Was craving korean comfort food on a cold winter day in Alameda. I decided on a whim to come in here for a late lunch. Unfortunately, they ran out of the gnocchi soup option, which was the draw for me to come here. I was disappointed with that. Got kimchi stew with beef and mixed-grain rice instead. Banchan is great! My faves are kimchi, tofu, purple cabbage, broccoli, and kale. If I wanted more banchan, the waiter brought me more, though it did take a while to get someone's attention. Standard Korean fare. read more

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We came to Bowl'd BBQ on July 1 around 1:30 PM to try the lunch bento. It was our first time here, and honestly we were surprised to see the place completely empty. There was only one waiter working, and while he seated us quickly, we were ready to order but he kept cleaning tables instead. Since there were no other customers, I kind of wish he took our order first because cleaning could have waited. There were two people sitting in the back who looked like managers going over numbers or something, which felt a little awkward too. When the server finally came over, we both ordered the bento and asked what kind of soup came with it. He seemed caught off guard that it even came with soup, so we had to point it out on the menu. He said it was seaweed soup. Food came out pretty fast and looked great. Everything tasted really good overall. My only complaint is the soup. It had a strong fishy flavor, probably from the dashi. It gave it more of a Japanese taste, which felt a little off for a Korean restaurant. I would have preferred something like tofu, bean paste, or daikon soup instead. The banchan was tasty and there was plenty of food. I also liked that they offer multigrain rice since not all Korean spots do that. I think this place is slow mostly because it is right across from Ohgane, which is all you can eat Korean BBQ. If they had more lunch specials or promos, it might help bring in more people. The food is solid but the vibe and service could use a little more energy. read more

I wanted to try out this location since i've always dined at the albany location. This location is spacious and had lots of sitting. The service is phenomenal and they're very attentive. The seaweed soup was a good starter that came with my order. I ordered the salmon bimbimbap in a hot stone and it came with so many banchans which i truly loved. The only thing was that the egg yolk wasn't runny like I wanted it to, but they ended up giving me another one. It was good, but needed more flavor. I also ordered a seafood pancake which I was kind of disappointed of because it wasn't crispy at all sides. It was a bit soggy on more than one side of the pancake, I ended up airfrying it at home as leftovers. The soju cocktail was refreshing and delicious! All in all, the food quality was different but i'll give it another chance. read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - sizzling works salmon, seafood pancake, soju cocktail, and banchan - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

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My new favorite bibimbop spot I got the chance to come here recently on my trip to the Bay Area and all I can say is this will always be my first stop when getting into the Berkeley/Alameda area. I ordered the sizzling style bibimbop with the bulgogi beef. When they bring out to you it's sizzling and popping and cracking and extremely hot which is my favorite! I honestly hate when food is cold. They serve it with a free cooked egg on top, fresh veggies, and your choice of white or brown rice. The flavor on this bowl really reminds you of how fresh all the ingredients are that they choose to use. Really puts it all together. The staff goes above and beyond to bring you a great experience that definitely will have me visiting again and again. They offer plenty of seating inside the restaurant even if it's a busy weekend night. I also thought they kept their facility very clean. Definitely check out Bowl'd when you're craving some great Korean food. read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Bibimbop - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

Loved everything! Ordered the japchae fried rice and the seafood pancake. My only wish was that the fried rice had more flavor similar to their other location. The banchan small plates had a larger selection here than the other Bowl'd location, and I enjoyed getting the pumpkin. Large dining space area and our server was on it. read more

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This was our first time here. We went on a Friday around 6:30pm. The crowd was light and we easily found a table. I don't believe they take reservations, but they do have a sign in sheet where you put your name on a list to get the next table. Bowl'd is located in a shopping center next to Dasio. Parking is a bit of a walk as their door doesn't face the parking lot. You can either park near Trader Joes or on the other side near Old Navy and then walk in. There was plenty of parking in the lots. On the outside they have a billboard with the menu so you can plan what you want to eat while you wait or you just want to see what they are serving before going in. We arrived early so we did a little shopping till our friends arrived. This is a great little shopping center with lots of great stores surrounding Bowl'd. We had no idea what the portion sizes were so we all ordered separate dishes. After our meals arrived we realized we could have easily shared a meal. I ordered the Cuttles- Pork Katsu. It was really good. I'd order it again. I love the sauce it came with. It came with seaweed soup, which I passed on as I'm not a seaweed fan. It also came with a salad and rice which I ate. I had plenty to take home for lunch the next day. My husband ordered Over the Grill- Thinly sliced beef, Buigogi. It came with lettuce to wrap it in. It was a huge portion and he took half of it home. I tried it and it was delicious. We'll definably be back. But, next time we'll share an entree. read more

