Got take out on our way to Napa from San Francisco. Excellent friendly service and even better food!!! Ordered clear beef bone soup (sulrultang) and pork bone soup (gam ja tang) Pork bone soup was big enough for 3-4 people. Had the right amount of spice, deep rich flavor, large pieces of pork bone with tons of meat on them. They were both so good!!! I was told you get much more banchan (side dishes) if you eat there but they gave us enough for take out. Banchan was really good. I would definitely go back if I am in the area. Highly recommend!! read more

Mugunghwa is a Korean restaurant with locations in Oakland and El Cerrito. We went to the Oakland one, which is located in the middle of the Temescal Koreantown and which opened in the middle of 2025. Rated 4.6 on Google, 4.5 on Yelp. This was chosen because we were nearby and had eaten at Daol Tofu next door. Modern clean looking interior with tablets to order on. They also have a printed menu. Food was as expected. Solid quality and reasonable quantity. No problems recommending this spot and their neighbor. Safety Pluses - Online menu, Delivery services available, online ordering. Food Review: Banchan had 6 different types with 2 spicy ones. Dolsot Bibimbab Bulgogi ($18) Thick Soybean Paste Stew (+$5) comes in a big stone container with ample ingredients. Tofu soup was boiling hot. Very good quality and quantity. 8.5/10 Galbi ($38) was larger than expected. It comes with SSAM to wrap the tender ribs in. Nice flavor profile. 8.5/10 Japchae ($16) with beef had a reasonable amount of meat and lots of tender clear noodles. 8.5/10 Overall - Very Good Food - Very Good Decor - Very Good Service - Good Value - Good Would we come back - Maybe read more

Wanted to try a new Korean spot outside of my usual dining area and this popped up. Place is pretty spacious and it surprisingly wasn't busy on a weekend so service was quick. Ordered: Galbi bbq Pork mandu Original fried chicken Beef tofu soup All the items were good and flavorful. I do wish I chose a different flavor for the chicken as the original was just basic honey mustard sauce. The chicken itself was still juicy and good. Each serving is big as it's meant to be shared. read more

See all

Came here with a party of three, wait time was around 20 mins but gave us some good time to chat. The interior is minimal and nicely accented, with a few places to sit in the lobby while waiting. Super strong meal, with a few standout elements that make it worth coming back. We ordered the bossam meal, bulgogi, and soup, and while not every dish landed equally, the highs were very good. The bossam was easily the highlight of the table. The pork was exceptionally tender, with a clean, rich flavor and just the right amount of moisture. My only reservation is that the portion of lettuce provided for wraps felt a bit sparse relative to the amount of pork. The bulgogi was nicely balanced, slightly sweet, and deeply savory without beinh heavy. Paired with the purple rice, it made for a very satisfying and comforting staple. The seolleongtang was the one component that fell a little short for us. It wasn't bad by any means, but compared with similar versions I've had elsewhere, the broth lacked depth and richness. The flavor felt somewhat diluted, and the relatively small amount of meat likely contributed to that. The noodles had less chew than I preferred, which gave the dish a less texture than I was hoping for. What really elevated the meal, though, were the banchan. The kimchi had great character, and the radish offered a bright, refreshing contrast that helped balance the richer dishes. They added a lot of dimension to the table. Service was impressively efficient. The tablet-based ordering system made everything feel very streamlined, and most requests for tea refills and extra banchan were fulfilled quickly. There was a small delay with an order of extra radishes, and communication could have been a bit more proactive, but once we asked, the staff responded that they were preparing more after they ran out. This is a place I'd gladly return to, particularly for the bossam. It reminds me somewhat of Han Il Kwan in the city, though at a slightly higher price point. Still, the quality of the stronger dishes and the excellent banchan make it a worthwhile stop. read more

See all

Ok, this is my number one Korean restaurant in Oakland now! Why didn't I try this place earlier? Yes, it is that good, and I'm saying this as a Korean! Everything I tried was a 10 out of 10. All of my non Korean friends approved and even thanked me for bringing them here. OMGGG you have to try the garlic bossam. It is so good with the sauce and the lettuce it comes with. Absolutely delicious. I also love that they serve purple rice. That is how you know it is going to be super good Korean food. It feels healthier too. The restaurant is super clean and very convenient to order. You can order in person or directly from a tablet at each table, which makes everything easy and smooth. The space is also very spacious, and I loved the whole dining room experience. read more

