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    Julie's Kitchen

    4.1 (128 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    JULIE'S KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Japchae, kimchi, fried chicken, kimbap, tteokbokki, and deep fried sushi
    Ariana A.

    Julie's Kitchen is still alive and going strong! I've walked by the restaurant when exploring Crocker Galleria (trying to see if any stores were still in business) and was pleasantly surprised to see a bustling lunch crowd on the top floor. Their popular option is to grab a to-go box and pay per pound (~$11). There is an array of salad bar options as well as Korean and Japanese food. The protein options include chicken, pork, fish, and tofu. I highly recommend the soy glazed fried chicken, japchae, and the deep fried sushi. I'm a big fan of kimbap, though these had avocado in them, which I don't typically see in many mass produced kimbaps. My total came to be a little under $20 and the meal was definitely worth it. I've had Korean food around FiDi for a similar price and was underwhelmed.

    Audrey C.

    Good selection of food. There's hot foods, fruit, poke, and sushi. It is a self serve place, and they charge you by weight. I think it was $11.99 per pound. The mango was super sweet! I really enjoyed my whole plate. I don't think I would get the sushi again. The place itself was hot inside, so the food that needed to stay cold was questionable when eating it. There is seating outside. They take cash and card.

    Katie R.

    Shoutout to the street sign that directed some aimless and hungry wanderers to Julie's! We never would've found this spot if it weren't for their a-frame outside promoting their super reasonable lunch buffet. We were a little skeptical at first because it was pretty hidden on the top floor in a mostly empty retail center, but this ended up being a pretty solid spot. The buffet had a variety of options like sushi, teriyaki chicken, japchae, and gyoza among other Asian cuisine offerings. They also had selection of salads that ranged from caesar and kale to greek. The grand total for lunch for 5 of us was $70, probably as reasonable as you can find in the FiDi. If you eyes are bigger than your stomach, it can be easy to go overboard, especially when there's such a good array of foods. The lady working the register was super nice and friendly, and even offered to let us weigh as we go so we didn't end up surprised when we got rung up.

    Dominic B.

    Stumbled upon Julie's Kitchen while walking around Sutter looking for walk in lunch options for five. Located inside the Crocker Galleria. Pay per pound buffet style experience with a huge selection of, primarily Asian, food items to choose from. Salads, hot items, sushi rolls, and much more. To go only but the Galleria has plenty of seating options on all floors. Loaded my box up primarily with meat; items like beef and broccoli, teriyaki chicken, fried chicken. Only $10.95 per pound which is pretty solid but watch out as the weight will add up quickly! Fortunately, you can weigh as you go. Overall, the food as quite solid. It's not mind blowing but it's better than a stereotypical cheap buffet. If you ever have an Asian food craving, this will definitely satisfy it. Plus the diversity of items allows for a pretty custom experience that can accommodate many.

    Serena L.

    A decent place for a variety of food in downtown. They offer lunch plates/combos and buffet style plates. They have some mixed salads, fruit, veggies (with/without sauce), ban chan, fried chicken, fish, japchae, kim bap, and more! I usually like to grab some salad, fruit, kfc, tteokbokki, japchae, sausage, and some more veggies.

    This is a steam table style spot with a wide range of options, from Mediterranean salad to Korean fried chicken wings. Great for when you are not craving anything specific and just want a little bit of everything. Most places like this in FiDi have shut down, so this might be the last one left. They charge by weight ($10.95 per pound), so don't let your eyes get ahead of your stomach. I ended up with a decent amount of food for the price. I had stopped coming because I find the cashier, who I believe is the owner, to be a bit unfriendly and stingy. She once asked me to place my wasabi and soy sauce packets on the scale to get them weighed in. But since I now use Yelp as a food journal, I decided to give it another try. Rating: Korean fried chicken wings: super fresh, crispy, and well seasoned 5/5 Japchae: flavorful and satisfying 4/5 Mediterranean salad: light and refreshing 4/5 Sushi: just okay but passable for this type of place 3/5 Seaweed salad: tasted like it came from a box 1/5 Service 1/5 Come for the variety and convenience, but don't expect a warm welcome.

