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    Mugunghwa

    4.5 (105 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Soup, Noodles
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Order Mugunghwa Takeout or Delivery

    Mugunghwa Photos

    Business Info

    MUGUNGHWA ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - Mugunghwa

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    Reviews With Photos

    28. Korean Fried Chicken
    Nancy T.

    Met a friend for lunch here on a Monday. Place wasn't too crowded. Parking in the area is find what you can on the street. We shared the Dolsot Bibimbap and boneless fried chicken with the original flavor. Bon chon was 7 different items and a good portion. The rice on the stone bowl was nicely crunchy and the chicken was crunchy on the outside, delicious and moist on the inside. Their prices are on the higher end, about $30 per person for lunch, but it was good value considering the portion size and quality of the food.

    Karen N.

    LOCATION: Telegraph/43th (Temescal) PARKING: Street parking WHAT I'VE ORDERED: * Seafood pancake ($22) - quite a large portion and easily shareable * Dolsot Bibimbap ($18) - I forgot what meat I ordered with this. I honestly thought it was okay! * Yukgaejang ($22) - this is good but I've had better * Dumpling Tofu Soup ($18) - this is only okay * Yukhoe Naengmyun ($25) - perfect on a hot (or cold) day! * Garlic Bossam ($42) - a must-get; we literally get it every time * 8pc Korean fried chicken wings with soy garlic/garlic ($19) Dare I say the best Korean restaurant in the East Bay? I have not been to the El Cerrito location, but a friend who goes to that location says that the two locations are comparable. The ordering process is very easy. It's just like how they do it in Korea, apparently! You order off the screen, including items such as banchan and water. I'd like to give an honorary mention to the banchan. They have such a great variety. All the pickled items are so delicious. They have one of the best-tasting kimchis I've ever had! It's not overly fermented, and it's quite umami. My favorite banchan items are the kimchi, pickled radish, and spinach. Food is often served very quickly. Every single dish has been a hit. The only thing I haven't gotten that I've always wanted to get is the galbijjim (we never have enough people to eat with us hahaha). My friends and I always overorder and fill up on banchan, but at least we always have leftovers. Thanks, Mugunghwa, for fulfilling my Korean food cravings!

    Kalbi
    Judy H.

    I got a DoorDash pick up order for kalbi. It was ready in 10 minutes. I liked that there was plenty of protein, with 6 banchans, and an order of rice. The place was spacious and I was super happy that I found parking!

    Accidently ordered double portion of Bulgogi meat w/this Bulgogi Dolsot w/K-BBQ Combo
    Sherri W.

    Coming here frequently bc of their service, quality & price point. This time my visit was to celebrate an early Father's Day & we were not disappointed. Orders: Appetizer: Boneless Garlic Sauce & plain Chicken- the chicken pieces were so crispy & meat so plump that after eating them you feel satisfied. I really enjoyed the plain chicken & felt like the garlic was too sweet & had an applesauce type texture. Next time I would simply order the plain chicken, but over all Mugunghwa really knows how to fry up their chicken & it always hits the spot. Combo Bulgogi Dolsit w/K-BBQ- we didn't realize that the K-BBQ meant you could order any of the BBQ meats in addition to the Bulgogi we chose, so we ended up w/lots of Bulgogi meat, but that was perfectly fine. The Bulgogi was perfectly marinated & pieces of meat were great. We added Assam(lettuce leaves) & it was so crunchy, fresh & sweet that I never realized how good it tasted w/my bulgogi meat, garlic slices & sauce.

    outside
    Jade L.

