Ondam is a Korean restaurant that makes everyday dishes slightly more upscale. Everything is a bit more refined than your typical neighborhood Korean mom-and-pop place. We ordered the kimchi pancake and each got a tofu soup. The meal comes with 6 banchan, all of which were delicious. Tofu soup comes with rice made in an individual steamer. The kimchi pancake was very flavorful and crispy. Definitely recommend it! Tofu soup was on the bland side, definitely needed more salt or something. Other tables got the fried chicken, which looked amazing, and bossam, which looked interesting as well. Service was prompt and friendly. read more

We went for the soft opening !! Pretty busy spot and super authentic Korean dishes. We didn't exactly like everything we ordered, but some I would love to go back and try. Absolutely would not recommend the kimchi fried rice. It lacked flavour and it also just looked like it had no flavour -- it was barely red. It had a cool performance aspect to it as they poured beaten eggs around the fried rice on the hot skillet when they serve it. We also got some makgulli called red monkey or something and we didn't like it. It was weirdly sour and kinda had a cough syrup after taste to it. The sotbap was soooo good. Sotbap literally translates to pot rice and it just means the whole dish is steam cooked in the one pot. I got the bulgogi one and the meat was yummy. The bottom of the rice also gets crisp in the pot and at the end you can ask for either tea or hot water to pour into the crispy rice. The beef tartare was really yummy too. It had all the classic Korean ingredients like egg yolk, garlic, sesame oil, and pear. They especially went hard on the garlic and it was pretty good. read more

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Great place for a group! I recommend joining the waitlist since there can be a line sometimes. We really enjoyed the bossam, it was super tender and everything in the dish went together perfectly. That was definitely the highlight dish! read more

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Came to Ondam with a couple friends on a Saturday morning. I got there first and my friends showed up a little later. The staff won't seat you until everyone is present. We ordered three gimbaps since it was pretty early. We got the tuna, Ondam, and bulgolgi. The tuna was pretty dry. The bulgolgi was the best one. When you order only gimbap, keep in mind they will not serve you side dishes! The interior of this place is really nice but parking can be a hassle. I'd try to show up for dinner next time. read more

Ondam - From top to bottom: Ondam, tuna, and bulgolgi gimbaps. - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Checked out this spot after seeing a post on instagram and it did not disappoint! The place was pretty packed! Came on a Friday evening and there was a 20-30 minute wait. The wait didn't seem too long and wasn't too bad. You have to stay and wait in the area to be seated as rather don't text or call when your table is ready. They have a good selection on the menu and some favorites I saw folks get was the kimchi fried rice, the soups; and the chicken platter. We ordered the eggplant tofu, kimchi pancake, tofu soup with mushroom. At first it didn't seem like a lot of food but it was plenty to share! They also give unlimited Ban Chan sides and all of that was fresh and delicious. Everything came out pretty fast and all was well proportioned and tasted great. I will say the kimchi fried rice was mediocre but it wasn't bad. I think it lacked some flavor and they didn't put enough egg. The tofu soup was really good and had a ton of different mushrooms, it also had a nice level spice (we got level 2). Service was also really quick and everyone was super attentive! The resultant also had a nice, calming ambiance and felt very modern. If you're looking for atmosphere and pretty decent food this is your spot, but I don't think it's the best Korean food in the area. Check it out for a date night or a spot to eat with friends ! read more

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Really really good gimbap . Everything on the menu is pretty good. I recommend. Menu has many options so with a group everyone can find what they like read more

