4.5 stars $20.95 Seafood Dolsotbap 해물돌솥비빔밥 (Haemul Dolsot Bibimbap): spot on flavors. The side dishes (banchan) were lovely except for cubed radish kimchi. It tasted like sugar was used which is a modern Korean trend (sugar usage) that I don't approve. (Sugar was available to the palace and the rich historically.) read more

Gangnam Tofu - Seafood Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Be sure to check your receipt because the tip percentage suggestions that they list are not on your actual bill amount, but rather with the sales tax included. There is no reason that we should tip on the sales tax. Faulty calculations! read more

I want to start by saying that the food was not the issue. The food was great and I along with my family enjoyed it. BUT... The service was AWFUL. From the moment we sat, the servers made us feel that we were an inconvenience and a bother to them. We asked for a high chair and the server rolled her eyes at us. When asking for additional banchan (Korean sides) eyes rolled back at us again. When ordering, our order was questioned. (BACKSTORY: My aunt has been here before and has observed the servers get upset when you don't order "enough" food and even said one entree shared between 2 people is not allowed. I believe this is because naturally it will lead to a lower tip. But it's important to note that we were with our 92 year old grandpa and 2 small children so we weren't capable of eating much). When we asked for additional takeout containers we were argued with saying we didn't need it. Lastly, maybe this is common practice and I was unaware but we received a 20% service charge for a party of 5 seats. No prior heads up or explanation. We asked politely about it to which we were given a shaky and unconfident response about the policy of the service charge. Then that answer was followed up with the response of "Just sign it". I don't expect much with regard to customer service or hospitality. I get it can be hard at times having been in the industry myself. We treated the staff with respect. We enjoyed the food. Maybe it was a bad day or it's just specific servers. I hope nobody has had the same experience. BUT I would have to say with regard to customer service and hospitality that was probably the worst experience I've ever had. Just wanted to give others a heads up! Again the food was great but just be aware of the poor service! Also if you're a party of 5 even if it includes kids, be sure to ask about the service charge! read more

The noodles, fried rice and dumplings were great. It was pretty full when we went but we were able to still get seated right away. The staff was nice and accommodating. read more

Gangnam Tofu - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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The soups and grilled meats are excellent. I found the fried chicken greasy tasting and the fried mandoo were also greasy. Tbh the ban chan is probably the tastiest thing they serve and it's bottomless! read more

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My kids wanted to treat me today for Father's Day. What a wonderful Father's Day meal we enjoyed! Still the most hospital and welcoming staff as always. We got there after the lunch rush, so it was perfect (2:00pm). Extremely quick service. Served piping hot! Since there were only three parties during that time, the ambiance was serene and warm. Lovely vibe. Staff is always smiling and attentive. All the dishes were exquisite as always! We ordered family style and got one of everything on the menu! I had no breakfast or lunch. This was my only meal today and it was the best ever!!! I will never forget this ultimate Father's Day flair we had today!!! Best ever! Thank you Gangnam! read more

Gangnam Tofu - The seafood Soon-Doo-Boo lower right was excellent. - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

We went to Gangum for a good meal! We had tofu soup, beef dipbitmop and spicy pork with great bonchon. Fresh and tasty as always! read more

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We were in the area and craving fried chicken and soondubu, so we decided to stop by Gangnam Tofu. To our surprise, the standout dish wasn't what we expected, it was the vegetable pancake. It was so crispy and airy, perfectly cooked, and honestly the best dish of the meal. Highly recommend ordering it, even if you're here for the classics. The banchan were delicious as well! I I appreciated the servers being attentive and refilling the banchan throughout our meal. The servers were extremely friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. Would absolutely come back just to get the vegetable pancake again! read more

