Korean gimbap, Vietnamese bánh mì, and Chinese hand-pulled noodles, oh my. About six months after soft opening, Golden Mall’s downtown location (47 Broadway) continues to impress. With two floors of food stalls, one thing is certain: You won’t leave hungry.
On a recent visit, the Alliance sampled some of the food court’s offerings. First up was the braised beef noodle soup from Golden Bull Handmade Noodles, a cozy bowl of thick, chewy noodles, fall-apart tender chunks of beef and a spicy, savory broth. This dish is guaranteed to hit the spot on a chilly winter night (we’re sorry to report that those are, in fact, en route). If you’re in the mood for something else, dry noodles, dumplings, wontons and sandwiches are also on the menu.
Downstairs, you’ll find BK Gangnam. The Korean spot has an extensive menu of rice bowls, fried chicken, sandwiches, ramen, topokki and very Instagrammable Korean corn dogs. We opted for the spicy pork gimbap, a colorful, crunchy, seaweed-wrapped delight. In addition to being delicious, the portion size is generous, offering around 10 large pieces. It’s the perfect grab-and-go lunch when you’re in the mood for something with a little more punch than your standard salad bowl. (But if you’re looking to truly indulge, try that cheesy corn dog).
Joju is tucked at the back of the lower level, but don’t worry: The candy-colored exterior makes it hard to miss. The thing to order at this Vietnamese spot is a bánh mì. These sandwiches are generously loaded with meat (or tofu), shredded carrots, cilantro and condiments. We opted for the caramel pork with a spicy green sauce and jalapeños, and it was worth writing home (well, texting friends) about. The bread is perfectly toasted and the sweet-spicy flavor of the pork is bordering on addictive.
There is only so much time (and stomach capacity), so we didn’t try everything that caught our eye on this visit. One of the restaurants we’d love to stop by on our next visit is Mala Panda, a choose-your-own-adventure spot offering malatang and dry pot options with tons of vegetables, meats, and other elements to choose from. We didn’t have room for dessert, but the egg waffles at Good Coconut smelled so enticing, we almost reconsidered. Plus, the jars of coconut puddings topped with fruit would make for the perfect midday pick-me-up when you need something sweet.
Stop by Golden Mall when you get a chance to try out the goods for yourselves — and don’t forget to pop by Max Fun Land for a few arcade games while you’re there!
