Meju’s offers Korean fusion in Somerville’s Davis Square

The sister restaurant to Bibim in Allston opened earlier this year

Spicy rice cake topped with fresh vegetables

Exposed brick walls, wood furniture, and mod chandeliers give a rustic-sleek vibe to Meju in Somerville’s Davis Square. The Korean-fusion restaurant (sister to Bibim in Allston) opened earlier this year; it offers traditional dishes with a few twists, along with potent libations. (Imbibers, beware the “Korean Pear Smash”—fruit, bourbon, syrup, mint, and lemon—and the cocktails made with Korea’s signature, vodka-like, soju.)

We started with spicy pork buns ($8): surprisingly light and fluffy, they came with gochujang (red chili paste) aioli and crunchy alfafa sprouts that nicely balanced the pork’s tang. Our gluten-free friend sampled the dukbokki ($9)—traditional Korean street fare consisting of garlicky rice cakes, here made gooey and pasta-like by melted mozzarella. The pork-belly tacos were paired with a house-made kimchi that cut the richness of the meat. Entrées include bibimbap ($16) served in a piping-hot black stone pot. The dish—enough for two people—offers a choice of protein (beef, tofu, octopus, or eel) layered among fresh steamed vegetables and rice and topped by a softly fried egg. Zingy pepper sauce comes on the side. A southern BBQ-loving friend praised the beef bulgogi ($19)—sweet-soy-marinated beef ribeye, scallions, and mushrooms—as the highlight of his meal. Although the desserts are limited, the green tea- and strawberry-flavored balls of mochi (short-grain glutinous rice pounded into paste) filled with ice cream ended a pleasurable evening out.

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