Truly an amazing night with my mom! We chose the 5:15 chefs table and had such a wonderful night. We got tea, the HH olives (delicious and a big bowl), the yellow tail starter was the STAR so delicious and refreshing, the seafood jeon (seafood pancake) okonomiyaki style was really great, the mushroom was incredible and super rich absolutely covered in shaved cheese and finally the whole branzino was so so yummy! It was cooked over wood fire in front of us and served with tiny delicious banchan. Such a lovely night. read more

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Favorite food items: fried rice and octopus Mid-tier: Bulgogi Least favorite: yellowtail and tteokboki For the price point, portions were small. Everything was well made and had twists. Some of the flavors were more successful than others. The yellowtail was fresh but I wasn't a huge fan of how strong the citrus was. The treokboki, flavor wise leaned more toward jjajjangmyeon than classic red sauce tteokboki which is what I was looking for. The bulgogi tasted like something you get served at lunch at a large Korean church after service. The only difference to that was the textures coming from the crispy quinoa and charred enoki. The octopus and fried rice were the winners for me. It was fun to check out, but I don't see myself becoming a regular. Service was okay. People who stopped by were pretty casual. read more

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Great service of a delicious take on Korean cuisine - we'll be back to try the rest of the menu!! Order for 2: - Sea Bream Crudo (4/5): a little too heavy on the citrus but still delicious - Salmon Rillettes (4.5/5): a tad bit salty with the Guanciale but overall a delicious single bite with so much to dissect - Octopus (4.5/5): perfect bite of caracara + tomato + octopus. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough of the sidekicks (caracara/tomato) to pair with each bite of octopus - Bulgogi: (4/5): Yummy but we were hoping for something more than a luxury Yoshinoya bowl - Paju Pancake (5/5): the best of the bunch! Plenty of seafood and green onion topped with bonito flakes. Crispy edges provided nice contrast in texture. Tastes like home :) Drink: Chenin Blanc "Cresci" 2020 - delicious recommendation Service (5/5): - Walked in earlier than our scheduled reservation and after a quick shuffle of iPad magic, were quickly seated - Especially appreciated the server moving the table candle away from the chilled wine bottle - the attention to detail was stellar! - Each finished dish was quickly removed and shorty replaced by the next dish. Absolutely perfectly timed meal :) We will absolutely be back to try the rest of the menu (endive, rutabaga, pork belly, fried rice, and lamb) and probably add another Paju pancake to the mix :) Cheers, Paju! read more

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This place is very good. You'll find plates that you'll thought you can relate to a Korean BBQ place. We tried the Branzino and it was delicious and different. We also tried the Octopus along with the beef tartare. All delicious. Reservations are difficult. Make sure you make them with weeks of anticipation. You'll also note the service is spectacular. Enjoy! read more

My cousin and I decided at the last minute to eat at Paju on a Wednesday night. Surprisingly they said that we did not need to make a reservation and they can accommodate us at anytime . We got there around 7pm and there was plenty of tables left. This is a cute little restaurant and a great place for a date. We ordered: Salmon carpaccio (8/10) : I like it and thought that the salmon was fresh and it had a lot of flavor to it. Endive salad. (6/10): I really wanted to try this dish because I thought it was really unique! Which it was. There was this sauce that had a Smokey taste to it that I kind of did not like . It made it taste almost a little burnt. After you get past that burnt taste then I thought it was okay ! Beef tartare (8/10): this is probably my favorite dish there. I thought the beef was very flavorful and the seaweed chip was yummy. Octopus: (7/10): octopus meat was very tender , I just wish they gave us enough tomatoes and fruit to go with each bite of octopus. Squid ink fried rice (6/10): I thought this dish was okay. I was expecting more kimchee taste and wish they had add a little protein to the dish ... like pork belly or something like that . There was also not a lot of kimchee . I felt like I was eating rice with ink and that was it . read more

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We managed to snag a reservation for 8:15pm on a Wednesday. Heard about this place from a friend, and we were really looking forward to trying their truffle bulgogi dish. Lo and behold, they were out of that. Furthermore, they were ALSO out of their lamb. We ended up ordering the salmon rillettes, squid ink fried rice, and beef tartare + dessert. They were really good, but we left hungry and went to a place across the street :( I really wanted to like this place, but to be out of two main dishes at a reservation time is a pretty bad experience. read more

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Really incredible service and food. Unique and flavorful. Tried the bolognese and the squid ink fried rice. Absolutely delicious and unlike anything I have ever had read more