I can only give Bowl'd BBQ in Alameda three Yelp stars ("OK"). For Korean cuisine in the Bay Area, I thought the food was average at best. That said, this is the only Korean restaurant I've been to in Alameda and it may be perfectly fine and good for Alameda. My mom likes this place. Bowl'd is a local chain. Along with this location, there was a location in Oakland (in Temescal, temporarily closed at the time of writing this review) and Albany (Bowl'd Korean Rice Bar). This location is at South Shore Center, the big shopping center next to Alameda Beach. Bowl'd is hidden from street view, in the center of the development. The shopping center has plenty of free parking. Bowl'd opened in Alameda on April 5, 2016. The restaurant is fairly spacious with both indoor and outdoor seating. The patio outside is partially covered. The atmosphere is casual and the interior design trends modern and industrial (e.g., exposed ceilings, concrete walls and floor). So, this isn't a traditional Korean restaurant, but instead a Korean restaurant with a contemporary spin. We walked-in for lunch with a party of seven on a Saturday around 11:45am. At that time, there were plenty of open tables and we were seated immediately. By the time we left, around 1:20pm, there was a short line out the door waiting for tables inside (I think outdoor seating was available, but the folks standing in line were waiting for a table in the dining room). Call to ask about reservations. Bowl'd had a good selection of Korean cuisine, from snacks and street foods (e.g., gimbap and tteok-bokki) to traditional soups and stews and even fusion (e.g., Spicy BBQ Linguini, BiBim Quinoa). I wanted to order a K-Noodle Combo, which comes with one kal-guksu (knife-cut noodles) and side for $19, but the 11am-3pm hours were valid for weekdays only. We were able to get a K-Brunch item, though (see below). K-Brunch has the same hours, 11am-3pm, but on what days specifically, I don't know. Finally, Happy Hour is 2pm-5pm. You can get $5 beer, soju, and food during Happy Hour. I'm pretty sure Happy Hour is on weekdays only. Here's a list of most of what we ordered, with prices to give you an idea of the price range: * Banchan (Korean side dishes, complimentary) - broccoli, spicy fishcake, mushrooms, kimchi, mayo-based fruit and vegetable salad, spicy daikon (radish) Noodle Soup (Kal-Guksoo) * Beef Rib (two pieces, $27) - Korean knife-cut noodles with vegetables, served with fresh-made kimchi Bibimbop * Dolsot Bibimbop Beef (Bulgogi, $23) - mixed steamed rice and other ingredients served in sizzling hot stone bowl * Dolsot Bibimbop Spicy Pork ($23) - mixed grain rice and other ingredients served in sizzling hot stone bowl Seasonal * Galbi Naeng Myun ($24) - twist on Korean classic with chilled spaghetti noodles, in naeng myun broth, topped with galbi beef, tomato, cucumber, and pickled radish K-Brunch * KFC & Waffle ($20) - four-piece Korean Fried Chicken wings with maple syrup (menu said "please allow 15 mins") The best dish was the Dolsot Bibimbop Spicy Pork. Both the Dolsot Bibimbop Spicy Pork and the Dolsot Bibimbop Beef were served in traditional hot stone bowls with sunny-side-up eggs and a variety of veggies: arugula, beansprouts, carrots, cucumber, fernbrake or bracken fern fiddleheads (gosari namul), mushrooms, pickled daikon, and red cabbage. In both bimbimbaps, all of the ingredients were fresh and good quality except for the beef. The beef was overcooked, burnt in some places, and too dry and chewy. Other than that, I think the bimbimbap here is a safe bet. The Beef Rib Kal-Guksoo was meh. It wasn't as appetizing as a lot of other kal-guksu I've had and that's just about in every aspect: noodles/texture, broth, and meat. Like the beef in the bimbimbap, the beef ribs in the kal-guksu tasted overcooked and were a bit tough. Unfortunately, I don't recommend this dish. The Galbi Naeng Myun also wasn't as good as a lot of other naengmyeon I've had. For my wife and me, naengmyeon is one of our favorite dishes. I think we would've enjoyed it more if Bowl'd served it the traditional way instead of doing their twist on it by using spaghetti noodles instead of buckwheat or arrowroot noodles and adding unconventional ingredients like tomato (though not unheard of). Also, it didn't help that our server forgot to pour the broth in for this dish, tableside. Yikes. An older Korean lady employee (manager?) came with the broth and poured it in for us later. She apologized and said the server was new. No problem. Regardless, this version of naengmyeon lacked the punch and satisfaction we usually get from this dish. I admire Bowl'd's effort on trying to be creative and different, though. The KFC & Waffle wasn't bad. The fried chicken could've been more flavorful (seasoned better) and juicier, but overall, this may have been the second-best dish that we ordered. Service wasn't great. We had trouble flagging down our server for simple things like water refills. read more

