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    Cafe Lily

    4.2 (82 reviews)
    ModerateRussian, Korean, Uzbek
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Cafe Lily Takeout or Delivery

    Cafe Lily Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE LILY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Lily

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    Reviews With Photos

    JiHae L.

    My friends wanted to check out Café Lily after seeing it on IG, so I tagged along. Heads up the street parking is tough to find. You don't need reservations though, since there was plenty of seating on a Friday night. The service was honestly horrible. When we asked for bowls, they gave us ones that were still wet like they had just been rinsed and not dried. Prices weren't too bad, but the food was a mix of Korean and Uzbek cuisine and most of it was disappointing. We got the dumplings, and when we asked about the meat, the staff guessed it was just beef, but it was actually beef and lamb. My friend noticed right away since it tasted gamey. Employees should really know what's in the dishes they're serving (and maybe even taste them). The rest of the food was subpar, and to top it off, they told us five minutes before closing that they were done for the night and started clearing the table while my friends were still eating. Definitely not the best experience.

    Namesake
    Karen Y.

    Must have passed Cafe Lily more times than I can remember... and finally went for lunch, Solo and then w/ a friend. A Uzbek restaurant, mix of Russian and Korean fusion cooking... I used to live near another spot that served up really delicious Uzbek food on 19th Avenue & 86th St (I love their fern salad!!) Situated on a quiet street with a mish-mosh of shops, and tinted windows, can seem uninviting... and staff could be a bit slow with service, so if you're in a rush, come when you have time to enjoy the meal. My first meal was of course to try their version of "cold noodle"... similar to the Korean style cold noodle but not made with buckwheat noodles. Here, they serve it with white noodles and tops with veggies and beef. The soup was not icy cold but also vinegary. It was good but I prefer the Korean style naeng-myeon which offers more chew & texture. My 2nd meal, had to try my other fav - Yuk Kae Jang; but here they call it Yu-KajJan. Now this one is interesting, the soup comes out bland... and you mix in the aromatics to your taste and eat over a bowl of rice. I actually enjoyed this a lot and would recommend this! My friend got their crispy potatoes & mushroom, it was ok. Nothing special. Also tried their meat manty - didn't like this, the skin was dry and tough to eat, the meat was a little gamey - perhaps bc it's lamb. Not my kind of dumplings! Also got their fern salad and the sauce, OMO delish! Soak it up with the toasted bread and your belly will thank you! The price is ok, not too crazy but also not an everyday lunch outing. Overall would come back for the Yu-KajJan & Fern salad.

    Fried Salmon
    Jaida F.

    I went with a friend to try out this Korean-Uzbekistanian spot in Brooklyn based off of a TikTok that emphasized that the food itself is not a fusion but the food of a "dying culture." As someone who loves to eat, I know that culture is preserved in the food. So I just had to check it out with my friend before they left NYC for the next few months. Highlights below! ---- Wait staff was super attentive and friendly Service was fast and very considerate Very patient with us as new comers Friend's meal- Pigodya ---- Good portions Came with a spicy sauce: a little salty but very good! The meat is very tender The cabbage has a good flavor and very well seasoned The dumpling dough itself was very airy Vegetable/beef broth Super juicy but not too liquidy Needed some acidity like some soy sauce or something vinegary My meal ---- Fried salmon I do wish I had more greens The salmon was very good! I do wish it was a little more tender but I love the way it was fried, perfectly crispy ---- We also shared some of their homemade compote which was super fresh and refreshingly sweet! If you're in the neighborhood you definitely should give them a try

    Plov
    Sarah A.

    Came here as a party of 3. We ordered the plov, cold noodles, fern salad, and a pitcher of their homemade fruit punch. They also provided a basket of yummy bread for the table. It was very soft and I ended up dipping the bread in the fern salad sauce. The fruit punch was not overly sweet and it was refreshing although I am not sure what fruits they used. It was my first time trying fern salad and I actually really enjoyed it. But my favorite dish was definitely the cold noodles. I would definitely order it again next time and try other dishes as well. The plov was good too, but way too little meat compared to the amount of rice they give. And some pieces of the meat were less tender than others. They had plenty of seating when we came on a Friday afternoon around 2pm. And the staff was so friendly.

