I don't get to this Den Den location as often as I want to! It's super casual and delicious. I have been really looking forward to trying their soft tofu stew but instead ordered the Japchae noodles. Very good! For the table we had edamame and dumplings too. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Jap Chae - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Den Den Cafe Asiana is a Korean and Japanese cafe style restaurant steps away from RISD and Brown on College Hill in Providence, and it operates with a counter service format where I ordered at the front and the food came to my table. I walked into a space that is small and moody, the kind of room that feels lived in rather than designed for a particular aesthetic, and it suited the casual neighborhood feel of the surrounding area. The hot stone bibimbap is the dish that comes up most consistently and with the most enthusiasm. I ordered it and the stone bowl arrived sizzling. The rice along the bottom edges got crispy against the heat in a way that changed the texture and flavor of the whole dish as I ate through it. The beef and mushroom tofu versions are both well executed, and the egg on top finished the bowl correctly. The katsu is a solid option for anyone coming in looking for something more straightforward. I tried it and the breading was crispy while the cutlet inside stayed tender, and the sauce ratio was handled well rather than drowning what was underneath. The gyoza, japchae, seafood pancakes, and yaki soba fill out a menu that covers enough ground to satisfy a table with different preferences. Side dishes are served in modest portions, which was the main point of friction for me since I am used to more generous banchan. Food came out at a good pace and arrived hot. For Korean and Japanese comfort food in Providence, Den Den is a reliable and genuinely satisfying stop. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

It had been a few years since I dined at Den Den and I was happy to return. The location on College Hill is really nice. I like the views and the dark interior. I also find the low key service very relaxing; you order at the counter and everyone is very patient. For food I tried the Chicken Karange and the Bibimbap, cooked in a hot stone. I liked the chicken a lot but it could have used some more spices or seasoning. As for the bibimbap it was well prepared (though I am by no means an expert in the dish). I did expect more heat from either the gochujang sauce or the pork, but by the end of the meal my sinuses were telling me that it had been there :). My daughter really enjoyed her tonkatsu. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Chicken Karaage - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Got japchae as takeout today for lunch (: It was really quiet inside @ around 3 PM - maybe just one or two other customers. The employee behind the counter was nice & friendly & it took about 10 minutes for my order to be ready. The noodles & vegetables in the japchae were phenomenal. Textures, flavors, vibes were 5/5. The added chicken however ... not so good. Weird, dry texture & an off-putting taste. I think I'll stick with just vegetable in the future. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Jap Chae - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

