EDMONTON: Meat lovers unite

I like to eat meat. My sister gave me a red T-shirt for Christmas that has a big T-bone steak on it. So I really like the “all you can eat meat buffet” at Korean Village.

It’s not really advertised as a meat buffet but I call it that because that’s where I focus my energies.

There’s beef, chicken, spicy chicken, pork, beef short ribs, shrimp, bacon and sometimes squid. All of it is marinated and still raw. Korean marinades typically use soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, chiles, and garlic. You pick your meats and then bring them back to the gas grill at your table.

And that’s the joy of Korean BBQ – as much delicious meat as your tummy desires AND you get to BBQ it yourself.

It was also a joyous evening as I could finally introduce my newly not-so-vegetarian friend Steph to the meat orgy.

The buffet also comes with a small selection of cooked foods – dumplings, vegetable fritters, noodles – and lots of cold vegetable sides – kim chee, spicy lettuce, pickled turnips, bean sprouts.

For dessert, there are deep fried balls of dough rolled in sugar and cinnamon. But the rest of the buffet may prove distracting. So feel free to break for sugar balls in the middle and then go back for more meat.

You can also order Korean items from the menu but why? The buffet is $19.95. A large bottle of Hite Korean beer is $9.95.

Korean Village is tucked in the middle of a residential area so don’t be alarmed by all the bungalows. There’s a second floor for private parties and karoake.

Beware though, despite vents above some tables, you will smell like a big meat grill when you leave so I’d stick to wearing machine-washables and leave the evening gowns at home.

Korean Village, 7729-85 St., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, (780) 466-5666. Reservations recommended for large groups.