SODAM Korean Restaurant, Bacolod

 Bacolod natives, when it comes to culinary experiences, are not an adventurous lot. They are fickle when it comes to nouvelle cuisine, they are wary of ethnic foods and they have this kind of herd mentality when it comes to patronizing restaurants. This is perhaps why some hole-in-the-wall restaurants thrive despite being obscure and why some restaurants situated on the main drag fold after a few months.

The factor in Bacolod which can make or break a business is “word of mouth.” No flashy advertizing needed, just plain small-town grapevine method. Locals, especially the older bunch, won’t touch weird non-local food unless some friend, colleague or relative swears by it and recommends it enthusiastically. This has resulted in a food society built on reputation, honor, and group mentality. Such nuance had negatively affected reputable businesses in the past such as Bo’s Coffee Club & Krua Thai in Sorrento, Gerry’s Grill in Lacson, and Namaste Indian Restaurant in Goldenfields while propping up hard-to-find eateries such as Lord Byron’s Ribs, Tiyo Sid’s Grilled Burgers, Pamilya Grill in Eroreco (Fake Bob’s) and now… SODAM Korean Restaurant.

Sodam Korean Restaurant is a relatively quaint hole-in-the-wall chucked along Lacson Street. It’s beside Regency Inn and lies between San Antonio Abad and Lupit Churches. It’s better to take the car though, if not, a taxi will do.

Upon entering the newly decorated resto, your eyes will have to adjust at the luridly sanguinous walls, better to cloak the near-monopoly color of red chilies that will inevitably share your dining table. The furniture is typical Korean in style and was comfortable enough for a three hour fire fest.

As for the food, they are delicious as they are reasonably priced. For a full meal, one would need to shell out about ~P300 ($7.50) as we had done so but you will leave the restaurant stuffed to the gills. Their menu is adequate with English translations and a photo of each dish for those who are even English-impaired. Prices range from P100 to P600, but in our case, a whole sizzling platter of Osam Bulgogi cost about P350, enough to feed 4-5 people. Although the Bulgogi’s reddish color was a portent of hot things to come, it was tempered by the sweetness of the dish and the liters of free mineral water that the waitresses were happy to refill. Remarkably, our group survived the deliciousness of this dish that we welcomed the four other dishes with weak smiles and nervous laughs. There was an omelet with 20% chilies by dry weight, a sweet noodle dish that was deceptively hot, Bibimbap which was one of the best I’ve tried and an inexpensive P100 Korean roll (very filling).

What I do appreciate about Sodam is how the owner gave us free stuff. FREE!! First that was given was appetizers of kimchi and pickled radish (no brainer here), then the free softdrinks (yes!), then the free vegetable omelet in a skillet type of dish, and while we were sweating it out, we were given a bowl of miso-like soup.

Our friend J was ecstatic when the bowl of soup was placed in front of him saying that this was the only dish that doesn’t looked hot. Much to his chagrin, when he spooned some of the soup, a whole red chili popped up winking at him.

“Hello Clarisse,” he muttered, his eyes boring into the smiling chili pepper.

As each bite passed down our throats, we sweated bullets and yet, we can’t stop from stuffing ourselves into stupor. By the end of the meal, everything was wiped out. Except for the rice.

One of the things recommended here was their imported Korean ice cream. What better way to dislodge the capsaicin from your taste receptors than by eating lots of casein, a component of milk. We stuffed ourselves with these cold delights- a late consolation- with some getting a melon ice drop (similar to Malaysia’s potong), a fish shaped candied azuki bean – vanilla ice cream sandwich, and a couple of cookies & cream sandwiches.

That dining experience was terrific despite the piquancy of the meal. For those wishing an authentic and quality Korean meal, Sodam is the place. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

It’s Sodam hot yet Sodam good.

VIDEO! I do not know who these are but I sure was amused by their chili-induced psychosis while they defile SODAM resto. Thank God we don't have a youtube version like theirs.