I came here for my friend's birthday. Someone in our party came by early and put our name down, and we waited for a total of two hours. They told us that there was a likelihood that some parties ahead of us might drop out, but we came by around an hour after initially, putting our name down just in case we were called. The service was extremely friendly! The staff was so apologetic for the long wait even though it's not their fault. We came with a party of nine and got sat by the entrance at two tables that were placed together, although there were two separate iPads, one for each table. We noticed that all of the orders came out for just one table, and then 45 minutes later, all the orders for the second table came out. Two orders from the second table were also missing. Luckily, we ordered mostly the same thing, but we had to resolve this with our waiter. Solving the issue was quick, but it was confusing to not have all our food come out at once; I wish they treated us as two individual tables in terms of food and what we ordered since we ordered separately and had a few different items. The bill also came out altogether and I wish we were asked if we could've done it separately. Makgeolli: We were expecting the bottle, but it came in a beautiful pitcher with matching cups. I love this drink. Chicken platter: This was one of the forgotten items from our order. We had so much food that we considered stopping the order, but someone in our group did not like seafood, so this was going to be his main dish. When it came out, I didn't expect it to be so massive! It's literally a huge plank of 3 flavors of chicken. I think there were six or seven pieces per flavor. Although I was full, I decided to try one of each flavor, and I'm so glad I did. The breading was perfectly crispy and not too flaky, like it didn't separate from the chicken nor was it too thick. And the meat was very moist! I was surprised it was only $20. Bossam: This was the other forgotten item. It was presented beautifully. I wish there was more cabbage that came with it, but besides that, all the flavors came together well. I liked how it had raw garlic and peppers. The thickness of the meat was at my preference, not too thick and also bite-sized, not too long. Rosé tteokbokki: This was a hit. It reminds me of vodka sauce with its tomato flavor. It was creamy and cheesy. I liked the fish cake and quail eggs in it. Raw marinated crab: I've had crab from Hongdae and Hankook supermarket, and I have yet to try it from places in SoCal, but let me tell you... This was the best raw marinated crab I've ever had so far. It was not fishy at all. The shell was also soft enough to squeeze out the meat easily. I probably spent the most time on this dish. It was so tasty with rice! Kimchi pancake: Pretty standard pancake. I like how it's reasonably priced unlike some other restaurants in the area, who charge like $20 for it. This was $9.99. If I could remove anything from the numerous items we ordered, it would be this one, but it was just because it was basic. Bulgogi soup: The soup was massive and delicious. At the end, it got quite sweet. It was great to drink it to wash down our other foods. The sides were delicious. Everything was presented beautifully. The decoration of the shop is stunning. It feels elevated. At the end of the night, we brought out a cake for my friend. We bought it in advance from a bakery and gave it to the front before we waited in line so we could surprise my friend. It was a great celebration. Overall we had a great experience here and it was worth the wait. I think we paid around $40-something per person with tax and tip included. Combining together how good the food was, the ambiance, and how exceptional the staff was--I'd say this is a place is going to be successful for a long time. read more

I've been to Ondam multiple times, and it never disappoints. Today, I ordered the spicy pork with a side of mixed rice--the food was absolutely delicious, and the service was as friendly and attentive as always! read more

Ondam - Spicy Pork - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Loveee this place. It's open pretty late and it hits the spot for cold weather. The seats are comfortable and when you walk in it's dimly lit. It's a nice place to catch up with friends or have a date night. Shout out to Jason for the amazing service!!! We love you. Kimchi pancake: 8/10, flavor is great! Texture is fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the edges. Tteokbokki appetizer: 6/10, not my favorite flavor wise since it's cheese and sugar. Texture is soft and chewy. My table enjoyed it so they give it a 8.5/10 Soft tofu soup: 10:10!!! Super flavorful, has many bits of veggies and a big portion of tofu. The rice is a 5/10 since it's really sticky, but if you dip it in the soup it's not a problem. read more

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Very good service and good food, big portions Nicely decorated and easy to use ordering screens read more

A very simple and elegant spot that serves korean food. Their noodles is a must try and starters are amazing too. Everything looks nice and clean. Service is super quick and they make it super easy to order. read more

Amazing quality food that I can't stop thinking about! Recommend going with a smaller party bc it gets crowded FAST. They were only taking walk ins for the soft opening but not sure if that will change. We arrived at 5:30 for only a party of two and waited almost an hour, but it was worth it. We got spicy raw marinated crab!, kalbi jjim, and spicy seafood hand cut noodles. I have been dreaming of going back. Also--front of house staff was SO KIND and gracious (I didn't catch his name) even when it was so hectic! read more

