DaMoim opened to some buzz back in 2010 when it was featured in the Washington Post and other publications soon after. I’ll admit, I get excited when I hear about fusion restaurants. Others may cringe, but the promise of something new and exciting forces me to bookmark a place for a future visit. When I dined there on a Wednesday night back in February the dining area was empty. The only patrons were at the bar and seemed to be regulars based on the bartenders knowing their names — kinda like an Asian version of Cheers, I guess. The atmosphere was laid back with its dimly lit interior, making for a quiet meal.
Service was friendly and quick, considering I was the only diner. The meal started off with some pretty tasty banchan. I barely made my way through those dishes before my order of spring rolls ($5) showed up. The order consisted of four tiny crispy rolls filled with a delicious mix of crab, shrimp, and vegetables.
On this night, my longing for a traditional dish coupled with the bone chilling weather won out over my urge to try any of their fusion offerings. My entree was their galbi dolsot bibimbap ($12). My favorite part of this classic dish is always the crust at the bottom formed by the crispy rice, but this version was lacking in that regard. It was also lacking in veggies and could have benefitted from a bolder galbi flavor. The meat itself was tender and plentiful, but a better ratio of ingredients would have made this dish a star.
There are plenty of Korean places in Annandale, but I’d say DaMoim is worth a visit. Next time I’ll definitely try the items that put them on the map — their tacos and quesadillas.
3.5 Stars
7106 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
(703) 354-3211
