Some restaurants might be scared of moving away from Sukhumvit, but in the case of Ehwawon, who moved from bustling Sukhumvit Soi 31 to a new home in Praditmanutham, it seems to have been the right decision. The two-story house to be packed every day, especially in the evening, thanks to the affordable and generally decent dishes. Ehwawon adds all sorts of Korean touches to its décor, from the beige-colored wooden walls and tables finished with barbecue stoves to its window display of traditional dresses and Korean odds and ends.

 

Looking at the menu, it’s full of all the expected dishes, like steamed chicken in ginseng soup (B200), jajangmyeon (Korean noodles with salty black soybean paste, B110) and the surprisingly cheap Korean grilled pork, beef ribs and seafood (B130/B200/B140 per dish). All these are pretty flavorful, especially the jajangmyeon, which has a well-balanced sauce and noodles that are both soft and firm.

 

As for the Korean grill, while the barbecue sauce isn’t the best we’ve had, it’s still easy on the palate. Similarly, the chicken in ginseng soup isn’t all that aromatic, but it’s wellrounded and not too oily. Anyway, at these prices you can’t expect the same high standards of more expensive Korean restaurants across town. For one, the produce is mostly local rather than imported.

 

On our last visit, their pork bibimbab (B120) was a little light on the condiments and didn’t have that satisfying crunch associated with the dish. The kimchi jjigae (kimchi soup, B130) tastes a bit diluted, too. On the other hand, the haemul pajeon (Korean seafood pancake, B110) is crispier than most we’ve tried, and, to be honest, is a real guilty pleasure. They are pretty mean in charging B40 for a plate of boring Chinese cabbage and a few slices of garlic. But compared to Korean Town at Sukhumvit Soi 12, this place is still cheaper by half, and you can expect a solid if unspectacular meal.