With the first spoonful of Kimchi Pork Jowls Skinless rice bowl, a harmony of smoky pork and kimchi erupts in one’s mouth. Alongside, the other dishes at Western Restaurant (서양식당) captures the essence of both Western and Korean cuisine. Located in front of the side gate of the Lotte Outlet, the restaurant attracts Esiapolis locals.
At first glance, the interior design brightened the diner. The palette of green and white colors gave me a clean but unique impression, with green setting it apart from the other restaurants and the combination enhancing the fresh look.
To savor the wide variety of dishes, my friends and I ordered pork collar butt steak, pork collar butt steak pilaf (spicy version), bacon cream risotto, kimchi pork jowls skinless rice bowl, and Toowoomba cream pasta (spicy version). Thankfully, all the dishes came with an affordable price tag.
Dying for a delicious meal, we tried the Bacon Cream Risotto. The menu failed to exceed my expectations, as it didn’t differ from other diners. Without a special kick to the taste, the dish felt too insipid.
In contrast, the Pork Collar Butt Steak Pilaf (spicy version) left me satisfied. The spicy kick balanced out the greasiness of the menu, and the chewy pork added a satisfying texture to each bite. The more-than-generous serving of protein made the dish well worth its price, 12000 won. The sauce and the egg decorated the final touch to the taste, as the sauce’s sweetness and the yolk’s smoothness went well with the spiciness.
We also wolfed down the Toowoomba cream pasta (spicy version), the owner’s signature dish. It delivered a rich, creamy taste as the silky sauce blended well with the tender noodles. The spiciness covered the typical greasiness of cream pasta, a perfect fusion twist. The spicy kick made the dish climb up my rankings.
Although my friends and I started to feel full, the flavors of the Kimchi Pork Jowls Skinless rice bowl, my favorite dish, made us savor each bite of the dish. On first taste, the nutty notes of the sesame oil hit my sense of smell. As a fan of the fragrance, I instantly dug into the dish. The egg yolk made the rice slightly greasy, but the savoriness of fried kimchi and the scent of perilla leaves saved the dish in a harmonious blend of the West and the East.
Our final menu, the Pork Collar Butt Steak, came with the grilled meat, a salad, and cheese fries. At first glance, the mouth-watering aesthetics of the dish made us all hungry again. The cheesiness and the artificial savory flavors of the meat stimulated my taste buds and I couldn’t stop myself from overeating. However, after a few bites, I got tired of the entrée. The overwhelming sweetness and greasiness made the menu too cloy.
The dishes exemplify the charm of the restaurant. Kim Soo-kyung, owner of the Western Restaurant, said, “There’s a mall in this neighborhood, and since our restaurant is green and stands out, I think a lot of people came in. The entire menu is delicious, but the pork collar butt steak, Toowoomba cream pasta, pork collar butt steak pilaf, and cream-based dishes are delicious.”
If you want to try something new in the neighborhood, visit on weekdays for a cozy table all to yourself. But on the weekends, customers pack the place, so hit it up Monday through Thursday for a more intimate setting.
Here is my ranking from favorite to least favorite:
- Kimchi Pork Jowls Skinless rice bowl
- Toowoomba cream pasta (spicy version)
- Pork Collar Butt Steak
- Pork collar butt steak pilaf (spicy version)
- Bacon Cream Risotto
