself silly!

As you leave the restaurant, the waiters and hosts would bow down in gratitude and offer you a piece of Lotte Chewing Gum. The pleasant and warm service is extended until you set your foot out of the door. If only some local eateries would learn a trick or two from these guys!

All in all, Ka Wha offers a very satisfactory dining experience. In fact, I count it as one of the most memorable of my life. Not only was the food excellent, the service was impeccable thanks to the Korean courtesy, and the ambience is apt for casual dining with friends.


And most importantly, it does not burn a hole in your pocket while offering a very hearty dinner to all you big-eaters out there.

I know that I will be back for more Korean BBQ at Ka Wha. And this time, I’ll behave and will not burn any more cabbage. I promise!

The dinner buffet begins from 5:30pm until 10pm every night. Reservations are recommended. Ka Wha Korean BBQ Restaurant (non-halal) is located at 20-1, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur (above Mak Koh restaurant). Call 603-2284 7762 for more information/reservations. Or email them at kawhabbq@hotmail.com.