DO NOT get the jap chae (clear noodle dish)!!!! It gave both me and my friend the worst diarrhea of our lives, on two separate occasions. Other than that and the sushi, the food here is pretty good. I would recommend. read more

Update- this has become my absolute favorite restaurant in Lexington. My favorites are the Soon Du Bu and the fantastic roll. The mochi on the dessert menu is also fantastic. Every visit has been spectacular! This restaurant was excellent! I loved the atmosphere (kind of Indie-Chic).. The server was nice, and we didn't wait very long for our food. Everyone in my group was happy with their food (I can't remember the names of everything- one seafood soup, one beef and potatoes dish, one seafood and tofu sauce that you pour over rice, and one roll of sushi). The cinnamon tea was a little too sweet for my taste but my boyfriend liked it. I was very happy with this place and definitely plan on returning! read more

THEY DO NOT OFFER GLUTEN FREE-DO NOT TRUST THE OTHER REVIEW! Not a good experience-we were in lexington during the derby as we were just moving to the louisville area. I found a review on yelp saying they were gluten free-so we went one night-what a mistake! The owner (I assume) is a lady who hardly speaks english and had no idea what gluten was-she thought it was rice. Two youngs men were the waiters and they didnt have a clue what gluten free was-they actually asked me if I could explain it. I ordered a hot tea-Jason got a diet coke-we ordered one sushi roll and left. We asked if they could modify some rolls to make them gluten free-they were absolutely against it. Do not go here if you are looking for gluten free-or any knowledgable service. read more

Small Korean restaurant with delicious, authentic food. This restaurant is not your typical Korean place that serves lots of ban chan (little side dishes)- it's a nice place to go for a quick casual lunch or dinner. The menu is limited but all of the items are great. The dol sot bi bim bop (hot stone rice bowl with veggies, marinated beef, egg, spicy sauce) is delicious and as good as you'll find anywhere. The veggie tofu dumplings are surprisingly great- i don't typically order vegetarian items but they were satisfying and delicious. Large portions, low prices. Lunch served with kimchi and miso soup. Usually very packed inside but the wait has never been more than 10 minutes for a table. Love this place! read more

Han Woo Ri - Dol sot bi bim bop was authentic and delicious! - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Delicious Korean food that's affordable and presented nicely. I've had most of the dishes on the menu and enjoyed everything. The soup bowls are wonderful and spicy. At dinner, everything is served with miso soup and a salad with a delicious ginger dressing. Oh, and a side of Kimchee. I love it! They also serve sushi, and appetizers, they even have a soft shell crab on the menu and it is delicious. read more

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I love, love, love spicy bulgogi. I've eaten the other menu items, but the spicy bulgogi is by far my favorite. It's thinly spiced pork, covered in a spicy red marinade. The pork is tender, hot and flavorful and served on a hot iron plate. Also on the plate is potato and onion. It is served with kimchi and white rice. I have tried the sushi and have found it to be over priced and not very good. Stick with the Korean dishes, you can't go wrong. read more

Han Woo Ri - The addition of the sushi bar was not actually an improvement. The Korean food is amazing. - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

This was my first Korean food experience, and I admit it was pretty good. I tried the spicy bulgogi. It was served with a shredded potato and carrot mixture, and a side of steamed rice. Being on an iron skillet, the dish was extremely hot when it came out. The seasoning and spice level was quite nice; not too hot that my mouth was set afire, but not too mild that it underwhelmed me. The potato/carrot bed seemed to lack its own flavor, and I thought it could have been left off completely since there was rice but I'm not complaining. I'm not a fan of connective tissues on meat (fat, gristle, bones, etc.) so I was a bit turned off by a couple pieces of the pork that were really fatty. The atmosphere was stuffy. Although the place looked nice, it was packed and the seating was very close to one another. That's to be expected I suppose since it's a small establishment, so it wasn't a huge bother. The one thing that I didn't get was who my waiter was. There were a couple of guys working and it seemed that both of them covered all of the tables, even though one was introduced as our waiter. I just wasn't sure who to tip - it was a bit confusing. Overall, I enjoyed it here and the food was pretty good. I look forward to going back and trying something different next time. read more

Han Woo Ri - Spicy bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

I can't remember what we got, but the food was delicious and well seasoned. Service was very great and the food was amazing, will be back soon for more this time I'll try to remember to take a picture. read more

This place was so good! It was my first time eating here and I wasn't let down. My s ister had recommended it to me and now I recommend it to everyone else!! I had the bulgogi and it was so flavorful! The food comes out on hot plates still cooking your food so you know it's fresh! Each meal gets a side of miso soup and kimchi! Definitely will eat here again. Also don't forget to check out the other cool shops in the building! read more