    My plate $14+
    Jeff H.

    It is like finding an oasis in the desert. 90% of the shops in Crocker Galleria are closed. Julie's Kitchen is a familiar brand. I remember eating at their Fremont St. location, in the alley, back in the early 2000's. The selection has diminished. There's no more tri-tip steak or salmon. Now it is tilapia. I would have preferred at least salty grilled mackerel instead. $11 a pound is cool for the selection. Nothing stood out as great. I wanted some tempura but they only had deep fried sushi. At least they had fried chicken. That was OK. Service is pay by the pound. On the bright side, there are plenty of seats now, not like before the pandemic.

    #14. Bulgogi Steak Plate

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    28 days ago

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    13 days ago

    So good. Takeout sushi was a bit pricy but within reason. Nice light flavors and all fresh.

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    1 year ago

    Great bang for your buck if you're ever looking for good food during lunch in the FIDI. Workers are always friendly as well. You

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    1 year ago

    Nice enjoyed, waited a while, not very organised , would still come back, thanks guys

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    1 year ago

    Convenient for a quick lunch with a lot of healthy options - veggies, proteins, fish. The service is always fast and friendly.

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    2 years ago

    Great food and I definitely enjoyed the environment more than anything the clean environment I would recommend anybody to try it

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    Seoul Garden

    Seoul Garden

    3.3
    (512 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    We were hungry and arrived at Japantown at around 8:35pm. We hadn't had time to read reviews or…read morefigure out what our choices were. We parked in the garage and went up to the second floor. There were three restaurants in the immediate vicinity. One told us that they were closed, one was in the process of closing and Seoul Garden was open until 10pm. Many, many years ago, my wife and I ate at Seoul Garden several times. We think that it was called the Emperor's Dinner which was a massive variety of Korean dishes. We're pretty sure that ownership of this restaurant must have changed since then. When we walked in and during the time we were there, we only saw one motorcyclist pick-up an order. There were no other guests. Our table was four adults and two kids. We all had different hunger levels so our order may be considered somewhat odd. Seafood Jun Pan-Fried Mondoo Army Stew Soy & Garlic Wings Mackerel Bibimbop Assortment of 8 Different Banchan (refills were offered) For the duration of our meal, we only saw the gentleman who took our order and served our food. He was very cordial and accommodating. As some other guests have mentioned, the prices are not for the faint of heart. On the flip side, I'm also a believer in that you get what you pay for. The Banchan was excellent and the fact that he asked if we wanted more rather than us having to ask was great. Everything that we ordered was for sharing so people could get a taste of different items. I focused on the Jun, Mondoo, Wings and then did my best to clean up all the Banchan. At the end of our meal, containers were brought out for leftovers and then everyone was served some delicious Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream.

    Service is really great and the staff are super attentive and sweet, so 5 stars for this!…read more But everything we ordered was below average (2 stars), especially considering the price. And the Spicy Calamari & Bulgogi was actually $20 higher (!!!) than what's listed on Yelp (no prices on website), so find this pretty misleading. It was also overcooked, so bummer all around. Took a chance on this Japantown fav and left wishing I'd purchased basically anything else there. Apparently I'm not alone, while all the other restaurants were bustling on a busy Sunday evening, this one was virtually empty.

    Photos
    Seoul Garden
    Crispy fried chicken - very good
    Crispy fried chicken - very good
    Fried Rice

