As an avid foodie (…and Anju’s social media manager), it’d be an injustice NOT to tell you guys about their one-year anniversary celebration. On Friday, August 28th, they’re doing an epic collaboration dinner with their sister restaurants Mandu and CHIKO.
Unfortunately, reservations are no longer available – they legit sold out before Resy could even release them – but they’re offering the entire menu via contactless pickup and takeout, which is awesome news for you guys.
This anniversary special is available for preorder on Caviar starting Monday, August 24th at noon, and it’s priced at $150 for two people. The bundle comes with a ridiculous amount of food and features some of Mandu, CHIKO and Anju’s most popular dishes.
They start you off with an order of their gyeran jjim. This popular Korean dish is a staple banchan in our cuisine. It’s a steamed egg custard of sorts, but they jazz it up with caviar.
Next comes dongchimi guksoo and half-a-cado salad. The former’s a noodle dish that’s served in a chilled water kimchi brine. It’s really refreshing so it’s perfect for summer, and it’s made with somyeon noodles – think thin noodz made of wheat flour.
The second dish is a CHIKO classic and is yet another banger. It contains avocado, cucumber, jicama, and is dressed in a delicious sesame soy vinaigrette.
Course 3 will high key blow your mind. It’s no secret that I think CHIKO and Anju make some of the best dumplings in the DMV area, and you get to enjoy 3 different kinds with this set: beef & pork, veggie and shrimp.
And if that wasn’t bomb enough, they also give you one of CHIKO’s crispy chicken spring rolls. Served with a spicy Chinese mustard and guaranteed to leave you completely and utterly satisfied!
Now, if you haven’t had CHIKO yet, you’re in for a treat because the main course highlights one of my favorite dishes of all time: their cumin lamb stir fry and ssam. It’s served with thick noodz, sweet and sour shallots, and THE most flavorful braised lamb. It’s honestly one of the best dishes I’ve had in the area, but it’s spicy so I hope you can handle heat!
Course 3 also includes Anju’s ssam, an exquisite entree that comes with kogi-aged beef tenderloin, bibb lettuce, perilla and ssamjang (aka a thick, spicy dipping paste). Basically, you take some greens and top ’em with a bit of rice, meat and ssamjang. You don’t want to go overboard though because they’re supposed to be bite sized…but who am I to tell you what to do! Enjoy it however you please.
No meal would be complete without dessert, and for this set, they give you melon and rice cakes to end things on a sweet note. It’s tradition in Korea to celebrate a baby’s one year birthday (doljanchi) with rainbow rice cake so it’s fitting that they include this. Making it requires a LOT of time and effort so make sure you savor every bite!
Alright friends, I hope you’re as excited as I am for this anniversary dinner. And as mentioned previously, you can place your preorders for pickup starting Monday, but if you’re looking to get noms delivered, you’ll have to wait a bit longer.
I’ll make sure to update you guys as soon as I have info though so make sure you keep an eye out. And for those of you interested, there will also be 3 separate drink packages available to go for an additional $35 because yay dranks!
For more on delish eats, click here or check out my second blog, Nomtastic Foods. To read more about my DMV adventures, make sure to browse this tab and stay tuned for new content coming your way! I update Sensible Stylista every Monday, Thursday and Saturday so keep an eye out, friends. Sending you all big hugs!
Initially I thought Anju is Indian cuisine restaurant 🙂 The desert platter looks yummm,…