Your Huckleberry friend serves you well

DINING OUT

Huckleberry’s Famous Sandwiches, at Gothard Street and Edinger

Avenue, is light, clean and convenient to Golden West College. No

hassle here.

On the corner of the L-shaped Huntington Plaza behind Coco’s

Bakery, it’s an order-at-the-counter place owned by Suk Kim and his

wife Sil with help form daughter Sharon, a Troy High School student

and her two brothers.

This is Suk Kim’s second career. A graduate of the University of

Southern California with a major in chemistry, he did research and

development before retiring. Now it’s a nine-table spot (no booths)

that has his attention.

The menu offers 21 hot and cold sandwiches from which I selected

Cashew Chicken (six inch $3.25, 12 inch $4.45) on a soft wheat roll

-- a mouthful of all-white meat mixed with chopped cashews with

slices of tomato, cucumber and crisp tender sprouts that give

lightness to a big, fat sandwich. Freshness is the key here. It looks

big, but it’s not heavy.

If you’re ready for a quick dinner, chose one of the rice plates

($4.75 to $4.95). There are teriyaki beef and chicken but one that is

different is the Bulgogi rice plate ($4.75). “Bul” in Korean means

“beef” and here it is strips of marinated sliced beef with the

distinctive Korean spicy sweet flavor. Koreans enjoy strongly

flavored food surprisingly using more garlic than any other ethnic

group with lots of soy, black pepper, red chilies and ginger. The

tender strips of meat are served on top of steamed rice beside a

green salad. It’s a well-balanced dish and especially good with the

oriental dressing, a mildly spicy cream-like thousand island.

If you like a California rolls, there is a plate of eight ($3) and

a variety of extra salads -- oriental chicken, chef salad, chicken

taco ($3.50 small, $4.90 large). There is a soup of the day and some

excellent chili (cup $1.50, bowl $1.95) with a good spicy meat sauce

and kidney beans.

Huckleberry’s has been in Huntington Beach since 1976 with several

owners, most recently the Korean Kim family adding their special

flavors.

Remember if you are on Center Street approaching Gothard just

around the bend is your Huckleberry friend.

* MARY FURR is the Independent restaurant critic. If you have

comments or suggestions, call (562) 493-5062 or e-mail

hbindy@latimes.com