See all

The food was excellent. Since I retuned from my trip to Korea (NOV2025), this is the most close to something I'd get as far as taste goes. The banchan was great. The soup tasted clean. The bossam was juicy and flavorful. The service was ok. You ordered from a table side screen, and the food is brought out to you. So nothing spectacular, but as expected. The restaurant it was previous, lacked lighting, so it was kind of dark. The restaurant now, is bright. You can see the food and people you're dining with much better. I would definitely go back again. It is expensive, but competitive with the Korean food in the area. I highly recommend the items that we tried (see photos), and I can't wait to try more. read more

See all

This place was very modern, we got seated and ordered through a tablet. Everything was on there, even a button for asking for the bill. So there wasn't really any interactions between staff and customers. The food was cooked very well but I was super disappointed that the garlic on the bossam (pork belly) was sweet. Had it been in the description I would not have ordered it. I really enjoyed the tofu banchan (top middle)! It was nutty, savory and light. It tasted so good, I order a refill of it (on the tablet too)! The bibim kalguksu was also sweet, something I wish I had realized earlier. I wouldn't have ordered it. I want to come back and give this place another try. The dishes we ordered were cooked well but the sweetness was a turn off for me personally. The restaurant was decently filled for a week night! It felt very comfortable and chill. read more

See all

Food - ordered seafood pancake and braised beef. seafood pancake was a little overcooked, but still crispy and delicious. braised beef was a little tough for me but flavor was good. potatoes i wish were softer. service - a little slow, waited like 5 minutes when the place wasn't fully packed, but i could tell they had short staff (only saw two) and they were doing the best they could. ambiance - nice and cozy restaurant read more

See all

Food - Delicious! - Great portions - Had a party here and it was great to share - Garlic bossam stood out the most to me - And loved their seollongtang (we did the combo with brisket) - Can ask for lettuce to make ssam - Banchan was so good! Restaurant - Has a lot of seating - Very busy during lunch time, can get pretty loud - Limited amount of high chairs for kids Service - We were helped by only two people and they were fast and efficient! - Need to ask for banchan ahead of time because they're really busy to refill Location - Street parking - Not sure if they had a parking lot? read more

Mugunghwa - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

This location is relatively new, opened within the last year, but this is one of my favorite Korean places in the area. We came for lunch on a Saturday and the restaurant was relatively full but we didn't have to wait for our table. Our part of 3 ordered the: Braised Beef Short Rib (super tender and flavorful, decently sized) Seafood Pancake Beef Tartar (my personal favorite) They have really good side dishes as well. Overall, I'd give the restaurant a respectable 4.5 stars for their high quality food and service! read more

See all

Mugunghwa opened 5 months ago where Hancock was with same owner and similar infrastructure. Jinro soju bottles are still present as a decor on the wooden frames that divides the eatery. Street metered parking or free parking on side streets. Rhythmic music played in background. Offerings has some changes: appetizers, rice, creamy/clear soup, soon tofu, noodles, suyuk, Galbi Jim, Korean favorites. Was greeted courteously & seated promptly upon entering. Given a menu, ordered. All foods arrived in 22ish minutes. Subtle hot tea came lst. banchan came soon after: carrots, shredded tofu, chive veggies, spinach, daikon kimchi, leafy green kimchi. -though refrigerated, all had bold flavas of savory, sweet and/or spicy. Plentiful too. Slurps: bone Haejangguk soup (23) -soup very savory with pork flavoring, ground perilla seeds, & some chilies. Yummy! -2 big pork bones with tender savory meats also in the soup and some glassy noodles. -purple rice was splendid but couldn't finish. -used a napkin as a bib to catch the messy soup flying around. 4.5 stars Worthy! Quantity: reasonable Quality: all fresh ingredients. Food made to order. read more

See all

Authentic Korean restaurant with good variety of cuisines. Touches order at the tables. Quick service. Food was fresh and delicious. May be long line or wait time. Large indoor seating area good for kids, groups, meetup and gathering. Larger groups may need reservation. Free and paid street parking. Accessible with flat entry. read more

