Restaurant Review: PANS
Photos by Mason Robinson
Forget about your local diner or super-expensive club experience; you need to go to PANS, a two-story, open kitchen fusion restaurant in the heart of Downtown. Led by Lee Kyoung Mi and Kim Yong Soo, both Jeonju natives, PANS offers Korean style cuisine with a Western flare. Fish & Grill in downtown Gwangju was their first purchase. Kim and Lee later bought and re-invented new restaurants on the same strip. Through owners who are both big fans of food, authentic flavors and music, PANS was born.
PANS
Along the back streets near the Grand Hotel lies a thriving Korean nightlife. About seven months old, this place cannot be missed from the outside, considering it is two stories high with large windows and a substantial crowd of the young and hip occupying every free table. A DJ on the first floor plays music from the evening hours until Midnight and also speaks English, so ask away for him to play a favorite song.
Walking away from the river and straight into the downtown shopping area, pass the wedding shops and into the heart of the nightlife. Club PANFIC will be on the right side, then turn right on that first alleyway with the Mini Stop on the corner. Go straight, passing Tequilaz, but do not go too far. Before the four-way intersection on the left side, there will be large windows with the white lit sign of “PANS.”
Food
The dishes are quite exquisite. Mostly Korean-based cuisine is served with style and flavor that some expats may desire, drawing from Western influences. The infamous pork belly, samgyupsal, is served on a bed of thinly sliced potatoes in a white sauce, topped with jalapeños with sprinkled cheese. The steak salad is not shy on quantity, coming grilled and tossed on a bed of romaine lettuce with light vinegar dressing. Some plates are served on pans straight from the kitchen, including the spicy chicken with chives, onions and small bits of rice cake mixed in the sauce. Be careful, you might want to order ice cream or milk for the super spicy plates.
Atmosphere
PANS is one of the spots that caters to those who enjoy good food and live music. The live DJ is happy to play the popular Korean birthday anthem for its patrons. The DJ keeps it cool with American throwbacks, classics and some house. A nice wooden bench is located at the front entrance, for those who may have to wait for a seat. Do not panic though, the open kitchen is viewable and a drink may be ordered as your nose guides your eyes to the aromatic pans of food flying by on servers’ hands.
Service
The entire staff is attentive, proper and friendly, with some speaking English. They are always willing to accommodate, adding extra chairs and fast at attending to all needs. Patrons can lose track of how many times they get service appetizers, steak salads and honey fries. It is too good to be true for a downtown establishment. Store hours vary every day, but the usual Friday, Saturday and Sunday hours are 7 p.m. – 2 a.m.
These plates can easily be shared, so the prices can be a bit higher than your usual restaurant, but of course, worth it! The pork belly, described above, is 18,000 won, with chicken dishes ranging from 16,000 – 20,000 won each. Sides like fried rice, soups and fries are no more than 10,000 won. Pajeon (Korean pancakes) and other salads are also available to order. Soju Tonic, the current drink hit, as well as other liquors, imported bottle beers and Korean draft are in stock from assorted prices of 4,000 won and up.