Quality/Quantity - More of a bar than a restaurant. Us young hip cool people come here to drink and hang out. And of course, we have to get some Korean Tapas while drinking. LOL. But today, my daughter wanted a quieter place, so we decided to go to Mala Town Express instead; sorry. Be back next time with a younger hipper crowd than my daughter, lol. HH available; see picture or their website. HH very simple menu; see their website. Decent size regular menu. Ambiance - Small local business. Counter table and regular table seating. Music blasting, think night club. Very limited metered street parking. Free parking on weekends. Open 6 days a week from 5pm or 6pm to 10pm, midnight, or 1am. Again, think of a bar scene. Service - Very welcoming. Good service. Cracked a few jokes. Price - Reasonably priced. Especially during happy hour. Do keep in mind that these are tapa size portions. And while drinking, it can add up... Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2024; look forward to coming back. read more

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Annyeonghasayoh my chingus, let's talk about Chingu! It means friend in Korean. And what a great name, because I came here with my friend after a flight to SFO. We came by at around 8:30 on a weeknight, and we were sat right away. The small restaurant is designed like your typical loungey club-like Korean drinking spot, with dark walls, simple decor, and vibey music. Bar food and Korean staples are the name of the game here at Chingu, so that's exactly what we got. I got a dolsot bibimbap, which is the hot stone pot mixed rice, and my friend got the Korean Fried Chicken, opting for a combination one with two flavors. I think Korean Fried Chicken has been solved, because the average chicken I have at these places is pretty stellar in general. Great thing to get if you want something tried and true. I also really liked my bibimbap. Pretty standard stuff, with bean sprouts, mushrooms, bulgogi, carrots, etc. Something super familiar that I think most folks would be totally cool with! We're not huge drinkers, but that would be THE thing to do here too, so if you're hankering, this is the spot for you! read more

Overall, a pretty solid Korean dining experience with a few highlights and a few minor downsides. The marinated raw shrimp was my favorite -- super fresh and slightly sweet. It's perfect with rice, especially when you wrap it with seaweed. Definitely a must-order. The corn cheese was also really good. Sweet corn with stretchy melted cheese is always a winning combo, and this one didn't disappoint. It's one of those dishes I always order at Korean restaurants. Unfortunately, they were out of beef for BBQ that day, so we went with pork instead. It was a bit on the salty side -- I feel like the beef would have been a lot better. The fried chicken skin portion was generous, but a little too dry for my taste. It's okay overall, just nothing particularly memorable. We also ordered a soybean paste tofu soup, which had that classic doenjang flavor -- rich, savory, and comforting. I personally really enjoyed it. The interior is also worth mentioning -- the wall decorated with bottles looks really cool, especially when the lights are on. It gives the place a nice atmosphere. read more

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My friends and I went around 9pm on a Saturday and there is Happy Hour there and it was great. The restaurant was pretty small but the ambiance inside was very fun. The waiter was very nice ice and helpful. The food was decent. Their spicy Korean Fried Chicken was spicier and more flavorful than expected and I really liked it. Overall, I will definitely come back and would recommend it to people. read more

this place is a hidden gem in San Mateo..the food is very tasty and my family who always loves Korean food believe that this place is a A+ rating. The service is excellent, they are all attentive to their guests needs. Will be back definitely! read more

Chingu - our order..the tofu soup, the pork belly, kalbi , chicken wings, chicken skin, calamari ! all excellent!!!! - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Went on a Thursday evening, maybe a couple of hrs, right before the opened. Party of 4 & we were seated right away, because they were not busy at all. The employee who greeted us, was super friendly, he was also our waiter & stayed on top on making sure we were good with water refills, or any questions we had about the menu. You have to find parking on the street OR they have parking garages. Variety of items to choose from on the menu, appetizers, soups & main dishes & we were able to get a little bit of everything. Pricing was not too bad, for the amount they give for each dish. Everything also had its own unique different flavors. read more