See all

Did not expect to be blown away by the quality and taste of the Korean fried chicken - normally original flavored Korean fried chicken can be super bland and dry but theirs has so much flavor and super juicy; other flavors are good as well. The rose galbi jimn is famous and definitely star of the show and my favorite. But can be a bit too much flavor for some, I really enjoyed but taken aback by the $80 price for one bowl though . service was all right. Ambience is clean but not anything fancy. Side dishes banchan was OK. read more

See all

5:15pm party of 4 on saturday decently empty with only 2 other parties but by then time we left, every single table was full and there was one party waiting outside. solid food, solid service, the banchan was amazing. i think this location opened recently so im not surprised it filled up more around dinner time. seolleongtang assorted regular (which just has all the other types of meat that you could get in this soup) with purple rice - not bad but the soup didn't have a ton of flavor, i would have liked the gogi kal guksoo better probably because of the hand cut noodles galbijjim mild - served two people and was a good size; it doesn't come with cheese by default so make sure to add it gogi kal guksoo - this probably the best dish, i would go back for this again pork steamed dumpling - i saw an instagram with these dumplings and that's why i chose to come here and they were so good and massive read more

See all

Met friends for dinner at this lovely find. Tables with room to stretch out appreciated. Tried a variety of food. The small dishes served along with family style menu (via tablet at table, convenient) we all walked away full and satisfied. Friendly service who didn't interrupt our meal or conversation but came to check on us just often enough, was also appreciated. All agreed that each item had great taste. Some favorites to note: Korean fried chicken! Pork dumplings great flavor and served hot. Lots of turnip and radish sides. Bulgogi rarely disappoints and this was no exception. Parking anywhere on Telegraph is a challenge so plan ahead. Or, park in the middle of the street like I did. Oops. Dress casual or comfortable. read more

See all

A great rec from a local friend! My friend and I came here at 3pm on a Sunday, and there was no wait at all considering the time we went. It's a spacious spot with plenty of street parking nearby. This place definitely reminded me of my Korea trips - ordering on a small screen on the table, soju bottle decor, and kpop in the background! We ordered the galbi jim, soju, and beer, and it was a perfect amount for 2 people! I loved it better than Daeho - the braised beef was so tender, and the sides were delicious! My friend and I kept talking about how good the sides were. And can't go wrong with purple rice! Honestly such a great spot, I will defs be back! It's also near a lot of other bars and breweries, so we stayed in the area afterwards :) read more

Mugunghwa - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

Stay open forever please !! Everything from the service to the cleanliness to the food was 5/5!! My besties and I were very happy on our monthly dinner date!!! It was so much food and my tummy was happy read more

See all

A new addition to the bustling street of Telegraph Ave in Temescal! It took me a while to try this place (since there are so many other Korean restaurants near by), but this is definitely one of the best one I've visited in the Bay. There is a fun variety of banchan, and all were fresh and flavorful. We shared an order of the Bossam and the Gogi Kal Guksoo for the entree. The Bossam came with lettuce and other addition, and the meat was very tender. The broth of the Gogi Kal Guksoo really blew me away, and we were scrapping the bottom of the bowl for more. Btw, the portion sizes are huge. The restaurant was packed on a Tuesday night -- and for good reason! I can see myself coming back here many times. read more

See all

Wha??? I haven't left a review yet on this place that I've adored since coming at the end of their soft opening month??? Impossible!! Anyways, what can I say? This is ONE of TWO best Korean places that I luv to patronize regularly. Whether it's their scallion pancake. Or grilled meats. Or Bibim Bap dishes. Their fried chicken...DE-LISH! Or whatever else. This place is DA BOMB!!! Even if you just ordered a plain bowl of rice...white or purple! You would thoroughly be satisfied with JUST the bachan (side dishes) themselves alone! At least I would be. Call it the poor ole college student in me. And the ability to ADD a small order of grilled meat or other to a main dish is just PERFECT when you need JUST a tiny bit more to feed a small child...or a small appetite! Only downside. For first timers the digital menu is a bit confusing. But no worries. The servers are more than happy to guide you thru it or just verbally take your order! So make sure you try this place out. FYI, it does get busy during peak hours like on weekends. So plan ahead!! PIECE!!!....i meant PEACE! lol read more