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Came here after watching the 4th of July parade in Alameda, and service was...slow. We waited a solid 5 minutes at the front door before having someone come and escort us to our seat. I ordered a bibimbap with beef, and was pleasantly surprised they had mixed grain rice. It was a pretty big portion, and I could barely finish the entire meal. Bibimbaps taste relatively the same for me, and I had no complaints with the taste here. They do give you some sauce for the bibimbap that was a little spicy. Although the price is a few dollars higher, it kind of makes up for it with the plethora of banchan dishes that all taste really good and fresh. Aside from service being a little slow in the beginning I had a pretty good experience overall. The food is good, portions are big, banchan is fresh, and environment is modern. read more

Great value for the money for the weekday lunch special! Comes out in a bento box with a side soup, 3 veggie banchan (kimchi, sprouts and broccoli), choice of white or mixed grain rice, jap chae, 3 gyoza, and your choice of protein. I got the spicy chicken, which was pretty good although it tasted like it was marinated in teriyaki sauce then glazed with gochujang. A little odd flavor wise but overall not a bad spot for lunch! Service was friendly and prompt. We'd be back and try something new. read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Spicy chicken lunch box - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

Came for Father's Day and while the service was a bit shaky at first, everything smoothed out and we had a great time. The food was definitely worth the drive to Alameda--everything was well prepared and served around the same time. On our side of the table, we had the rice cakes and cheese tonkatsu, both of which were delicious. I especially loved the banchan--we don't usually see pumpkin! read more

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Came for dinner on a Tuesday night and was seated right away. They're renovating but still open for dinner. We ordered army stew and corn cheese between 4 of us. The army stew was huge and yummy. They gave a lot of bon chon which was so nice. read more

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I AM A FAN! I had the soft noodle soup w kimchi and we shared the seafood pancake. Unfortunately I was so mesmerized and blown away w the deliciousness I didn't take photos of the tons of little sides that come out! This is such a great temple to big flavors, big portions, and big love in each bite! Outdoor seating for pooches! Yay!!! read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Soft tofu stew - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

Found this place on Yelp and decided to try it out. The restaurant is located in South Shore plaza so it's easy to find and there is ample parking. The interior is quite nicely renovated, there are many tables and booths and a bar area. My friend and I met up here for a girls dinner and when we arrived on a Wednesday evening there were about 5 other small tables occupied. We placed our order with the staff and waited a while for our food to come. A large table of 10 received their food before we did, even though we ordered before they did. After waiting about 20 minutes we flagged a waiter down and they apologized and told us the kitchen was extremely busy. We received our entrees before the appetizers (kimbap) arrived. I ordered the clam kal-guksoo (clam noodle soup) and my friend ordered the soft tofu stew. We ordered the fish cake and veggie kimbap to share as well. The noodles were a bit clumpy in my noodle soup but the broth flavor was nice. There was a decent amount of clams as well. Unfortunately the kimbap fell short of my expectations. They were pricey but a good size, larger than I expected. However they didn't have any pickled radish which was odd and instead had purple cabbage. The kimbap wasn't very seasoned either, so it tasted quite bland. It did come with a spicy mayo dipping sauce which was interesting. The service was good, they did check on us multiple times and refilled our waters. The food was decent but not anything to write home about. read more