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I ordered spicy stir-fried squid (ojingeo bokkeum) to go, and was pretty disappointed. The only vegetables included were basically just a couple strips of onion--nothing else. Considering the price, there's really no reason to buy food from here. It honestly made me feel like I'd rather just cook at home instead. In a way, I guess I should thank them for reminding me of that--so one star. read more

I had a great experience at Ondam Korean Restaurant in Santa Clara! The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was fast. My favorites were the bulgogi and the chicken platter. read more

Ondam - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I highly recommend this spot. While located in a shopping strip that does not look high end, this restaurant sticks out a bit and looks nice from the outside to inside with pleasant ambience and decor. Side dishes were served promptly with hot tea and I thought they all tasted pretty good. Favorite item: the savory pancake. It was so crispy and delicious with the sauce. I ate half of it and would say it helped make this place stand out for me. Too spicy: soondobu had three Chili's on the menu (my friend asked for the heat). I couldn't do it and felt my stomach might get a hole from the experience. But it tasted good in the first moment before the burn set in. Chicken platter: it's a different kind of fried chicken. Like there is dough holding the chicken pieces together on the inside since it is boneless. But tasty and comes with pickled daikon and mustard mayo. Fried eggplant was pretty crispy but nice with lots of greens below. Kimbap was good but not as flavorful as some others I've tried. I ate way too much and am okay with that because it was tasty. At the end of the meal they brought out a sweet rice drink and a little honey cookie. read more

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Ondam seems to be in its early stages (currently in its soft opening phase), and while there's a lot of potential, there are a few hurdles to navigate before it hits its stride. The first thing that struck me was the ambiance. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and well-lit, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. It's definitely a place where you'd want to linger over a meal with friends or family. However, finding parking in the plaza proved to be a challenge. There's limited space, and you may get stuck in the parking lot because of the one-way parking route. [See my tip to avoid this hassle] Unfortunately, Ondam doesn't take online reservations yet, which, combined with the limited seating, led to a long wait for a table. Our wait time to get seated was 20-25 minutes. After that, it took us another 20 minutes to place our order and get our food. On the bright side, the menu is extensive! From meat dishes to a wide variety of seafood options, there's something for everyone. I particularly liked that they offered both familiar and more adventurous choices. Speaking of adventurous, my friend opted for the algoni kalguksu. This dish (noodle, pollack roe, fish intestine - you name it!) is not for the faint of heart (i.e., me). My friend liked it. I tried it, but unfortunately, I couldn't get over the fishy smell and some of the textures. Also, I found the flavor to be very mild (you can't pick your spice level for this dish). I got their bulgogi sot bap with egg yolk ($2 extra). Bulgogi was cooked well, but the rice was dry. The pork soft tofu soup had the same issue with the rice. Please note that the pork soft tofu soup contains minced pork. My friends and I also shared an order of the ondam mini cheese tteok and ondam chicken platter. Ondam mini cheese tteok with the mozzarella and American cheese was sweeter and less chewy than expected, but it was decent. Finally, the ondam chicken platter was a crowd-pleaser, offering a generous portion of perfectly cooked chicken. It's a good appetizer to share. You get 3 flavors of boneless chicken- sweet & spicy, soy garlic, kkanpung. While the food itself was decent, the service was a bit on the slow side (probably because of how crowded the restaurant was through out the night; partly because all the people who were waiting to get seated were all standing inside the restaurant). It seems they're still ironing out some kinks with a new staff. Overall, Ondam has the potential to be a great addition to the neighborhood. For now, it's a 3 for me. read more

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I came down from the city to meet up with my girlfriends that I haven't seen in months. Saw this place on instagram with nicely decorated space comparable to the mid-high end restaurants in SF. We did not have a reservation for a party of 4 but got seated right away on a Wednesday ~5:30pm which was very convenient. I was a bit disappointed with the food as it is good but nothing stood out to me that interesting. Some of the dishes' portions size didn't make sense in terms of how much they are charging. The service was honestly the worst part of the whole experience. Service was slow and inattentive, we have to flag down the server for refills on the side dishes and to take our finished dishes away. As the night got busier, feels like the staff was trying to rush us out to make space for the next table. Overall Ambiance 5/5 Food 4/5 Service 2/5 read more