Mugunghwa - 판찬 - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

There are so many Korean restaurants clustered in this vicinity, but this is place is underrated--give it a try!! All the flavors were on point and really suited my palette as someone pretty sensitive to salt. They offer a really great variety of banchan, including chive kimchi (my fav), spinach, tofu (my boyfriend's fav), and banh mi style pickled radish. I found the kimchi to be a little strong on the fish sauce, so personally, I wasn't a fan. We ordered the seolleongtang with the brisket cut, and this light broth was absolutely perfect with the spicy pork bibimbap. I really enjoyed the stone pot bibimbap--it was rich from the fat but didn't feel heavy. The pictures don't really do it justice, but this felt more like home-style Korean cooking than most Korean restaurants. I felt so satisfied with the meal that I wasn't even in the mood for dessert. Service was attentive with banchan refills and utensil requests. Prices are very affordable. I can't wait to come back and try more from the menu. read more

See all

We frequented the Korean Restaurant at this location prior to Mugunghwa taking over and modernizing the facility: ordering pad at the table and a modern stylish look replaced the prior establishment which had a partial polished wooden nude female torso that my then 9 year old son would marvel at every time we ate here. He probably learned more eating here than all of my life discussions with him. The current Oakland restaurant is a sister to the restaurant in El Cerrito which I also dined at many years ago when it was a Chinese restaurant. Weird coincidences. Challenges will be finding safe parking in the area and for the restaurant... to remain relevant in the highly competitive Korean restaurant scene in the K-Town Area of Oakland. We had Kalbitang - Short Rib Noodle Soup, Cold Noodle Soup, and Spicy Pork for a weekday lunch. Service was quick as we were the only diners. Food is exactly the same as its sister restaurant in El Cerrito. read more

See all

Looked up Korean food on Yelp in Oakland and found this place. 10/10. We walked in on a Saturday around 12:30pm and there was now wait. The waiter sat us down immediately and served us buckwheat tea and iced water. They have ordering tablets so you don't have to wait for someone to come around. We decided to get the regular bossam, one Galbi tang and Yukhoe Neang Myun (cold noodles) for 4 ppl and it was plenty! The bossam comes with two bowls of rice and you can choose purple rice at no extra charge. They also provide you with a selection of house banchan that were very well made, fresh and flavorful with three options being pickled. All the food was so good and just well made with good portions for the price. I do wish the galbi tang had a little more flavor in terms of the soup but the bossam was amazing by. I wanna go back and try more options. They had excellent service, our waiter was extremely attentive and very kind. Can't wait to go back and try more read more

See all

Had to come back to try out their Rosé Galbi Jjim with Cheese! This time we were seated at a table that was tucked in the back corner (which I loved because it felt like a little private room). It was nice and quiet & the servers still made sure to check on you often! We ordered Half Fried Chicken again & the Rosé Galbi Jjim with cheese! This time we opted in for the sauce on the chicken instead of on the side. We were accidentally given the wrong order of chicken (soy garlic instead of spicy garlic) which they let us keep in addition to remaking our correct chicken! I have to say, I think I actually like the soy garlic better than their spicy garlic! It's perfectly sweet, sticky, and was coated very evenly on the chicken. The chicken was just as tender as last time too! The Galbi Jjim was blow torched table-side, it definitely serviced up a ton of cheesy goodness. We were actually blown away by this dish. Not only did it have the traditional components of bone in short rib, potatoes and carrots-- it also had glass noodles & rice cakes! The sauce was fantastic. We were even dipping our chicken in it. It is definitely a very heavy dish, so make sure you're eating lots of complimentary banchan & hot tea to help cut the grease! Can't wait to enjoy this meal again! read more