    My bestie and I were going to eat dinner at Ollei in SF on Friday night, but our evening plans shifted to the East Bay, and since I still wanted Korean food, I found us this alternative, Mugunghwa. It turned out to be a great choice. I didn't realize when I decided on this place that it's part of "Kimchi Row" in Temescal on Telegraph Ave. As I walked over from the BART, I noticed other Korean restaurants I saw in my Yelp search that I want to eventually check out, but I digress. After my bestie showed up, we put ourselves on the waitlist and got seated after a short while. We ordered on the iPad at our table. She got the seollongtang with brisket, and I got the tofu bibimbap. We also ordered a seafood pancake to share. I loved the seafood pancake and the tofu in the bibimbap was sooo good!! I really like that it was crispy and lightly seasoned with salt & pepper here. It was honestly one of the best, if not best, bibimbap I've ever had! I liked it even better than bibimbap I got in LA Ktown, so you know it's up to par here ;)

    28. Korean Fried Chicken
    Mike Y.

    They really entice people with $3 Sapporo, it's a waste of money if you don't get it. Food is both plentiful and good, I barely touched the bimbimbap since I was so stuffed from everything else. Ordering is done at your own pace so you never feel rushed by staff. Just don't forget to also ask for the check on the tablet. Didn't do the kbbq but it looked like an effective set up with two induction (maybe) burners + overhead vent

    Fried Chicken
    Melody L.

    Modern Korean restaurant with locations in both Oakland and El Cerrito! This is the Oakland location, specifically in the Korean town area of Temescal. This location is very clean and ordering is done on a tablet at the table. We ordered the Pork Tofu Soup, Bulgogi Bibimbap, and Soy Garlic + Garlic Half Fried Chicken Wings. My favorite were hands down the wings. They were perfectly crispy and both sauces were very flavorful. The Bulgogi Bibimbap was not as good - the rice was kind of soggy, but the waiters also seemed very stressed the day we went (they apologized to us twice, not exactly sure what for, but they all seemed to be in a rush), so that may have been the cause of that mishap. The tofu soup was solid. It wasn't the best I've had, but I think it was decent and pretty standard for the area. Despite the soggy rice, I enjoyed my experience here. The bossam and other food look pretty good too, so I would revisit if I get the chance!

    Menu
    Christine B.

    Stopped by for dinner while we were in the area and craving Korean food, and I'm glad we did. The restaurant was very clean with plenty of indoor seating. We ordered through the iPad at the table. For dinner, we ordered the ddukboki, spicy naengmyeon combo with galbi and spicy pork. The rice cakes were perfectly chewy, though I personally would have liked a bit more spice. The naengmyeon was very refreshing and paired well with the grilled meats. The side dishes were also delicious, and they even offer barley tea. Overall, we had a great dining experience and would definitely return the next time we're in the area.

    KBBQ Galbi
    Tim L.

    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.

    Carly L.

    Restaurant was packed, there is a little parking lot but it's always full. Service was quick and portions were super big. I'll come again.

    Bossam
    Wallace T.

    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.

    Charlotte Z.

    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.

    Japchae (beef)
    Amy K.

    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.

    Leftovers

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    3 months ago

    Bland food, soggy rice, higher end prices, cold service from waiters. I do not recommend.

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    10 months ago

    Interesting sauce, creamy soup, panchans are yummy, servers are kind, design of space is nice to be in

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    1 year ago

    Fantastic new Korean spot! Killer banchan and great soups. Love their fermented tofu soup. Highly recommend.

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    1 year ago

    A very polite, nice waitress and great food. Great for berkeley students or nearby residents who are looking for Korean cuisine.

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Mugunghwa

    Is the seollangtang unsalted?

    Hello! Thank you for reaching out with your question! Our Seollongtang is served salted, but if you prefer it unseasoned, please notify the staff. There is also an option on the order tablet to select 'no salt.' We will provide salt and pepper on… 

    View All 2 Questions

    Moo Bong Ri Korean Restaurant

    Moo Bong Ri Korean Restaurant

    4.5
    (1.5k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Absolute best/favorite for Korean short ribs. This is my partner & I's current favorite Korean…read morerestaurant and we always order the spicy braised short ribs. Very big serving size with all the best mixes of toppings on top of the delicious short ribs. The sauce is so good and makes the dish 15/10. Service is ok but that's biased because we order the biggest/longest to cook dish but it's still pretty good. Restaurant ambiance is just ok in my opinion, not too many distracting decorations and tables & booths feel nice. We've also tried the spicy rice noodles which were just a 6/10 for me. The kimchi fried rice was also good but not our favorite -- solid 6/10 as well. We literally just come here for the short ribs. So if you're ever in the mood for Korean food and feeling a little 'rich', this place is a must try.