3.8/5 The food overall was solid, good portions for the price, with some standout flavors and a few drawbacks. The Bibimbap had great seasoning on the beef and plenty of vegetables. Some of the toppings felt slightly too unique, but it worked. My only issue was that parts of the beef were overly fatty in an unpleasant way. The Japchae was different than what I've had. The noodles were extremely soft rather than chewy or al dente like most versions I've had. It also had a stronger smoky flavor than usual. Not similar to others, but still enjoyable -- and it held up very well as leftovers the next day. The Kimchi Pancake was perfectly crispy and loaded with onions. Paired with the vinegary savory sauce, it reminded me of lomo saltado. As someone Peruvian, the flavor profile felt familiar -- almost like a crispy pancake version of that dish. Service could improve. The restaurant wasn't busy, yet we waited several minutes before being told we had to order at the counter. There wasn't a visible drink menu either, so we had to look at the fridge and above the counter to see what was available. Additionally, some areas of the restaurant appeared a bit unclean. While I understand it's a Japanese-Korean fusion concept, I would have liked to see more traditional options such as Bulgogi. It also feels like the restaurant may be trying to do too much -- offering coffee and a wide range of foods. The food itself is solid, but specializing a bit more could strengthen the overall identity. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Bibimbap and Jap Chae - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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I visited the restaurant on Wednesday and ordered a bento box. It took a long time for my food to arrive, and the soup that came with it tasted different from usual. The person at the front explained that the delay was due to the kitchen being understaffed. In my opinion, the restaurant should be better prepared to provide faster service and a better dining experience. Recently, the flavor of the Korean food has changed significantly, and it has not been as enjoyable as it used to be. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - The food is so good - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I love the cozy ambiance here so much. Portions are great for the money and so delicious. My wife and I split a bibimbap on our last visit and were both very satisfied although I've managed to take one out on my own a few times. Service is so fast and attentive. I personally love both the beef and gochujang chicken, I'm not normally a huge teriyaki guy but on my wife's insistence got that last night to share, SO good. Really excellent spot. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Everything was absolutely delicious! Counter service is really convenient, quick, and cost-effective. The dining room room is beautiful. Parking can be tricky, but par for the course in Providence. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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I've been to Den Den Cafe Asiana for dine in many times, but for the first time I did take out. I called and put in my order. The staff member I spoke to over the phone was very friendly and informed me that the food would be ready for pickup in 20 minutes. I arrived a few minutes before the 20 minutes and the food was already ready. I paid at the counter and headed home. I had ordered the hot stone bibimbap and paid extra for the fried egg, but unfortunately, the fried egg was missing. Usually, when I do pick up I check the items, but everything was packed neatly. I was disappointed because they missed the fried egg; generally Den Den Cafe Asiana is on point. Both the japchae with beef and seafood scallion pancake were very good. After this experience of takeout, I prefer dining in at Den Den Cafe Asiana. read more

Den Den is always a great stop! You can't go wrong with anything you order, but the japchae is my personal favorite! It's a great stop for a date night or some friends because they have plenty of seating and it's really reasonably priced. The food always comes pretty quickly too which is awesome. The staff are friendly and quick once you get their attention. You usually grab a table, then order at the cash register, then sit back down for your food to be delivered to you. So you don't have a designated server but if you ask someone for more water or sharing plates or something else, they're quick to bring it to you. Excited to come back again soon! read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Japchae with chicken - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

This is a delightful Korean restaurant. I appreciate that they have two rooms, one being more quiet than the other. The prices are a little bit on the higher side for lunch, but the food was very good. read more

Back many years later and the food is just as good. Unfortunately, the eel is gone so I went with the spicy rice cake. Also delicious and would recommend adding the noodles. Stop by! read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Best comfort food around!!! Cute seating area inside but more for two people. They also serve coffee drinks but the japchea is a must get read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Jap Chae - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

You order at the counter and they bring you your order. It was super fast and tasty. The gyoza were tasty and had a great crisp to them. The seafood scallion pancake was unique. I liked it but if you're not a huge seafood fan it may be a bit too fishy for you. The potato twister was lovely and had a great sauce. Great spot for a date or an outing with friends. I'd go back here if I'm nearby but I wont run back. read more

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Hot Stone Bibimbap: 5/5 Soft tofu Soup: 4/5 I honestly wasn't expecting this hidden place to be so good especially the hot stone bibimbap. They absolutely mastered the perfectly crispy rice at the bottom which was very crispy and not burnt at all. The soft tofu soup was also enjoyable but not as good as the bibimbap. Flavors were strong at the beginning but then it became muted towards the end of it. I had the seafood version which included a decent variety although most of the pieces were tiny clams and octopus. If I were the return, I would definitely get the bibimbap again. read more

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The food was excellent-got a variety of apps and hot pots were excellent. The service was based at the counter where you ordered food. The ambiance was pretty chill and informal. read more

The food taste like reheated frozen dinner, especially given the price point really disappointing.

