Did the title catch your attention? Well, that's exactly what you will get from eating Stra Pocha's chilli chicken. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
While we are spoilt for choice when it comes to Korean cuisine in Sydney, it's not always possible to find a place which hasn't lowered the heat intensity of it's chilli foods to cater for the general non-chilli-eating population. At Stra Pocha, the chilli chicken ($35) comes with a warning of three red chillis on the menu. Back before this new menu was introduced, the warning used to come in the form of "It is very hot, okay? No return if too hot..."
Preempting a burning tongue, we order a bottle of Korean black raspberry wine ($22) which is sweet until it hits your throat. We also have a bottle of chilled water ready.
Soon enough, our star dish arrives on a burning hot plate with a tray of condiments. There's kim chi, pickled daikon, pasta and bean sprouts.
The secret chilli paste coating the chicken and rice cake tastes a bit like gochujang, which is made from dried chillies, salt, water, fermented soybeans and sweet rice powder. It leaves us panting and numbs our tongue, but is tremendously addictive. We eat on, trying not to think about the painful side effects tomorrow. A sore throat? A burning bum? Aww, but it's so good right now.
Thankfully our egg soup ($5) is served bubbling hot not too long after. I find that it combats the heat much more effectively than the water or wine.
We also have the spicy sliced pork belly with cheese ($35), stir-fried in a cast iron pan at the table. The cheese oozes with the chilli paste and pork belly, creating something quite special that words cannot describe.
And because I was here with four other hungry foodies, we add the spicy hot pot stew with assorted sausages ($35), spam, baked beans and vegies. Topped with a block of ramen and cheese, it is pure comfort food.
If you're a fan of charcoal BBQs, then Stra Pocha is also the place to go. There's a wide menu of beautifully marinated meats and seafoods. It's an one-stop-shop for all things Korean, delicious and hot.
Stra Pocha
19-21 Everton Rd, Strathfield NSW
(02) 9534 8117
so what about that burnt rice soup?! hahaha
Haha, damn you remembered! Burnt rice soup (누룽지) might be a Korean delicacy but it's definitely not for me. I think it may be the only dish at Stra Pocha that I don't like - and I wouldn't have ordered it if it weren't for you! ;)
There is a Chilli Chicken place in Eastwood that has been around for a fair while. It used to be a whole in the wall type place until the lease ran out and then they moved to Strathfield Pub, coincidentally right beside Pocha. But I heard they have moved back to Eastwood and have set up shop in the pub there. I'm not 100% sure but i think the one in Eastwood is slightly more spicy, but there is not much in it. Anyway neither compare the the one I tried in Incheon last week. Painfully spicy and addictive. I will be going back for more.
Awesome, thanks for the tip! I don't think I've ever been to Eastwood as I'm much closer to Strathfield but if you say it's spicier, I'll have to make the trip!