Sagye has been on Audrey’s to-eat list for a while, so I took the girls here on a work-from-home Friday for lunch. Each pot rice set at Sagye comes with a variety of banchan and a clear, comforting soup, plus a choice of Japanese or Five-Grain rice. When the pots were served, the warm scent of toasted rice and sesame wrapped round us. Instant comfort.

We started with the Beef Short Rib sotbap ($34.80). Thick slices of USDA prime short rib rested on pearly rice with chopped spring onions and roasted sesame. An egg yolk sat in the middle like a tiny sun. I broke it and stirred. The rice turned glossy, the beef gently charred at the edges. It was straightforward and very comforting, and the girls loved the chewy bits of crust forming at the bottom.

The Sea Bream “spring” bowl ($30.80) looked cheerful - grilled fish, roe for tiny pops of brine, and clean flavours that suited a lighter mood. The menu promised stir-fried eggplant with minced pork but ours did not seem to include any. Not a deal-breaker, just worth noting if you are ordering for the veg component.

Then came the Netflix-inspired Dongpo Rou ($34.80), a shiny cube of Spanish pork belly slowly braised with Shaoxing wine. It sank into the rice like it owned the place. The layers were soft and sticky, the sauce leaning sweet. Tasty but very rich, so best shared or it can be overwhelming for one person.

We traded spoonfuls, negotiated who got the corner of crispy rice, and chatted about weekend plans. Simple food, cooked with care, eaten with people I love. Nice!

My personal picks to repeat: beef short rib for pure comfort, sea bream for a lighter mood, and the pork belly when everyone turns up hungry. Prices felt fair for the quality, and service was brisk. Subjective as always - These are hearty, honest bowls, just please send the eggplant next time.