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Nice addition to downtown San Mateo! I wouldn't go here for dinner but instead light bites with friends. Portions are a little small for the price. Food came out quickly. I came here a long while back when they were in soft launch period, so my review may be wildly out of date. Chicken Wings: 3.5/5 A little dry, but flavor was good. Nice and crispy. Japchae: 4/5 Quite tasty, though noodles could be firmer. Tofu Stew: 4/5 Quite different from tofu stews at BCD or SGD, but not bad. A cross between regular tofu stew and soybean stew. Beef Ssam: 3/5 Not quite what we were expecting. Grilled beef that you can wrap with lettuce or perilla leaf. Would not get again for the price. read more

Came by for a late dinner with friends around 730pm so we were able to catch the back end of the happy hour. It was pretty empty until around 9pm when alot more people came as I think this is more of a place to hang out after dinner than eating dinner. Parking in downtown San Mateo can be a little challenging but you will find parking around the corner. Food: 4/5 Korean fried chicken - 6 pieces of chicken and a some pickled radishes. Well fried and good flavor 4/5 Bugolgi fries - good portion and the bugolgi tastes good. Just feels right eating bugolgi on top of fries 4/5 Corn cheese - you can never go wrong with this cheesy goodness 3/5 Perilla pancake with fish paste was just okay Definitely would recommend as a place to hang with friends and enjoy some food and drink! read more

Chingu - Happy hour menu 6-8pm - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Cozy Korean tapa spot opened until late hours for those looking for a late night snack or late dinner. The vibes are definitely immaculate with the kpop music, music videos playing on the wall with a projector, detailed decorations like the soju bottle wall, and more. Will definitely make you want to stay for a long period of time talking. We visited the restaurant twice, and the first time the food deserved a 5/5 rating. However, on our second visit, the food leaned more towards a 3.5-4/5. The Korean fried chicken was very salty with a very thick batter. It was also a little over fried to the point where the meat was dry and bones broke in half easily. Will probably come back a third time to break the tie to see which one is more of the real experience. PSA: there are some details that they do not inform you ahead of time. For one, there is a small additional fee if you pay with a card. The second thing is that if you ask for extra lettuce or leaves with your bossam, it is also an additional cost. We didn't find out until we saw the receipt. read more

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Came here on a Saturday night for a birthday party and had a great experience. The interior was beautifully decorated, and the waiters were very friendly. We ordered the tteokbokki and fried chicken wings, which were both delicious, especially with the soju. Although there was a mix-up with our order, the staff were very attentive and corrected it quickly. They even gave a free bottle of soju to the birthday girl, which was a really nice surprise! Would highly recommend if you're looking to celebrate a birthday or just for a night out! read more

Chingu - Tteokbokki / 떡볶이 - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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A little hidden gem if you are looking for good Korean food or have late night munchies. My favorites were the Korean oden and the egg soufflé. Amazing flavors on a cold night. Kimchi fried rice was good too. My only critiques were the wings and short ribs were over sauced where it was a little too caramel like. Service was excellent. Enjoy so much by the gentlemen attending our table. Highly recommend. read more

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Hidden germ in San Mateo downtown! Food are delicious. Pork bossam are tender, flavorful. I love eating that with bachan and melted cheese. It came with lettuce too and it's a refreshing way to eat the bossam. The corn cheese comes in a hot plate which is the best way to serve corn cheese. The place is very cozy, great place to hang up with friends. Servers are VERY friendly and helpful. I had a very good dining experience here and for sure will come back if I am in the area again. read more

Chingu - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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A nice Korean restaurant with good service and food. It is small with casual feel to it. Seating is tight but not claustrophobic. I went here with my family and ordered sundubu jjigae, bibimbap, galbi and Korean fried chicken. The bibimbap and jjigae was well made and tasty. The Galbi, however, was way too greasy and the fried chicken -- the appetizer -- came last and was lukewarm. The staff was very friendly and were helpful. read more