The starters: the seafood scallion pancake was absolutely delicious with an incredible crunch on the outside and soft inside, with generous amounts of seafood. The den den monkey balls were super creative flavor and texture wise. The starters were so good I wish we tried more, because the entrees fell a little short following them. The bibimbap and katsu don were fine but just average. I really like how this restaurant is run, with seating yourself and ordering at the counter. A fun spot and definitely worth getting the appetizers. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Den Den Seafood Scallion Pancake and Den Den Monkey Balls - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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If you're craving some Korean food, Den Den has a nice selection of soft tofu soups and stone pot bibimbaps! Had the pleasure of trying the beef soft tofu soup and seafood bibimbap. The bibimbap was crispy and paired wonderfully with the kimchi side. The beef in the soft tofu soup was tender and flavorful from being simmered in the soup. Wasn't too spicy - I do wish we could adjust our spice level to mild, medium, and hot! Besides that, it was great! Note that you order first, then they deliver the food to the table you select! Service is quick with tables cleaned soon after a party leaves. Although I believe that their other Korean fried chicken location is more special, this one is still worth a try! Still delicious! read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Den Den Soft Tofu Stew with beef - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Delicious! During this cold December day, the spicy tofu stew was amazing! It was very cozy! It was perfect and had plenty of tofu and mushroom toppings! It was exactly what I needed. I also ordered the spicy rice cakes for the table. It was chewy and warm. To order food, you order at the counter, and pay. Food is delivered to the table and water is refilled whenever is needed by the staff which is highly appreciated with my extra hot stew. Restaurant was clean and the staff was prompt! This place is always a great, recommended Korean food place that feels casual and cozy. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Den Den Soft Tofu Stew - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Well I'll start with service which was excellent! Very friendly and attentive. The ambiance is nice, the tables are spaced out which I like, I could only hear our tables conversation and felt more intimate. The seafood pancake was 7/10 for me. It was missing something flavor wise that I cant place. It was enjoyable with the sauce for sure. I do wish the sauce was thicker, it was watery. Squid & Pork BBQ dish was great to share. We asked for more rice since it was 3 of us. Squid was cooked well! 9/10 definitely recommend. Not pictured: red bean ice cream!! So good that we came back inside and ordered a second one to go. read more

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Never a bad experience here! Inside is always clean! Staff always friendly and helpful with menu knowledge and the food is hot fresh and flavorful! Recommend this spot to anyone with a need for Korean food! read more

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We meant to go to the fried chicken location, but due to parking and not knowing the area, we ended up at this one. However, we were not at all disappointed! This food was absolutely delicious. Very fresh and clean tasting. The sauces were perfect and the presentation was beautiful. Based on the previous reviews and ratings, this seems to be how they always are. In addition to the entrees pictured, we also had an order of the veggie gyoza. They were so good, they didn't last long enough to have their picture taken haha. The service was very polite and quick. We went for lunch, so didn't order any alcohol, but they seem to have a pretty nice bar set up as well. Definitely next time. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Teriyaki Chicken bento (the rice is underneath soaking up the scrumptious sauce) - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Service was amazing. Galbi was a bit salty. Chicken bi bim bap was bland. Monkey balls were crispy and tasted fine. Street parking outside was easy to find and was spacious inside. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Galbi (a bit salty) - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Den den cafe Asiana is overall a wonderful restaurant. It is great for casual lunches and dinners and is always busy when we go. Food: Hot pot bulgogi beef: excellent! The broth was rich and flavorful. The beef was very thin and tender. 10/10 Yaki soba: Very tasty but would benefit from a sauce or broth. 8/10 Monkey balls: 8/10 Ambiance: We love the casual style of Den Den and that we can show up in comfortable clothing. The only issue with the restaurant itself is that the lighting is quite harsh and hangs right above your head. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Den Den Hot Pot Bulgogi Beef - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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One of my favorite places in providence. Food and ambiance are good. Is a great place for a quick bite that will have you wanting to go back to try something else in the menu. Place is cozy and chill. read more