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    Fried Rice
    Bansang

    Bansang

    4.1
    (612 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Oh my, what a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting the entire experience to be this impressive…read more Located across from the Fillmore, Bansang's exterior is fairly understated and doesn't immediately hint at what's inside. Once you step through the doors, however, you're greeted by a space that feels both cozy and contemporary, with an effortlessly stylish atmosphere. Even the restroom was thoughtfully designed and remarkably comfortable--a small detail, but one that speaks to the restaurant's overall attention to detail. We began with the Uni Scallop Toast and Mulhwe as appetizers. As someone who is typically not a fan of uni due to its pronounced brininess, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed the toast. The bright citrus sauce balanced the richness of the uni beautifully, while the contrasting textures from the crisp toast and delicate scallop created a harmonious bite. The scallop also helped mellow the stronger oceanic notes of the uni. It was a creative and memorable dish unlike anything I've had before. The Mulhwe, a Korean-style fish salad, was dressed in a refreshing apple vinaigrette that gave it a light, summery citrus character. The fish itself had a pleasantly chewy texture--firmer than salmon--with no trace of fishiness. While enjoyable, it didn't leave quite the same impression as the uni toast and was my least favorite dish of the evening. For our entrées, we ordered the Galbi Steak and Pork Jowl Bossam. Both dishes showcased exceptional execution. The meats were cooked perfectly, but what stood out even more was the precision in preparation. The steak was expertly sliced and incredibly tender--so much so that even with braces, it was effortless to enjoy. The pork jowl achieved an ideal balance between lean meat and luscious fat, creating a rich yet satisfying bite. We enjoyed the meal so much that dessert was non-negotiable. The Matcha Tiramisu was a creative interpretation of the classic. A dome of mascarpone cheese encased ladyfinger biscuits at its center, accompanied by a vibrant matcha ganache sauce. The dessert leaned far less sweet than traditional tiramisu, allowing the earthy matcha and creamy mascarpone flavors to shine. It was elegant, balanced, and a wonderful way to end the meal. Lastly, the service was outstanding. Our server was soft-spoken, patient, and genuinely attentive throughout the evening, making the experience feel warm and welcoming. Considering the quality of the food, thoughtful presentation, ambiance, and service, I found the pricing to be completely justified. As a pleasant surprise, I later learned that Bansang is part of the same restaurant group behind Daeho--a detail that certainly explains the level of quality we experienced.

    Came here for a belated birthday dinner and had a great experience! My friend had made a 7:30 PM…read morereservation, but we arrived early and they were able to seat us right away at 6:40 PM. The ambiance is modern and chic, which made it perfect for a celebration. Our waitress let us know they recently updated the menu with some new dishes. She explained that everything is meant to be shared and recommended ordering three to five plates for two people, so we ended up ordering a total of five items including dessert. To start, we had the Hokkaido Uni Scallop Toast, which was incredibly fresh and melted in our mouths, along with the new Early Girl Tomato Salad that our waitress recommended. The salad was refreshing and had a nice little crunch to it. For our mains, we had the Pork Jowl Bossam and the Prime Finger Ribs with Rice Cake. Hands down, those ribs and rice cakes were my absolute favorite dish of the night. The rice cakes were deep-fried to the perfect texture, and the whole plate was just bursting with flavor. We finished the meal with the Matcha Tiramisu for dessert. Since we were celebrating my birthday, they sweetened the night by bringing it out with a sparkler.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Uni Scallop Toast
    Uni Scallop Toast
    Pork Jowl Bossam

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    Pork Jowl Bossam
    Yakiniq

    Yakiniq

    3.3
    (1.8k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$

    YakiniQ really said "leave hungry? never heard of her."…read more Pulled up with my homie Jun because this man treated me to lobster last time and you already know... Asians keep receipts but in a wholesome way We don't split love, we rotate blessings. For $49.99/person, this AYCE Korean BBQ was straight violating my self-control. The short ribs?? HELLA BUSSIN. Like actually criminal. Every bite had me ascending like a TikTok food review in 4K. Meat so juicy I almost stood up and thanked the cow personally. The grill smoke got us smelling like seasoned warriors walking outta there but honestly worth it. Staff kept the meats coming faster than my auntie asking why I'm still single. And let me put y'all onto some elite Chinese vocabulary real quick: "好吃到舔手指" (hǎo chī dào tiǎn shǒu zhǐ) = "so good you lick your fingers." That's EXACTLY the vibe. Finger-licking good fr fr. YakiniQ got me fighting for my life, unbuttoning my pants in the parking lot, and already planning my return. 10/10. No crumbs left. Their "Red Hot" peanut sauce is the carry here - no doubt. Highly recommend with my utmost respectful regards!