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Hadn't been here in awhile since the redid the menu. Came for lunch with friends on a Sunday afternoon and the place was pretty empty. Service was good, we had the family menu with tofu soup, spicy bbq pork, galbi, 3 purple rice. Also had the Tteok-bokki, Kimchee stew, spicy beef soup, and glazed potatoes. The Tteok-bokki we had was mild spicy with a lightly sweet taste to it. Banchan had good variety-spicy fish cake was the best, the mushroom had an odd taste to it. The glazed potatoes were lightly crispy and made for a great appetizer. The Kim chee pancake was a little soggy. Otherwise solid lunch spot-just wish the lunch specials were available on the weekend. read more

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Came here during lunch time on a weekend,plenty of parking in the shopping plaza. The restaurant wnot too busy and we were able to be seated right away. You have an option of indoor and outdoor. Our server was nice and was pretty quick on taking our order. Food came out pretty quickly and they also checked on our table a couple times. We ordered beef potstickers for appertizer and it was delicious. For entree I got the chicken katsu cutlet that came with 2 veggie potstickers,house soup,rice and a generous amount of crispy chicken with the dipping sauce. Everything came out good and the serving size is pretty big. Others from our party also ordered soft tofu soup, bimbimbop and their BBQ bowl that came with plenty of protien of your choice (pork belly was good) japchae,rice and veggies. Your table will also get banchan. Overall this place is amazing and would come again. read more

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Great service, wonderful food. We have been here twice and this is what we have had. Fried chicken, my bf didnt like the weird chop and it was messy to eat but said it was flavorful. Dol sot Bibimbop, BBQ chicken, beef potstickers, spicy beef soup, japchae and banchan. Tastes like home but a tiny bit sweeter. My family is from the south so Im used to more spice and garlic. Everything was delicious. So hot that you have to roll the food around in your mouth. Some people have commented on the servers, I think its more about the servers not wanting to bother you unless needed. Most Korea restaurants I have been to, you have to flag them down. So don't let this discourage you from going to this restaurant. read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Bibimbop and banchan. - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

It's been a little more than a year since I've been here. The menu or design of the menu looks really different. I didn't see the glazed potatoes on there, but when I asked it was available. Food was tasty as usual. We got the soft tofu soup with beef. Super flavorful! The glazed potatoes was crispy and sweet. We couldn't finish it so we brought it home. Still amazing hours later. Service was friendly and attentive. :) read more

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Solid korean food after a session of windsurfing! Good: - Kimchi pancake was very crispy and tasty - The carbonara pasta was unique and my favorite actually among the dishes we ordered, it was like a ramen Italian flavored - The potato pasta dish was okay, I liked the bone broth soup - Portion sizes were good! - Staff were nice - Good ambiance for a date, casual but still slightly nice Bad: - Took a while for our food to get there Overall I would come again, it was tasty! read more

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updated review with new menu 5-13-2024 Came here to take out of town guests for dinner. we had a delicious vegetable pancake, small Bowl'd of wings with tangy and soy dressing. All the dishes were generous in size. The dolsot Bibimbop with beef short rib and mixed grain was delicious fun to eat with beautiful arranged shreds of carrot, bean sprouts, sliced cucumber, yellow pickled vegetable and fried egg on top. The random was also very tasty and a very big serving. We enjoyed the fried vegetable pancake. read more

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Food is alright. Nothing too rave about, we came with a large party as it was recommended by a family member but I'm so use to AYCE Korean I came.innwith high expectations. Food was highly priced for the portions given. Spend about $80 for beef bulogi and short ribs bibimpap, didn't think it was worth it. The short ribs plate only had 3 pieces of meat, mostly veggies and rice. We did have a chance to try some food starters, cheese corn- average, kimchi with beef fried rice- best dish, KFC- original and soy glazed- original was dry but the soy flavor was better, seafood pancake- didn't get to try but I heard it was alright as well. read more

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Indulged twice within a week with my hubby and a friend. Does this mean I/we love this place? Ordered the usual: Seafood Rose Ramen, served in a hot stone bowl and an order of Korean chicken wings. Does it get any better? Service was on point, waited patiently as our meal was being prepared. Well, yes it does. Ordered chicken wings to go. Oooooh la la, nice to have this place, but not too close by. read more

Nope never again!!! No wonder why people sneak their alcohol in. They charged me $35 for a double Henny margarita I know next time. read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

