Ordered: Special Combo: Bulgogi + half Tofu Stew (~$20): comes with one bowl of rice and daily banchan; I chose seafood tofu stew Aya's take: The portion of this combo is decent for the price paid. I'm a big fan of tofu stew and KAL's broth is pretty spot on compared to other authentic Korean places. Bulgogi is one of my favorite Korean meats and despite being served on this sizzling plate, I would say over half of it was onions. I liked the combination of the meat and stew, and it kept me full for quite some time! Very small indoor dining but they can accommodate maybe 4-5 small parties. read more

KAL - Special Combo: Bulgogi + half Tofu Stew (~$20) - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Cuisine: 7 Service: 8 Decor: 6 Value: 7 Overall: 7 Where do you find decent Korean homestyle stews and soups in Astoria? This little alleyway of a restaurant may very well be your answer. With a menu full of traditional Korean comfort food, this hidden little gem has been here for a few years. Honestly, I am in Flushing/Murray Hill and K-town way too much to really ever think about Korean food while in Astoria. However, a few days ago I find myself walking past the restaurant and I just had a craving. Looking at the menu, there was a few options I really wanted, but two of us could only eat so much. Therefore, we decided to share a Seafood Kimchi Pancake and Army Stew. The pancake was light and fluffy, but super crispy, with a strong kimchi flavor. Next time, I'll likely order the regular Kimchi Pancake since I didn't taste much of the seafood. Regardless, it hit the spot. As for the Army Stew, which a weird concoction perfect cure for hangovers or a cold weather day. It's a spicy and sour soup dish full of bacon, SPAM, sausage (more like hot hog pieces), kimchi, tofu and cheese. If you never had one, try it after a late night out ... ... yum! This place is certainly small and definitely falls under the category of a hole in the wall. Regardless, the food packs a punch and the service was excellent. If you find yourself searching for Korean comfort food beyond the popular BBQ restaurants, then go to Kal. read more

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It's a small restaurant that is very intimate, small tables and chairs, which I liked. I loved the food options but they didn't really hit the way I was hyped. Out of everything I tried, I liked the tofu soup which was great. Mackerel was meh, I think you can skip tbh. The presentation was super cute,loved the side dishes and the service was also pretty good. Overall worth trying out in the neighborhood! Lots of options to choose from. read more

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First timers here. All three of us ordered combos: mackerel with tofu stew combo, kalbi combo with tofu stew, spicy pork combo with tofu stew. Food quality: the seafood pancake was good but nothing special. my mackerel was average. It was large portion and nicely grilled with lightly crispy skin, but sadly the fish itself was not very fresh. The kalbi was tasty. The spicy pork was too spicy. We found the tofu stew not up to par lacking taste, texture and the egg that usually accompanies this fish was hard boiled whole in the stew, which should have been stirred as it is cracked over the hot stew thickening the stew with delicious strips of egg drop strips. Service: not great. Waitress got our orders wrong and one of us had to wait 30 minutes before his entree came. Ambience: we were seated outside in the sidewalk kiosk. Initially it was pleasant since it was roomy with only 3 tables - giving us comfortable airy space, but soon we felt that we were forgotten by the staff- our food came in spurts and waitress forgot our food. read more

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I was looking for an affordable restaurant with nice ambiance, and this popped up on Yelp. I'm so glad I went because the food was tasty, the portions were generous, and we received great service! I was surprised that there were almost no customers on a weekday night. We ordered the seafood japchae, crunch tofu, and army stew. They gave us an assortment of banchan -- kimchi, broccoli, sprouts, a stewed mixture of carrots and potatoes, and creamy corn. The tofu was perfectly crispy on the outside and covered with a sweet and spicy sauce. The japchae had lots of seafood, veggies, and was topped with an egg. I'll definitely be adding this to my list of go-to restaurants in Astoria. read more

KAL - Seafood Japchae, Crunch Tofu, Banchan - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

Was craving for Korean food and found this gem. It's a small cozy restaurant with only a few tables, which is good for two people for hang out. We ordered seafood pancakes, kalun and army stew. The army stew Is a lot smaller than I expected or what I had in the past but it was good. Seafood pancake not a lot of seafood and the sauce is soy sauce not the typical sauce I had. The most impressive dish is the kalbi!!! I would come back for kalbi read more

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Cute little spot for korean food. Loved this place, as not only they served scrumptious food they also provided great service (Sophie is a legend, funny, honest, and sweet!). They even added the glass noodles in to the Teriyaki chicken for my dish. Props to the chef. My friend ordered spicy pork and that was also a big win. Only thing to note for outdoor eating, the three blind mice might have been living under the floor in the outdoor seating (ahh NYC life, but don't worry we didn't see them, just heard them. I've noticed this happening in a lot of outdoor eating areas lately in NYC). Inside the restaurant is perfectly fine, nice bathroom, really clean. Overall a wonderful place for some good EATZ. Would definitely come back! read more