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My husband really enjoyed his beef dumpling tofu. I wasn't too crazy about my mushroom tofu soup. I'm not sure if it was because the raw egg didn't mix with the mushroom flavor. It tasted odd. The taste got better when the egg was fully cooked. It was extremely hot and took a long time to eat. It comes with a bowl of rice and a lot of banchan. The banchan here is exceptionally good. I was really impressed with the eggplant and the Korean glass noodles were still warm. My husband really like the spicy daikon. Service was very friendly and fast. I did hate the fact that the bathroom is far away outside and was difficult to find and also one of the bathroom doors needed two keys and I only had one key from the restaurant. It was very inconvenient and a bit scary. There was enough food that I had leftovers. It's a good amount of food for about $19 each tofu dish. Will come back in the future when in the mood for Korean food as this is probably the best Korean restaurant in the East Bay. read more

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It was a short wait before the rush 30 minutes later. I really like japchae, so I had to get it. It was a little dry this time but still was good. All my condiments were good. Except the daikon. Chicken was nice, and my spicy beef noodle were good and filled me up. Will be back again. read more

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Excellent place for Korean food!! We love the seafood pancake, Gangnam fried chicken, cold buckwheat noodle soup, and mushroom tofu soup. My Korean coworkers told me the taste was authentic. It's a hole in wall, with great, quick service. Highly recommend this place!! read more

FIRE! and great portions. Floors are super slippery, though, so be careful. They are so thoughtful and proactive when we walked in with our infant. They gave us water and plastic cutlery for her. She loved their japchae! Every table had some flavor of fried chicken so we knew we had to get that... during our second visit. First visit, we ordered japchae and bibimbap. The bibimbap came with banchan [kimchi, radish, eggplant, fish cake (b/c we ordered the japchae app), broccoli, potato, etc.] They refill when you run out too. The portions were a lot for 2.5 (lol) persons. We had plenty of leftover for the next day. On our second visit, we ordered galbi korean bbq, the soy garlic fried chicken, and japchae again. It's one of the few times we've circled back to the same spot within a week. Take that as you will. Honestly, one of my fave korean places thus far. Great staff and great food. It gets busy on weekend nights! read more

Haven't been to this place in years but it's just as good as I remember. All the banchan is so delicious with our favorites being the radish kimchi and savory potatoes. Also love that they give you some japchae as banchan (it's super peppery which I loved). The seafood pancake comes out so hot and crispy. It's stuffed full of veggies and seafood and is the perfect combination of crispy outside and soft interior. The spicy grilled pork is expensive ($28) but is a very generous portion and the leftovers will last us a few meals! The mild soondooboo with beef was the perfect spice level with very generous amounts of beef, mushrooms and tofu. The staff are all so nice and clearly working extremely hard. The aunties were literally running around the restaurant taking orders, bussing tables and delivering food! Definitely our go to local spot for Korean food! read more

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Great service, everything was super fresh. Clean taste with good flavor! It's a little pricey but so worth it. Restaurant was immaculately clean. Very nice servers. read more

Gangnam Tofu - Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Came here for dinner with a friend, and there was no wait. The side dishes were all really good, and our waiter kept refilling them whenever they ran out. I enjoyed the broccoli and eggplant, but the other sides were great too. We ordered quite a bit of food, and the portion sizes were huge. The kimchi pancakes came with 10 pieces (see pictures) and were very flavorful. The stew was also pretty good. Slightly on the salty side, but still delicious. The soy garlic fried chicken was juicy, crispy, and tasted just as great the next day when we had leftovers. Overall, I liked the portion sizes and value for what you get and will come back again! read more

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Gangnam Tofu is one of the best finds we've had in the area! Did not expect it to be this good. It's pretty much my new spot for tofu soup... Their wings were criminally good as well. We tried both boneless and bone-in options; however, we found the boneless ones to be better. The bone-in version seemed more dry unless we happened to get an overcooked batch. We ate here twice so far. The restaurant was packed both times. Service was good too. The staff were quick to check whether we wanted refill for banchan and water. read more