    Kuksi - cold noodle soup
    Anna S.

    This place is such a hidden gem! Uzbek + Korean fusion... I only discovered it after seeing an Instagram reel advertising this place. I think since then it blew up because when I visited the staffs were definitely overwhelmed by the traffic coming to the restaurant. They had to turn down many groups - so just be aware that they might be busy but if you don't mind waiting they will still accommodate you. We got the Korean salad sampler, Korean fern salad (amazing!), and kuksi. We had ordered manti and shurpa but they messed up and forgot our order - which actually turned out for the better because we were so fully already as they are very generous with their portion size. The meal also comes with complimentary bread and butter. The highlight was the Korean fern salad. It was served warm and seasoned so nicely with garlic sauce. I was dipping the bread in this sauce! Their menu is very extensive. The staffs are so friendly and I could tell they were overwhelm but still trying their best to accommodate everyone. I can't wait to come back again and try out all the other items on their menu.

    Annie N.

    Came here yesterday with my friend for lunch. We came around 2pm and it was empty besides 1 other table. The younger waitress was so sweet, she remembered my friend who came the week before and also gave good recommendations. It was me and two other girls and we shared the plov, fern salad and the cold noodles. I think my favorite was the plov and the cold noodle, I found the fern salad a little too salty imo and the carrot salad bland. We also go the campote to share which was nice, I liked that it was not overly sweet. The guy (owner) there was really friendly also, he was explaining to us that with credit card there would be extra fees and recommended cash instead for a slight discount

    Kim-chee /  Korean Carrot Salad /     Assorted Korean Salads /
    August Q.

    Just yes. Guys this place is so underrated. Pllleeaaaseee go give our girl Lily some loovvee. The Plov will change your LIFE. Hospitality was amazing too everyone is soo sweet and there was car video games on the tv which was honestly very fun. 100/10 experience, food, and service.

    Tofu with Vegetables in a Spicy Sauce
    Maggie B.

    I came here with a group of 5. One member of our party arrived early. They showed her to the patio and gave her bottled water while she waited, which was very kind. We sat in the back patio on a raised platform table with seating on the floor. The table had cushions all around it, as well as carpeting, so it was comfortable to sit. The patio was lovely with faux greenery and flowers adorning the walls and a wooden ceiling. It felt like an oasis. To eat, we shared the korean salad platter. It included carrots, cabbage, and eggplant in a kim chi style. All the vegetables were pickled, but they were well seasoned and tasty. For my main, I had the tofu with spicy sauce. I enjoyed this dish. The tofu was a perfect, firm texture. It was accompanied by peppers and onions. The sauce was flavorful and slightly sweet with a subtle spicy kick. They also provided warm bread and butter for the table. My friends got several of the meat dishes and loved everything. We also got the compote punch. It was fruity, but quite sweet. Similar to a classic fruit punch, but I wouldn't order it again. Our waitress was gracious and welcoming. A lovely restaurant to visit for a very authentic meal.

    Jessica H.

    The food was good overall, service was decent but staff could be bit more attentive, and ambiance is rather chill (albeit too lax for me, as there were screaming kids running around who I assume are the owner's or friends).

    Waheda I.

    This place was under renovations when I went. Grateful they fed me regardless as I hadn't eaten all day and it was super late. Food was delicious and prompt. I paid through Venmo. Service was prompt. I liked the spot and hope to return again when renovations are completed.

    Pitcher of fruit punch - super diluted not great
    Melody C.