KAL - All of these were great and flavorful, especially the potato and carrots :) - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Very nice people that work there, small place with limited seating but the food is solid

Ordered via uber eats- was craving Korean food over the weekend. We got an omu-rice (to share) , galbi (~28 bucks), and bulgogi (~16 bucks). It came with mini side dishes (i.e. bean sprouts, etc.). The flavor and taste of the korean bbq was delicious!!!! The entree's came with a good amount of food. Note- the omu-rice was more of fried rice wrapped in egg (the egg doesn't like open up like you prob imagine). It came with a brown side sauce ..still good. The galbi was in a thicker cut than what I usually see in ktown nyc but I still enjoyed it. I would def try the other dishes on the menu here, very authentic korean food. Average prices, good quality! read more

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My friends and I ordered: Kimchi pancake to share I ordered the tofu stew with spicy pork combo My friends ordered a soybean paste stew with bulgogi bibimbap and bulgogi omurice. Everyone enjoyed their dishes and the song playlist that they had playing that day. It was very upbeat and also reminded us of being in a Korean drama, lol. They give pretty big portions too especially the omurice. My friends who ordered it barely made a dent in there's lol. Definitely coming back! read more

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I was craving Korean food in Astoria and there aren't many good options but of all of the Kal is probably my favorite one. Their kimchi is interesting because it's not really fermented it tasted just like raw cabbage. But the katsu was decently yummy and filling. I ordered to go but inside is really small. read more

I order delivery from here 1-2x a week and never had any complaints so I stopped by for the first time during my lunch break and it was, of course, even better since the food was served steaming hot. the army stew and KFC is out of this world. they open at 12 so it's perfect for lunch dates. Deffff recommend the army stew and MUST get KFC!!!! read more

KAL - Army Stew - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

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There aren't many places that sell Kimchi jjim, but I had it after a long time. The pork belly was thick and fatty, bursting with the tanginess of kimchi and the rich flavor of the broth, making me feel like I was in Korea for a moment I highly recommend it... Thank you for selling Kimchi jjim! 김치찜파는 곳이 별로 없는데 오랜만에 먹게되었습니다. 삼겹살은 두껍고 지방이 톡톡 터지면서 김치의 새콤함과 국물의 진한감이 잠시 한국에 온 기분이였습니다 진짜 추천합니다... 김치찜을 팔아주셔서 감사합니다.! read more

KAL - Kimchi Zzim - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

Kal Walked in waitress handed us a menu (we're 3 ppl) and said to give her a second she was going to clear up the last big table she has for us. We looked at the menu waited. Another guy was working there he passed us twice until he finally went to clean the table and then turned around and asked us if we need help so I respond yea we're waiting for that table the waitress told us she would get it ready. So he cleaned it we sat do then a couple comes they sit next to us and they're seated right away . The guy brings them waters. We're just sitting at the table. It's been a while 20-30minutes we've just been waiting . No one comes to take our order for another 15 minutes. Honestly the ppl working there seemed annoyed and looked like they didn't want to be there. After our order is taken things get somewhat better. The food is really good so that made it worth it. But be ready to wait for awhile. read more

KAL - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

This place was surprisingly good. I expected nothing, as I have been disappointed by most Korean offerings in NYC as someone who grew up in Korea and has eaten some of the best of the cuisine there. The mackerel was grilled very well. It was not dry, which is the case at many restaurants across the city, including Japanese places that serve grilled fish. A surprisingly good menu item: crunchy tofu. Very well fried, soft on the inside, and the sauce was delicious. It reminded me of a sweet and spicy OG Korean fried chicken sauce. Dwenjang jjigae (fermented soybean stew) had good flavor but a bit stingy with the contents. There was very little of anything solid in there - mostly broth. Waitstaff was nice when we went. It is a little loud in there though, with annoying K-pop playing. If you like basic K-pop, you would like the vibes, but the music choice wasn't particularly tasteful, just generic top 20 kind of stuff. I fortunately live in the neighborhood and would eat there again during the day. It looks like it would get very loud and cramped in the evening because it's a small space. read more