    Came here last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. Had poor experiences at the Livermore…read morelocation in the past, so wasnt really expecting much from this spot either. Granted we were a bit late for our reservation, we ended up having to wait another 30-40 mins. The place (2nd floor) is small & awkward. We were all cramped waiting on the stairway and the actual seating area is also fairly small for a busy KBBQ place/big parties. The 8 of us squeezed into a booth with 2 chairs on the side. You can also feel whenever the table next to us got up and stomped/yelled/moved in their chairs-- which was really often. The basic AYCE menu is fairly limited-- esp for the side options. The marinated meats were pretty good as was the tteokbokki. Side & meat portions were alright, but the kicker is having to flag down staff to make sure they put in the order & bring it out. We asked for japchae about 5 times before it actually reached our table towards the end of our meal. The server/manager also told us that he had accidentally brought out 2 bottles of soju for us and that he'd COMP 1 bottle. We didnt notice that he had actually charged us for 2 and comped/subtracted a "third" one. So none were really comped at all. I just realized after we paid and that felt really sketchy. Idk if it's worth coming back here.

    Photos
    Short ribs
    Short ribs
    Yakiniq
    Seafood pancake

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    Seafood pancake
    Irodori

    Irodori

    3.8
    (20 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    The service here was so bad that I think about it almost a year later and finally decided to leave…read morethis review. I almost never give bad reviews. The ONLY reason I give a 2 star is 1 star for the food which was decent, but nothing I couldn't get at another restaurant to be honest. And half of that star goes to the sweet waitress who tried her best with us. I came in with my boyfriend maybe an hour before break time midday (unbeknownst to us) as the sign outside is faded and in LIGHT blue marker on a soju standee. Pro tip: maybe you should update that off to the side sign in small letters as well as your closing time on google + Apple Maps before you grumpily yell at your customers to leave AFTER taking our money and giving us food (which btw we were there about 30 minutes). Or don't seat us at all. Thanks! Would not recommend.

    After the cherry blossom festival yesterday my friend and I decided to have dinner. We sat outside…read moreand no one came to take our order. My friend went inside and a server reluctantly came to our table. We ordered $90 worth of food and enjoyed people walking around. When the food came the waitress brought the check with the food and asked for our credit card. We hadn't taken a bite yet. They never offed us to refill our glass of water. When we did go to pay they asked us if the credit we were using was ours and asked for his id. They seemed to treat the other guest better. Maybe it's because we are Black Americans or maybe they just suck. The food was subpar the fried chicken was overcooked and my stomach hurt all last night. I live up the street on Bush so this would be a local spot. The service was terrible so they will never get my business again. Yes black people live in the neighborhood and eat Korean food and have credit cards.

    Photos
    Indoor
    Indoor
    Irodori
    Irodori

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    Yasijang

    Yasijang

    4.7
    (236 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    Easy seating (and parking) for an early dinner on a Monday night…read more The restaurant was dark, and we noticed an installation on the wall. It turns out people collect their bottle caps in clear capsules. Fun idea. We were very pleased to hear Woodz for most of our dining experience. I love jokbal, and I've never had it served in this style. Usually I've had large platters of sliced meat, but this was a bowl of the boney parts. It was so delicious. It melted right off the bone, and it had a little heat. I want to go back for this alone. Also enjoyed a dish of kimchi fried rice and sotteok sotteok with a happy hour priced soju.

