Jane Café: Korean in Mineola
Steamed pork dumplings are served at Jane Cafe in Mineola. (Oct. 19, 2012) Credit: Newsday / Erica Marcus
What a winning restaurant is Jane Café in Mineola. This little Korean-Japanese exudes warmth and good cheer, and serves good food to boot.
Last night, my pal and I started with an order of 10 pork dumplings ($8.99), slightly irregular and clearly made in house. They were delicious — and so many of them. Next, pajeon, the pleasantly greasy Korean scallion-and-seafood pancake.
I had the dolsot bibimpap, a screaming-hot stone bowl filled with rice, vegetables, beef and a fried egg, one of the world’s great meals-in-a-bowl (and a steal at $13.99). Jane Café uses brown rice for all its non-sushi rice needs, and I was a bit apprehensive that this healthful swap would rob the dish of its authentic soul. But it did not. My friend had a big bowl of beef broth with cellophane noodles and chunks of short rib that were not as “meltingly tender” as the menu promised, but deeply satisfying all the same.
Jane Café has a full sushi menu but I can’t really see why anyone would “go Japanese” in the face of so many intriguing Korean dishes, rarities on Long Island.
Jane Café is at 92 Main St. Mineola, 516-742-0031.
Pork dumplings at Jane Cafe