Bibimbab is so delicious! Yangpun bibimbab menu is new and I tried it right away. The food was not very hot, so it was easy to eat. Anyway, it's so delicious 양푼비빔밥 진짜 맛있어요 특히 토푸앤머쉬룸 존맛탱 여기 안 이후로 비빔밥먹방 보면서 침만 흘리지않아요 이제 바로 집 근처에서 먹을수있으니까요 하..정말 먹는 내내 천국이였습니다... 하..아삭 쫄깃 매콤 고소 달콤... 지금도 쓰면서 침 흘리고있어요 한국뷴들 얼른 츄라이 츄라이. read more

KAL - Bibim Bap - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

Kal is a standout in this neighborhood. The portions are generous, reasonably priced, and delicious! The store is cute and clean. I highly recommend the bulgogi combo with tofu stew--perfect for two. Enjoy a cozy night here with your loved one and have a relaxed chat about life. read more

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My girlfriend and I love coming here! Its one of the hidden gems of Astoria. Pretty much everything on the menu is good, but the spicy pork with white rice is my go to meal when I come here! Its got the bbq sweetness to it and the right amount of spicy. The kimchi and other side dishes are also excellent. The staff is also very friendly! Especially Sophie, she is so cool and nice, very attentive as well! Overall KAL is a great place to go to for quality Korean Cuisine. P.S. There is indoor/outdoor sitting, but the place is small so expect only take out during a busy weekend. read more

KAL - Sizzling Spicy Pork with white rice - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

A great cozy and casual place to dine. We ordered the bulgogi bibimbap, army stew, spicy pork and the ssam for two. Everything was very delicious and recommended. We also had the seafood pancake which was not my favorite. The watermelon juice was also yummy read more

I ordered delivery from this restaurant last night. It arrived fast and was hot. The "crisp" tofu was completely the opposite. It was a very unpleasant slimy, wet texture and I could not finish it. It was grossing me out. The kimchi fried rice was a bit of a letdown as well. The bulgogi was overcooked & dried out and the rice was flavorless. I have never dined in the restaurant, so I can't speak to the ambience, but after this experience I doubt I will ever patronize this establishment again. Sincerely disappointed with the experience. read more

Wow! This place has been on my to-go list for some time now, and finally I had the chance to try it and it did not disappoint. The bonchon was very light and refreshing. The kimchi was more pickled than normal which I absolutely loved. There was a carrot potato small dish, and the potato was so soft kind of like a mashed potato cube. My main takeaway was the crunchy tofu bites which were SO LIGHT and juicy. There was a perfect amount of sauce that didn't overwhelm the flavor of the dish. The soups were a little salty, but definitely had a lot of beef. It was perfect with rice. Can't wait to come back for more!! read more

KAL - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Stopped by KAL for a late dinner, and we were seated right away when we arrived. The restaurant space is very small and hole-in-the-wall, but the ambiance is very trendy and comfortable. Even though the space is on the small side, the tables do not feel crowded at all. The service was quick and everyone working was very friendly. In terms of food, I ordered the army stew. I would give it a 5/5! The broth was flavorful as expected, but what blew me away the most was the contents of the stew. The portion size was very generous, and they included quite a bit of each type of meat. Everything tasted great and we all left very full. Would definitely recommend making a stop here! read more

Fire. I had the soy-ginger Korean fried chicken and it was absolutely fire. The chicken was super crispy while being moist on the inside. The sauce was sweet and salty (the best combo btw). I now know where to go if I am craving some good KFC I know where to go. My girlfriend got japchae and that was also bomb. She saved it for later and got mad when I accidentally gave it to my brother (sorry). The only con I can think of is that the place is really small with limited places to sit so I hope that not too many people go when I decide to haha. 10/10 would recommend and come again. read more

KAL - Korean fried chicken - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

KAL is a small Korean restaurant in the middle of Astoria. There are about 8-10 tables. Tables can seat 2 or 4 people so I wouldn't recommend for large groups. If you do go in a large group, I would suggest calling them first. I've ordered takeout from here before and wanted to try a dine in experience. We ordered the Bulgolgi Omurice with Housemade Gravy and the Bulgolgi Bibimbap. The omurice came with large fluffy omelette-style egg which sits on top of a sort of a fried rice with bulgolgi. The dish also comes with a housemade gravy which sits on the side in case you don't want it all over your rice. The dish tastes pretty much like a Japanese-style omurice. The rice is essentially a fried rice with a savory ketchup taste. I can't explain the gravy but it mixes really well with the dish. I highly recommend this dish to anyone who has tried and likes Japanese-style omurice. The bulgolgi bibimbap wasn't anything special but it was still good. It's extremely hot (temperature) and stays hot for the remainder of your meal. I'd recommend scooping some out and putting it on a side dish/plate for it to cool off. I've had the potato croquettes (appetizer) for takeout but did not order them for dine on. They were also really good and I'd also highly recommend them. Looking forward to trying this place again soon! read more