    I really wanted to like Yasijang since it is close to where I live and run by some genuinely nice…read moreKorean folks, both in the kitchen and front of house. Unfortunately, most of the dishes fell pretty flat for me. Here's a breakdown of everything we tried: Mini Jeon - This came out as a set of three mini pancakes, and while they were fried expertly with a nice crisp exterior, I did not really get much of the ingredient flavors at all, which was supposed to have an array of vegetables and seafood. Truffle Bosot Fry - These were fantastic. Each enoki was fried so the stems were splayed out and then dusted in truffle salt. It was clear the chef has a deft hand at the fryer, as both of the first two starters had an amazing crunch to them. Spicy Tuna Tower - This seemed like a popular item, but it was really disappointing. It felt like a quantity over quality dish, with the spicy tuna indeed piled high, but very clumpy, as if it had just been scooped straight out of the fridge, and not a pleasant texture. There was not much flavor or spice to it and the kappa maki rolls that the tuna sat atop were unfortunately not made well, as most of them fell apart just from picking them up with chopsticks. K-Fried Chicken - Pretty good value since you get 8 decently sized pieces for $20, or $22 if you want to add a sauce. It was curious that they do not let you do half and half, since the sauces are likely pre-made and that is such a common option at most other KFC spots. The bigger issue was the fry on the chicken as huge pieces of batter were missing from every piece, and it did not have that signature shattering crunch I expect, which suggested the oil was not hot enough and that they did not double fry the chicken. The soy and garlic flavor was actually pretty good, so it was doubly disappointing that the chicken was not fried properly. Hwe-Muchim. - This dish was an absolute disaster. The cubes of fish and salad were absolutely drowning in cho-jang, and it was really unbalanced, so all you tasted was gochujang. The lettuce was so wilted under the sheer amount of liquid that it made the dish difficult to eat. I actually took this home, drained most of the liquid, rinsed off the fish, added fresh greens and a homemade dressing, and it tasted much better. The staff were friendly enough, but this place is clearly targeting a drinking or late-night crowd so I would avoid if your main goal is to enjoy the food itself. Seems like a fun enough place if you were just wanting to stop in and have some snacks with your drinks or as an end of night stop as the 4-cha or 5-cha (IYKYK).

    Photos
    Yasijang
    SPICY TUNA TOWER
    SPICY TUNA TOWER
    Flying fish roe, stir-fried kimchi, and fresh vegetables in a hot pot.

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    Flying fish roe, stir-fried kimchi, and fresh vegetables in a hot pot.
    San Wang Restaurant

    San Wang Restaurant

    3.8
    (690 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Went there during the Fillmore Festival at around 11:30. Was surprised there weren't more…read morecustomers. I first started eating at this place around 1990 and have at times stopped going once I moved out of the city. I try to go at least once a year. Have always enjoyed their clams, dried fried chicken, jia jiang mian, and seafood noodle soup. Clams were still plentiful, plump, and very fresh. Noodle were still good. The owner recommended I try the Jjamppong and tubot. The jjamppong like their other noodles were good but the standout was the turbot: steamed to perfection, fresh, and tasty. I can't compare it to other fish but it was soft, smooth, and buttery. I have seen the owner before cooking in the kitchen but it looks now father time has caught up and he is thoroughly enjoying helping out in the front. He was talkative and pleasant to talk to.

    This place was really good. I found it through yelp. After being at the Japan town mall waiting for…read moremy family to finish shopping, I wanted Chinese food that was further away. So I found this place and we walked in with few customers. We ordered a soup, and were about to order something else when the server/cook suggested we order the meal for 3. He let us substitute the white rice for fried rice and cashew chicken for lemon chicken that we wanted. Boy was it a real treat. We added a chicken chow mein and we weren't disappointed. All in all, we came out stuffed with leftovers, and great service to boot. We were the only ones in the restaurant at the time which was surprising, how great the food and service were. Come here and you won't regret it!

    Photos
    San Wang Restaurant
    Dry-Fried Chicken
    Dry-Fried Chicken
    Pickled kimchi

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    Pickled kimchi
    Han Il Kwan

    Han Il Kwan

    4.1
    (2.2k reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$$

    Came here walk-in on a Friday evening at 6:30 and waited for almost 45 mins for a table for 2. Get…read morethe galbijim! It's a steal and It's delicious- so much meat it lasted me 3 meals. The wait for the dish was almost 25 mins but all worth it !The complimentary soup and banchan were huge and alright. The servers know what they were doing but one minor thing about my experience was that the waitress served a really really hot dish at her convenience and I had to move it to the center for sharing. Since they're busy they expect you to finish your meal, pay and go.

    food was good and there was no wait on a sunday afternoon for a table of 6. everything was on point…read morebasically except for the service- as soon as we told them we were only ordering three dishes, their demeanor changed entirely lol. that probably plus the fact that we were young/it was our first time here got them extra annoyed, even though we were polite. banchan was all yummy, rice was $2 per extra bowl (3 were included). we chose soft tofu soup over the steamed egg, which we were told was one or the other, per table. we ordered bulgogi, brisket, and a seafood pancake. literally all the dishes were good but we were not checked in on once. we noticed them checking in on other tables, but deliberately skipping ours. we'd have to flag someone down whenever we wanted something, and when we asked for banchan refills they said ok and never got it to us. we just ended up finishing our meal without it. service was rude, inattentive, and overall lacking. would come back again if i didn't care for service!

