Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit the local Ann Arbor restaurant, Hola Seoul. Located on N University Ave, they serve a specialty of Korean – Mexican fusion, their most famous dishes being the Bulgogi Tacos, Kimchi Fries, and Korean Fried Chicken.
Hidden in plain sight, I’ve never actually stepped foot in Hola Seoul. I was certainly missing out– Its hole-in-the-wall atmosphere made for the perfect atmosphere; cozy, warm, and welcoming. After ordering at the convenient self-checkout, our food was ready in mere minutes. My friends and I sat down in their small seating arrangements and prepared to indulge in their Kimchi Fries ($10), their Half and Half Popcorn Chicken ($12), and their Steamed Seoul Dumplings ($10).
Upon first bite, the Kimchi Fries were delightful. The crispy but pillowy fries topped with bits of bacon, sautéed kimchi, melty cheddar, sour cream and spicy mayo made for a perfect blend. I especially enjoyed the tangy spicy mayo contrasting with the saltiness of everything else. This marriage of flavors made this my favorite item we tried.
Their Half and Half Popcorn Chicken almost matched to the unrivaled fries. The Korean Fried Chicken style made it so it had a thin but crispy outer layer, fried and tossed in 2 sauces. One side was covered in a soy garlic glaze, and the other being the original sauce. I personally liked the original sauce the most; it was sweet, tangy, and spicy. I wasn’t a huge fan of the soy garlic sauce, as it was a little too savory for my taste.
Finally, we tried the Steamed Seoul Dumplings, paired with the sweet soy sauce marinade. This might’ve been my least favorite of the bunch- it was a little flavorless and fell apart easily. While the soy sauce was a good company, it didn’t make up for much. I wish I would’ve gotten it fried instead, as they offer a deep-fried option.
Overall, my experience at Hola Seoul was great- with reasonable prices, large portion sizes and delicious food, I will definitely be making a trip back here.