Korean food find

L.A. Korean favorite Jinsol Gukbap brings authentic Busan soups to Plano

The diverse menu at Jinsol Gukbap highlights rich traditional broths, grilled meats, and classic side dishes.

Photo courtesy of Jinsol Gukbap

A new Korean restaurant from Los Angeles has arrived in Plano: Called Jinsol Gukbap, it is now open at 111 W. Spring Creek Pkwy., Suite 102, near the intersection of US 75.

Jinsol Gukbap is an L.A.-born concept specializing in rich, pork-based soups inspired by the traditional cuisine of the Busan region of South Korea.

This marks the franchise's second location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area (the first is in Carrollton) and the first owned by Bo Young Chang. Chang previously operated another Korean restaurant, Naju Myeonok, which opened in 2023 in the same spot, but she pivoted to Jinsol Gukbap.

Chang says she chose the brand because dwaeji gukbap, a hearty Busan specialty featuring pork, rice, and a rich broth, is one of her favorite dishes. It's also Jinsol Gukbap's signature item, and she hopes to introduce it to more diners in Dallas.

“When I first tried Jinsol Gukbap in L.A., I was so mesmerized by the rich and deep flavor, and I made it a goal to bring the popular franchise to Dallas,” Chang says.

The restaurant specializes in casual Korean comfort food made with fresh ingredients, featuring handmade noodles, dumplings, kimchi, and gochujang (fermented chile paste).

The broth is the star of the menu; made from scratch, it simmers pork bones for up to 24 hours to achieve a deep, rich flavor. Pots of salt and pepper sit on each table so diners can adjust the seasoning to their liking.

Jinsol Gukbap's rich, spicy hot pots and authentic Korean specialty meats are designed to bring friends and family together.Photo courtesy of Jinsol Gukbap

Soup bowls feature a variety of proteins — including shredded brisket, oxtail, short rib, and Korean sausage — and range from $15 to $17. The menu also features kimchi stew with pork belly, grilled or braised marinated short ribs, pork or mushroom hot pots, stir-fried squid, and jokbal (braised pig’s feet), with prices ranging from $20 to $45.

Cold noodles round out the menu. Served in an ice-cold broth, they are traditionally paired with barbecue meats to signal the end of a large meal.

Because Korean dining culture revolves around family and connection, the dishes are designed for sharing. Each plate offers a balanced mix of proteins, vegetables, and rice or noodles.

To complement the menu, the restaurant serves a variety of fruit-flavored soju — a clear, distilled Korean spirit known for its smooth, sweet taste — as well as Korean and domestic beers and sodas.

The 85-seat dining room features large tables designed to accommodate groups of friends and families gathering for a meal.

Jinsol Gukbap is open daily for lunch from 11 am-3 pm and for dinner from 5-9:30 pm.

Sip and savor

La Maison Bleue brings artful matcha drinks to new Carrollton cafe

Photo courtesy Le Maison Bleue

Saying Le Maison Bleue is "beverage focused" doesn't quite do the cafe justice.

A little cafe with a formidable fandom acquired during a six-year stint in Fairview is opening in Carrollton: La Maison Bleue, known for its Japanese teas, matcha drinks, and artful presentations, is preparing to open at 2700 Old Denton Rd., Ste. 112, in a mixed-use development with The View Carrollton condominiums.

Co-owner Jay Cho says he has not set the opening date but is “aiming to start a soft opening phase” in a week or two. At the moment, he's watching contractors coming in and out of the building, he says, and they're working hard — as are he and founder Anna Cho — to prepare the place for guests.

La Maison Bleue is primarily a beverage shop, but its drinks are often more like desserts or works of art. For example, a colorful layered azuki red bean matcha zenzai, topped with toasted mochi dango, looks and tastes like a bespoke creation by Anna, made with all-natural and thoughtfully sourced ingredients.

Her concoctions are almost too lovely to drink. Another standout that looks as good as it tastes is her Kuro Mitsu Hojicha with Japanese black sugar, matcha or roasted hojicha, and Le Maison’s signature cream.

The menu also includes:

The Sakura Cream Matcha, this year’s seasonal matcha, made with real sakura from Japan and a soft pink cream finish representative of the titular Sakura, the cherry blossom.
Strawberry Latte, made with fresh strawberries, milk, and their signature cream, soft and lightly sweet and very fruity.
Raspberry Yuzu Tea, made with tart raspberry and bright yuzu, refreshing and balanced.
Biscoff Cream Latte, heavy on the store’s signature cream, Biscoff crumble, with an espresso base.

When Anna Cho came to Dallas, she saw chic, high-quality coffee and boba or matcha tea shops at every turn, she told NBC5 in an interview.

What she didn’t see, she says, was a “quiet, intentional Japanese tea experience built on real ingredients.” So that's what she made.

The concept began as a Farmers Market stand, where she and co-founder Jay worked hard and steady, next opening a spot inside the Revolving Kitchen food hall in Fairview. That closed last month so they could prepare to open the Carrollton store.

Today, they are finalizing renovations, awaiting a health inspection, and interviewing baristas and bake staff. Jay says that they will post updates about the opening on the cafe's Instagram page.

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