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    Kum's Cafe

    4.6 (106 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Kum's Cafe Photos

    KUM'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Reviews With Photos - Kum's Cafe

    Mary V.

    Guys, this is the best Korean spot in Louisville. I love the woman running the restaurant. She's so sweet. And she remembers us now because we come so often. Seriously, when I crave Korean food this spot satiates my cravings. Every time we're there I'm saddened by the fact that one day this lovely couple will retire (which I'll be so happy for them), but I'll lose and miss this place so much!!! This is truly a gem. Louisvillians have no idea what they have. In my most recent visit, we had the pa jun, danjang jigea, and grilled mackerel. The pa jun was delicious as always. The danjang jigea did not have the jalepeno as advertised on the menu, but it was still good and it had zucchini -- I'm assuming they use what they have. That's fine with me. The grilled mackerel was not as it was in Korea but it was meatier and juicier -- less salty than the version we had in Andong, Korea. There are a lot of bones so be aware! I'll be looking forward to my next visit.

    Entrance
    Saphace A.

    I came on a Friday for lunch past 2 and there were a few others dining in. The parking lot is a little weird since it's off a busy street. But you can exit behind the building to hit the traffic light. There are two rooms to sit in. They also had a TV on. We shared kim bap. It's kind of like sushi. Yum! My sister and I both got the dol soat be bim bop. It was very filling. And very delicious! My friend got the gom tong, which was an orange soup with beef. She loved it! It was very good! She had to take the rest home since it was a lot! The lady who served us was super nice and attentive. I'm thinking it's a family-owned restaurant. I hope this place sticks around!

    Waiting for the meats.
    Brad G.

    Arirang - A++. Korean bbq perfection! I'm a fan! I've worked a short walk from this place for a long while now. The only thing I had ever tried was the Krispy Krunchy chicken side when someone would bring the chicken back to work and offer a piece. It was my friend Xiaolu's birthday, and she wanted Korean bbq. The original place for the 5 of us to visit was Lee's but once arriving in the parking lot, there was much debate and fighting before Xiaolu convinced everyone she wanted to go here instead. Since it was her birthday, we went without strong opposition. I do think it was a perfect choice. Koreana 2 is also close too and I have visited Koreana numerous times for lunch because it's so easy to get in and out of(but never for Korean bbq). With Kum's/Arirang, this might be my Korean bbq destination. When pulling into the parking lot here, you'll definitely think you're in the wrong spot. It's kind of in a weird spot but they also have parking in the back. It was later in the evening so we weren't greeted right away but we quickly found a grill tabletop and took a seat. The lady came soon enough. From this moment forward, anytime bbq is mentioned, I want nothing less than Korean bbq. There's nothing like it and it's 350 million times better than anything considered American bbq. We went with all 5 things on the Korean bbq menu (Garl Bi - beef short ribs. Bul Go Gi - Thin sliced ribeye. Dok Gui - Chicken chunks. Dea Ji Gui - Pork chunks. Som Yup Sarl - Fatty slices of pork belly meat). It comes with plenty of banchan(side dishes). We also decided to split a bowl of bibimbap amongst the 5 of us(the portion was enough for all 5 of us). Korean bbq is unique because the food is cooked in front of you in/on the tabletop. Out of all the meats, the thin-sliced ribeye, pork chunks, and pork belly meat were the best. The beef short ribs were good but thicker cuts of meat(steak in particular) aren't a favorite of mine. I could've done without the chicken... it just wasn't that good in my opinion. Most of the meat is cooked in some type of sauce so it's tough to tell when it's finished. That's something to keep in my mind when eating here. The beef and steak is one thing because you can eat meat from varying shades of pink to well done. If you want the meat more on the medium-medium well side, you'll need to speak up. On the other end of the spectrum, some of the meats were left not done but pulled out of the grill with the indication that they were finished. We had to place those meats back on the grill. That might've influenced my disdain towards the chicken. The bibimbap was also good. I'm not sure if we needed it with all of the meat and sides. We were all stuffed by the time we finished. The portions are large so unless you're with a larger group, expect leftovers if you order all the meats... unless you're just ready to eat; Then go crazy with yourself. I've been including this in my reviews where it's a typical group experience and this place is no different. If you need someone else to add to your Korean bbq group for a communal food outing... send me a message. This place is delicious!