I wanted to love it. However, honestly the Den Den Fried Chicken location was better. I was very confused that you had to get up and order at the counter, as this is NOT told to you when you walk in. My friend and I really sat there for multiple minutes until we figured it out. (Which I feel like was rude of the staff to not inform us, as we made it clear we were new to the spot.) The noodles I got were the glass noodles. Which I think were good- not great. I also will add- you'll leave that place smelling like food for sure. Maybe they need better ventilation? I think I'll stick with the fried chicken location. read more

I'm updating my review because years have past since my original post for Den Den and guess what? It is STILL churning out the best Korean Food in all of Providence, RI! (It's honestly my favorite Korean food in all of New England.) Over the years, I have brought countless friends to Den Den for the first time to introduce them to Korean food. The giant hot stone bibambap bowls are piled high with an oozy eggs, veggies, rice, kimchi, and your protein of choice. My favorite continues to be the fried tofu! (If you're new to bibimbap, be sure to mix up the bowl so can have some of the crispier rice in every bite!) For apps, the seafood scallion pancake, potato tornado, and shrimp shumai are sure to please everyone. The seafood scallion pancake is a show-stopper--thicker than your traditional scallion pancake and gloriously crispy on the outside. If you're super hungry, I'd advise trying to go at an off-peak time--there can be a wait, but the staff are super wonderful and will take the time to answer any of your questions about the menu and Korean food. read more

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Amazing food and perfect staff. All the food is good and the portions and price is very decent. If you come here I recommend the katsu chicken. In my opinion is the best meat on the menu. Totally recommend this place. read more

Moved my daughter into her dorm this week and we decided to stop here for lunch. The service was wonderful, the food was absolutely delicious, and I loved the atmosphere. Such a great spot! read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I really enjoyed the tofu stew ($19) here. It has a great simple flavor and sides of rice, egg, and kimchi are great additions to the flavor of the soup. Soup was steamy when it arrived, and tofu had a good texture. I ordered along with friends who all got the udon, and my dish took significantly longer to reach the table. I paid upfront more than half an hour before the food came, and some of my friends were already done with their meal by the time mine arrived. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Den Den Soft Tofu Stew - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Overall: 4/5 Food: 4/5 - I came here with my bf and I got the soft tofu stew with seafood and he got the bibimbap with terriyaki chicken. Although my bf was not that impressed with the bibimbap, I liked my soft tofu stew! Great flavor and taste. Service : 4/5 - There is not that much service here given you are ordering at the counter and there were no water refills, etc. But I still liked the vibe and the food came out fast. Value: 4/5 - Pretty standard for what is in the area. Overall, this place was pretty good and I think I would come back to try something else on the menu! read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Den Den Soft Tofu Stew (with seafood), Den Den Hot Stone Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Every time I visit Providence, I visit Den Den! I love this place so much. Great for groups, since everyone goes up to the counter to order and pay for their own food. The menu has great options - I usually go for the hot stone bibimbap or the tofu hot stew, but I've had a lot of the other items, and they've all been great. Highly recommend! read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Den Den Hot Stone Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Den Den is a cool and modern style restaurant with nice decor and good food. Friend and I got the Korean fried chicken with rice and was quite happy with our selection. The chicken was so crunchy and delicious, with just the right amount of glaze. We stayed away from the spicy stuff that night so we just had the normal dark soy, and it was fantastic. I had a great time catching up with my friend over some delicious chicken, I would go back again. Pros: Flavorful chicken, instagram worthy atmosphere, nice food selection Before I say anything negative, please note this could have just been the night since it was busy. I have my cons of my experience but I do think you should go and find out for yourself. Basic cons: A little pricey, but worth it. No seasonings/sauces for our plain white rice (not enough sauce on chicken where the rice would be useful/flavorful. Not even salt). Cons: Very cramped restaurant with not enough staff/support for servers to do their jobs well. I felt squished in my booth and also felt like a jerk for even being there because the restaurant was busy and the staff seemed stressed. I don't need any waiter to wait on my every word, but they really didn't have time to wait on us at all (and we got there with plenty of time to spare before closed.) Not going to blame someone for being super busy, but imagine if your food was spicy and desperately needed water! We didn't get refills very often, and that would have sucked if we had hot food that we couldn't cool down with anything. We wanted to get drinks but never got the chance to with how busy it was. Even paying for the food felt like it was a burden. I understand nights can be really rough and overwhelming but... it wasn't THAT busy. We didn't even wait for a table. Our food came out pretty fast (which I am not complaining about), but we just were left alone without any questions or concerns about whether we liked it or not, if we wanted anything else, etc. This is sort of a petty complaint, but, we weren't even asked about dessert? I've never been to a place that didn't ask? Just felt very rushed and we felt bad. Our section was in the front that was pretty small with multiple waiters too, so that's why it especially felt kinda bad. TLDR: Food was great, would love to come back on a less busy night and see how the service is that time. It's worth going for that alone. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Fried Chicken Karaage (Large/23pcs boneless) - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

