Restaurants
Korean comfort food at Mama bowls
At this Korean restaurant in Arnhem you can drink refreshing yuzu iced tea and eat the king of Korean comfort food: tteokbokki.
Recently I went looking for good food in Arnhem and I wasn't disappointed. In a single day I ate Pakistani, Syrian, Turkish and Korean. The only Angolan restaurant in the Netherlands which was also in Arnhem, was unfortunately no more, but there are still plenty of culinary reasons to travel to Arnhem anyway. Members of the Mooncake Journal have already received a discovery of mine. To become a member or read more about that journal, you can Here.
In this article I am sharing another favourite from that day: Mama Bowls.
A life without KFC and tteokbokki
Mama bowls is an absolute asset to Arnhem. Until the arrival of this simple yet cosy Korean-Japanese joint, this city basically survived without one Korean Fried Chicken English The king of comfort food: tteokbokki. Can you imagine?! Not anymore once you've pulled up a chair at Mama Bowls.
The owner of this little establishment, Lan, is kind, warm and passionate. Mama Bowls used to be in Wageningen where she Food Psychology studied, but she moved her business to Arnhem last year. There is a personal, accessible vibe at Mama Bowls. Everywhere you see personal items and decorations that are reminiscent of Korea.
I'll also zoom in on this wall for a moment, straight away an interior idea if you ask me because why wouldn't you decorate a wall with photos of really delicious food?
Yuzu iced tea + melon soda
I'll start with a glass of homemade iced tea with mint and yuzu – an ultra-refreshing citrus fruit that seems to give you a brief, sharp yet pleasant squeeze to wake you right up:
There is also blue floating melon soda available. You can grab water yourself at the till and it costs nothing, in Korea that's the standard. That makes me very happy. Far too often in the Netherlands, tap water is still not served in hospitality venues. A great shame that immediately betrays the lack of hospitality and short-term vision in such an establishment. As if we can easily afford to have (plastic) bottles produced and transported on a large scale for nothing.
Korean rice balls and KFC
On the Mama Bowls menu are the most popular rice dishes of Korea and Japan. I am starting with a bite of jumeokbap – a stylish rice ball with green seaweed flakes, toasted sesame seeds and tuna on the inside.
This ball also comes in handy for deglazing other, spicier dishes.
Then give Korean Fried Cauliflower and Chicken
Of Korean Fried Chicken with honey butter sauce (yes, you read that right), drove me wild. Crunchy on the outside and with tender, juicy chicken on the inside, combined with honey and butter. The deep-fried cauliflower with sticky lemon glaze is a refreshing, lighter counterpart. A small bowl comes pickled mooli at – also so lovely. Crispy deep-fried bites but also the fresh crunch of pickled vegetables in between. A golden combination.
Of kimbap met beef brought all the food together into better balance. Kimbap is derived from Japanese sushi, but it is somewhat different. For instance, kimbap is more often filled with meat and/or vegetables and kimchi rather than fish. Also, vinegar is not used to flavour the rice, but (usually) sesame oil.
The king of Korean comfort food: tteokbokki
And now on to the King of Comfort Food: tteokbokki. A dish whose predecessor, tteok jjim, was once on the menu of the Korean royal court. It is eaten as street food (many food stalls sell it) and as a snack, and is especially popular in winter. Sometimes people eat it out of paper cups using a little skewer.
If you have never eaten tteokbokki in your life, then Mama Bowls a very good first place to break the ice. You are served a ravishing plate filled with nothing but goodness. Rice cakes with a bite, vegetables, melted cheese, a soft egg and spring onion. In a sauce of bouillon cube gochujang: Korean fermented chilli paste. And that sounds harsher than it is.
For beginners: tteokbokki is a bit like a plate of pasta, but even better, richer and more elaborate, and definitely cosier. At Mama Bowls, it feels as though the plate is speaking to you, saying: “Just make yourself comfortable, I've got a cosy love seat right here for you, take your shoes off, here's a blanket, I'll light the fireplace for you and you don't have to go anywhere anymore in a minute.” Something like that. And then in food form.
Korean biscuits from Areum bakery
The grand finale came in the form of ugly cookies baked by Areum, a Korean online dessert shop. I tasted Black Sesame Dark and Lemon Earl Grey, both highly recommended. Not at all sweet and you could taste the black sesame and Earl Grey in the biscuits. That might seem obvious, but often ingredients in a description are empty promises. On Thursdays there is always a new cookie menu online and then you can crack on with your orders. These clowns ship to the Netherlands and Belgium.
Also worth mentioning: Mama Bowls also organises a kimchi making workshop. And they make really nice ones there.
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What are you eating here?
The king of Korean comfort food: tteokbokki and really good KFC.
Collection and delivery
Takeaway
Other information
Alcohol: No
Halal: Yes
Kosjer: Yes
Vegetarian: Yes
Vegan: Yes