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Delicious food, especially the kimchi zzim and bulgogi japchae. Steamed buns were also very good! Would recommend for sure, and their delivery holds up very well! read more

I always order delivery from here and occasionally come in with friends as it's one of the only Korean restaurants in the area. It's a nice hidden gem tucked away in a small space on 30th Avenue. One of my absolute favorites. I've ordered their army stew, kimchi stew, spicy pork, croquettes, and bibimbap. Despite the restaurant being small in size, the portions sizes are quite generous. Their stews are served bubbling hot and are packed with flavor. My favorite is their army stew. Had generous portions of sausage, tofu, and vegetables with ramen and cheese all in a nice hearty, spicy broth. Great for when you need to cozy up. The spicy pork is tender, juicy, and had the right amount of heat. The croquettes are extremely crispy. The bibimbap provided a nice combination of flavors with the rice crisping along the insides. The dishes are served with banchan which are extremely refreshing and accompany well. The service is fast and they make sure our experience is good. The staff were incredibly friendly. I've had a couple heartwarming experiences here. I'm a high school student and I remember them looking out for me. One time when I ordered pick up, I remember being told to stay safe in the harsh winter conditions. Another time, when I came during the summer with friends, they offered my friend a charger when his battery was running low. I really appreciated it. Thank you :)) read more

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Friday Dinner This is my second time going to KAL. Their food quality is on point They make their own side dishes including Kimchi. This place has the best spicy pork dish in NYC area. Very affordable, large portion, amazing customer service. I can see the restaurant owner really cares about the food quality more than anything. I will definitely be going back to try more food read more

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Place is really intimate and quiet and that's what I needed that day. My waitress was really helpful and so patient and offered so many recommendations that turned out to be great. EVERYTHING I ordered satisfied my cravings and I had no regrets. I was dying for rice cakes for so long and this place didn't disappoint. As for the entree, my katsu was everything I needed. That crunchy goodness was made to perfection. I can't wait to go back. read more

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Great little spot! Our standouts were the crunch tofu and the grilled mackerel (I'm still thinking about the mackerel!). It's kind of a tight space, but the people who work there are all very nice and accommodating. Our server gave us a little basket for our coats since the coat hooks were all full, and they offered us a larger table when one opened up during our meal. Will definitely be back! read more

This place is awesome. The food was delicious and the wait staff were friendly and fast. Our family of four included a 5 and 1 year old. Space is tight but efficient but who cares when the food is this good! read more

I was so happy to stumble upon this gem on 30th Ave. The food and drinks were delicious, well portioned, and nicely presented. The service was attentive and kind. I loved the indoor and outdoor ambiance as well as location in the heart of Astoria. read more

KAL - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

Incredible Korean food. The portions, the price, the ambiance and service are all great. We've been meaning to try this place for a while and finally did. Really glad this place made it through the pandemic. Food 5/5 Price 5/5 Service 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 read more

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The staff was great. Service was just fine. The place is really cute. Even the little stools, rather than chairs, are comfortable, and together, the tables and stools present a very welcoming environment. The stools are also a perfect height for the tables. The food is another story. I wish with all my heart that I could be kinder, but the food was absolutely terrible. I I have been eating and loving Korean food for 35+ years. I have eaten Korean food in California, NY, over a and iver sgain at many different restaurants. I can never remember being disappointed. I love Korean food, so I learned how to cook some things, too, including Bulgogi, which is what I ordered for my main dish. Everything was dry and overcooked. I had the special: pork/chive dumplings, which came fried. I would have chosen steamed, but no one asked. They were so overcooked, I could barely taste the filling, and the dipping sauce was so bland that it didn't help much. One thing you can say about them is that they sure were crispy. I ate one. Ummm. Gave it another chance ate a 2nd, and said to myself, "What am I doing eating this?" And I pushed them aside and figured I'd wait for my main dish. My main dish was Bulgogi. Again, dry and overcooked. Barely any liquid in the plate, but I brushed as much as I could by dragging each bite across the bottom of the plate. Didn't help much. The onions were good in the Bulgogi, but the beef was not. The pieces of beef were also toooo small. The rice was nothing special either. It wasn't jasmine or any kind of rice with flavor. I left over almost all the rice and a significant amount of the Bulgogi - which Bulgogi I ate enough of to take the edge off my hunger, and then I stopped eating it. In the little side plate, there was cold steamed broccoli (no treatment or prep or flavoring with anything at all - certainly never seen it as a Korean side dish) and kimchee, pickles and bean sprouts, all 3 of which which were pretty good, and they were the only food that I enjoyed. I seriously do not get the ratings for this place. If I could give it a zero, if I could. I was very jazzed to find a local Korean place. Regrettably, I am super bummed. I did, however, enjoy the kindnesses of the staff. read more