It's a self serving restaurant. You pick a seat and order from the bar and get a number waiting on the food. You need to bring your own water and beverages to the table. The soft tufo stew was delicious and people there were very friendly. The vibe was young and relaxing. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Den Den Soft Tofu Stew - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

A reliable favorite for a quick fix of Korean/Japanese food. Their curry is a must-try and I would go back for it a million times. Some other favorites include their japchae and karaage. I would skip the matcha. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Chicken Karaage - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Service 5/5 Interior 4.7/5 Surfaces were kind of sticky Food 8.5/10 The bibimbap and soft tofu soup were really good. The portion size in comparison to price is reasonable. The Don Katsu was a little soggy the taste of the seaweed was a little off but besides that the other dishes including the seafood pancake was really good and reasonable. Our servers were also really nice. read more

Den Den Cafe Asiana - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I have been to Den Den Cafe Asiana a number of times. The food is consistently great! I am a big fan of the Japchae, Kimchi Kimbap, Den Den Monkeyballs, and the Hot Stone Bibimbap with the marinated beef. You can pick up a menu at the counter, make your selections, and then head back up to the counter to order. They will give you a number to take back to your table and then bring you your food. There are a number of small tables in the restaurant and a few larger tables for bigger parties. I also think there are more tables in another section of the restaurant, but I'm not sure as I usually find a table in the main restaurant where the bar/counter is. read more

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Our best dinner experience in Providence. Loved the atmosphere. Food was excellent. Best bite was the Den Den Monkey Balls. It was a spicy tuna stuffed deep fried mushrooms with sweet and spicy sauce. The wrapper had a nice little crunch with each bite. Really enjoyed the Bulgogi Hot Pot. Egg on the side to crack over the boiling hot pot. Yum! Husband had the Pork Katsu. He really, really enjoyed it along with his Good Day sochu. Daughter had the Spicy Pork BBQ. Tasty. Our server was really pleasant, as were the rest of the staff. She answered all our questions. Chef welcomed us when we entered and checked on us during and after our meal. Super nice guy. Stopped to talked with us. He mentioned he had a fried chicken place, Den Den Korean Fried Chicken. Saw it while we were walking in the College Hill area. Going to have to try it the next time we're in Providence. It was our last night in Providence. Wished we had found this place earlier in our trip because we definitely would've eaten here more than once. You should try it if you're in the area. read more

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Overall a great experience. I've seen a few reviews about the noise level and ambiance, however that was not an issue for me. I will say, the staff working tonight were very loud. As far as the food, everything was pretty good. The gyoza were underwhelming flavor-wise. The chicken karaage was fried well. The Korean ramen had a really good base. The spicy pork bibimbap could use a little more meat but overall tasted good. The green tea ice cream took a few bites to get into but was good. Pork Gyoza 6/10 Chicken Karaage 8.5/10 Korean Ramen 9/10 Spicy Pork Bibimbap 8/10 Green Tea Ice Cream 7/10 read more

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