    Mon Doo Bul Go Gi
    India C.

    Had a brother/sister lunch here. This place is amazing. Quite literally hole in the wall with the owners manning the floor and the kitchen. Don't expect to fully understand the lady working if you bc her English is broken...(that's how you know the food is going to be amazing, by the way. We ended up starting with Mandu and both going for the bulgogi beef which included rice and banchan. The pickled sides are to die for and we couldn't even finish it all.

    Ban Chan. This comes with the gal bi, and comes with other items.
    Sherman B.

    My family loves Korean food! Kum's Cafe & Arirang fills the void. We stick with the staples - Gal Bi (beef ribs) and Jham Bong (spicy seafood soup). They also have Cajun and fried chicken, but we haven't veered from the Korean menu, so we don't know if it's as good as the Korean faire.

    Octopus
    Shelby W.

    Korean is not an ethnic food group that I am very familiar with. Not that I am not interested, I just never knew where to go. Thankfully a friend suggested Kum's, and it turned out to be a great first experience. I kind of wanted to go balls to the wall, so I went with the octopus dish. It was perfect for me, because it was spicy, flavorful, and is seafood. They have such a big menu, and while it can be a little overwhelming, there's bound to be something for everyone. The portion sizes are also very generous!

    Stella W.

    Great little local gem! It's a mom and pops Korean restaurant located in South Louisville. It's serving up mostly authentic Korean dishes. I was blown away by the selections of Banchan (those small little dishes!). I've never tried some of those and I've had my fair share of Korean food. The marinated eggplants and fishcakes are amazing! The entree Spicy Seafood Noodle is also very flavorful and the portion is great, with a lot of seafood. The business can be a bit slow and the ambiance is very vintage and home-y.

    Exterior View
    John H.

    Inexpensive Korean option in the area. Went for lunch with a group from work. Interesting place as it is both a sit down Korean place on one side of the restaurant as well as a take out fried chicken place on the other side. Ordered the Dol Sot Bibimbap (hot stone pot) for $10. Came with the traditional side dishes. It checked all the boxes, but the Bibimbap and the sides seemed to be lacking in flavor - even the spicy kimchi was disappointing. For the price, it's hard to complain. But I'd rather pay more and visit other options in the area.

    Seafood soontofu soup
    Kelly W.

    Friends and I stopped by this gem during a roadtrip craving some Korean food and also wanting to support local business. We all thought it was unique that this place offered Korean food AND fried chicken The fried chicken was FRESHLY FRIED. Worth a try We ordered the soon tofu seafood soup, galbi tang, Kimbop, and bibimbop. All truly surprising tasty especially for Louisville (we are from Chicago where there's a larger Asian population). The owner was very kind and made sure to refill our lovely banchans whenever she got a chance. Please consider stopping here and support your local business!

    Nicole E.

    Meant to go to Koreana 2, not far from here, but they were closed on Monday despite or showing it was open on Yelp. Sat down on the dining side away from the crunchy chicken counter. Was greeted by a warm Korean ajumma. Ordered a veggie Kimbap, 2 dolsot tofu bibimbaps. I was hungry and craving some Korean food. Looks like they are known for their crispy and crunchy chicken too. Was a bit apprehensive at first since there were no Korean customers but luckily a Korean mother and daughter walked in shortly after we put in an order. The owners are friendly, attentive, warm and welcoming to everyone. Kudos to them for treating their customers so warmly. The kimbap was yummy, would have been better with sriracha though. We used the gojuchang for a little added flavor. My Korean craving was well satiated at least. There was about 6 banchans or side dishes with our meal. The fish cake was a bit rubbery, over cooked and too salty. The cucumbers were too big for easy banchan consumption. The kimchi was decent, went with the dolsot but didn't have a ton of flavor on their own. The braised potatoes were good, not too sweet. The radish kimchi wasn't bad either. The chewy cucumber or spicy veggie was not my thing, was chewy and I couldn't tell what veggie I was consuming. The mother next to us asked how our food was and I told her it was good.

    Jom Paong
    Bree P.

    every time i eat here, i crave it even more. the food and customer service is wonderful. the prices are the cherry on top. i've loved every dish i've tried. the dumpling soup comes with beef/beef broth but i don't eat red meat so the sweet lady made a veggie version :)

    Kalo S.