    Photos
    Comfortable inside space
    Comfortable inside space
    Marinated Beef Rib Eye
    Marinated Beef Rib Eye
    Fish Cake

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    Fish Cake
    Ganji

    Ganji

    4.6
    (630 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    What a gem amongst all the restaurants in Japan Town! It's in the outside center near the…read morestationary store Paper Tree for reference. Been here a couple of times already and the service never failed. Even came here during the Cherry Blossom Festival and the staff were still friendly / accommodating. They even put a spicy sauce on the side of one of the katsu plates when we mentioned that my dad couldn't handle all that haha. This cozy spot mainly focuses on katsu plates, but I like how they had off menu or specials to choose from if you'd like another option. I will say though them katsu plates were just chef's kiss. The meat is pounded thin enough where it's still juicy and tender, but doesn't affect the exterior from being crunchy and a bit flaky. Nothing was dry here yallll! I also like how it already comes with miso soup and salad. Huge fan of that Hamachi Truffle special though. Think of a citrusy flavor from the ponzu, fresh fish, a bit of micro greens, and a thin slice of jalapeño that just ~works~ on a cute wooden spoon that you want to steal I could honestly eat like 5 spoons of this. I'd skip on the calamari as it was kind of skimpy to share with a large group. Only note was that their fried katsu curry was a bit underwhelming with having more slices of carrots than potato! Would love to come back if I am ever in the area.

    Ganji is a solid spot for katsu in Japantown! The service was excellent--the staff were friendly,…read moreattentive, and quick to take our orders, which made for a great dining experience. The miso soup was a delicious way to start the meal, and when my katsu arrived, it looked amazing. The meat was hot, tender, and the portion was huge, so I definitely left full. My only suggestion is to ask for the curry on the side if you like your katsu extra crispy. I had the curry poured over it, and the breading got soggy pretty quickly. The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five is the price. My dish was around $30, which felt a little expensive, although I can understand it given the quality of the meat and generous portions. Overall, it's a great place if you're craving katsu, and I'd definitely come back--just with the curry on the side next time!

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    Ganji
    Ganji
    Ganji

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    Ollei

    Ollei

    4.5
    (341 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    The service is great and the servers are awesome. The restaurant is really loud so if you're…read moreexpecting a quiet place to sit down, do not go here. They have MVs projecting on the wall too so that adds to the noise. As for the food, everything is great! The pajeon is flavorful, light and crispy. It had a lot of kimchi so that was yum. The army stew was not too salty and warmed us up! The soy garlic chicken was not overly sweet and was crispy too. The spicy pork was good but there were a few pieces that was chewy. It wasn't that spicy though but it still tasted good. The creamy pasta and tteok was good too and lived up to its name. I did find that the tteok was chewier than normally, but my partner said it was fine so to each their own. Will probably come back for a third visit!

    Ollei does exactly what it sets out to do. It's a solid neighborhood spot with standard Korean bar…read morefood, a lively atmosphere, and straightforward, no-frills service. We stopped in after the Valkyries game based on the reviews, and it matched expectations. We ordered the seafood pancake, the half-and-half chicken wings, and the spicy pork belly. Portions were generous and easily enough food for three to four people. Banchan were negligible. One thing that stood out was how sweet many of the dishes were. If you're coming in expecting bold heat, just know the flavors lean noticeably sweeter than the menu descriptions might suggest. Overall, it was a perfectly decent meal at a fair price in a convenient part of Polk Street. I'd be happy to come back if I were in the area, though it probably wouldn't be my first choice if I were specifically craving Korean food.

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    Dining Room
    Dining Room
    Seafood Pancake / 해물파전
    Seafood Pancake / 해물파전
    Corn Cheese Plate

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    Corn Cheese Plate

    Julie's Kitchen - salad - Updated July 2026

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