These guys have changed recently, trying to make the place fancier. They redid the interior, even though it had a great feel before, and are now a sit-down restaurant with waiters. This didn't improve the wait time when you go at lunch: it still takes a long time. The food still tastes the same, which is the only good thing I can say about the updates. They took away the bowl of free mints by the door, and the awesome, free tea is no more. I think some of the wait staff have never waited before, because the lady we had was on the rude side. When she brought out my friend's hot seafood soup dish, she forgot the spoon. When the waitress came back with my dol sot bi bim bap, it had two spoons in it. She removed one of the spoons, knocked off the beef and rice that was sticking to it, and gave it to my friend to use. Who does that?? When you order water, they ask if you want it hot or cold. We all requested cold, but it came out room temperature: the pitcher wasn't frosty, there was no ice, and they filled our cups only about 3/4 full. They're small cups, so this meant we had to get several refills through our meal. read more

The service was poor. Food was okay. Host tried to turn us away even though it was 8:12pm (the place did not close til 9pm). He did the same with the food informing me it would take 15min. Felt rushed. Kept looking back at the manager. He just had this "guys, please gtfo, so we can close at exactly 9." vibe. (We were done by 8:46, so they were fine...) As for the food, kimchi was okay, their "assorted seafood" soup consisted mostly of imitation crab meat, 3 mussels and 1 shrimp. But their spicy bulgogi was good! Just disappointed with the service and soup. read more

First great warm and wonderful service; Second, we are on a road trip, I still don't know about the Parking; Third, Bim Bi Bon is 8.0/10.0. Tofu soup is spicy enough, they use the spicy season, which is not perfect but good enough for such price. Cons is the dishes, kimchi is not quite authentic but still decent. Ice cream is good. read more

Han Woo Ri - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Having visited Korea, I seek the authentic and traditional Korean flavors that have made the cuisine a craving of mine. Han Woo Ri does a excellent job in bringing the flavors to life. I typically have the pa jun, spicy bulgogi, and my gf will have the spicy seafood soup. It's quick to order and comes out hot. Orders come with a bowl of miso soup and a side of kimchi. I always mix my rice, kimchi (all the kimchi), and gochujang (red pepper paste) in my bulgogi when it's piping hot to unleash the complex spice into my dish. They may not offer the traditional style Korean BBQ of cooking the meats at your table, but that experience can be overrated if you just want to eat good food. This has become a go-to restaurant on our list that requires at least a monthly visit..the cravings are real. read more

I do not have a lot of experience with Korean food, that being said I know what tastes good and this place is absolutely delicious. I went on a bestie date here and we had the best time and amazing food read more

Han Woo Ri - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Food is okay at best, very overhyped. Place is small, they don't substitute any of their meals, also got really sick following eating here. The service is okay, a bit overpriced for the quantity. Ambiance is okay. read more

What a wonderful little family restaurant in downtown Lexington near the University of Kentucky. They are SLOW (family run!) but very GOOD. The bulgogi was great. We came as a group, and the owner offered complimentary edamame appetizer and small kimchi plates while we waited for our main dishes to arrive. Beautiful stylish restaurant. Warm. Inviting. Friendly. read more

Han Woo Ri - Yummy bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Best Korean restaurant in Kentucky. Very family friendly and a great place to help my parents cook.

Wow! Lunch time and this place is crowded. I came as recommended by a coworker. The server is super attentive. He's been picking up empty plates and trash on my table all the time. They gave me complementary miso soup and an onion thingy that is kinda hot. I like the ambience. Very pretty. Honestly, props to the server... he's on top of everything and they can't fit another soul into here. Now time to eat. read more

Han Woo Ri - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Hadn't been to Han Woo in awhile. Had the Jap Chae -- Sweet potato noodles stir fried with vegetables, mushroom and bits of pork over white rice. As usual, served with a small plate of Kimchi and a soothing bowl of hot Miso soup. While the noodles were excellent, I would have preferred brown rice, and probably should have thought to ask for it. The "bits of pork" were non existent. While I would still rate Han Woo 4-Star, this dish is just an OK due to the lack of pork. Service was friendly very and attentive. read more

Food is great, service is great what more could you ask for? Doesn't look like much on the outside but believe me when I say the food was delicious. read more

Super cozy inside! Nice, reasonably priced menu with traditionally Korean foods and other Asian foods that non-adventurous Americans are more used to (gyoza, California rolls, etc) the steamed dumplings are absolutely to die for! They're vegetarian but don't taste like it! Speaking of which, this restaurant has LOTS of vegetarian options. Plus they use REAL crab in their California rolls! (Or if it's fake, they fake it really well) I could go on and on! read more