    I haven't been back to this place in 3 years!! But....this place is still super amazing and has some of the best fried chicken in the city. They now offer jambalaya and gumbo so that was a very pleasant surprise! Seriously- where can you go to get fried chicken and authentic korean food in the city of Louisville? It is family owned and ran, they are the all really nice and even towards the end of the day willing to make me fresh fried chicken! Their diverse menu includes pork chops and sweet honey biscuits! This place is a must try if you haven't!

    They have a full Korean menu, but they also have crispy chicken that is their fast food portion.

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

    The food and service are both wonderful and the atmosphere is cozy. Good for a casual lunch or family dinner.

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    11 months ago

    ONG! The best Kim Bop ever! Service was fast food was fresh! All was delicious! I am making this my go to place for Korean!

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    1 year ago

    Great food and service! Nice owners. Highly recommend and will go again. Would like to try Korean bbq next.

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    Lou Lou on Market

    Lou Lou on Market

    4.4
    (279 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$

    Great patio ambiance and an excellent menu! I love Cajun food but my wife does not, so the variety…read morehere was perfect for both of us. The Boudin Balls are fantastic--easily better than most I've tried. I always order gumbo when it's on a menu, and theirs is a very solid choice, but the She Crab Bisque completely stole the show. It is excellent! We look forward to coming back!

    Lou Lou on Market absolutely delivered when it came to the food. From the moment my meal arrived, I…read morecould tell I was in for something special. I ordered the shrimp and grits, and without exaggeration, they were the best I've ever had. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the balance of textures throughout the dish was incredible. Every bite had the perfect amount of crunch, flavor, and toppings. Nothing felt overwhelming or out of place. It was one of those meals where you find yourself slowing down just to enjoy every bite. Even the water deserves a mention. It was clean, crisp, and refreshing. If it came straight from the tap, I would have never known. It's a small detail, but it speaks to the overall dining experience when even something as simple as water stands out. The service was great, and the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. It's easy to see why this restaurant has built such a strong reputation. The reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 comes down to accessibility. As a person with a disability, parking can make or break a dining experience. Unfortunately, there was no handicap parking available, and there were no nearby parking spots open when I arrived. I ultimately had to park in a hotel lot about a block away, which cost $25 for just two hours. Not only was the cost frustrating, but the additional distance was challenging given my mobility needs. The food was phenomenal and absolutely worth trying, but I do hope accessibility becomes part of the conversation for future guests. For those without mobility concerns, this may not be an issue, but for disabled patrons, it's something important to consider before visiting.

    Photos
    Speakeasy
    Speakeasy
    Chicken Bayou Dip ($16)
    Chicken Bayou Dip ($16)
    Speakeasy seating

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    Speakeasy seating
    Selena's at Willow Lake Tavern

    Selena's at Willow Lake Tavern

    4.1
    (585 reviews)
    9.9 mi
    $$

    I'm so glad we found this place yesterday. We arrived early in Louisville for a networking event…read moreand wanted to hang out somewhere with a nice outside area. We definitely found the right place. The patio area with the Koi pond and waterfall was perfect. My wife and I had the Fried Green Tomatoes and Selena's Crab Caps. Their menu looks amazing as did the specials of the day. We didn't have time to eat a full meal, but did enjoy our time outside. Our server was great and one of the owners did come by to check on us also. I would definitely come back to try more of their food.

    We had originally gone because we saw the $2 bellini and mimosa special advertised, but when we got…read morethere they were actually $5. I'm not sure if the $2 version was a smaller size or only offered at certain times, but honestly... the drinks were still worth it. The flavor was amazing, and unlike a lot of brunch drinks that taste watered down, these were actually strong. Two glasses definitely had me feeling tipsy, so I can't complain too much there. The main reason I took off a star was the parking situation and accessibility concerns. The handicap parking is positioned perpendicular to the main road, which honestly feels unsafe when backing out. If someone already has mobility or visibility limitations, backing directly into a busy road can be stressful and dangerous. The rest of the parking area is also gravel, which can be difficult to navigate with mobility aids, wheelchairs, walkers, or even just for someone unsteady on their feet. It's one of those situations where it's great that handicap parking exists close to the entrance, but the actual setup still creates challenges. Outside of that, the drinks themselves were genuinely really good, the atmosphere was fun, and I'd probably still come back for another brunch date.

