Coming from outside of the Lakewood, Washington area, it's easy to become overwhelmed with the choices of Korean cuisine in the area. If you had grown up in this part of Pierce County, you are familiar with the enormous changes. However, this is one restaurant that has stayed with the times. Locals know, this is the place to start with, an original - Ho Soon Yi. Where the place can easily be swallowed up by the hustle and bustle of businesses on a very busy city street, this casual sit-down Korean restaurant has the everyday favorites you are familiar with. Where many Korean American establishments focus on the BBQ aspect, Ho Soon Yi focuses and masters other parts Korean cuisine. Specifically the soups!! And they are tasty!! Definitely the tofu soups are there, but there are appetizers, fried rice, and the traditional small side dishes are also served. My friend and I ordered the savory seafood pancake as the appetizer. As for soups, I ordered the Pork Tofu Soup and it was great! Definitely satisfying, and I didn't miss the BBQ one bit. Yes, the do have kalbi and bulgogi (beef, pork and seafood) but that is for another time. There are definitely plenty dishes to try. And all are tasty. You won't be disappointed. Come see an original before seeing the others. See Ho Soon Yi... soon! read more

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We stopped by here for dinner on a Saturday night. The place was half full so we were seated right away. Food we ordered: seafood tofu soup with bulgogi combo, and an appetizer. Overall we enjoyed the food (including our child) - tofu soup was very good - rich flavors, soft tofu. Could use more seafood in there but otherwise, no complains. I found the bulgogi a bit too sweet and salty for my taste but my spouse liked it. It felt like a nice and chill place, casual setting, plenty of parking outside. read more

Came here for lunch and got the chicken bibimbop. When it came out it was sizzling and looked delicious!! Turns out it was the most lackluster bowl of sautéed veggies and burnt rice. There was nooooo flavor! It desperately needed salt, MSG, soy sauce literally anything to add flavor. The super hot bowl crisped up the rice which was a fun texture but made it stick to my teeth real bad bc it got too crispy. Some parts started to burn bc the pot was so hot. The chicken was non-existent. There were a ton of beansprouts and pickled veggies which costs next to nothing however they charge $20 for this dish. My friend got shrimp fried rice and also had to add seasoning when she got home. For the prices, I'm shocked at how bland and boring the food is. The service was quick and they get packed during lunch hours. read more

Ho Soon Yi - Chicken bibimbop - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

Holy Molé this place is amazing!!! The food is delicious that it will have you coming back for more!! The service is quick and very friendly! The ambiance is casual and family friendly!! You'll enjoy and love all the different flavors this place has to offer!!! read more

I visited for the first time on Friday around 17:00, and the food was absolutely delicious! The parking lot was already starting to get busy when I arrived, with all the spots taken up at Ho Soon Yi. There were only a few tables inside but almost half of them were already occupied with several customers. I was quickly seated for a table of 1. The tables are fairly close together and the noise level is low enough to hear conversations around me. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I did hear other customers comment at their tables that the food here is good. There's a few ajummas working here, so service was straightforward. I ordered the kalbi dolsot bibimbap, which seemed inexpensive and came with some complementary sides, and they were nice enough to cut my kalbi into bite-sized pieces for me. I would say, if I can finish my food in one sitting at a restaurant, I am either really hungry, satisfied, or both. In this case, it was both! This is my first dolsot bibimbap after moving to Washington recently, and I am glad it did not disappoint. read more

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Very expensive for this type of establishment. Bathrooms were quite run down. Food was good and service was mostly friendly, but a bit inattentive. My tea cup was empty for the last 30 minutes that I was eating. Portions were not large. Respectfully, for the money spent, I would probably choose elsewhere to dine, when in the area. read more

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Was craving tofu soup, so I looked on yelp and found this place. We ordered a mushroom pork, tofu soup and beef Bulgogi. The tofu soup was good (too spicy for being mild/not the best I've had) and the beef bulgogi was very chewy (took the majority of it home to the dogs). There were several banchan and most were too spicy for me. My daughter loved the cucumbers and the kimchi. The total with tax and tip no drinks was ~$50. It wasn't awful, but I won't be back. There's too many better Korean restaurants. read more

Ho Soon Yi - Beef bulgogi & banchan - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