Ondam - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

One of our favorite Korean places! Love the chicken platter and bossam. Very accommodating staff as we had a stroller and a baby, the staff was very nice to put us in a quiet spot read more

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Wanted to try this place since it opened so I wanted to give a comprehensive review of our experience here. We came here on a Saturday afternoon around 5:30PM. Parking: It's a small strip mall parking lot, so if you're coming here on a busy night or weekend, you may have to park in another plaza or on the street. My friend and I got dropped off so that we could add ourselves to the waitlist while my boyfriend went to find parking since the lot was full. Waitlist: The waitlist is currently a paper with a spot for your name and the number of people. There's a small waiting area inside, but it was stuffy and quite crowded when we got in, so we waited outside the majority of the time. There is no Yelp waitlist and the area to leave your phone number was crossed off so you have to be at the restaurant waiting. There were 8 parties ahead of us around ~5:30PM on a Saturday. We went inside later just in case they only call names inside, and our name was called and we were seated around 6:15PM. Service: The host and the waiters/waitresses seemed pretty nice, but possibly understaffed and weren't very attentive. They served hot tea or water and my group all got hot tea. It was never refilled unless we flagged a waiter/waitress down and they never checked on us to see if we're doing alright. When they dropped off a dish, I asked for our banchan to be refilled, and they said they would come back later but did not come back until I asked again, but then apologized for not remembering. I had my hand up a lot to try to flag someone down. I saw one girl from another table stand up to ask a question and she couldn't find or stop any waitstaff, and she actually asked another guest at the table beside us (she thought he might've worked there). Luckily, he was able to help her. Additionally, the dishes all came out one at a time, with a long wait in between. One of the mains came first, and then an app, and then the two larger dishes. The good part is that we were sharing everything, so it's okay to eat one at a time. However, if one person is getting a sot bap and another person is getting a ddukbokki, it would be an awkward wait for one person to sit there with their ddukbokki and wait for the the other person receive their sot bap dish 10-15 minutes later. When we finished eating, we had to flag someone down again to get the check, and I asked for a takeout container for the leftovers. We got the check but not the takeout container so I had to stand up and find another waiter to get a takeout container. They do give this small sweet rice drink for dessert, which I appreciated. Food: The food was decent, but not amazing. We got the traditional ddukbokki, pork ribs, kimchi pancake, and the steak sot bap. Traditional ddukbokki 7/10: Was good and a little sweet, but probably would not get again. Pork ribs: 8/10 It had a good marinade and actually yummy veggies on the bottom, but were a bit overcooked. Kimchi pancake: 4/10 It was doughy and undercooked, but flavor was good. Steak sot bap 3/10: This was the most disappointing since it was the number one mentioned on Yelp (I guess here I'm mentioning it again). It's small, the steak wasn't that good, and was mostly rice (without much flavoring). Our favorites were the pork ribs and actually the seaweed soup that came with one of the dishes. Ambiance: The ambiance is quite good. The interior decor is modern and classy. The menu is also fancy and opens up. They did a really good job with the ambiance. Overall: There's a lot of good Korean places in Santa Clara. The food here was decent, but not amazing where it's worth waiting for both a table and for service at the table, and at the current price point. As a note, the service just felt understaffed. We noticed while waiting that there were a few uncleared tables that just sat for a while because no one was coming to clean them. read more

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Banchan - Needs to be served faster within 5 minutes of sitting down, not over 20+ minutes for a few banchan. We were starving. Steak sot bap $31.99 - Small bowl of steak served with chunks of fat, and not enough steak. My daughter couldn't eat the chunks of fat. The steak had no flavor, but they give you a side of soy sauce to dip. Mixed tofu soup - Took so long I had to cancel the order, since we were done eating. People that ordered soup after me got theirs. Very frustrating experience! Drinks - Had to ask repeatedly to refill tea to survive the long wait time, and waiter didn't understand how to refill tea and order an extra one. Nice modern environment, but food quality, quantity and slow service did not live up to the $$$ and long wait time. I doubt we'll be back as we left frustrated and unsatisfied. read more