    Alright, I see all the great reviews, so I'm willing to give this spot another shot and order the…read more"right" things next time. But until then, my rating is based on exactly what we ordered. I was violently craving seolleongtang and did some research to find a spot in Oakland. The menu is pretty big with a lot of enticing options--I love bossam and blood sausage--but because I had tunnel vision, I stuck with the soup. The broth itself was good, and they had salt and pepper on the table so you could season it to your liking. Unfortunately, the noodles were way too soft and almost mushy, and the meat was extremely tough and hard to chew. I couldn't finish it. If seolleongtang is one of your favorite dishes, I'd probably skip it here. My husband got the kimchi fried rice, which was huge and great for sharing between 2-4 people. Based on the portion size, I do think it could use an extra egg, more Spam and some nori on top. It leaned more oily and buttery than other versions I've had, but it was still good--just nothing too special. The vibe and service were solid, so I'd come back to try other dishes and update my rating accordingly.

    Photos
    Photo 1: Montage of images from Moo Bong Ri
    Photo 1: Montage of images from Moo Bong Ri
    Medium Pork Back Bone Casserole + Sujebi ($52.98) - pork rib w/ cabbage, potato, sesame leaf in soybean pork broth. Broth is delicious.
    Medium Pork Back Bone Casserole + Sujebi ($52.98) - pork rib w/ cabbage, potato, sesame leaf in soybean pork broth. Broth is delicious.
    Photo 6: Interior

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    Photo 6: Interior
    Mensho

    Mensho

    4.5
    (662 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    My go to order is their signature ramen, chicken karaage, and their special hand rolls…read more Review long overdue but honestly it is the best Ramen spot here in the east bay. I've been to the SF location a long time ago and have been waiting for them to open up on piedmont ave. Signature Ramen 5/5 Broth is very rich and flavorful. The Chashu is super tender. Noodles are made fresh and chewy. Everything about this bowl is perfect. Fried enoki on top gives an extra umami. This is best for first time goers. Chicken Karaage 5/5 Crunchy and crispy Japanese fried chicken. Meat is super tender and juicy. Sauce drizzled on top for a flavor bomb Hand Rolls 4/5 It's simple and delicious. Hokkaido Scallop 5/5 This was an absolute banger. Super tender scallops. Service 5/5 Staff are very friendly and checks in regularly. Ambience 3.8/5 Beware it's a very small space to dine and can feel cramped and loud when it gets very crowded. But despite that, it's so worth getting a bowl of ramen. I highly recommend this spot to all foodies and ramen lovers. I usually go solo so there's always seating available for myself even when it's extremely busy.

    Unfortunately no photos as we devoured the food! However here is my review otherwise:…read more 1. Location- easily accesible in off Piedmont Ave, found parking alongside an adjacent neighborhood street that was free. I went around 430pm on a weekday. 2. Staff/Vibe- very friendly and throughout the service so many stopped by to check-in. Waters were constantly topped off and food was delivered very promptly. The restaurant itself is very intimate and tabletop dividers are largely used to shared tables. It was a really nice approach. I wasn't a major fan of the chairs for the tall tables. I was hoping for some more ergonomically friendly. Food- SIGNATURE RAMEN- 5/5. So good. The broth was so good I think I drank it all before eating any ramen and toppings. It was a wonderfully hearty ramen with a balance of fresh and simple ingredients. This was perfect and allowed the delicious broth to really be the star. LAMB RAMEN. 5/5. If you like south indian curries then this is a must. The dense cumin taste, fresh onions and lamb made this ramen feel very familiar. The flavours were so wonderfully constructed on this. VEGAN KAARAGE MUSHROOM. Made to be reminiscent of fried chicken, these were very pleasant and paired with our broth. I would order this again. I am interested in knowing the preparation method for this as the inside was piping hot while the outside was just warm- almost like it was reheated. I would like these to be crispier with a bit more light seasoning. Overall looking forward to the next visit!