The waitress was especially unhelpful when it came to deciding what to order. We asked "how sweet is the fried chicken?" and she replied "that's a weird question to ask". How is it weird to ask about the taste profile of the dishes on the menu that is your job to explain to customers?! So anyway, we ordered the fried chicken, half in each variety, and the sweet-and-spicy variety was indeed a saccharine nightmare. The honey soy chicken was good though. On the other hand, the starters (blanched bean sprouts and pickled napa cabbage) were very nice, the side of radishes with the chicken was nice, and the sizzling plate pork and bean sprouts was especially tasty. Although I would very much like to eat this dish again, the fattiness of the pork belly might be a concern. The interior has some panels resembling shipping containers, which is a terrible idea because they do absolutely nothing to dampen noise, so it's incredibly loud inside just from people's conversations being bounced around. read more

Chingu - Fried chicken (half-and-half), banchan (side dishes), and stir-fried pork belly. - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

Very classic pocha experience - drinks, shareable bar bites - great for a gathering with friends. Came here on a Friday night with a large group (10 people), and we were able to easily make a reservation earlier in the week online. Everything was setup when we arrived, with prompt and friendly service. It's not a large space, 2 high top tables by the window and probably 5-8 tables with stools/benches inside. We ordered food and drinks for the table, everything was good and very shareable. Out of the apps, I liked the stir-fried chicken gizzards most, with the sweet and sour wings a close second (the hot were pretty spicy and I like spicy food!). We did double up on some orders and I think the portion sizes could've been a bit larger at that price point, but overall we left satisfied read more

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The food is pretty bad. The kalbi short ribs were super tiny pieces and no depth of flavor only sweet. The fried chicken wings were dinky and itsy bitsy for the price. The only thing saving the meal was the army stew. Hard to mess this up but at least it was kinda filling. Only 6-7 tables and high tables by window. More of a place to just get a drink rather than dinner. Service was good. read more

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Love Chingu!! Great place to go for drinks and korean food with friends. The service is great, staff is all so friendly and the vibe is overall very chill and good for groups. Drinks - we usually order beer and soju bottles but have also gotten the soju cocktail that comes in a watermelon rind. This was super fun and tasty but you definitely need at least 3 people to help drink it. Food - big fan of the korean fried chicken and kimchi fried rice with bulgogi. read more

Stopped in twice now. Small restaurant/bar. Ordered tofu stew, bossam, and of course KFC. Overall food is excellent. I really like the bossam here and I've tried both the beef and pork, I think I prefer the pork. KFC is crispy and moist.. Mandu is crunchy. Portion is good. Price is average for Korean. Small menu but what they have is good. Staff is always friendly. It can get a bit loud though. read more

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Wow this place is such a vibe! So happy my friend showed us this spot because I want to come back asap. I love the decor and how casual it is. We opted to get some snacks and drinks before dinner. We gazed at the menu and you can definitely eat a full on dinner or lunch here. -chicken skins: 5/5, this was sooooo good. So crispy and tasty. It came with mayo as the dipping sauce. I wish it came with vinegar because that's what I'm used to but it was still good. -honey butter almond makgeolli: 4/5, first time having this and I was surprised at how sweet it was! Such a delicious pairing with the chicken skin. -makgeolli: 4.5/5, I liked the flavor of this more than the honey butter but I'm glad I got to try both! So delicious Coming here for a snack makes me really excited to come again to try their other meals. Will definitely be coming back again read more

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The price is steep for the amount of food you get. There's also very little banchans, only bean sprouts and kimchi in a very tiny dish. Service was great, staff were very friendly. Food was okay, we tried the army stew, fried chicken and galbi. Nothing really stood out, food wasn't horrible but I wouldn't say it's good. Everything is just not memorable. Street parking only. Probably won't come back. read more

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Best pocha in the peninsula without making the trek up to the city or down to SJ. Super lively, loud and the drinks are flowing. Service is friendly and welcoming. There's a great happy hour Tuesday-Thursday 6-8pm, Friday-Saturday 9-11pm and Sunday 5-7pm! read more