Ran away from work to grab lunch with a coworker on a sunny Friday. This is often a favorite spot amongst coworkers because the food is yummy and it is easy for us to get there. We opened the menu we've seen multiple times only to realize something had changed. There were new items and some old mainstays seemed to have disappeared. No biggie, it's refreshing to try something new. We embraced it. The banchan came out. Huh, this looks different than before. From the visuals, it looked more delicious for some reason. The quality seemed better and quality wasn't bad before. It was eye catching and well presented. And then my coworkers mini bibimbap came out. It was meant to be a side to the Seafood Kalguksu we both ordered. I got the Kimchi pancake. Her bibimbap was large enough to be a light lunch on its own. Impressive! And my sampling we delicious. My Kimchi pancake was tasty but in comparison to other restaurant pajeon, I wouldn't say it's the best I had but it was nice to have as a side dish. Then the Seafood Kalguksu came out. It was piping hot and the presentation exceeded my expectation. Simple, but well arranged, with sprinkles of seaweed in the center of the bowl. There was squid, clams, and tiny octopus. Upon spoon and chopstick entry, I knew I was in for something special. What entered was noodles of perfect texture (chewy with a touch of denseness). I could taste each piece of seafood. The broth was delicious. Altogether, it felt as if a well skilled grandma/auntie made me a carefully crafted hot bowl of love. My coworker agreed it was one of the most delicious bowls of noodles she's had. Bowl'd has a new chef in the house! She is from Korea. I can't wait to go again. It's already the next day. I'm still thinking about this meal. Good thing at brought home leftovers! YOM! read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Mini Bibimbap and banchan - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

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The food was soooo good! Service was amazing. Surprisingly not as busy as we thought. Ambiance was very chill the playlist was great! read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Corn Cheese & Bibimbop! Plating was beautiful and food was just as delicious! - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

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Guest experience needs some help. No one was available to greet and seat guests. It took forever to be acknowledged by a server to have order our taken. Server did not check in with the table to see if anything was needed... like additional cups for tea or banchan refills. Had to wave down staff to get check ( shouldn't have been necessary when dining room if only at 20% capacity. It seems like the front of house staff was too busy chatting with each other than tending to their patrons. Food quality needs better attention too. Pork belly was over cooked and dry, the same can be said for the Korean fried chicken, also bone dry inside. We've been to this location at least six occasions over the years and this time was highly disappointing. Time to patronize more of the smaller mom and pop restaurants since they hustle and give better service (and moist fried chicken). read more

Changed business name and owners. 8/20/2025, went in at 8pm. Took a bit to get seated usually is quick and was not busy. Table was dirty and they gave us temporary paper menus with limited options. Food quality was okay. The tiny dishes BOWL D BBQ gave out was at least 10 options, now is 5-6. Took a long time to get our check, had to wave down the servers. Check came to table with the wooden booklet and was dirty with liquid stain from the kitchen. The korean restaurant no longer have the menu what we loved, especially mung bean pancake. Yes they might added more choices with new menu gets printed. It was the service that changed from great to worse especially when there is only 4-5 tables. Not Going back anytime soon to the new Tang Jip resturant brand. read more

Today, I was on a mission to find delicious Galbi. I just left Kowloon Station and had room in my tummy for more delicious food. A few minutes away is Bowl'd. Now, this was the experience I was looking for in Korean cuisine...a main course accompanied by side dishes which included kimchi. I ordered the Short Ribs and they were nicely marinated and very tasty. There were several sides and my favorites were the pickled daikon (radish), broccoli, seaweed and sliced fish cake with the same kimchi dressing. Awesome! The service was friendly and wonderful. I enjoyed the upbeat dance music that was being played and the bar and interior design was cool and modern. I look forward to returning:) read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Grilled Beef Short Ribs - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

Since my last review, I wanted to write an update as I've been here at dozens of times since Jan 2020 as it is the closest Korean restaurant for my family. Honestly, it's not the best or worst Korean food but it's the best in Alameda as there really isn't much to compete with, when you don't want to drive across the tube to Oakland. Bowl'd is the best bet for local soondooboo stew (a slighly spicy tofu, vegetable, stew with added beef and/or seafood, which I always choose), galbi, and tukboekee (rice cakes with fish cake in a spicy sauce, which I add fried dumplings to). Those items are solid. The soy-glazed chicken, which I previously praised, is a hit or miss as the way the chicken is cooked is inconsistent: sometimes the order is overdone and dry; other times it's somewhat pink and undercooked (had to heat more in the oven when I got home); and on the rare occasion it comes out perfect. So...we stopped ordering this. We always order crispy Vons chicken at Ohgane next door now. We've done this dozens of time at Ohgane and the Vons chicken has consistently come out juicy, piping hot and crispy. Sorry, I digress. In any case, I would say this place is a solid 3.5 star but rounding up as some items are quite good, the staff is pleasant, and Alameda needs to keep one of the only Korean restaurants on the island in business. Hmm....I wish more Korean restaurant would open in Alameda. read more

