Trying Every Restaurant on the NYT 2025 Top 100 List – Okdongsik
I went back to Okdongsik, which is once again on the New York Times Top 100 list, to see if my opinion had changed from last year. While I completely understand why so many people love it and can appreciate it as a comforting dish, I had similar feelings this time around. Personally, I gravitate toward Korean stews that are a bit spicier and more intensely flavored.
The biggest reminder from meals like this is that taste is subjective. A restaurant can be objectively well executed and deeply loved by others while still not matching your personal preferences. You might absolutely love this place. It just isn’t my cup of tea, and that’s okay!
📍 Okdongsik – Flatiron, NYC
Follow for more food adventures:
Beli: https://beliapp.co/lists/kaitlyneats
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynlavery
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kaitlyneats
Substack: https://substack.com/@kaitlynlavery
ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/kaitlynlavery
LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Kaitlynlavery
Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/kaitlyneats_
#koreanfood #soup #foodblogger #foodshorts #foodie
35 Comments
The kimchi dumplings are amazing tho
Is he the culinary class wars guy
Your pronunciation of 돼지곰탕 is perfect! I always appreciate your honesty, which makes you youtube gold. Also, I don't think you have to follow their guide about chili paste. 돼지곰탕 is humble dish with no strict rule and many Koreans do mix chili paste in broth. Maybe next time, it would be fun to follow your inner voice and see how it goes!
Their "Lard Donkatsu" is also very good.
Same way for me i want my broth to be savory and spicy or i feel like i didnt have a proper meal lol
Props for respecting the dish!
This is actually the biggest misconception of Korean food that Westerners fail to understand because they’re so accustomed to modern iterations of any cuisine that’s far more salty, sweet, savory, and saucy. Traditional Korean food emphasizes the natural flavors of the ingredients. You won’t find many pure and neutral tasting food like this anywhere else in New York.
girl the pronunciation ateee!!!
Speak your truth girl it’s why we love ya! Pronunciation was on point!!!
There’s also a fantastic speakeasy hidden in the back of this restaurant if you walk straight through the far wall, would still recommend even if you don’t like the restaurant!
Deserves to be on the top 100 list fr.
Question: Is it bad table manners if you spice up the broth?
Wow the prices weren’t as steep as I expected! Looks delish but I too prefer a spicy broth lol
mama i love u im korean and it doesnt matter to me if you pronounce it wrong or use the english translated name, but i appreciate your effort!!! always!!
With you on both wanting a creamier soup and/or a spicier soup but all that looked yummy
Pronunciation is not bad but the J in ssamjang should be pronounced like it is in English, so ssam-jang not ssam-yang.
And thanks for the honest review!
the lemmmmonade, i also <3 a spicy soup.
Hey love! When are you gonna try Haitian food?
no tip
I would risk diarrhea for it
I'd love to hear what YOUR top 100 would be!
Actual reasonable prices for once? In nyc? In this economy?😮
The honestyyyy also the pronunciation was so solid
Classy lady
Yummmm! A few plates of dumplings, then some soup, and I’m good to go. (I’ll still pick at everyone else’s dishes though ;))
I would throw that whole thing of hottness in there 😂
The owner was on the new season of culinary class wars! Imo best cooking show of all time
People crashing out over pronunciation will never not be absolutely insane to me. Accents exist. Accept it. People are gonna pronounce things differently. If you cant handle that, idk what to tell you esp if youre fine with people butchering english but not other languages 🤷♀️
yeah i would def put the gochuji in the broth halfway through lol
I remember dweji gomtang from culinary class wars haha
First off, always appreciate your take on Korean food because I feel like you understand it really well. Loved this place the first time I had it, but I fear the quality has been declining lately. The pepper paste used to be fine as a small dollop-on in the past because of the intensity of the soup, but now the soup and meat feel like it needs more flavor. So I get the desire to just turn it into a spicy broth.
you have the most annoying nasal sound voice I've ever heard…. yet I still watch your vids
I LOVE when food reviewers are honest about their strong personal preferences rather than acting like the food they're reviewing is ridiculous.
You need to try Boston’s ramen scene and udon scene. It’s throat burning yummy 😋
What I'm struck by is the mentioning of Alex when both you AND he went on the record saying that accurate pronunciation of food didn't mean that much to either of you..
.. aaaaaaaaaand now you're discussing listening to accurate pronunciation 10x
With added _______________about still "getting flamed" about your pronunciation. It's time to pick a struggle. Either respect the dishes that are paying your bills & homage to the ancestry of the dishes you're eating
Or give the half stepping all the way up.
I'm sure one of you can find a decoder ring for what my AAVE is saying.
Tho you don't actually have to care, right?