Best Korean food we've had in the area. Staff were busy but friendly and portion sizes were great. Side dishes were tasty and our main courses were well seasoned and delicious. read more

My friend and I wanted to grab dinner together. We decided to go to Ho Soon Yi. I've been once before and this so happened to be his go to spot in Tacoma. We ordered a few dishes to share; the Haemul Pajeon (해물파전), which is a pan-fried seafood pancake with scallions, Beef Bulgogi and Spicy Pork Bulgogi combo (불고기반 돼지반 콤보), and Beef Tofu Soup (소고기 순두부). Along with these dishes, we also got two sides of rice and a variety of Banchan (반찬), which is small Korean side dishes served with a meal of rice and soup. This time around there were six different Banchans. The food was great and more than enough for two people to eat! We ended up having leftovers that we took to go once we were done eating for the evening. read more

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Friendly service. Kimchi and Cucumber Banchan were very good. We had spicy pork tofu kimchi soup and hot stone spicy pork bibimbap. Both were excellent. read more

Great atmosphere and nice staff. Foods were delicious and large portion. Everything was enjoyable. Highly recommended. read more

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Was in town for an event at the Tacoma Dome this past weekend and ordered from this spot last year - the food was so good that my friends and I had to order again! We ordered the galbi, bulgogi, galbi-tang, seafood tofu soup, kimchi fried rice, and beef fried rice. Everything was incredibly flavorful, and they included a variety of fresh kimchi on the side. Even with multiple dishes, our order was prepared within minutes. Such a cute mom-and-pop restaurant with great food, fair prices, and excellent customer service. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! read more

Such a cozy, comforting spot. From the moment we walked in, the staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive. The food was so delicious that we ended up eating most of the meal in happy silence--always the best sign. Refills came right away, which made the experience feel extra thoughtful and generous. On a rainy, cold Seattle day, this place is perfect soup weather. If we're ever back in Seattle, this is absolutely a place we'd return to. read more

Ho Soon Yi - Outside - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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Really delicious Korean food and reasonably priced. I had the soft tofu soup #1. It was very tasty. The eggplant banchan and the potato banchan were particular favorites. read more

My wife and I were making our way to Ocean Shores from Seattle for a weekend trip, driving in the evening after rush hour. We needed somewhere open late-ish but we didn't want to eat at a bar. Fortunately we found this Korean spot along the way, and boy did it hit on a cold winter night. The vibes were exactly what we were looking for. Very relaxed and casual, homey, and comfy. The ladies who served us were super sweet. We ordered a tofu soup + short rib combo for $38. Sometimes when you get these type of combos, they skimp out a little bit on the amount of meat you get. Not the case here. The short rib was generously piled up, tender, and delicious. The tofu soup comes with a variety of toppings and spice levels. We needed something more plain today so we got pork, no spice. The soup was plenty flavorful and the amount of pork was likewise generous and tender. Folks who can't handle spicy soup would do well here. The free sides were excellent as well. My favorites are the spicy fish cake and Korean style braised potatoes. So freaking delicious. And the pickled radishes and seaweed were surprisingly good too. We also got the seafood pancake, which was one of the best I've had yet. Some restaurants make them too thick for my liking, but this one was nice and crispy and thin, while still packing in a lot of ingredients. Overall, we left with full and warm tummies, and some soup and seafood pancake leftover too! read more

Great Korean flavors without the BBQ smoke! We shared the Korean BBQ ribs and pork bulgogi--both perfectly cooked and super tasty. The kimchi, kimchi cucumbers, and sweet potatoes from the side dishes were amazing. They've got a big menu with lots of other Korean dishes (like stone pot soups) we're excited to try next time. Only downside; Service could've been a bit more attentive. Still, a solid spot for satisfying Korean food without grilling at your table! read more

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The food is always amazing and the two ladies working there are always so lovely and attentive. The seafood pancakes is my go to

Amazing food and service. Fun staff who made the dining experience a huge treat. The soups were delicious. read more

Ho Soon Yi - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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The food here is very good. It's a little pricey, so I don't come here often, but when I want good Korean food (and I don't want to cook) this place is phenomenal so it's well worth the price. Their banchan is awesome especially their kimchi and cucumber kimchi. All the food is good, but I especially like the tofu soup and the spicy pork. Their dolsot bibimbop is very good as well. If you haven't tried Ho Soon Yi, it's a must try for Korean food in Lakewood. read more