This place is a nice little spot off of U.K. Campus. I would say this place is almost like a small Korean Diner, however, it is upscale. If you're looking for a small nook of Korean for lunch or dinner, definitely hit up this place. The food is great, the atmosphere is awesome, and the owners, who I've met, are great people. They know what they're doing. I usually get the Spicy Bulgolgi or the Chap Chae. The Spicy Tofu Stew/Soup is awesome. The green tea if awesome. Oh! And try that fish pancake they have, it's legit. They do make dumplings, but I (personally) would just go to a Chinese restaurant for that, keep Korean, Korean; although they have these new KimChi Dumplings that are insane. With that being said, if you're looking for a big Korean dinner experience with all the dishes you can imagine, you may want to start with this place, and then go to Dong Yang Market (restaurant in the back) or the Arirang Garden. Han Woo doesn't do the Korean BBQ experience that a lot of people covet, (which is understandable, their location is small and fires in the middle of the room wouldn't make sense lol), but they do have the Korean BBQ Bulgogi recipe they serve. Hope this was helpful! Good eats! read more

Stopped in for lunch and had the Dol Sot Bibimbap. The complimentary kimchi and soup were very tasty. However, the bibimbap was the star of the meal. From sizzling sound of the hot bowl, to the freshness of the ingredients, to the crunch of the carmalized rice at the bottom of the bowl. This was a great lunch. My only regret is that I only visited this restaurant once during my week in Lexington. read more

Han Woo Ri - Did Sot Bibimbop - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Got a parking spot out front of building with free parking. Good. Welcomed by friendly servers who never let our glass get half empty and kept table cleared of dishes and stuff. Good. Cute & quaint. Good. Brought out 3 little apps before we even ordered and all three were fresh and delicious. Good. We ordered the Crazy Boy roll and Dol Sot Bip em Bab. The owner came to our table to stir the bowl. Both dishes were AMAZING!! That's the best roll I've ever had. Awesome. The server said the owner enjoys coming out and stirring the dish, she makes some special sauces and makes the dishes. Passion. The price was so reasonable too. Affordable. The experience left me very satisfied and ready to go back soon. Favorite. read more

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Came here with a friend and this was a very special spot! Love how this is a family run business. The food was so good and really is the best hole in the wall place I've found thus far. Can't wait to come back! read more

I go here for a lunch date with my mom every time I am back in town. It's one of the first places I want to eat. This is delicious Korean food. I've had almost everything on the menu - pancakes, dumplings, sticky rice cakes, sushi, bulgoki, bi bim bap - all of it is consistently delicious. But by far my two most favorite dishes are the bi bim bap (steamed veggies and marinated beef over hot rice) and the bulgoki (Korean bbq beef). Everything comes in large portions and are reasonably priced. Parking is convenient, they have a lot right behind the store, and the location is extremely close to school. Usually when I go back to Lexington I make sure to spend a whole day around campus and then grab lunch here and afterwards I walk off my food coma at any of the awesome independently owned stores around this area (CD Central and sQecial are right next door!) The cinnamon tea is also mind-blowingly delicious - sweet and spicy and so potent you can drink one cup for hours, just keep adding ice cubes to tone down the spiciness. I brought two friends here from out of town, they agreed it was some of the best Korean they'd had. read more

This place holds a special place in my heart for being my go to restaurant when I was a student here. At first I was very hesitant to all the changes that it went though in he last few years but I am glad to say it was all for the best. This was already a great place to get traditional Korean food but now it has evolved to so much more while keeping to their roots. A delightful little restaurant with a huge amount of flavor and hospitality. read more

Love love love the food and appreciate the atmosphere and service. One of my very favorite places to eat! The best surprise is the cinnamon tea. I've never had anything like it anywhere else and it is fantastically delicious and comforting. Do try it! read more

Stopped in here on a whim while actually walking to a different restaurant- and I'm very lucky I did. I had the dol sot bi bim bab. While I waited, they brought out a sampling of miso soup and kimchi- both of which were delicious. The main dish came out fresh and sizzling in the stone bowl. The spicy sauce that came on the side cut the slight sweetness perfectly. The best part was the rice on the bottom that became slightly crunchy from the hot bowl. The staff was very friendly and attentive and the restaurant was bright and clean. I will definitely be back again. read more

