TLDR: An incredible hidden gem serving some of the best Korean food I've had. Outstanding bossam,…read moregenerous portions, warm hospitality, and a cozy atmosphere make this an easy 10/10. What feels like a hidden gem serves some of the best Korean cooking I've tasted. The bossam was incredibly aromatic and came with a massive portion of fresh kimchi that was cut tableside, making for a fun dining experience. Together, it was more than enough to satisfy two hungry diners. The banchan selection was equally impressive and paired beautifully with the meal. The restaurant itself is cozy, clean, and welcoming, while the service felt warm, genuine, and comforting, almost like dining in someone's home. My only suggestion would be to offer a more fermented kimchi option as a side dish. All of the kimchi we tried was very fresh, and I personally would have loved a tangier, more developed flavor. Overall, this is an easy 10 out of 10. I would absolutely recommend it and will definitely be back.

Bon Ga is a mom-and-pop restaurant that is located in a plaza a mile west from the other Korean…read morespots in Centreville. The menu was extensive, filled with lots of homey options that I don't usually see in other restaurants. After ordering, we were served six different banchans, all of which were incredibly homey -- light and not too savory. My favorites were the acorn jelly (which was mixed with salted seaweed and sesame seeds) and the white kimchi. Honestly, all six were really solid. AL TANG - 19.99 Super savory with lots of "sea sweetness" and umami, this stew was rich and piping hot upon arrival. I've never had al tang before, but have heard great things about it. Unfortunately, I didn't love the texture of fish roe (kind of reminded me of the texture of cooked chicken lungs). By the end of the stew, I thought it was too salty, so I didn't end up finishing it. Overall, I'm glad I tried it, but I probably won't get it again. My friend got the mackerel which he loved. I'll look forward to other items on the menu next time.

We were just walking by, noticed this place was busy, and decided to stop in. They serve a wide…read morevariety of traditional Korean dishes, ranging from tofu stews and noodles to grilled meats. The two soups we ordered were warm, comforting, and full of flavor. The seafood pancake and steamed egg were also excellent. There were plenty of locals dining here, and I could see why--the food tasted like a home-cooked meal. Another solid Korean spot in the DMV that I'd happily return to! Entrees: Clam Kalguksu and Tteok Manduguk (rice cake and dumpling soup) Sides: Seafood Pancake and Steamed Egg

I returned to the business multiple times to eat the kimchi jiggae because how magical it was the…read morefirst time. But I have been disappointed each time. I really don't know if it's because too many people are getting it and they don't have the properly fermented kimchi... but the jjigae tastes too sweet and the depth of flavor is gone. Maybe they changed the chef... I'm not sure. But it's still a good restaurant. I just miss what I had the first time. I'll return with the hope that the flavor will return.

Super fun! No issues. Would recommend for a fun date idea…read more Had the strawberry lemonade and it was delicious Prices are great and affordable. They can be slightly understaffed at times but still the service was excellent!

Fun! Fun! Fun! This is such a different concept. You pick the noodle and the ingredients then…read moreput it in a hot water machine - presto you have food. Had a great time. Helpful staff. Reasonable price. Try it.

IYKYK. For years I've always considered this my fav Krn spot…read morein Cville and thats saying alot considering it being ktown. This place is easily my #1 spot for gamjatang and soondae and always get it right everytime. Even if I'm full Ill order a to-go tray of soondae to eat at home Glad to say over a decade of coming here it still always hits the spot. Pls never change

The food was overhyped in my opinion. I was excited to try the different variations of soondae…read more(blood sausage) but honestly, the regular/original one was by far the best and it was a shared consensus in our table of 5. The budae jjigae (army stew) tasted like water soup with a hint of kimchi. The gopchang soonbudu (small intestine tofu stew) was alright. I'd give it a 6/10. Someone in our group also didn't get their main entree til well after everyone finished their dishes. Thankfully we had ordered a bunch of dishes for the table to share. Personally wouldn't recommend it to anyone which I feel bad writing about. I love supporting small businesses but i would have appreciated seeing someone else's honest opinion on this place.

Love lab 1! We always come for the omu rice, and Japanese lasagna roll. The fried chicken wings are…read moreperfectly cooked with the best crispy exterior. The service is always good and fast!

I really wanted to like this place, but it ended up being pretty mixed for me. The portions are…read morelarge, so the prices feel somewhat justifiable. I ordered the tornado omurice, and it was alright. It's just a bit too bland for my taste. It honestly feels like it's on the menu more for how pretty it looks in photos than for the actual flavor. The tteokbokki, on the other hand, was pretty spicy, but I couldn't stop eating it. So the food overall is kind of hit or miss. What I really don't like about this place is the service. It's been slow every time I've gone. It takes a long time to even get a waiter's attention and then the food comes out like 20+ minutes later. They only came to get my order and after getting my food, it takes forever to find someone to get the check. Honestly, I feel like I would have to clear my whole evening if everytime I try to eat here.