I was unsure. I'd heard good things. It is nextdoor to the place I'd planned to go. It seemed a tad more expensive for what I was hoping to eat... I had just finished swimming for an hour and dove right in. I am about to be rolled out of here with a huge smile on my face. Technically this is even cheaper than the place I usually go and I don't have to guess whether I cooked anything sufficiently. Give it a try on an empty stomach. Start with the kim chi if you do! read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - OMG so full! Such tastiness!!! I couldn't finish. This is a single portion meal. - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

After an event at Alameda Point, the five of us were deciding on where to go for some early dinner. One of us suggested Korean at Bowl'd at South Shore Center. Parking is easy at the shopping center with an easy walk to the restaurant, which is located near the center of the mall. Arriving at 4:30, there were only a couple of patrons in this large restaurant and we were seated at the back right next to the window. The menu is extensive with pancakes, rolls, small plates, fried chicken, rice bowls, grilled items, stews, soups and noodles and ramen. I opted for a bibimbop beef The Works rice bowl with white rice. You can choose mixed grain rice as well. With the rice on the bottom of the stone bowl, there's mushroom, carrot, bean sprouts and assorted vegetables topped with good portion of beef slices and a fried egg. You tossed the ingredients in your bowl and remember to pour a sauce from the bottle in your bowl or else it will a little dry. A good bibimbop, but I've had better ones at a lower price point. They served banchan of potatoes, sliced fish cakes, kim chee, shredded dichon, seaweed and broccoli. We loved the potatoes and fish cakes and they refilled several times upon request. My dining companions were please with their orders. Service was good. Bowl'd, a good option for Korean food at South Shore. read more

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Went here a few months ago celebrating a co-worker's birthday. Got their lunch combo. I have decided on tofu as my protein. The combo was pretty big, considering how much food was on the plate. In addition to the tofu, the plate had japchae, kimchi, potatoes, mixed salad, steamed broccoli, and potstickers. The tofu looked like it was lightly fried and had no flavor. I was unaware if I had any option to add flavor to my tofu. The rest of the items on my plate were pretty good. The kimchi was not too overpowering and the japchae was not too bad. The rice was cooked well. The kimchi was good in combo with the rice and tofu. The steamed veggies were okay. The potstickers were okay. The potatoes were also okay with the rice. Service was okay. Our server was pretty efficient with our orders, considering we were a party of five. read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Lunch Combo with Tofu - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

I'm sorry, how does this place have a 4 star review? 1. The food is mediocre at best. They didn't even provide everything listed on the item I ordered. I ordered a cheese tonkatsu and they didn't even give a little bit of rice that is suppose to go with it. Also... didn't provide any side dishes for a "korean" place, nice. 2. Service was incredibly slow but they were quick to hand you the bill so you can leave. 3. I'm sorry but a 20% service fee slapped on to the bill?! And this isn't even including the tip yet. So if you're somebody who is generally sympathetic and generous and tip above 20%, you're basically giving them 40% for mediocre service and food, congratulations. No refills on water or any type of service rendered except for taking the order, passing out insufficient food, and giving us the bill. read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

Terrible experience. The food was bad, portions tiny, and overpriced. Definitely not coming back.