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A go-to spot for high quality and authentic Korean food in the Lakewood/Tacoma area. It does get busy at dinner time, especially on weekends, so you may have a short wait, but nothing too crazy. The servers are efficient and kind, which makes the experience smooth. As a Korean, I can say Ho Soon Yi does soon tofu soup the best as it's their specialty and always hits the spot. The broth is rich and perfectly seasoned. Everything else on the menu is solid, but that's worth keeping in mind. If you want to treat yourself, I also recommend the galbi or other meat combos. read more

Ho Soon Yi - Hosoonyi Special Tofu Soup, Galbi - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

This place is just as good as last time I came. So awesome. The Bonchon are delicious, each one is different.and adds so much. I had the number 5 with beef. I love to eat and this place soothes my soul. Yay. read more

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Still consistently good Dolsot kalbi Bibimbop is my favorite ( and spell check bad in my last review) banchan delicious. Spicy pork, kalbi, duk mandoogook.. This was the best meal on our Alaska cruise on the way home. Best overall past 10 days. Yum And the price is still the best compared to most order Korean plants for the taste. M-f lunch special rules read more

Delicious food. Did kind of feel like I was being served by my grouchy elders, but that is totally cool and fine with me. read more

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Slamming dishes but too spicy at times. The waitresses are nice. You got to try to spicy tofu soup. It will take your soul away. :-) read more

Ho Soon Yi - Me hi - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

We ordered the tteokbokki, naengmyeon, and the spicy pork with squid (ojingeo jeyuk bokkeum), and everything was excellent. The meats especially stood out -- nicely charred on the outside but still moist and flavorful inside. Service was fast, attentive, and friendly, which made the meal even better. The restaurant itself is a little run down, but this is the kind of place you visit for the food, not the décor. If you're a foodie, you'll appreciate it. Pricing was moderate -- about $100 for two people before tip. Not cheap, but fair and in line with other Seattle metro restaurants of similar quality. read more

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I seem to always be craving some kind of soup and wanted to try a place I hadn't been before. Ho Soon Yi was a perfect spot for some homey Korean food on a cold day. It was pretty busy for a Saturday night. Almost all of the tables were full, but we were able to be seated within ~10 minutes. Since it was busy, the service was not the best and it took a while for us to be able to order. I got the combo tofu soup (had beef, shrimp, clams) with kalbi. The tofu soup had a lot of all of the different proteins, which I appreciated. Soup had a great flavor and wasn't too spicy. The kalbi was tender and marinated well in that sweet and savory sauce. The banchan they served alongside the food was great. I really liked the kimchi (and that is always a good indicator for a good Korean restaurant). Overall I really enjoyed this place and will be in my rotation of Korean restaurants I go to in the Tacoma area. read more

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Came here a few days ago and STILL thinking about the food!! I ordered the Yuk-Gae-Jang and it was sooooo yummy, the brisket had so much flavor I absolutely loved the broth as well! The sides that they serve you are delicious as well. 10/10 will be coming here again. read more

Ho Soon Yi - Yuk-Gae-Jang - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

Yum!! Not an all you can eat but definitely filling. I got the kalbi plate and it comes with banchan. I refilled the banchan three times. It was delicious. The tofu soup was great! The servers there are really sweet and attentive. It's always good to see a small place packed. And the smell when you walked in, smelled so good. read more

Ho Soon Yi - Banchan, kalbi, tofu soup - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

Probably the best Korean restaurant I've ever been to in the PNW. Food - all the portions were quite large and everything was super delicious. I heard they were known for their tofu soup and the beef tofu soup that I got did not disappoint. I personally also loved the Bulgogi and kalbi combo, which really hit the meat craving spot. The flavors were top-notch and again the portions were large. It was served with rice. The Bonchon was especially good and unlimited as usual and everything was so good especially the Kimchi the seaweed salad and my favorite was the stewed potatoes that had a bit of sweetness to it. Even my vegetarian friend was very pleased and he said this was the best Korean food he has had outside of Korea. The service was quick and friendly. The staff was really grateful when we said everything was really delicious. You could tell they were busy because when we came in as a group of nine, two other large groups came at the same time. You could tell this is a favorite of many. Highly recommend. read more