    Photos
    Atmosphere
    Atmosphere
    Selena's at Willow Lake Tavern
    $5 mimosa

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    $5 mimosa
    Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar

    Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar

    3.9
    (2.5k reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    Stopped at Doc Crow's since it seems to be a popular spot. Upon walking in, it doesn't seem big but…read morethere's an additional space after the first section. The restaurant includes a long row of bar seating that extends to the other end of the restaurant, so there was no problem for me to find a seat on a busy day. I ordered the Mac n cheese and braised greens, and the Mac n cheese was really good and creamy. The braised greens were just okay, it wasn't the best greens I've had and it could use extra flavor. I don't know if this is a thing they do at Doc Crow's, but in my opinion the bartender excessively kept asking me what I wanted even while I was still looking at the menu. This definitely frustrated me since it was clear that I wasn't ready yet. I think she should have done a better job reading my cues to figure out when I am ready to order.

    We were due for an underwhelming experience, and I'm at least partially to blame for not having a…read moredinner spot lined up beforehand. My top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality and I spent most of the afternoon on a bourbon tour and a post-tour distillery so...food was needed. And quickly. In our mild defense, we didn't really know how the day was going to go or when we were actually going to have dinner, which made it a little tougher to pre-plan, but no research went into this at all and we paid for it. We wrapped up our bourbon adventures at the Angel's Envy distillery probably five or six blocks from here. Instead of being grownups and doing at least a quick/impromptu recon for spots, we literally just walked outside and down W Main St until we hit something. And we hit this, which was right on the edge of the main tourist area, pretty much Louisville's equivalent of the Times Square/MSG area. And as someone who works and used to live in NYC, you'd have to do a lot of convincing to get me to eat in that particular area - it's overpriced and the food/service just tends to not be very good, which makes you wonder what the appeal is for tourists beyond the convenience. But regardless, it's always struck me as an odd way for a tourism spot to put its best foot forward (or not). Doc Crow's is enormous, and when we were brought further into the restaurant to our table, I think we literally walked through three or four large rooms and navigated through multiple passageways. If you told me this place took up an entire city block or close to it, I'd believe you. Beyond the size/scope, there's nothing really distinctive that separates it from the myriad of other restaurants you'd expect to see catering to out-of-towners. It was the Friday evening of Memorial Day Weekend, so a place that I suspect is usually pretty busy was even busier and louder than that. Maybe not the greatest recipe after a bourbon tour, but who can say. On the app front, we got the Crispy Salmon Bites, which were fine. Not an item I typically see on a menu, even one with more of a seafood bent. I thought the cornmeal/panko breading was the right call; I'm a big catfish aficionado, so I'm of the opinion that cornmeal is underutilized, at least in the Northeast where I come from. Otherwise, nothing really mind-blowing there; probably would have made sense for it to be a different type of fish given the prep (I think salmon is best raw in a sushi roll or grilled), but it could have been worse. I don't think a ton of thought went into this on my end, but I went with the full rack BBQ ribs, along with a side of mac n' cheese. Again, okay, though not as flavorful as I would have hoped and I thought the ribs were on the dry side. Not their fault, but I always regret getting the full rack in hindsight because ribs have a deceptively significant amount of meat on the bones and a half rack is a very decent portion by itself; I am a work in progress just like everyone else. The mac n' cheese was also pretty dry, which I think you can see pretty obviously in the accompanying picture. Tasted and felt reheated at least once or twice. The service was pretty efficient given how busy it was, but our waiter was just on robotic autopilot. Not remotely personable and everything I said to him was responded to with, "For sure, for sure." Maybe he was having a rough night to start the holiday weekend, but it felt like he was just going through the motions and just checking off some boxes there. I went into this already predisposed to not like the generic tourist trap places, so grain of salt. But my recommendation if you have the time/bandwidth (now that I'm a cagey Louisville vet) is to bypass this area if you can and find something tastier and more interesting in the Highlands neighborhood. That's where the real ones are.

    Photos
    Beautiful Bar area
    Beautiful Bar area
    Heap N Chips
    Heap N Chips
    On a vibey street

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    On a vibey street

    Kum's Cafe - korean - Updated July 2026

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