Cozy little restaurant with a minimal, no frills but kinda hip looking décor. The service here was excellent and the food comes fast to your table. They offer various lunch options in the $12-18 range. They also have daily specials during the week that are even more affordable with dishes ranging from $4-8. I went on a Tuesday and ordered the japchae for $4! The portion was decent for the price. Highly recommend getting the pork belly buns. They were excellent! Portion of pork belly to bun was just right. This is currently my favorite dish on the menu. I also ordered the Hot Pot Bulgogi lunch which is more soupy than a regular bulgogi dish. The Hot Pot Bulgogi came sizzling to my table in a small stone pot. Along with it was a bowl of rice and three side dishes which consisted of potato salad, broccoli, bean sprouts and kimchi. The food felt very authentic and fresh. And the bowls and utensils were earthenware and wood (love!)- it was overall a great food presentation. Korean food can sometimes be very expensive. It's nice to have an affordable option here in Astoria. I will definitely be visiting again. read more

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Literally so much pepper wtf. They tried to tell me it was a spicy sauce like I'm an idiot. So much pepper I couldn't even taste the Japchae and my stomach is legit bubbling. They offered to refund me but I don't feel like walking all the way back. read more

KAL - Vegetable Japchae - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

You know it's going to be good when all the side dishes are fire! The food is Service was great. Spot is chill. Hole in the wall! read more

KAL - Spicy Pork K.F.C Wings Galbi Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

KAL is a tiny Korean restaurant with no frills decor. They do try to make the ambiance warmer by lighting candles on each table. The service was friendly although a little slow since they don't have many people working and they were extremely busy pushing out dinner orders. I had the doenjang jjigae (beef and potato tofu soup). It comes sizzling in a stone pot with rice and ban chan on the side. Nice and neat presentation. I love the various little bowls they use to hold the ban chans (bean sprout, kimchi, broccoli, and potato salad). They also serve water in a mug. The tofu soup was pretty good and flavorful. The tofu could be silkier. Drinks are half priced during dinner time on Thursdays and Fridays. read more

KAL - Interior - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Came for dinner at 6pm on Saturday night. Was busy but no wait to be seated. I got the seafood scallion pancake as a starter. Was pretty standard, I thought it could be crispier. Then I had the soft tofu stew with brisket. It was a bit salty and very flavorful however when eaten with white rice, it was pretty good. They don't skimp on the brisket and I always love the poached egg in the soup. My friend got the bulgogi combo which comes with a half portion of the soft tofu stew. Portion looked pretty big. The food comes with some standard side dishes of bean sprouts, kimchi, corn salad and they also had a radish dish. The waiter was very nice, my water cup was never empty. It's minimally decorated but did give me vibes of a hole in the wall type of restaurants in Korea. Would come again for a nice filling meal! read more

I've past this spot a few times and it always smells amazing so I had to check it out. I'm also a sucker for any spot that has a lunch menu that looks good. $10 for a bibimbap lunch with a few sides was heaven. The rice was crispy, all of the different veggies were cooked to perfection and the egg was fried perfectly. It was spiced so well and the sides just accompanied the meal great. Way more veggies in the actual rice bowl then I thought there would be. Carrots, mushrooms, zucchini and a bunch more. They were all cooked differently too, that's extra attention! It was the perfect size! I was felt full right when I was hitting the bottom of the stone bowl. In the future I would try a different protein then the beef, it was a little stringy but I'm just not usually a beef person so that was on me. The places is a small spot with about 8 tables, super small but cosy and intimate. Very modern and super clean. read more

KAL - Blugogi BIBIMBAP - Korean Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Okay this is the SPOT. Smallest Korean restaurant with amazing food and service. I think we found our go-to for Korean lunch. If you know me, you know I love spicy food and anything involving kimchi. When the waiter kept asking if I wanted more kimchi with an approving grin, I knew this was the right place. To start we tired the spicy rice cakes, japchae which I've only ever tried cold and LOVE but this version was hot and just as good. Both were so flavorful, the right amount of spice and just perfect portions. I couldn't be happier. Give me all the sauces and sides! We also then tried the kimchi rice with spicy pork and the bibimbap with beef. Both really good but I think I honestly like the kimchi rice better. The spicy pork was really the stand out! This spot literally has 3 tables but they also make sure to follow all covid precautions and we felt safe dining here. Highly recommend! read more

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