Cheap Eats 2006

This cedar-paneled strip-mall joint's homestyle Korean cooking draws both Korean-Americans and newcomers to the spicy, meat-heavy cuisine. Traditional staples like sizzling bi bim bap ($9.95), with a mound of tender beef strips, egg and vegetables on a plate of steaming rice, come with eight classic kim chi (pickled-vegetable) side dishes—the egg-battered, chilied zucchini is a standout. Order a bottle of Hite beer ($6 for 22-ounce bottle) to tame the spice. (KD)