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I don't often go to this area of the east bay, and even more seldom stay for dinner...but when I do, I make it a point to come to Gangnam Tofu. Parking is a bit tight, but with some luck and patience, spots do free up in this little restaurant plaza. Gangnam Tofu itself is typically quite busy any time I've come both weekend/weeknights which is unsurprising given how good this place is! My wife will typically order the tried and true tofu soup while I opt for a half portion of fried chicken. If we're feeling especially hungry, we'll splurge for a seafood pancake order as well. EVERYTHING we've tried here is worth a shot! The friend chicken maintains a perfect crisp despite being doused in a delicious sauce and is served piping hot! The seafood pancake is also very generously portioned with a good ratio of "filling" without being overly oily or heavy. What really completes this place is their banchan. From the kimchi to the japchae, we regularly clean at LEAST one full serving without issue and they very kindly offer additional servings! read more

We were in town and craving Korean food and found Gangham Tofu. The restaurant was busy and space is a little limited. Fortunately we were seated right away. We ordered tofu soup, chicken bulgogi and sweet and spicy Fried chicken. The food was great. My son loved the fried chicken. The staff were attentive and helpful. read more

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Worth crossing a bridge for. One of the only places I'll consistently make the 40 min drive for. Food is super consistent, big portions, great service, overall just really really great read more

I literally cannot exaggerate how much I fr*cking love this place. 5 stars? No. 10 stars? Not even enough. Give 'em all the stars in the town. Gangnam Tofu is THE spot for authentic, nourishing Korean food-- and if you're in the area, don't you dare hesitate coming because this is the spot that'll set you straight if you're hungover, tired, or just looking for good, filling food. (BTW: if you've given them a 1 star before, I hate you.) At this point, my boyfriend and I have been weekly regulars at this spot. Like, seriously-- it's an addiction. But, to get into detail, here's a breakdown: The food: Astonishing filling and well-put together. Their menu isn't extravagantly big, but it has all the staples that can satisfy the whole table. They have yummy appetizers that are proportionately big-- banchan that is refreshing and balanced, a variety of bibimbops varying in proteins (which I love because I love seafood bibimbops!) and amaaaaazing soups, cold noodles and fried chicken. If you're looking for a spot that'll bring you delicious boiling soondubu, you are in luck! This place probably has the best soft tofu stew I've had in the Bay. While I know that their other options are delicious, I just can't seem to get myself to order anything else but the tofu stew. If you're looking for spicy food as well, Gangnam Tofu is great. My boyfriend who has a spice tolerance of a bird is always so happy when they accommodate us when I tell them to make it as SPICY AS POSSIBLE (even though it sounds crazy), and they will deliver. The service: these guys are on POINT at all times. Like, seriously, they're machines. Bringing out boiling soup effortlessly-- cleaning up tables quickly and efficiently, and seating customers as they go, phew, these guys work hard! We've had the pleasure of being served by the usual two gentlemen there and every time they are efficient, kind, and understanding. I wish I knew their names to show our appreciation to them, but know that the servers here are always so attentive--whether it be checking in on you, pouring more water to dial down the heat of your soondubu, or give you napkins... they are the bomb! Last but not least, the setting: the restaurant is nestled between two other restaurants and is wheelchair friendly, and has plenty of parking options. The restaurant is quaint and well lit, seating plentiful and clean and even offers bar seatting! It's always bustling with business, so make sure to come before the rush if you want a quieter eating experience, but it is worth it any time you go. Honestly, Gangnam Tofu is a 10/10. It is a beloved restaurant in El Cerrito and has been nothing but amazing by the year we've been going there, and we appreciate all the hard working kitchen staff and servers that help us! Check them out. You won't regret it! read more

Gangnam Tofu - Bulgogi, Man-Doo, Combination Soon-Doo-Boo Original Soon-Doo-Boo - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Found this place somewhat randomly after driving back down after a hike, but super glad we did! Good: - The price and portions are amazing, got so much food for what would have been very little in SF - The tofu stew was amazing, just hit the spot and came with so much banchan - I liked the bulgogi rice cake dish, had so much flavor and size - The gangnam chicken here had such a unique sauce and it was so crispy, I felt like eating it was addictive - Super nice servers and it was a nice quiet place to have a meal, the food also came out quickly Bad: - The place is a bit more rundown Overall enjoyed the service here and the place and the food the most! It's a hidden gem read more