I went here for a night of Korean. The ambiance was casual and the interior is inviting. We ordered our food and received it in a timely manner. The customer service is friendly and attentive. I've gone here a few times and this is my first time reviewing in a return visit. They have different sides now which threw me off. There was music playing in the background. The galbijim was yummy and served fresh on a sizzling platter. Asked for extra sides but never came and like I said earlier, the sides are different so some that I had before aren't here anymore. I'll give this place another shot and would recommend for your Korean craving. read more

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Bowl'd is located in the South Shore Center, behind Trader Joe's and across from Daiso. Easy parking and convenient for shopping before or after the meal. They have a private bathroom with a diaper changing table making it family friendly. Came on a weeknight so the restaurant was not busy. They have quite an extensive menu of Korean food ranging from Korean BBQ, Rice Bowls, Korean Fried Chicken, Soup, Stew and Noodles etc. Service was courteous and food came quickly. We were given a nice spread of banchan. The marinated quail eggs was my favorite out of the side dishes. Seafood pancake - Crispy outside and doughy on the inside with a nice assortment of seafood. Beef Short Ribs (Galbee) - Served with ssam(lettuce wraps), side dishes, side soup and purple rice. The BBQ items were prepared in the kitchen. A good alternative if you want Korean BBQ without having to cook yourself or dealing with the smoky/oily smell. Portion was quite generous, the quality of short ribs was good and the sauce/marinate was tasty. There was a good amount of sauteed onion adding a layer of crunchiness. Soft Tofu Soup with Veggies - It was decent standard tasting. Overall, happy with the quality of food and service. I thought pricing was fair especially the Beef Short Ribs as the portion was big. read more

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I've come here quite a few times and the food is okay. However, my most recent visit was unpleasant. I ordered the BBQ Chicken Salad ($15.99), which came with a lot of meat! And yes, agree with others that a lot of the pieces were burnt/charred. I tasted dish soap from certain shredded lettuce pieces on my plate and assumed it was a one-off. But my group also found some lettuce from their plate tasted like soap. I assume this is from the plate not being properly rinsed, a really unpleasant experience. In addition, my group ordered the Kimbap, which was overly salty and the seaweed was soggy rather than fresh. read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - BBQ Chicken Salad ($15.99) - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

If you're looking for authentic Korean comfort food, this spot absolutely delivers -- and frankly, it blows the Korean restaurant next door out of the water. The flavors here are richer, the portions are more generous, and the service is warm and attentive. Everything feels homemade and thoughtful, from the side dishes to the main courses. The beef short rib soup (galbitang) is easily one of the best in the Bay Area. The broth is incredibly deep and flavorful without being heavy, and the short ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender. It's the kind of dish you'll crave again the moment you finish. If you're a fan of real Korean flavors, this place is a must-visit. read more

The box lunch was such a great deal and the cheese corn is the best. The waitress was very patient with us as it was our first visit. read more

Bowl’d BBQ Alameda - Lunch Box - Korean Near Me - Alameda, California

*Open for indoor dining, outdoor dining, and takeout* I have eaten here twice and done takeout once. So far, all three times have been decent / good experiences. Service and staff: - When I ordered takeout, the process was pretty quick - My first time dining in was delightful. We sat outside and our server (I think his name tag said pretty boy or hot boy, haha) was delightful. He was kind and accommodating - My third time dining in was mediocre. We sat inside and I felt like the servers were not aligned. We were then asked every five minutes if we were okay, which was a little excessive Food: - I have gotten the soft tofu stew every time and will probably continue to get it every time. I have also added dumplings two of the times. The flavor is good and there is a nice balance of tofu and vegetables. Be careful though as this does remain hot for a while. Comes with a raw egg to add in, as well as your choice of white or mixed rice. - I have gotten bbq beef kimbap two of the times as well. I like the sesame oil in the seaweed, as well as the spicy Mayo sauce it comes with. - The japchae here is mediocre. It's not bad, but definitely more flavorful at other Korean restaurants. - The bulgogi here was flavorful. It comes in a pretty large bowl with a large amount of meat. - Your meal also comes with all the various Korean side dishes like seaweed, kimchi, etc. read more

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A group came here to celebrate a friend's birthday this past weekend, and we had a large table close to the bar and the overhead televisions showing a NBA playoff game. The restaurant itself is pretty open, nicely laid out, and is also located in a strip mall so parking should be easy. We went half family style at the table. I tried their Seafood pancake, Kimchi pancake, and Wings as starters. The Wings were easily the tastiest of the 3. For main entrees, I had the Sizzling Works(in a hot stone bowl), the Bulgogi, and Short Ribs. They were all decent but not like the best Korean restaurants at other shops in the Bay Area. They also serve beer, wine, and soju. The lychee and green apple soju were pretty good and I would order these agin. Service was mostly good. We did have to wave down someone twice to get more water and napkins. Overall, I might come back if I was in Alameda and had an itch for Korean. read more