Ondam - Small bowl of steak with chunks of fat for $32 - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Solid new spot in santa clara! We came in on a Sunday evening and there was a long wait (6 parties before us). Interior was modern with a traditional twist, which was reflected in the details of the decor to the menu design itself. We tried: - tteokbeokki (4/5) solid dish, had a lot more other ingrendients (like quail eggs, fried tempura seaweed rolls) that we weren't expecting. Tteok was extremely soft and chewy. - steak sotbap (recommended by staff) (4.5/5) portion size was a lot smaller than what we expected compared to pics on the menu, but taste was 10/10. A lot more rice than meat in ratio. - bulgogi kimbap (4/5) solid, very standard. Nothing super standout, very safe option. Banchan had limited options, and the kimchis were not my fav (felt not fermented long enough (?)). The potatoes and oden were really good though. Overall really enjoyed this spot, would definitely come back to try some other dishes! read more

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The raw crab here is always good! Service is incredibly fast and friendly. Restaurant is a bit loud but good vibes!

Food was so delicious, ambience was peaceful. The service was good and we enjoyed every bit of our meal. The eggplant was so decadent and flavorful, definitely recommending to everyone who questions eggplant. The chicken platter was so delicious and that sauce they serve with it was extra nice. Definitely recommend. The Prime Beef Burger & Fries was amazing and my son enjoyed every bite. The beef rolll was pretty good too. If your looking for some good Korean Food than all I have to say is Oh Damn check this gem out. read more

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Dropped by on a whim but I really enjoyed the ambiance and service. No wait on weekday lunch walk-in but there were a solid amount of tables filled. Only tried the clam kalguksu but it definitely hit the spot. Will have to come back with a larger group to try more of the menu. read more

Ondam - Clam Kalguksu - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I enjoyed every dish I tried here! Solid banchan too. My favorite I tried was this bossam, the meat was so flavorful and it was so fun building every perfect bite. LA Galbi was cooked beautifully and perfectly marinated. Chicken platter is perfect to share with a group, large portions!!! read more

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This is my go-to late-night spot right now. The menu is diverse enough to be perfect for both a nice Korean date night and for savory late-night grubbing with friends. The raw marinated crab and rose tteokbokki are must-tries, and the side dishes are always fresh and flavorful. Beyond the food, I love how they bring cultural aspects into the design of their restaurant while having a great level of ambience. Service is also great with the food coming out quickly and the attentive staff. read more

Ondam - Corn cheese & Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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The food is amazing! Had a great presentation and tasted amazing. The service was great. They helped us get out soldiers stew cooked perfectly. The place has a fun atmosphere and everyone was very friendly and nice. They have a great menu so there's something for everyone. read more

Ondam - Budae Jjigae - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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We love ondam! Came here after a night of drinking and I appreciate how Ondam closes late so definitely a great place for munchies (or drunchies). I was shocked by how many chicken came out (must get so worth). We also demolished the raw marinated crabs. There's so much more in the menu I want to try so I def would come back! Service was also great. read more

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We are genuinely so lucky this place exists. It's the only late-night Korean restaurant that is open past 11pm, that doesn't have the vibes of a bar/pocha, doesn't have overpriced food (same price as most Korean restaurants), doesn't nickel and dime you (free barley tea, free sikhye for dessert), and serves regular traditional dishes. Everything I've had here tastes great, the service is amazing, and pretty much everything about the experience is high-quality. I've come here at least 4x in the past month (we always eat out late), and will keep introducing more friends to this place. read more

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The best Korean spot in town. Excellent food and prompt service. We had kimchi pancake, beef dish and japche noodles.