Gangnam Tofu - Gangnam chicken - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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My friends and I stopped by Gangnam Tofu on a Saturday for lunch right when they opened at 11:30 a.m. The place was empty when we arrived but by 12:00 p.m., every table inside was occupied. I ordered the spicy chicken while my wife ordered a tofu stew. She was able to choose the spice level on the tofu stew but you're unable to do the same with the spicy chicken. Before our mains arrived, we were brought a variety of banchan. The banchan was some of the best I've ever had, including Korean restaurants down in LA. My favorites banchans were the eggplant, potato and the japchae. Seeing japchae as a banchan was such a nice surprise, because japchae happens to be one of my favorite Korean dishes and it's not typically served as banchan at restaurants. When my spicy chicken arrived, it was delivered on a hot sizzling platter alongside a bowl of rice. If you enjoy spicy food, you will love the spicy chicken because it'll have you sweating. The chicken is incredibly tender, charred nicely, and the spring onions and onions garnished throughout the dish are a refreshing bite to break up the spiciness of the chicken. Both the tofu stew and the spicy chicken came out to be about $20 each, which felt just right for Bay Area pricing these days. Service was great throughout the meal as well. If you're looking for delicious Korean food, I would definitely recommend stopping by Gangnam Tofu. read more

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Another great meal! Gangnam Tofu is hands down the best Korean restruant in the bay area. Their portions are generous. The flavors are distinct and balanced. The restruant was busy. The staff is amazing. They never stop. Even with the crowds they manage to keep tea cups full and are able to check on our meals. We will be back. read more

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Hands down my favorite tofu soup! Something about the silky soft tofu that is so mouthwatering good with this soup base. Rice bowl was standard, but the beef wasn't dried out and was a nice thin cut. Side dishes were also a solid and not overcooked. Service was fast pace. One thing I noticed was that the tables were topped with some type of cover. Maybe to make it easier to wipe down? Either way a lot of the tables had air bubbles so my cup of water didn't really lay flat. I always thought I had something under my glass when I went to out it down. I want to comeback read more

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It's a rare opportunity that I am in the area and get to eat at one of my Korean favorite restaurants. They have amazing comfort foods, all reasonably priced and so satisfying. It's a no nonsense family run business it seems. However, on my recent visit they seemed to be short staffed. It was the same person taking orders--both phone and table, seating, clearing/cleaning tables. We were willing to sit at the counter, but the dishes hadn't yet been cleared and we couldn't get anyone's attention to let them know we were willing to sit at the counter. There also several tables needing to be cleared for the waiting parties--there were 2 ahead of us. We were eventually seated and both placing and receiving our food order took a bit of time. This is my first time after all these years of coming here that the service was so off! We ordered the bulgogi bokee (불고기떡볶이), beef rib galbitang (갈비탕) and honey cheese fried chicken. The banchan was delayed and was served when we got our meal. I was expecting it to be served beforehand. The bokee was really flavorful...balance of glass noodles, beef, rice cakes and lots of veggies. The rib soup was tasty and just wanted me to eat more rice with each spoonful. Despite the wait, the off service, I still recommend this because the food is SOLID--it's too bad I don't live closer. FOOD: 5+ stars SERVICE: 3.5 stars (for this visit only) read more

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I enjoyed my tofu & vegetable stew. The side dishes were great and the service was friendly. My companions were pleased. However the floor was FILTHY and the windows were covered in greasy fingerprints. Not only was there trash and crumbs on the floor but you could tell it hadn't been mopped in a long time. I waitressed for years and mopped my share of restaurant floors so I know what I'm talking about. So the hygiene levels here prevent me from giving my full support to this eatery. read more