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Homestyle at its best. The ahjimas (older ladies) were hustlimg. No bad service here even thought the restaurant was full. There was a reason, the food was so good! I can tell you it's legit. I had the yukejang (spicy beef soup) and this had flavor, lots of beef and spice. My husband had the spicy pork and it was enough to feed at least two people. My daughter had kimchi jigae but as a Korean, I never get this at a restaurant. The panchan was all delicious and fresh. This place is a must try if you're hankering for some Korean in the area! read more

Ho Soon Yi - Kimchi jigae - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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I cannot get enough of the delicious food and amazing service at Ho Soon Yi. By far my favorite Korean restaurant. So consistently delicious. Happy belly!! read more

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Service was friendly and the food was excellent. It's a bit on the spendy side but they give large portions! Will definitely be back read more

Ho Soon Yi - Beef Bul-Go-Gi 5/5 stars - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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My sister kept repeating that she wanted to come here when she visits me in the south sound, so she finally wrangled me down on the right day and right time. I've been to the cafe across from this location and parking can be a bear. We walked in and there was already a line as soon as they opened. We waited about 45 minutes, sat down, and ordered. My nephew got the seafood pancake, my sister got the short rib combo with tofu soup, my husband and I got the dolsot bibimbap. Bibimbap is how I gauge a restaurant. If you can make decent bibimbap, you're gonna be okay. They make lovely bibimbap! The hot stone wasn't hot enough to crisp my rice, but the flavor is very good. I had some of the seafood pancake and a short rib from my nephew and the flavor complexity is high. This isn't your run of the mill Korean restaurant, this place runs on Korean moms feeding you like it's their own house. The restaurant isn't anything to write home about interior wise, but I'm here to be overfed by a Korean Umma who hasn't seen me in a long time and calls me "skinny". The staff is VERY attentive to your needs. You want good Korean food? You have to try this place at least once. I'm pretty sure you'll keep coming back. read more

Food is amazing. The staff is super friendly and always takes great care of us! Would definitely recommend Ho Soon Yi if you're looking for great Korean cuisine read more

Food- I'm obsessed with Sundubu Jjigae lol I can eat it every day I wish they had apple salad banchan Service- mid, feels rushed sometimes Ambiance- good but cold read more

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Place looks outdated. Also, would like to comment on the service, but I didn't receive any, just say there while the other parties that came in after were at least given water, so I walked out. Couldn't even get water. read more

I already knew this place was going to be authentic when I saw the Korean aunties and uncles in the back whippin up the food. No problem with seating, we got sat right away. Service is fast. The auntie took our order and was straight to the point. I absolutely LOVE the banchan here. The kimchi cucumbers are so so delicious. They have a nice crunch to them and are sour with the perfect amount of spice. All the food was delicious but my favorite was the galbi (short ribs) and the galbi tang(short rib soup). This place is very simple/casual decor. I'm not really big on decor, especially when the food makes up for it. Glad we found this Korean mom/pop shop. Will definitely be back read more

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Came here on Mother's Day. We were quickly seated. Took a little while for our order to be taken. We decided on Beef Bulgogi and Short Ribs, Spicy Pork Bulgogi, and Shrimp Fried Rice. Food came out piping hot...had several banchan of spicy cabbage kimchi, cucumber kimchi, bean sprouts, potatoes, fish cakes, and greens--which were all good. The pork bulgogi had a nice char to it which brought out the flavor. All the food was delicious. This place is pretty small and basic inside, no fancy decor. Service is decent. I would definitely return. read more

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Solid little spot. Came here and ordered a few dishes; seafood pancake, pork bulgolgi, and the bibimbap. The seafood pancake was crispy and was a little light on the seafood but still very good. The pork was spicy and not too fatty, pretty tender too. The bibimbap was fine, pretty standard. As leftovers though, everything was super good. read more

I came here based on the Yelp reviews. I ordered the clam soondubu tofu soup. I liked that it wasn't excessively salty like many other places I've tried. The banchan was tasty too. Everyone there was friendly. read more

Ho Soon Yi - Korean Near Me - Lakewood, Washington

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