In times of recession, we are willing to put up with a lot if it means we can still get our fill of delicious food: scruffy setting, terrible service and dubious hygiene. So Giants comes as a welcome and affordable relief for big eaters on a tight budget. There’s an a la carte menu, but you don’t need it because the whole point of Giants is its good-value yakiniku buffet. At B450 net, you are entitled to two hours of all-you-can-stomach beef, pork, chicken, salmon, squid, prawns as well as side dishes like garlic rice, eryngii mushroom, veggies, miso soup, kimchi and iced dessert. Thirsty? The price also includes unlimited iced barley tea and soft drinks (even the diet options). But what makes Giants a notch above its competitors is the quality of the ingredients. You don’t just get “beef”—you get three different cuts of tender beef from fatty bacon-like steaks to thinly sliced lean meat and nicely marbled short ribs. And how we love the prawns! Grill the plump and fresh sea creatures right and you’ll truly relish the sweet juicy meat that oozes with fatty goodness. As for the sauce, you can season it to your liking as the restaurant provides chopped chili, garlic and lime juice on every table. Since this modest eatery sees a full house almost every night, the service is naturally sluggish and your orders might not arrive quite as swiftly as you wish. But the servers are unusually friendly and agreeably helpful. Of course, there’s got to be a catch—eating at this no-frills joint, you’ve got to be prepared to dine in a smoky, cacophonous room, which will leave your face oily and your clothes stinking. But no one seems to mind. And why would they? With the quality and quantity on offer, Giants is heaven for carnivorous diners. Reservations are highly recommended, so call ahead, be there on time and don’t forget to bring your reservation code. No corkage charge.