Gangnam Tofu is my go-to spot for delicious Korean food near home. The flavors are spot-on, with generous portions that feel worth every penny. The fried chicken was crispy and flavorful, the bulgogi was tender and perfectly seasoned, and the soup was rich and comforting. The restaurant is spacious but always busy, giving it a lively atmosphere. Staff are attentive and make sure every table is well taken care of. It's the kind of place that's perfect for bringing family or a group of friends so you can order a variety of dishes to share. Definitely a neighborhood favorite. read more

Gangnam Tofu - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Ordered sundoobu udon, fried chicken, and yukgaejang noodle soup. All of them were really tasty. The waiter was friendly and quick. Overall good service and food. read more

Gangnam Tofu - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

We haven't been here in a while so we decided to try it again since we were craving Korean food. I'm not sure whether we were starving or what, but the food was really, really good. The rice bowl in the stone pot was super crispy and had plenty of delish toppings. Similarly the seafood pancake was also really crispy and tasty. The tofu soup had great flavor and not too spicy, which is what we wanted. And the ban chan..... let's just say we had multiple servings. Overall, a really great dinner! read more

Greasy Fried chicken wings....old, rancid grease smell & taste. Very disappointing. Napa cabbage Spare rib soup was BONES.....4-5 large no meat on them bones. read more

Gangnam Tofu - Beef short rib stew with Napa Cabbage. - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Been deciding if I want to share a review or not because I don't want this place to blow up!! The seafood pancake is to die for and the side dishes are so so good especially to the potatoes and eggplant. Usually get the bibimbap to go with it and makes an amazing pairing. Would come back again and I'm their #1 fan!! read more

Gangnam Tofu - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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My sister was going to see her optometrist in El Cerrito Plaza. She remembered going to El Mono next door for lunch. I told her we checked other restaurants. When we got there, we saw Gangnam Tofu, a Korean restaurant. This was our first time visiting this restaurant. We were greeted by a staff and showed us where we can sit. Immediately he took one chair so my mom's wheelchair can be situated. I asked the staff where the restroom was and I was told it was outside & handed me a key attached to a wide stick. We were handed a worn-out menu maybe due to frequent handling over an extended period. We ordered the Original Soft Tofu Stew boiled with chicken. We chose clear spice for our mom. From appetizer we ordered Seafood Pancake & Jap-Chae. First we were served with hot tea to drink. Then the banchan (side dishes) came to be shared including kimchi, quartered size eggplant, rice, potatoes, broccoli, pancake, egg. The banchan were scrumptious and healthy to eat as part of Korean cuisine. The appetizers came and I never thought the portion was large. The Jap-Chae & Seafood Pancake were delicious. Then the pot came with bubbling tofu stew and the server asked if he can crack the egg into the tofu & I said yes. It was fun to see the bubbling soup. My sister mixed the egg to thicken the soup. There were mixed customers but mostly young ones. The dining room was clean. There were two staff. The female one was asking my mom if she was enjoying the food. She asked us if we need more eggplant & broccoli. I did not know there was refill. Jay, another staff, refilled my water without me asking. Overall, we enjoyed the flavorful Korean dishes & the staff were nice. We don't mind returning. read more

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Consistent service and food . Great pork belly bbq and galbi tang. Very nice service and not always the long wait. Our go to read more

Stopped by for lunch. I ordered the combination soondubu and the seafood soondubu. The food came out in a timely manner and I like that the soondubu was piping hot. The soondubu had a lot of mushrooms which I thought was weird and uncommon. Also there was so much clams inside my soup that had so much sand. My partner ordered the seafood soondubu and mainly got it since he loves oysters and it came with zero oysters. The service was super sweet even though it was really busy during the rush hour. As a Korean person, I had pretty high expectations but it's definitely not authentic. read more

Gangnam Tofu - Combination Soon-Doo-Boo - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Another letdown of a Korean restaurant. Why is everything so sweet. The side dishes: banchan were very mid. One of them was eggplant which was really weird. I've never had eggplant as a side. Everything tasted too sweet from the spicy pork which wasn't spicy at all. The kimchi stew was too sweet. The short ribs yea sweet too. The service was scattered as well. They gave me the soft tofu stew instead of kimchi stew. Definitely will not be coming back. read more