Ondam Santa Clara - Chicken Platter ( Serves 3-4 People ) - Flavors: Sweet & Spicy, Soy Garlic, and & Kkanpung - Super juicy boneless chicken very flavorful! - My favorite is the soy garlic Jjambbong Kalguksu Soup Noodles - Comes with: Noodle, Octopus, Clams, Shrimp, Squid, Green onion Zucchini, Bokchoy, Mugwort, Egg, Seaweed - The soup base is like mild medium spicy and has good seafood hint in it. - The noodles are thick and soft with all sorts of seafood and veggies! Kimchi Fried Rice with Egg on outer - The Kimchi Fried Rice they put egg mixture around and use fire to cook it! - Their rice is a little too sweet of gochuchang and was mushy which wasn't my favorite Ondam opens late till 1 am and is very aesthetic and yummy! read more

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Came by during a weekday night for dinner. Parked in the plaza parking. Walked in and waited to be seated. Once seated we browsed the tablet and ordered from there. Ordered Beef Soft Tofu Spicy Marinated Crab Algoni soft tofu Korean Traditional Tteokbokki Staff were friendly and efficient. The soft tofu soups tasted good. I like the portion size of the spicy marinated crab but it was a bit too sweet. They give you gloves for the spicy marinated crab. I still devoured it with the hot rice. The tteobbokki dish had good flavor. The bathroom was clean. I liked the wrapped mini honey cookie they give with the check at the end. We still had food left so we took it home. read more

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This is a really good spot if you're craving Korean food, I am really impressed how good it is. We got the Ondam Bossam, the meat is pretty thick. It comes with lettuce, daikon, cabbage, garlic jalapenos, and radish kimchi. The pork tastes amazing, it's perfect for sharing with friends. We also had the chicken platter, it comes with a long board and have 3 different flavors included sweet & spicy, soy garlic, and kkanpung. The fried chicken is so tender and delicious, it also comes with a dipping sauce. I really like the Sot Bap, the pork with rice is so yummy. I would recommend getting the Mini Cheese tteok, the flavor is pretty unique. The spot has a fun vibe, and perfect to eat out with friends and family. Service was pretty good, I would come again to try other dishes read more

Ondam - Chicken Platter, Bossam, Sot Bap, Mini Cheese Tteok - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

The food was delicious! The banchan was also yummy & the service was great. We got the spicy pork and it was very good--not too spicy. :) Would definitely come back. read more

Ondam - Stir-Fried Spicy Pork - Korean Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Really nice spot with a cozy interior. The food was great, and the staff were super friendly and helpful. The tofu salad was our fav. Would definitely recommend! read more

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This place gives you the basic Korean dishes you can get literally anywhere and treat it like 24k Gold. I'm from LA and this is not it, there's no such thing as upscale or low scale Korean food, they can only pretty much use higher quality cuts of meat that's it read more

Over all a good experience. I stopped by for lunch and I enjoyed the food so much that I decided to come back with my family the same week. unfortunately for me, due to my food allergies, I could not enjoy most of the things on the menu but everyone else enjoyed everything we ordered! Service could be a little more attentive but still good :) read more

Came here to grab some dinner with family. The restaurant was so clean and it was so easy to order the menu off the tablet. The food came out so quickly and the menu was so big! It had every Korean dish you could possibly think of. We ordered the Spicy Raw Marinated Crab, Ondam Bossam, Beef tartare, Rice cakes and Seafood Kalguksu. The rice cakes were a fun appetizer to eat, it was savory and sweet at the same time. The Spicy Raw Marinated Crab was the best dish of the night, it was definitely on the sweeter side but it came with so much. The beef tartare was so flavorful but later the metal bowl change the tartare to have a metallic taste. The Ondam Bossam was great for sharing and the pork belly was so tender. It was definitely not my favorite dish out of all the dishes I ordered. Honestly this place is great for a late night dinner and has so many options! read more

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I came here with a couple of my friends and we were so excited. We heard so many great things and it's usually busy so we came here a little earlier on Sunday and we still had to wait but it wasn't so bad. I really enjoyed the bo Ssam and the kimbab a lot but a little disappointed in the seafood soup. The flavors were a little bland but there was a lot of seafood. Overall a good experience, and would recommend getting the bo ssam! read more

This place is definitely one of my favorite Korean restaurants in SJ/Santa Clara! The workers were very attentive and nice. The restaurant was also very aesthetically pleasing. All of our food came out super fast within 15 minutes of ordering. Out of everything that we ordered, my #1 favorite would have to be the spicy beef soup. It was not super spicy and came with lots of beef and veggies. I also loved the chicken platter even though they were boneless. read more

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