You are mistaken if you think Korean cuisine is all about kimchi, tofu soup, and Korean BBQ. Korean cuisine reflects a complex interaction of the natural environment and different cultural trends. For example, during the Korean War, budae jjigae (a.k.a. Army Base Stew) was created using spam and sausage. Another example is Korean-Chinese, a hybrid cuisine created by ethnic Chinese living in Korea. One restaurant featuring this type of cuisine is Full House Plus.
Full House Plus is located on the corner of Torrance and Hawthorne Blvds and was the former home to Baja Fresh, The Counter, and most recently, Ocean Market Grill. The recently shuttered Curry House was also in the same strip mall.
Local demand is high for Korean food – nearby H-Mart supermarket is doing well, and Honey Dress Fried Chicken does excellent business across the street. Another Korean supermarket, Hannam Chain, will open in the same strip mall and takes the place of the former Sports Chalet store.
Even if you are dining solo, Full House Plus provides a complimentary mixed green salad with a tray of danmuji yellow pickled radish, sliced onions, and black bean sauce. These condiments
Jajangmyeon noodles ($13.95) with a coal-colored black bean sauce is one of Korea’s great comfort foods and one of their most popular items. A thick black bean paste mixed with diced pork, kabocha squash, and onion covers udon noodles. Tossing everything together yields a uniform taste experience.
Tangsuyuk ($20.95) is a deep-fried pork dish with sweet and sour sauce. Koreans frequently pair the sweet dish with the saltier jajangmyeon noodles. The pork strips are seasoned and batter fried. Because I was taking leftovers home, I decided to dip the meat into the sauce instead of tossing everything together. They also have spicy and garlic versions of this dish.
If it is your first time at Full House Plus, be sure to visit during the week at lunchtime. They offer five different lunch specials featuring two half portions of items such as jajangmyeon noodles, tangsuyuk, fried dumplings, and spicy seafood soup. Prices range from $13.95 – to $16.95 and include salad and Korean condiments.
Full House Plus, 21209 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90503; 310.357.5275