Da Da Asian Cuisine

Neighbourhood: Corydon
Address: 590 Corydon Ave
Phone: 204-505-7935
Entrées: $10-$15

(Editor’s Note – This business is no longer open.)

While the popularity of Korean food has been slowly building for years, few places in Winnipeg serve exclusively Korean specialties. One such spot is Da Da Asian Cuisine, where a compelling argument is made for this cuisine becoming the next big thing.
Less than 30 seats are tucked into the renovated Corydon Avenue house. Décor is sparse but modern, one wall dominated by a line drawing mural.
Those who want to get hot under the collar are in the right place. Tongue-scalding dduk bok ee, a dish of plump rice and fish cakes sliced into noodle-like strips and bathed in a rich red sauce, is a whirl of spicy, funky flavours. A mound of crispy pork belly slices gets added bite from crisp, vinegary cabbage and delicate curls of shaved scallion, tossed in a mouth searing chile paste.
Chefs around the world are continuing a love affair with fermented cabbage condiment kimchi, and here the housemade version delivers with extra tangy vinegar zip, accompanied by sweet bean sprouts and chile-laced potatoes as complementary banchan, side dishes served with each meal.
Beef bulgogi, the poster child of Korean barbecue, is grilled in the kitchen rather than on the tabletop—just as well, as the meltingly thin strips of beef are perfectly seasoned and cooked to tender.
Prices reflect a cuisine that is still underground in its popularity, with the menu boasting some impressive bargains. If the chatter of returning customers is any indication, Korean food is about to go viral.
Da Da is open Mon-Fri 11 am-9:15 pm, Sat & Sun 12 pm-9:15 pm.