See all

I have to admit I usually only eat soondubu jigae or AYCE BBQ, so it was exciting to see the variety and try new Korean dishes. From Yelp reviews, it looked like the bone haejungguk was a good bet. I was craving some noodles so I got the version with glass noodles. The broth was rich, if on the edge of too salty for me, and portion generous with vegetables and protein. My friend got the soondubu that was similarly packed with protein and vegetables. The banchan is rather disappointing: some too oily, too salty, or even limp/oddly textured. I appreciate that they don't charge for rice. I was worried that service would be almost non-existent since you order through an iPad, but quite the opposite. We were greeted and brought tea as soon as we sat down, before we had even ordered, and every time someone passed by our table they asked if we needed anything. The prices are higher than I'm used to for Korean food, but looking around the portions of the sharing dishes look like they make up for it. I'll definitely come back with more people to try one of the family servings. read more

We got their specialty cold noodle and beef bugolgi. Overall it was a lot of food and value for 2 for the beef bugolgi. The portion size was qutie generous but the beef was not quite as charred as I'd liked it to be. I enjoyed the acidity in the cold noodle however and found it to really hit the spot. It was a little spicy for me though which is a personal preference, but I would get it again! read more

See all

I was here for the soft opening. It was good and I would return. Some items stood out, others were solid but not the best I've ever had The banchan was really nice. They gave 6 dishes: spinach, sweet picked veg, Kimchi, green onions, tofu, and turnip. I loved all 3 of the non spicy ones. ( I'm not big on heat) my fellow diners enjoyed all of them too Bibimbop: we had 3 versions at the table-- tofu, galbi (short ribs) and I had bulgogi. Pluses: lots of veggies here all nicely seasoned, the bulgogi was decent. Cons: the dolsot rice was not crispy! It takes some finesse to get this just right, with not too much or too little oil. I'd suggest the restaurant work on this as dilsot bibimbop rests ( literally) on its crispy rice. The other con was the amount of compared to other restaurants there was less here. The bowl is wide and shallow. It's probably less rice and the same in toppings though so not a huge deal Bulgogi: one person ordered this. It came on a large bed of onions and the serve with a side of lettuce and condiments so you can make lettuce wraps. This was a nice addition that many other restaurants don't have Bathroom grade : A- gendered with 2 stalls in the women's, clean, and a sign that says "please seat yourself ". I like bathroom humor. read more

See all

This used to be Hancock, same owner and same chef, changed name and concept from AYCE to a la cart, so you basically pay more for the same food...lol Maybe it needed for them to survive the challenging economy, I get it. I love them when they were Hancook, still like them but not liking the bill. Everything we had was good but do skip the seafood pancake, very doughy and greasy. With so many Korean restaurants in the 10 blocks radius I will have to make my round before coming back though. self ordering on the tablet, food comes promptly, available for assistance as needed . Typically Korean seating with booth and cook top at your table, no vibe just good eat. read more

See all

Had a delicious dinner here with a group of friends! 8 of us were able to walk in and get a table just before 6pm, and only had to wait about 5-10 minutes to be seated. To start, the banchan is good and plentiful here with a nice variety. I love the convenience of placing your order on a tablet at your table. We shared quite a few items and enjoyed all of them, including: Japchae, Green Onion Jeon, Rose Spicy Rice Cake with cheese, Galbi Jjim with cheese Sadly they were out of my favorite soju flavor, yogurt, but the grape soju was surprisingly pleasant. Service was quick and efficient. Food was reasonably priced! Will definitely be back. read more

The tasiest korean restaurant in the bay area: banchan was fresh and the braised beef from galbi jim was super tender! My friend and I were surprised by how well seasoned everything tasted and it's way better than Daeho. Food came out quick, we ordered from the screen on the table. We had somaek as well. The whole ambiance made us miss our SK trip. I think this the best it can get if you miss food from SK. Def coming back to try their fried chicken, garlic bossam, and kalguksu. read more

See all

I enjoyed the food at Mugunghwa. We came for dinner and were seated immediately. Unfortunately, the only table they had open was near the door so it was pretty chilly during our meal. We ordered on the tablet at our table and had minimal interaction with the staff. My boyfriend's seollongtang came out pretty quickly, and we waited about 5-10 minutes after for my rose tteokbokki. They kept forgetting to bring our banchan and we had to ask several times. The staff seemed pretty overwhelmed since they were at full occupancy. The banchan was delicious and fresh. I liked my tteokbokki a lot and found my boyfriend's seollongtang to be very comforting and flavorful. It did need a bit more salt and we had to ask several times to get some because they kept forgetting. Even though the staff was forgetful, they were very friendly. read more