    Photos
    Waiting area
    Waiting area
    Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken
    Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken
    Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl

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    Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl
    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen

    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen

    4.5
    (269 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    While looking for something on the way, I found this place thanks to Yelp. There is a dedicated…read moreparking lot which was a bonus. There are tables inside and outside for dining. The beef pho was ok. The broth was on the sweet side. The sticky rice (zoi man) was fantastic though. It came with quail egg, pate, Vietnamese ham, sweet sausage, scallion oil, fried shallot, and house sauce with a choice of chicken or pork. I went with the pork which was nicely chargrilled. The entree didn't look too big, but it was quite filling. Service was quick. Overall, I'm glad I found this place!

    Was in the mood for pho and decided we'd try someplace I haven't been before. I've had enough pho…read morealong the west coast to know what great pho should taste like and I haven't had the best luck in the Bay. So, the verdict? Extremely impressed. This is already on my top five list in a single visit. Went for the basics: beef pho, and salad roll with tofu. I was initially put off by the short menu and few options to add toppings (I didn't see any tendon or tripe for example), and worried it would be too bland or too sweet--but it was not. The broth was deeply flavorful and more savory. Meats were generous and meatballs were exceptional, maybe the best I've had. The basil and sprouts were garden fresh, and unusually, the rice noodles were exceptional, not at all soft or pressed together. I could genuinely taste the love here. It extended to the salad rolls which were generously portioned and used lightly fried tofu which I prefer. One additional note about the broth. It's a richer style than I normally like so I couldn't drink it to the last drop, but I can't fault its great flavor. The service was above average, with a spirited vibe. Loved everything, will be back to try more on the menu.

    Photos
    Counter
    Counter
    Mini pancakes
    Mini pancakes
    Bò Tái Chanh: Beef Carpaccio w/ Thai basil, fried shallot, house tangerine sauce  ($18)

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    Bò Tái Chanh: Beef Carpaccio w/ Thai basil, fried shallot, house tangerine sauce ($18)
    Soba Ichi

    Soba Ichi

    4.1
    (625 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    Unassuming Soba Ichi is such a delicious place for a casual meal…read more I have been to soba Ichi twice at this point. This most recent visit I was able to try the duck breast soba. The duck was juicy and tender and I love the broth they make. The flavor is deep yet the meal is light. Each spoonful of broth is like a savory umami bomb. I love it! This is the type of place where you order at the counter and wait for your meal. I appreciate that they ask if you'd like to sit inside and if so, they will make sure there is a table open for you. My only critique of this place is I tend to still be hungry after finishing a bowl. I wish the portions were a little larger.

    Upscale noodle place for soba and assorted Japanese bites. The level of craft here is remarkable…read more The dishes are made from simple ingredients with elegant preparations. We ordered the tofu, cold and hot noodles, tempura, and the weekly special, mochi. The cold noodles were a showcase for the soba noodles themselves -- nutty and earthy in flavor, and toothsome without being gummy. But the broth for the hot noodles was a welcome blend of flavors: sweet, salty, sour, umami at the same time. All while remaining relatively light. It would be easy to sip it all down on its own. (Our nine year old nearly did! We saw other kids there and I suspect they may have done the same.) The tofu came in thick blocks with three separate dressings -- onion, pickled cucumber, and bonito. Each one transformed the creamy bean curd into a different dish. Because the preparations are so simple, the best strategy may be to order a variety of appetizers which cover a range of flavors and textures. Then, hunker down with a couple shared plates of noodles for the entree. This is a place to take it slow and to appreciate the care behind each bite.

    Photos
    Ordering station
    Ordering station
    Yamagata dashi tofu
    Yamagata dashi tofu
    Vegetable karaage

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    Vegetable karaage

    Mugunghwa - korean - Updated August 2026

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