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I really enjoyed the fried chicken here. It's definitely a great place. If you're looking for some Korean food. Very homey and delicious. Prices are reasonable and service is great. Ambience is also very nice and very comfortable. read more

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I am shocked I haven't written a review for Gangnam Tofu, which has worked into our normal rotation of restaurants. Starting out with the bad, since the food is all good. Parking can be a bit of a nightmare since the parking lot is small for a dense population of restaurants. There also can be a bit of a wait if you go during busy times. The food: Seafood pancake - a delightfully super crispy pancake. Half the time they forget the sauce, so make sure you ask for it. Soon-Doo-Boo Tofu soup - the shop has Tofu in the name and they deliver a great version here. Flavorful broth and a normal sized portion. We've tried a bunch of different kinds and I'm surprising myself here - I like the mushroom (the original, combo, and seafood were good as well). Fried Chicken - juicy pieces of chicken in a pretty thick coating of crispy tempura like batter. We tried a lot of the flavors and I like Soy Garlic and Garlic Mustard (kind of like honey mustard). The kids were good with original and popcorn chicken, but I thought those needed more flavor. Mul Naeng-Myun - on a hot day, order this cold noodle dish. The noodles are fun and chewy. The broth is refreshingly tart. It's such an interesting and tasty dish and hard to get a similar experience outside of a Korean restaurant. Gal-Bi-Tang - on a cold day, this huge bowl of beef soup really hits the spot. Big pieces of meat, savory broth, and slippery glass noodles. Dol-Sop-Bop - we normally get these hot rice bowls with beef. Let the dish sit for a few minutes before stirring to really get that crispy rice going on the bottom. Quite a few ingredients in here but it's all about the hot pepper paste sauce which you can add to your own heat preference. Also going to give a shout out for the banchan. They are varied and very good here including potatoes, eggplant, broccoli, sliced fish cake, japchae, and kimchi. The variety of dishes, the food quality, and the consistency of food preparation makes Gangnam Tofu my favorite Korean restaurant in the East Bay. read more

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This little gem is located in El Cerrito off San Pablo Ave. Service is always exceptional, super friendly staff and the food is always served quick, hot and fresh. The restaurant is a little small and during the lunch or dinner crowd it can be tough to get seated immediately. However the wait is never long and definitely worth it, if you're choosing to dine-in. LOVE both their bulgogi and spicy pork! The plates are served w/ rice and an array of Korean side including kimchi, japchae, spicy eggplant and potatoes. Any time, I'm craving Korean food and don't want to go all the way to Korean Town, this place is my go to. I've never had any of their soups & stews but they look delicious. Definitely gotta try them some time and if they're anything like the bulgogi, they won't disappoint. read more

Great service, delicious & fresh food. I had a craving for tofu pot so I decided to make a stop here. I've been meaning to come here because I heard so many good things about this place. The banchan variety was good. All my favorite items (you can always ask for more of something when you run out). Soup came out, bubbling hot (literally, it was bubbling a bit over the edge). It's a small cozy restaurant. If you come alone, they do have bar seating. Parking, although somewhat plentiful, can be a challenge. Lots of compact car spots. I saw that the next table over got some fried chicken. I'll definitely be back to try that. read more

Gangnam Tofu - Banchan, rice and an egg for my soup. - Korean Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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This is my go to Korean place in the area. They appear to be a family run store which means they can be slow at times but their food is excellent. Parking spots are tight and can be limited, I have not had an issue during weekend lunch but never visited during dinner rush Their banchans are excellent, one of the best in the Bay Area. I love the eggplant banchan and I don't even like eggplant. Their fried chicken is good, Crispy even after hours in the car. Japchae has a decent amount of vegetables and well seasoned. Bibim Naeng-myun was deliciously cool and tangy. Would highly recommend you give Gangnam tofu a try. read more

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