    My friend wanted to try this Korean Uzbek restaurant, and I was open to it as I've never had this type of cuisine before. It was pretty quiet on a Sunday night, and we were allowed to choose where we wanted to sit (indoors or outdoors in the back). We chose to sit outdoors but I didn't have to worry about mosquitos because there was shelter on the top though it has some opening. We asked the staff to recommend us some dishes that we should try and went with it. Interestingly, they served the dishes in order of deliciousness so we filled our tummies with all the yummy food first. Pitcher of fruit punch - 1/5 It was extremely watered down, so I highly don't recommend it. Manty - 3/5 Very filling steamed dumplings with chopped meat and onion inside. I was expecting some juice in it but it was on the dryer end. There is a side of sour cream for dipping which made the dumpling less dry but it didn't feel like they matched. House bread - 5/5 Maybe free stuff just tastes better but their bread was pretty unique. It reminded me of shanghai sesame pancakes. Kimchi - 4/5 Complimentary kimchi like at Korean restaurants. It was ok. Chicken patty with mashed potatoes - 1/5 The mashed potato didn't have any gravy so it was very dry. It would've tasted better if it was heavily seasoned but it was pretty bland. The patties were fried but I didn't like the taste and the texture wasn't it. It was harder than I expected. Plov - 4/5 Very homey taste. No frills but nice enough to keep eating. It was basically Uzbekistan-style fried rice. The rice is long grain and each one was separated from one another, which is what fried rice should be like. Meat with vegetables Korean style - 2/5 Too salty! Or else it would've been a decent but simple dish. Has a spicy kick to it. The workers were really nice. Cash is preferred here.

    I usually don't write negative reviews, but this was one of the worst experiences. We came for their famous pegodi, but were told we could only order one per person because they were "too busy." When we asked for pelmeni and kebabs instead, they said those dishes were unavailable and kebabs would take 1.5 hours. We agreed to wait for other food: pegodi came in 20 minutes, but meat with vegetables arrived almost 40 minutes later, when we had already finished eating. The service was terrible, and the older lady with black hair (one of the owners) was extremely rude. The food was average at best. This is not how you treat customers--definitely not coming back.

    Vinegar with baby cockroach, if you like guys!

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    3 years ago

    The waiter are pretty nice and the food are fair. Place looks fancy can go once a while

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Cafe Lily

    Is the meat served halal?

    Based on this article in the New York Times there maybe some food items that are halal. I think the place is worth a try. Worst case scenario seafood items. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/dining/cafe-lily-review-bensonhurst-korean-uzbek.html

    Is the meat served halal, kosher or regular?

    Based on this article in the New York Times there maybe some food items that are halal. I think the place is worth a try. Worst case scenario seafood items. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/dining/cafe-lily-review-bensonhurst-korean-uzbek.html

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    Haenyeo - Daegu jorim

    Haenyeo

    4.1(295 reviews)
    4.5 miPark Slope
    $$$

    My boyfriend and I have been on a quest to introduce his mother to as many new cultures through…read morefood as we can when she visits us in Brooklyn. Last night we decided it was time she try Korean food, and specifically he wanted to choose a Bib Gourmand restaurant. We booked this reservation the same day, and watched spots get taken as we booked on the website! Street parking wasn't hard to find and we were greeted and seated immediately. We loved the calming atmosphere inside and had a table with a view of everything. After offering us water, we decided on drinks. I ordered the Velvet Reviver, which was described as an espresso martini meets a White Russian. It was delicious and almost like a dessert drink. My boyfriend ordered The Squid & The Whale which grew on all of us, especially paired with our food. To start, we shared the Yache pajun (vegetable scallion pancakes) and the Dukboki fundido (a Mexican inspired spicy, hot, cheesy dip with my favorite chewy Korean rice cakes inside). The scallion pancakes were delicious and had much more texture than once I have tried in the past, paired with a perfect vinegary sauce you can spoon on top. We all loved the dip and it was the perfect amount of spicy and comforting chewiness. I then was recommended a white wine to pair with the appetizer I chose as my entree, the Yeoneo. Each slice of salmon was incredibly fresh, and they were very generous with the amount of row that was served as well. The greens and avocado slices were great as well to add more texture. My boyfriend then ordered a yummy beer and the Daegu jorim. We absolutely adored this dish and noted that the cod had perfect structure to it, that almost mimic that of the deliciously cooked radishes in this dish. His mother ordered the ultimate comfort dish of the night, the Kalbi jjim (with no jalapeños). We were in awe at how the meat fell apart due to how tender it was. If you like melt in your mouth beef and stew like dishes, this is the dish for you. Our food was served with some banchan: amazing kimchi, myeolchi bokkeum (dried anchovies, much more mild than you'd expect), and kongjang (soy beans, also mild and with more chew than a typical edamame you might expect). We absolutely loved our dinner here and how helpful and kind the weight staff was, explaining different dishes and flavors, and clearing and switching out our plates at every turn.