Han Woo Ri - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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I went to this place as an invitation from a good friend. He said and I quote "I only brings my good friends here, so you should feel special." This place is a hole in the wall establishment, located right next to University of Kentucky's campus. It's definitely in a prime location for foot traffic. This place is fairly small, so keep that in mind if you have a large group of people. The decor is simple and tasteful, and the music is casual. The menu is small but it makes sense. They focus on their strengths and honestly you won't be disappointed. I asked my friend what he suggested and he said "Everything here is amazing!" Their menu has authentic Korean BBQ and other dishes, as well a nice selection of sushi. I started out with an order of a Dragon Roll: Crab, avocado, eel, shrimp. This roll was expertly made, not only did it make for a wonderful appetizer but it allowed me to get a taste of what was to come. Bulgogi: Thin, tender slices of beef are marinated with soy sauce, sesame oil, and other spices. Sautéed potato's and onions. It is served with a bowl of white stick rice. This was amazing, the flavors just jumped off the plate. The dish had several layers of textures and flavors that I just couldn't stop eating it. I wanted to try their dessert options but I was too stuffed to eat anymore. This restaurant is epic, I'm surprised I didn't hear about it until now. I highly recommend everyone to at least try this place out. You won't be disappointed. read more

The name and reviews sounded promising, but this place didn't quite live up to the hype. The menu was pretty lack luster (much of it was fusion and sushi) and they were really skimpy with their kimchi. Having just come back from Korea where kimchi is the staple side dish I was disappointed. They also served no bap chan (side dishes) aside from kimchi! Oddly enough they only had Japanese beer. No Cass or Hite! Admittedly Korean beer isn't the best, but come on. Not having Korean beer at a Korean restaurant is a sin! If you've never had Korean this place will be fine, but if you're accustomed to a good selection and great taste you should look elsewhere. read more

I few things to note: A few other reviewers said there is no alcohol; they do have bottled beer, a good selection at that. Also, the tea is still free, but you have to ask for it. My boyfriend and I had dinner there for $20 and left very full. Dinners come with soup, salad & kimchee. Our waiter even brought seconds of the kimchee. Food and service was excellent; We had our entrees in about 10 minutes or so, just as we had finished our soup, salad & kimchee. read more

This is my favorite place to eat in Lexington. Even though the quality of service and overall environment has decreased since their recent expansion, the food here remains to always be a truly gourmet experience for me. I love their Dol Sot and deserts. I wish they'd bring back the free tea and the (in)famous "You buy with cash get one free can drink!" sign, but I suppose that'd just be too perfect. So even though a lot has been lost externally speaking since their golden days, Han Woo Ri remains one if the best values for taste-filled experience in Lexington. Hopefully their new waiters will become more experienced and management won't go on to expand...again. read more

I visited Han Woo Ri a few times my freshman year of college (4 years ago) and was not impressed. They had some interesting deals, but the food was subpar, and left me with a pretty bad first experience with Korean food. However, Han Woo Ri is one my favorite restaurants near campus, and judging by the lunch time rush, I'm not the only one who thinks so! I had the Bul Go Gi, which was tender, flavorful and served in a huge portion size. I will be going back very, very soon :) read more

Great service, delicious food! My gramps is in town from San Francisco and thoroughly enjoyed his bulgogi and fried green tea ice cream! read more

Han Woo Ri - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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What can I say? I lived in town for years and never ventured in, but last year that all changed. Truly a hidden treasure located right in the heart of UK's campus. I've only tried about a third of the menu so far, because it's so hard to pass on the dol sat bibim bab (sp?). The sushi was good and reasonably priced, the servers are friendly, and the lady who owns it can be glimpsed from time to time creating masterpieces. Seriously, the dol sat. It's amazing. 10.59 gets you a small salad, kimchi, miso soup (I always end up asking for more miso, and I've never seen it reflected on the bill) and the stone bowl full of sizzling meat, rice, and veggies. Don't be like I was, ignorant to the glory of Han woo ri. You deserve this. read more

I've had Korean Barbeque all over the world (even in Korea!), and Han Woo Ri ranks up there with the best of them. The food is tasty, authentic, well-portioned, and the prices are extremely affordable as well. I love introducing people to this place, especially when people who aren't in the know lament that they haven't found a good Korean joint in Lexington. Good stuff. read more

Average Korean restaurant. Kimchi on the more bland side, but dishes are pretty decent. Only two side dishes served on this visit, but good.

I always enjoy the food here. I have had the BiBimBap, a korean soup, and bulgogi and they were all very tasty. I have also tried the sushi and it was presented very nicely. I love how they bring KimChee and miso soup with dinner entrees. The dinner portion is a dollar more than the lunch portion and it comes with the KimChee and Miso soup. I havent eaten here at lunch so I am not sure if the entree is smaller or not. Would definitely recommend! read more

The food is AWESOME! The staff has always been friendly and prompt. The atmosphere is clean and sophisticated. The prices are very reasonable. read more

Han Woo Ri - Now THIS is a meal! - Korean Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky