Hakuk Gastrobar
“I saw the ticket and I was like, wooah, this is for two people?”
So, yeah, maybe we ordered too much food.
And, yes, maybe we walked home in pain.
But do we regret it? Not at all.
I almost don’t want to tell you anything more about Hakuk Gastrobar. I could just say:
“Go. Go eat perfect bite after perfect bite until you can’t eat anymore. Then order dessert”
But, fine, I’ll say some more.
Zucchini Carpaccio is so good you’ll want to become a vegetarian, at least until you remember that it has sobrasada on it.
Bravas with grilled beef cheek are really at the head of the class, rivaled only by 8de7. My only wish was for slightly crispier edges on the potatoes, but otherwise these are some of the best.
Mexican Toast (aka tostadas mexicanas (aka mexican tostadas (aka tostadas))) had an amazing blend of flavor, with 48-hour braised beef tongue so tender that it melts into the smoked avocado. Somehow, these tortillas supported more toppings than any tostada I’ve ever had, yet lost nothing too slippage or breakage. Incredible culinary engineering.
Savory Sweet Potato & Cabrales Cheesecake may have been the highlight. Smooth, crunchy, salty, a little sweet, super savory, layered, crumbled, drizzled, eaten, happily eaten.
Carbonara Udon asked “you done?” and we said “almost, but not quite.” So rich, so cheesy, with a jolt of salt and crisp from the crunchy guanciale.
Torrijas (aka torrades de Santa Teresa) was a form of milk-soaked heaven draped in lemon cardamum frosting. It’s like french toast in the same way that french toast is like soggy bread: technically yes, but so much better.
Crunchy Chocolate & Olive Oil Thing hit all my flavor buttons with dark chocolate, smooth and crunchy contrast, and deeply flavored olive oil mixing sweet with savory.