    As frequent KBBQ eaters, my boyfriend and I decided it was time to try a more refined take on…read moreKorean dining. Since I was staying in Brooklyn for work, Haenyeo was an easy choice for a date night dinner. We went on a Thursday evening around 8pm. We didn't have a reservation but were seated immediately without a wait. The restaurant was fairly busy; if you're planning ahead I would consider making a reservation. We started with an order of the Japchae. Then we ordered the Bibimbop with chicken and the Bulgogi. The Japchae was underwhelming. Not a strong flavor profile, leaned sort of bland. The entrees were much better. The rice in the Bibimbop had a really yummy crispy layer. When all mixed together, it's a great melody of flavors and textures. The Bulgogi was equally enjoyable. Definitely recommend the red spicy sauce it comes with. We shared both entrees among 2 people and felt the portions sizes were decent - neither left hungry. The service was okay. We didn't seem to have a dedicated server. It felt like all the wait staff takes care of everyone simultaneously? Everyone was friendly; there was just a long wait for someone to come for our food order. If you're looking for an authentic experience with Korean food, this may be the spot for you.

    Photos
    Haenyeo - Interior

    Interior

    Haenyeo - Saucy and Spicy Rice Cake Fundido

    Saucy and Spicy Rice Cake Fundido

    Haenyeo - Daegu jorim

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    Daegu jorim

    Gahm By Mokbar

    Gahm By Mokbar

    3.9(45 reviews)
    4.9 miProspect Heights, Park Slope

    After seeing reels of this restaurant's crab fried rice, I had to give this a try. We arrived in…read moreFriday night, the staff was friendly and the decor was nice. Seating is a little small, so any parties of 4 or larger probably require a reservation. The food came out fairly quickly. We ordered the Tteokbokki. The dish was purposely cooked to be crispier than what you would normally expect, it was very delicious. The jjapaguri was flavorful and the meat and seafood was great. The main course of crab fried rice was amazing. Poured over a sizzling pan, the waiter made sure we had time to get our phones ready. The dish stirred and seasoned well and had a nice fresh taste. Our dessert was black bean and vanilla, which was refreshing and a generous quantity. Overall, our experience here was amazing and would recommend for anyone wanting high class Korean fair.

    While I would recommend the drinks, I think the food was disappointing. I ordered the Strawberry…read morefields cocktail that contained vodka, yuja honey, strawberry, lemon which was pretty nice and sweet and not bitter at all. It was literally the only thing I enjoyed. In terms of food, I mainly went for the crab fried rice. It was decent but rice were kinda burnt and crab was minimal for the extra $7 weeks added for king crab. The chicken karaage was in small pieces and had whack batter. The wild mushroom pajeon was not good at all.

    Photos
    Gahm By Mokbar - 7 barley tea...made from 7 types of barley i think. Little too light

    7 barley tea...made from 7 types of barley i think. Little too light

    Gahm By Mokbar - Yuja pineapple sorbet, perfect to cut off the slight richness.

    Yuja pineapple sorbet, perfect to cut off the slight richness.

    Gahm By Mokbar - Best corn cheese ever !!

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    Best corn cheese ever !!

    Atti - Chefs selected four cuts with ban sang accompaniments

    Atti

    4.1(134 reviews)
    5.4 miBoerum Hill, Downtown Brooklyn
    $$$$

    I can give 5stars for the food and service!!! The meat was…read moreso fresh and tasty, and the service was so great!! I'm so happy that we can have nice Korean BBQ in Brooklyn!

