Woo Lae Oak tantalizes budding taste receptacles with a tempting menu of traditional Korean dishes with contemporary flourishes made from choice ingredients. Smokeless barbecue grills sear up succulent meat entrees such as the Ta Jo ostrich filet ($22) and Ko Be beef ($50), a choice cut of tender Kobe beef that promises an epic meatsperience for meal adventurers. Nip blossoming hunger flowers in the bud with traditional Korean favorites such as Kal Bi Jim, tender beef short rib simmered in sake-ginger soy glaze ($25), or vegetarian options such as Bo Sot Jun Gol ($18), wild mushrooms dancing to Tchaikovsky in a vegetable broth.
From the bustling streets of Times Square to the equally vivacious streets of Hong Kong, people walk around with smiles after enjoying the japanese barbecue cuisine at Gyu-Kaku. The restaurant has more than 700 locations worldwide, each rooted in the belief that some of the strongest bonds between friends are forged at the dinner table. Groups dine on a huge variety of Japanese dishes, from popular meat and veggie dishes such as Harami Skirt Steak, Kalbi Short Rib, and Bacon-wrapped Asparagus - to unique Japanese-American appetizers such as the Spicy Tuna Volcano, Wasabi Crunchy Shrimp, and Ahi Tuna Poke. The real excitement takes place around individual grills, however, where diners can barbecue their own slabs of filet mignon, ahi tuna, or chicken with chili mayo until they are ideally tender or encircled by on-duty firemen.
Housed in a charmingly rustic venue, the Culver City eatery specializes in a more-refined version of Korean barbecue. Smokeless barbecue grills allow diners to experience tableside service without lingering wafts of eau de dinner. Fish fans will appreciate the glazed miso salmon ($21), sided with succotash, or poached black cod with Korean miso broth ($22). While the full menu is available anytime, Groupon holders can also take advantage of the prix fixe G menu, with options to feed parties of two, three, or four ($79–$195) any Thursday through Saturday. The date-friendly G1 option on the prix fixe includes Gyenari's galbee, bulgogi, aged pork belly, flower chicken, and japchae. For larger groups, try the G4, a full-on meat fest that includes filet mignon, Wagyu beef, fresh lobster tail, and diver sea scallops ($195 for four people). For dessert, upgrade from ordinary sprinkled dough rings with Gyenari's famed green-tea doughnuts ($8). The piping-hot pastries come made to order with a buttermilk-raspberry glaze and Ghirardelli chocolate sauce for dipping.