Chingu - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Chingu! The restaurant is pretty cozy, with about three small window tables and two long bench seating areas. I really liked the soju bottle wall at the entrance. My friend and I came here for a late dinner. We got the fried chicken skin, corn cheese, tofu soup, and bibimbap. Everything was tasty, but my only gripe is that the items that were fried tend to be pretty oily! I felt like I was wearing lip gloss after eating the bibimbap (the serving is really large though, worth it for the money!) I would definitely come back but it's good to be aware of the oil levels. Also, the servers here are very informative and friendly!! read more

Nice cozy Korean place in San Mateo. Food: chicken wings are a must. We got half/half spicy and sweet. Sauce is amazing and fried perfectly. Tofu soup was okay and I've had better. Ambiance: service is very attentive. Street parking, but it's on the outer edges of downtown so was t too difficult to find parking read more

Chingu - Chicken wings and tofu soup - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

San Mateo sorely needs more Korean options, and Chingu is the first Korean pub food entry into this space. We were the only ones there at opening on a weeknight, and then half an hour later, one other person came in to dine. In fact, the waitress said she was surprised to see us, and said that typically they only really fulfill takeout orders around that time. In an area where tons of Asians traverse, it's really surprising to see a lack of foot traffic for cuisine that's typically very popular in the bay. The place itself seats very little, and is dimly lit with K-pop playing on a projector. We were given crisp cold water with small metal cups to pour in along with complimentary banchan (small cuts of kimchi, bean sprouts, and broccoli). I unfortunately saw that the prices had risen from the last menu posted. I wanted the army stew because the dish is relatively cheaper here compared to other places. I pretty much never order this dish as I can make it at home for infinitely cheaper, but I was curious if it could change my mind. The army stew comes with a circular block of ramen, fresh tofu pieces, Vienna sausage, spam, kimchi, cabbage, zucchini, onion, braised soybeans, a few sprigs of enoki mushroom, and jalapeno slices. The soup looked more flavorful than it was; it tasted like a blander tofu soup base. I think there was just enough meat and tofu for two people, but not enough if you're a big meat eater. Additionally, there was too much cabbage filler, and the stew could have used more starch. The bowl is shallow enough for you to easily find ingredients within, and sits atop a portable burner that they light up for you. I didn't really enjoy my meal here, though the waitress was kind. I also was stressed out at the time, and being let down by the meal did not help. I don't think I'd return with how expensive it is or with the memory of the poor experience. read more

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Food: We ordered the grilled pork ssam ($37) and it was served on a big hot plate with melted cheese, kimchi, bean sprouts and onions. It was good for 2 people. We also ordered the tteokbokki ($19) which was a big portion to share as well. Their food options are mostly to pair with drinks and yapping with friends. Service: There was only one person serving that evening and he was pretty efficient with taking care of all the tables. Ambiance: The restaurant is small and dark, in a good way. It's intimate and gives off a cool hip Seoul vibe. There is a big screen playing Korean videos on the repurposed metal container panels. Hot take: We stumbled across this spot because it was open late on a Tuesday. They're open until midnight on most days. We'd come back again.. with more friends and more Soju :) read more

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A hole in the wall spot in downtown San Mateo for late night Korean food! The inside feels small but there's plenty of tables, and it wasn't crowded on a weekday. Service was attentive and food was brought out fairly quick. It was actually happy hour when we went so we ordered the bulgogi fries and corn cheese which were a few dollars off from the regular price. Happy hour during the weekdays was from 6-8pm. We got the army stew to share among 4 people which was plenty of food. Really enjoyed the army stew and the assorted meats and vegetables it came with. I wish the portions for the corn cheese and fries were a little bigger but the happy hour made it worth it. Would definitely come back to try other food items on the menu and it's a great place to hang out with friends for a late night snack! read more