    Atti definitely makes a strong first impression. The exterior pulls you in, and once inside it…read morefeels like a great date night spot with its dim lighting and a clear view of the dry-aging cellar. As someone who really enjoys KBBQ, I came in with high expectations. The experience ended up being just okay. The biggest letdown was the banchan. The kimchi in particular did not taste fresh, and while I can usually appreciate well-fermented kimchi, this felt past its prime. The rest of the banchan did not stand out either. For the meats, we tried the dry aged ribeye, hanger steak, and non-marinated galbi. The ribeye was underwhelming and a bit too chewy for my liking, especially given the expectations around dry aging. The hanger steak ended up being the most flavorful and tender of the three. The galbi had great marbling and was apparently cut fresh that day, but in a city with strong KBBQ competition, it did not quite stand above the rest. That said, the service really stood out. The staff were friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming throughout the meal. If there is one thing I would remember most from this visit, it is the level of care from the team.

    Photos
    Atti - Interior

    Interior

    Atti - Atti han-sang (4 selected cuts)

    Atti han-sang (4 selected cuts)

    Atti - Plum Mojito

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    Plum Mojito

    Slow Loris - Slow Loris Roll (~$22)

    Slow Loris

    4.2(208 reviews)
    3.7 miProspect Lefferts Gardens
    $$

    Lovely lovely spot in the heart of Flatbush. Came here with my friend right before gym and needed…read moresomething warm yet filling to energize us. I ordered the soon du bu and it was so flavorful with the right amount of spices and meat. Salmon avocado roll was prepared right and tasted so good l. This is a great spot for the locals and worth visiting!

    Ordered: Edamame (~$8)…read moreSeafood Pancake (~$19): scallions, onion, mussels, shrimp, calamari, ponzu sauce Seaweed Salad (~$8) 6pc Soy Ginger Korean Fried Chicken (~$13) 6pc Sweet & Spicy Korean Fried Chicken (~$13) Slow Loris Roll (~$22): spicy tuna, cucumber, avocado inside, torched tuna, salmon, white tuna, crunch on top, eel sauce, spicy mayo Beef Galbi (~$35): grilled marinated short rib and kimchi with white rice Spicy Bulgogi Fried Rice (~$22) with Cheese (+$3): marinated thinly sliced ribeye, onion, scallion, peppers, carrots, sesame seeds, with a sunnyside up egg on top Aya's take: Slow Loris is a Japanese & Korean fusion spot and if I'm being honest, I was apprehensive at first unsure how they could possibly get all these dishes right when their menu is massive. Happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised! Almost everything we ordered was delicious! Both Korean Fried Chicken orders had good flavor and great for sharing. I rarely see Soy Ginger as an option (usually it's Soy Garlic) but I like the slight sharpness it added to each bite. The Seafood Pancake was crispy, loaded with seafood, and paired nicely with the ponzu. The Slow Loris Roll was incredible! The rice ratio was just right, there was a good variety of fish and it was all fresh, the avocado and sauces added nice creaminess, and torching the roll was the cherry on top. The Spicy Bulgogi Fried Rice with Cheese was super savory, the sunnyside egg was cooked perfectly, and the portion was solid. I didn't care for the cheese and honestly could've done without and not noticed. It did need something to cut through the richness. I did enjoy the Beef Galbi much more! It is brought to the table sizzling and smelling amazing. It's savory, sweet, and smoky. I like that it's paired with kimchi & rice making this is complete meal. All in all, I was impressed with everything here! We were also a large party (7 people) yet everything was served correctly and in a timely fashion. Definitely recommend stopping by!

    Photos
    Slow Loris - Dining Area

    Dining Area

    Slow Loris - 6pc Soy Ginger Korean Fried Chicken (~$13)

    6pc Soy Ginger Korean Fried Chicken (~$13)

    Slow Loris - Edamame (~$8)

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    Edamame (~$8)

    Cafe Lily - russian - Updated May 2026

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