Love trying Kbbq and mugunghwa is one of our favorites on the east side. The bibimpap is excellent - especially the crunchy rice at the bottom - and we couldn't get enough of the gochujang sauce that came with it. We also got the tofu and mushroom soup which had a very mild flavor - I wish it had more of a kick. The banchan was good - all the different types of veggies were a great start to the meal. Overall we left very full and happy but the service can certainly be improved - it was hard to flag them down and it was also unclear why they have touchscreens at the table if you can't actually make a payment through them. read more

Mugunghwa - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY. We are sitting at the restaurant right now, disappointed and frustrated at the horrible service. The whole setup is ridiculous. They bring you a paper menu but you have to order on the machine. The menu is unclear and the machine has different spellings of the meals. For example, there are two prices listed. One if for a combo but it is unclear what that means. You don't get service AT ALL. You have to flag down wait staff who hurriedly respond and run off. We had to speak to three different people to just order. As our food arrived, I ordered two extra kimche through the machine. 1/2 through the food we were trying to get wait staff to check on our order. One staff told me sorry as she cleaned tables for people to come in. That was more important than helping people who were already eating. She finished and sat them down. My partner called out to her and she flat out ignored him and then brought the Korean appetizers out for another table that recently sat down. The third time we finally got acknowledged and was told sorry and they will grab our food. Then the staff goes and print out checks for customers to pay, helps a to go order, brings out appetizers to another table and just as I got to the last three bites of my food brings one kimchi. The only time you will surely get service is when it's time to pay. They quickly run the bills out to folk to get paid! I will never return or go to any of their other restaurants when there are better tasting Korean places with at least halfway decent service. read more

I came here on a weekend with my mama and we love Korean food and I was so excited to try something different. Everyone has their own recipe but with the same menu or a little bit different which I always love hole in the wall spots in the Oakland area. . For the food we tried out their premium beef short rib soup which comes with Abalone and shrimp egg and four pieces of beef bone and beef ribs which had a really savory beef broth with seafood mix inside. I also love their steamed pork with a lot of fresh vegetables and side dishes as well to pair with my purple rice. The purple rice is actually really good and taste like regular white rice but it is a little bit more healthy. Also I did try there barbecue short ribs for additional $5 to make it a combo with the premium beef short rib soup entree. However there is a Improvement which is serving the beef short ribs sizzling on a platter which it was not sizzling when served. Also I wish the beef short rib was a little bit more charred so it has a little bit more grilled flavor. I really do like their kimchi and Kimchi cucumber and radish. The service was Detail and Accommodating with refilling all the side dishes Where needed and keeping our drinks filled with water Or more tea. . It is actually located in a really great area with lots of street parking on the weekend which is free. The location has a lot of other Korean restaurants as well which reminds me of a little Korea Town in Oakland area. I hope this helps and thanks for reading and have a yelpastic day. Let me know where other green restaurants you like to visit in the Oakland area and I shall go check it out. read more

See all

I came here by myself on a weekend afternoon and this place wasn't busy at all. There were just a few people inside. I was greeted as I walked in and was told I could sit anywhere I wanted. I was given a paper menu to look at and they had a tablet at the table for me to enter in my order. I got the garlic bossam and it was delicious. The pork was really tender and had the right amount of fat on each slice for my liking. The garlic sauce was kind of creamy with a sweetness taste. It hit the spot when I took a few pieces of pork and some kimchi and wrapped them in lettuce. I thought the banchan was fresh, flavorful and delicious. It looked beautiful and well put together. The Sapporo beer for $2.99 was a really good deal. It was refreshing, cold and crispy. It had a nice foam and tasted like it came from the tap. Service was excellent. The staff was very friendly and nice. When I asked for extra lettuce or another beer, they were super fast to get them for me. The only thing I had to wait for was the garlic bossam but even that was a short wait. The restaurant was very clean and spacious. I thought it was a relaxing place to have a meal. It would have been nice if there was a TV to watch a movie or game while I was eating. Street parking may be difficult to find given how busy Telegraph Ave can get. read more