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I was really excited to try a new Korean pub in the downtown San Mateo area. However, the food did not meet my expectations. We ordered: -corn cheese: literally zero flavor besides a bunch of cheese and not enough corn to ratio. -fishcake soup: this was just okay but some of the fishcakes were not fully cooked and were hard to chew. -chicken wings: again, just ok. Crispy enough to be called Korean bbq chicken but nothing special. -egg soufflé: so bland...never been so disappointed with one of my favorite dishes that's actually super easy to make. -honey butter makkoli: tastes like juice and honestly way too sweet for my palate. Service was great and brought us what we asked for. However, the food could definitely use some work. I love Korean style pub food but this place did not satisfy my cravings. read more

Chingu - Honey butter makkoli - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

I got the Korean street food plus drinks to-go! They had the new honey-butter-almond flavored makkuli (HBAF) too! Whaaaaaaat!!! We definitely will be stopping by again to hang out with the food fresh and hot along with these drinks straight from Korea. What I also realize is that this setup is great for having the night-life feel without the actual drawbacks of being outside with the bugs and the wind and the cold and randos. The buldak chicken was a hit once again, and I was able to get the cheese pull even at home since I got takeout this time. read more

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The food here is good, but the service and ambiance is definitely probably more well suited for younger people without kids. It was hard to get ahold of the servers for the check, they barely looked at us and we had to attempt several times to flag them down. It felt like we were inconveniencing them, they never once smiled or exhibited great customer service. Not only that, we felt like we were a nuisance for bringing a stroller inside. It's super loud in here which is fine, our baby slept thankfully but we could barely converse over the music (maybe that's the point--just not ideal for us as new parents wanting to enjoy each others company) overall probably will not return but at the very least the food was enjoyable! Food 8/10, experience 5/10. read more

Chingu - Corn Cheese - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

This is a chill place to catch up with friends, grab a few drinks, and eat. Our table loved the grilled pork ssam, the half and half Korean fried chicken, the chicken skin, and the honey butter makgeolli. The raw marinated shrimp was delicious and most people were surprised that they liked it. I would skip on their raw marinated crab. It was hard to break and you end up feeling like you wasted food read more

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This meal really reminded me of a lot of meals I've had in KTown LA, it was so much fun to visit a spot that served such a large variety of Korean bar food after a while. I came with a group of 4 and we ordered the half and half Korean chicken wings, spicy pork belly, tteokbokki, and bulgogi beef stew. This was plenty of food for us, and my favorite by far was the bulgogi beef stew. The dish was served on a burner so it stayed fresh and hot for the entire meal- the meat was so tender and flavorful and came with such a large variety and quantity of veggies, tofu, and glass noodles. The spicy pork was also quite good, and I was very pleasantly surprised by how the pork belly wasn't super fatty. I wish that there had been more rice cakes and/or veggies in the tteokbokki, as the large plate we got was mostly sauce. The restaurant has a fun vibe and is pretty dark inside, it seems that most people came to drink + eat simultaneously, so it can get a bit loud inside. Our server was super friendly and energetic and did a great job of checking in on us and recommending which and how many dishes to order. read more

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I really like their army stew, bubbling hot pot of pure happiness, this place's army stew delivers. The broth comes to the table already simmering. It smells incredible from the moment it lands. read more

Chingu - Bulgogi Fries / 불고기 프라이 - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Great atmosphere with dive bar feel like my friend's bar in Seoul. The crowd is lively and loud - having a good time. Food options aren't as nuanced as your traditional Korean restaurant but not intended to replace them! Again this is a fun dive bar after hours in San Mateo. Great choices of soju and they carry makgeolli! makgeolli goes well to cut the spicy army stew or the other spicy and savory options! Come here for the atmosphere and crowd and you'll have a great time. If you're looking for traditional Korean go visit the other offerings around the Bay. read more

