Sodam is the hot new spot in Sarnia, perched at 415 Exmouth Street, ready to charm your taste buds with Korean delights. Sodam has taken over the beloved old Kitano location, which has decided to try its luck with a take-out-only gig somewhere on Confederation Street. The decor inside Sodam remains untouched, which is just perfect – retaining the original charm feels comfortable and familiar.
But let's cut to the foodie chase.
Our visit to Sodam began with the promise of deliciousness and adventure, and boy, did it deliver the adventure.
First, we couldn't resist diving headfirst into the beef dumplings. These little pockets of joy were juicy, tender inside, crispy on the outside, and had a sauce that told a punchline in your mouth – they were some of the best dumplings we've ever devoured. One bite, and we were already planning our next dumpling heist.
Then came the cheeseballs. They weren't just cheeseballs; they were the equivalent of a warm hug from grandma. Stuffed with gooey mozzarella (yes, we asked), and enveloped in a slightly sweet dough, they had us singing "Mamma Mia" with every bite. Move over mozzarella sticks; Sodam's cheeseballs are the new sheriff in town.
Now, prepare yourselves, because here's where our adventure takes a dark turn.
We stumbled upon the Army Hot Pot - a dish with a name that should've set off alarm bells but alas, our curiosity got the best of us. Priced at $36.99, it was more of an edible Frankenstein's monster than a hot pot. It was meant for two people, hence the price, but we did not know this at the time of ordering.
You see, the Army Hot Pot harks back to the Korean War when fresh ingredients weren't exactly in abundance.
So, what's in it, you ask? Brace yourselves - it's a concoction of canned hot dogs, miscellaneous canned meats, and spam, among other things.
We were left horrified, perplexed, and bewildered, trying to comprehend how something so, well, weird and hideous could be part of a restaurant's menu. After many frantic Googlings, we discovered that this was a dish born out of necessity during trying times, and it's a history lesson on a plate.
The silver lining? It's an experience you won't soon forget, even if it's for all the wrong reasons.
After surviving the Army Hot Pot shocker, we decided to tackle the spicy pork stir fry.
Let's just say, it lived up to its name.
The heat was so intense that it made our taste buds break into a sweat. However, we chalked it up to our Canadian-Americanized palates, and when you can handle the heat, the pork stir fry reveals itself to be quite a tasty dish, with a mouth watering kimchi-based sauce that'll keep you coming back for more.
In the end, Sodam is an enigma in Sarnia's culinary scene. With some fine-tuning, like providing more accurate menu descriptions, it could become the next big hit. The prices are fair, and the service is absolutely phenomenal. The service was so good in fact, and they were so kind, that we couldn’t muster the courage to let them know that we actually came out a little traumatized from the Hot Pot.
Before you embark on your own Sodam adventure, here's a nugget of wisdom: bring your trusty smartphone along for some quick menu item fact-checking. Korean cuisine can throw you some spicy curveballs that we mashed-potato-and-gravy folk aren't always prepared for. Also, pay attention to the spice level on the menu because Korean spice doesn't mess around. Stick to the dumplings, cheeseballs, and medium-spiced territories, and your culinary expedition at Sodam will surely be one to remember.
Sarnia Nibbles is a long-time downtown resident of Sarnia, with an insatiable love for food. They came to life on Instagram as a delicious extension of a personal love affair with food, drink, and the vibrant local community. The creator aims to capture the essence of Sarnia’s food scene, showcasing hidden gems, time-honoured favourites, and stories behind the dishes that make this city a gastronomic treasure trove. Sarnia Nibbles prides themselves on honesty, including the good, the bad, the delicious, and the disgusting in their reviews.