Mugunghwa - Garlic Bossam - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

Stopped by here on a Sunday for a late lunch and thankfully didn't have a wait! We ordered the Galbi Tang, Galbi, Rose Spicy Rice Cake, Seafood Pancake, and some Korean Fried Chicken! We loved the flavor profile of every dish! I think the portion size was also decent. Also, appreciated all of the banchan that was provided :) Servers were polite and attentive, and the restaurant was well-lit and clean! Will definitely be back :) read more

See all

Mugunghwa has a lot of competition as there are several other Korean restaurants in that area. They stand out because of their aesthetics, beautiful cutlery, and well-executed dishes. We ordered the Soft Tofu Soup, Japchae, and Galbi. All of the dishes were scrumptious and plentiful. We had leftovers for lunch the next day and they still tasted great. Be forewarned that they are located in a sketchy part of Oakland where cars are broken into. read more

This place tries to be a high class Korean restaurant in Oakland! Prices are pretty reasonable for the quality you are getting. It used to be an old hot pot place. Good value for a Korean place in Oakland and not needing to drive farther! read more

Mugunghwa - Seafood pancake, extra crispy - Korean Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here in early July and thought the -food was pretty good so I decided to come back again last night. This a new place that replaced Hancook. So if you've been there while it was Hancook, the interior is still pretty much the same. The first time, our group ordered their specialty naengmyun, gamjatang, and Seafood Jeon. We thought it was pretty good because there aren't many places that served naeng myun and the seafood jeon was very crispy. I liked it enough to come back since it was hot and naeng myun sounded really good. They also gave a lot of banchan and free refills on the banchan on both visits. The second time, we ordered the regular naengmyun, the chicken wings, and the chive pancake. They gave us chicken tenders instead of the chicken wings which was a little disappointing but not worth the effort to send it back (Also, I abhor wasting food if it's not necessary). I can't speak on the wings but the tenders were pretty crispy, well cooked, tender, and flavoured well (original and soy garlic). It also came with a pretty nice honey mustard dipping sauce. Overall, the chicken was good but nothing to write home about. The regular naengmyun was quite nice and it's quite hard to find in the East Bay so this was very refreshing on a hot evening. Noodles were well cooked and soup was a little sweet but they give you vinegar and mustard to put in it as well. I think the most disappointing thing was the chive jeon. For some reason, this tasted far oilier than the previous seafood jeon and just really left a greasy mouth feel in a way that the seafood jeon didn't. Do not think I will be ordering this one ever again. Banchan was a good variety but I have to say that the kimchi is CRIMINALLY oversalted. I don't know if it's because it's fresh kimchi but it definitely lacks the fermented tang of kimchi and just tasted overwhelmingly of salt. The other banchan were much better though. My favourite was the tofu and the spinach one. Overall, I think this isn't a bad place, but it's definitely not a top 3 Korean spot in the East Bay to me. I feel like I would probably only come back here for the naengmyun. My overall feeling is that this place is a decent jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none kind of Korean restaurant. read more

I have been to the location in El Cerrito and loved it. I wish the Oakland location was just as good but came out very disappointed. The noodles in the three naemyeongs we ordered were clumped together that it was not eating noodles but a ball of carbs. The taste was not great. Our tofu soup came out burnt. It smelled so burnt when they served it and tasted burnt too. This was not edible. The ribs also came out burnt. The only thing that was good was their rice, side dishes, bbq pork (they use pork belly instead of the round cut) and seafood pancake. read more

Service was so quick and friendly! We sat ourselves and ordered off the digital menu, which I find sometimes less stressful so you have time to browse and see details about items. The sides were so amazing. We ordered the chives pancakes, rose noodles, Soondubu, gomtang, galbi, and Mandu. The chive pancakes and rose noodles were for sure the stars of the show. The pancake was so crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. So amazing . Rose noodles was chewy, a little sweet, but very savory. Gomtang was so tasty, and flavorful. Our friend was feeling under the weather and recovering from food poisoning, so she couldn't have anything heavy but this hit the spot and was not too heavy on the stomach yet still had lots of flavor. Mandu fell a bit short on flavor but was cooked so perfectly and delicately. Big portion of galbi and a solid choice for sure read more