Have it your way: 6 restaurants where you get to design, cook custom meals
Sure, many diners like to build their own pizzas, bowls, salads and tacos from a long list of ingredients, but another side of dining is catching on in Columbus.
Several cook-it-yourself restaurants, following time-honored traditions in Asia and Europe, have found a place in central Ohio.
Depending on the order, meals can provide a cornucopia of ingredients, flavors and textures.
Life in the 614 newsletter:Sign up for our weekly newsletter on events and things to do in Greater Columbus
Here are a half-dozen local restaurants where you can truly have it your way.
Korean barbecue
⋅ Gogi Korean BBQ, 1138 Bethel Road, https://gogikbbq.com/
⋅ Don Pocha Korean BBQ, 4710 Reed Road, https://www.donpocha.com/
Korean barbecue often comes to mind in creating one’s own custom meal. Patrons cook marinated meats and vegetables over inset grills, with sides of bon chon ― little ramekins filled with kimchee, fish cakes, pickled bean sprouts and such ― accompanying the meals.
Nestle the cooked fare into fresh lettuce wraps with Korean red-pepper sauce and garlic and eat it like some exotic taco.
Dining:8 fast facts about dining at The Refectory in Columbus
Chinese hot pot
⋅ Coco Hot Pot, 743 Bethel Road, https://www.cocohotpot.com/
⋅ Mala HotPot, 3777 Park Mill Run Drive, https://www.mala-hotpot.com/
The hot-pot experience starts out with broth, ranging from mild to spicy. As the liquid comes to a boil, patrons lower in meats, seafood, tofu, noodles, vegetables and spices — just about everything from Earth’s bounty.
Dining:Dave's Hot Chicken moves into Columbus with big plans
It’s not just about the food: Hot pot is seen as engendering conversation and social interaction.
As time elapses, the stock cooks and reduces, and flavors intensify.
Whether sharing a big pot or choosing an individual bowl stock, each diner can cook the ingredients to his or her level of doneness.
Spice things up with Sriracha, sambal or hot chili oil on the side.
Fondue
⋅ Melting Pot, 4014 Townsfair Way, Easton Town Center, https://www.meltingpot.com/columbus-oh/
What’s not to love about melted cheese?
But that’s not all there is to the fondue experience. Generally, the Swiss custom involves a heated caquelon of cheese, wine or vegetable sauces, chocolate, or other heated liquid.
Diners use long forks to dunk in their proteins, bread, vegetables and fruit.
Ingredients require a longer simmer or a quick dip, per the customer’s own specifications.
Dining:Smokehouse Brewing reopens with new features
Japanese barbecue
⋅ Ichi Japanese BBQ, 5227 Godown Road, https://www.facebook.com/IchiBbQ/
Most Americans likely are familiar with Japanese hibachi, where patrons gather around a giant flattop griddle for lots of flames and fried rice.
Yet, as is the case with its Chinese and Korean cousins, Japanese barbecue involves marinated raw meat, seafood and vegetables cooked at the table.
Similarities are many with other Asian cook-it-yourself meals, but marinades and dipping sauces vary.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Here are 6 cook-it-yourself restaurants in Columbus for custom meals