Chingdu is an intimate restaurant off of the main street in San Mateo. The food is more Korean bar food mixed with comfort items so it's not your traditional Korean restaurant or KBBQ joint. I was contemplating on gate keeping this place but I want them to succeed so they dont close down so I guess I have to share it with Yelpers. Our group of 4 ordered the army stew, cheese corn, chicken gizzards, Galbi platter with wrap items, egg souffle, and kimchee fried rice. Honestly, everything was so freaking good!!! Corn cheese was surprisingly super flavorful and not just the usual corn topped with mozzarella? It has something added... I think maybe crack because I couldn't stop eating it. The egg souffle was so nice and fluffy and a perfect consistency. All four of us were so impressed with all the food but I have to say that the MAIN reason I picked this place was for the Korean rice punch!! I loveeee korean rice punch and I ordered one to go. Our server, Aaron, was super attentive and friendly! He was managing all the tables on the floor and while the restaurant isn't big, there was a large party of 23 guests that took up half the space so it was great that he checked in on us despite being slammed. This will definitely make it on to the rotation and maybe it'll still be our secret ... for now. read more

Stumbled on this fun little spot in downtown San Mateo serving Korean bar food! We tried the army stew and pork ssam. Both were delicious and the presentation was really nice. We were impressed by how fresh the produce was for the ssam. Definitely hit the spot for Korean comfort food! read more

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Called ahead of them to ask if this restaurant has availability, said they are not busy. Drove 30 mins to this restaurant, it was full and no table. Horrible service. read more

I was craving a late night meal and a chill spot after work and Chingu was there to fulfill both. Although it was busy for the night I had good interaction with the staff where I enjoyed my time there. Originally I was looking for the standard pocha foods, but I was surprised by the variety in the menu and the variety they had. Jeanine was very accommodating and when I had questions about the menu they were able to give me a proper solution to my questions. read more

Bar food / comfort food vibes. First time I came here with friends and ordered food family style. We came around when they first opened. Not very busy. Service was good. FOOD: 2x Korean tofu soup, fried chicken, and wagyu ssam, bibimbap. For 4 ppl, it was not a lot of food. The food is okay...Tofu soup was sooo spicy. Wagyu ssam was good but not a lot of meat. Fried chicken was good and so was the bibimbap. Second time I came here, they were busier. Came with 2 friends (3 total) and ordered family style again. FOOD: We ordered the kimchi fried rice, steamed egg, fried chicken and perilla pan cake. Kimchi fried rice, steamed egg and fried chicken were good, but typical. The perilla one was kinda weird...they gave it to us with ketchup. Service was quick and decent. Overall, okay, but not very outstanding for what we paid. Maybe I'm not ordered the right things? Or maybe this place is better for drinking? read more

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Guys, this place is priceyyy. One pro is that they are open until midnight Banchans only 3. kimchi, pickled daikon, broccoli. Seafood Soondubu $19 medium spicy here is more like mild. never had enoki and shiitake in my seafood dubu before. not complaining but just want to mention it. the flavor was okay. Bibimbap $25 that's right. $25 for a bibimbap! I thought oh it better be stone pot. She said it is and we got it on a stone plate. Never seen this plating for bibimbap before. Also, lettuce in place of spinach is just not the same. Don't recommend. The bibimbap sauce is also more gochujang and less beany and sweet. Wings $19 Honey soy sauce - this was good. Soju $15 for a bottle of flavored soju. for that price, I assumed it was the big jug. read more

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One of the servers was extremely rude. I have been a regular customer since the restaurant opened, and I really like the food. I went to the restaurant around 10:00 p.m. on April 14. I placed an order for my four friends, about seven dishes, and also asked for a soju. He asked for my ID, so I gave him my driver's license. He criticized my age and then threw my ID on the table. This was very disrespectful and unacceptable behavior. I tried to explain to him that it was my real ID, but he ignored me and walked away to the kitchen. I thought he might have been joking, so I tried to confirm, but he told me I was lying about my age and using a fake ID. There were many people in the restaurant, and his behavior made me feel disrespected and insulted. Because of this, I told him I would cancel all of our orders, as I did not want to stay any longer due to his behavior. read more