Stopped by Lighthouse Tofu and ordered the combo tofu soup with beef and seafood. It came piping…read morehot with a raw egg to mix in and a great spread of banchan on the side. Everything was really good--rich, comforting, and full of flavor. Service was warm and thoughtful too. The older lady waitress was so kind and even brought me a bib so I wouldn't mess up my shirt, which made me smile. Little touches like that go a long way. Will definitely be back for another comforting bowl of tofu soup.

Many say this spot is better than the Annandale location…read more Idk it seems to taste the same for me. The combination tofu soup medium spice always does the job. First had this dish over a decade ago and the price keeps going up--I know that's just inflation for you. The reason I dropped my rating was actually because of the "Angry Chicken" I kept seeing so many photos of it on Yelp which made me order it. The chicken did not have any attractive, char flavor to it... a bit mushy and it really relies on the spice. I don't think it should cost $20 and yes very overhyped. Other than the chicken, I'd def come back when I'm craving nostalgic soondubu!

Dinner at Gomtaengi has become a bit pricey for me, so I've been going more for lunch. They offer…read moreseveral lunch dishes for around $10, which is a great deal. As a regular, here are a few tips: the $10 lunch menu is dine-in only--you can't order it to-go, and takeout has to be at dinner pricing (a bit unfortunate). Also, except for the seolleongtang, most dishes are pre-cooked and reheated, so I recommend asking them to make it piping hot; otherwise, some parts might still be a bit cold. Lunch is served from 11:30 AM to 3 PM, but it's not available on holidays--also a bit of a downside. On the plus side, the servers are always very kind, and sometimes during lunch they serve an extra side dish in addition to kimchi. The stir-fried fish cake (odeng bokkeum) is especially delicious. Overall, still a solid spot I keep coming back to.

This is one of those inherently subjective reviews, because food, especially culturally specific…read morefood, is deeply personal. You either connect with it, or you don't. The restaurant itself is clean, orderly, and thoughtfully presented. The atmosphere feels calm and intentional, and the setup appears efficient. One person handles service for the entire dining room, which I was aware of going in, so my expectations for service were reasonable and aligned with that model. Unfortunately, the food simply did not work for me. This is where I found myself debating between three and four stars. From a purely functional standpoint, the restaurant did its job: I was seated, served a complete meal, and charged a reasonable price. But the food itself was a major disappointment. The dish had a sour aroma, and the flavor was difficult for me to enjoy. The dried pollack soup, in particular, reminded me of an extremely watery pho. After just a few sips of the broth, I knew it wasn't going to be something I could finish. I did try the fish as well, but it didn't improve the experience for me. That said, I want to emphasize the subjectivity here. Many other diners seemed to genuinely enjoy their meals, which suggests this is more about personal taste than execution. It may simply be a very traditional Korean flavor profile, more authentic than I anticipated,, and that's likely where the disconnect was for me. I was also the only white diner there for much of my visit, which reinforced the sense that this restaurant is catering to a specific cultural palate rather than a broadly Western one. Overall, it appears to be a well-run, authentic establishment. If you truly enjoy traditional Korean cuisine, this place may be exactly what you're looking for. For those who are less familiar with or less inclined toward those flavors, it may not be the best fit.

As their store name suggests, this is the best place to get Gopchang in the area. I've heard from…read moreothers, that their Annandale location is not the best, so I highly reccommend going here first. I live nearby so we always get takeout. The large gopchang is well seasoned, a little crispier when you dine in but nothing an airfryer can't fix. The kimchi jiggae is slept on- super good and loaded with pork belly!! The fried rice is also a must get, loaded with meat and seasoned well. We also tried their new chicken gizzards and mala intestine recently and they were both really good. Service is always friendly dine in or takeout- they package everything really well. The restaurant is one of the few that opens late, so expect it to be busy after midnight!

We've been going to Gopchang Story ever since we moved to Centreville four years ago. There are a…read morefew things that set them apart from the other Korean BBQ's in the area l, specifically their cooking of the Gui. They, hands down cook the best gui and their name sake Gopchang (small intestines) in my opinion. Their AYCE option is different in a good way compared to the Korean BBQ's in the area - good banchan and really good salad. However, our last visit was less than satisfactory. We came in @ 11pm for their late night dining to celebrate my wife's birthday since I got out late from work. Our server abandoned us, the gui overcooked, and our grill burned a couple of times. Their late night staff is on the younger side and they were literally goofing around, wrestling, lifting their shirts, flexing, texting.