PrintOff the Beaten Path: Ming Chan Dong's Giant Kimchi Bun
"Nothing screams glamour more than a gargantuan kimchi-filled bun marked with furrows deeper than a Klingon's forehead."
[Photos: Joe DiStefano]
The awning reads "Oriental Glamour," but the Korean name of this spot is Ming Chan Dong. After a chat with Paulie Sunhine, my dry cleaner to whom I regularly turn for advice on all matters Korean, I'm pretty sure the name roughly translates to many bright appetizers from the East. Indeed, as this Chowhound post shows, there are tons of appetizers and entrees both Northern Chinese and Korean. I stopped by the other day with my heart and stomach set on trying just one: kimchi jjin bbang. After all, nothing screams glamour more than a gargantuan kimchi-filled bun marked with furrows deeper than a Klingon's forehead.
Looks like a dumpling, but it's not. It's a steroidal steamed bun, roughly the size of a baby's head.
After a few bites of warm, puffy bread, the core reveals itself. It's a spicy reddish hash of chopped kimchi, translucent bean thread noodles, and bits of ground pork. (Note the kimchi magma stains on the crust of this planetoid-sized bun.)
Ming Chan Dong charges $1.50 for its hunger-curbing kimchi jjin bbang. Not sure how much Dunkin' Donuts charges for its kimchi donuts, but it's a safe bet MCD's kimchi buns are better, cheaper, and tastier.
Ming Chan Dong
36-24 Union Street, Flushing NY 11354 (map)
718-358-3935
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10 Comments:
I always pass by this place, which is right not to a very busy Korean bakery. I appreciate that the food is created by these hard working Korean ladies. You should try to explore other Korean shops along Northern Blvd. as well. :)
gargupie at 10:24AM on 11/09/09
I want to eat that immediately.
thesteveroller at 11:13AM on 11/09/09
I walk past this place several times a week and have always wanted to try this. Can't help but feel a little intimidated though when I can't read the menu. I must go in and try it now.
Anita P at 11:18AM on 11/09/09
it look like the place is called Myeong Chan Dong in korean...
chinese character
ming= bright, chan = side dish, dong = east
i guess a spin-off of the Chinese bao with kimchi... haha
지방kogi at 12:27PM on 11/09/09
Umm... Not sure if this place is as much Korean as ChoSonJjok run (Korean-Chinese). In any case the name of this spot as pronounced in Korean is Myung (or Myeong) Chan Dong, not Ming Chan Dong for sure.
Young at 12:56PM on 11/09/09
Am I a geek because the quote under the title immediately gave me an accurate perspective?
"Nothing screams glamour more than a gargantuan kimchi-filled bun marked with furrows deeper than a Klingon's forehead."
finewinendine at 1:06PM on 11/09/09
It really does look like a Klingon's forehead!
Still looks delicious though!
Even if I'm not a pork fan!
Avab at 4:27PM on 11/09/09
I had one of these mid last week after reading up on it on chowhound. I really liked the addition of the glass noodles and pork bits. Definitely a good flushing cheap eat.
I then proceeded to go to M & T where I had a delicious meal then got s**tfaced with a group of very nice (and drunk) chinese ladies.
ChiefHDB at 4:54PM on 11/09/09
Everyone is correct. In Korean it says Myung Chan Dong.
Tia Kim at 9:06PM on 11/10/09
Does anyone know what happened to this place? I went over there today and it was closed :(
Looked in the window and all the tables and chairs etc. are still in place but it just looked rather dead like it has been closed for a while.
Just wondering if they closed down or maybe have moved? Really wanted to try one of those kimchi buns as well as the Ma Hua someone mentioned on another site.
gregh at 3:07PM on 11/21/09