We had dinner at Paju and rate it excellent! If you're looking for an original and creative take on Korean food, go here. We ordered the Little Gem salad, octopus, bugak, mushrooms, sujebi, seafood jeon pancake, and the ($68!!!!) 13 oz. ribeye. Loved most of them, especially the mushrooms and sujebi. Didn't love the Little Gem salad or the 13 oz. ribeye (did I mention it was $68!!!!?). The salad was nothing really special nor was the way overpriced ribeye. Our recommendation is to order the small dishes and skip the salad and meat. Paju also has a lightly carbonated kind of milky Korean beer-like item on the menu--Kooksoondang makgeolli, I think it's called. Ask your waiter; it's very tasty for $9. We order four for the three of us and didn't regret it. I almost forgot: you MUST order the "shave ice" dessert. In fact, order more than one (you'll thank me). It was one of best and most creative desserts we've ever had, we all agreed--absolutely terrific. The room was very pleasant, with a nice view of the street and of Amazonians coming and going to and from work. Parking is on the street (not impossible) or in the very inexpensive Amazon garage around the corner on Republican. Service was also excellent! Our waiter was pleasant and knew the menu. read more

Food was incredible. Especially the octopus. I wish I had ordered more of it. We tried many dishes and they were all good. The only thing I wish is that they had more choices of wine, including the rice wine. Fabulous presentation on all the dishes. read more

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The ambiance was nice, but the tables were a bit too close together. Service was just fine. The food, however, was excellent and exceeded my expectations. - Beef Tartare (5/5): Absolutely loved this! The seasoning was refreshing and light, highlighting the freshness of the beef. The Korean roasted seaweed paired perfectly with the tartare - such a great combination! - Octopus (3.8/5): Cooked to perfection - crispy on the outside, soft and tender inside. The only downside was the sauce, which didn't leave much of an impression and I would rather eat the octopus without the sauce. - Mushroom (4/5): Super juicy and flavorful mushrooms. I really enjoyed them! The only slight issue was the cheese flakes - there were a bit too many for my taste, making it a little salty at times. - Seafood Jeon (5/5): The best seafood jeon I've ever had! I usually get full easily and was worried it might be too heavy, but it was surprisingly light and crispy. Most part of it was made with perilla leaves and leek (or scallion?), which gave it a really fresh taste. Loved it! - Dry-aged Ribeye (4.5/5): The ribeye itself was solid, but what really stood out were the side dishes. There were four in total, and three of them (excluding the sauce) were so good that I'd like to buy an entire jar if I could! The kimchi was the best I've had in Seattle. The green vegetable (not sure what it was called) had an amazing wood-smoked flavor, and the pickled eggplant was super tasty. If there's a seasonal menu, I'd definitely come back to try more. read more

I don't know how I missed this amazing spot but apparently it's been hiding from me! I went here with a friend not too long ago and it's such a super cute spot for a date or just catching up with friends! They have a select menu of appetizers and courses and if it were up to me, we would have ordered one of everything! We ordered the Paju Crispy Pancake, Chicken Wings, & Pork Tacos! My friend and I had such a difficult time rating which ones were our favorite from 1 to 3, I would have to say the Pork Tacos won my heart and I don't even really like tacos? Whereas my friend chose the pancake as his favorite! He couldn't get over the flavors of the dish. This is definitely one of those places you have to come with a friend who's willing to share family style because how else will you taste everything on the menu? You can't just come here and order two things to eat separately, you have to get at least a few different dishes and try it all out! I know the owner definitely takes a lot of time and consideration in creating his menus (which changes once in awhile btw) and it really shows! I can't wait to stop by again to try something new. read more

The new space for Paju is gorgeous. We had the pleasure of sitting at the counter over looking the open fireplace and got to see most of our dishes prepared right in front of us! Favorite dishes of the night were the duck breast - a special that night - and the quail egg fried rice, which hit all three earthy and homey notes we were looking for. Service was fast, welcoming, and friendly. Would do it all over again! read more

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Impressed by all the flavors in their dishes. We started off with the Salmon Carpaccio -- thinly sliced salmon in a lemon dashi sauce with wasabi cream. The lemon dashi was absolutely addicting with delicate lemon notes on an intensely savory and umami sauce. The salmon was fresh and well-flavored with the dashi. For our larger dishes, we got the truffle rib-eye steak bulgogi and the Paju Fried rice. High quality bulgogi + truffle is a winning flavor combo and comes served on top of some light quinoa to absorb the sauce. The Paju fried rice was also flavorful and smoky, with squid ink, bacon, and a quail egg to mix-in. Everything comes family-style, which is perfect for sharing and tasting all the unique dishes! read more

Paju - Salmon Carpaccio - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Food 5/5 1) Yellowtail - delicious - This was beautiful, tart, acidic, bright, and crisp. Probably my favorite dish. 2) Ricotta Gnudi - good - This had some nice umami/depth, but I could probably skip next time. 3) Paju Crispy Pancake - great - This was rich, flavorful, and crispy with a lively presentation due to the movement of the bonito flakes. 4) Paju Fried Rice - delicious - robust, complex, rich, and visually appealing 5) Truffle Ribe-eye Steak Bulgogi - great - Great flavor but nothing particularly interesting to me. I like bulgogi, but I'll probably skip it next time. 6) Bingsu - delicious - The layers of flavor here were fantastic. It was light, creamy, toasty, crispy, and refreshing. read more

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Having traveled around the world with my husband, tried many Michelin star rated restaurants, we've never come across an ambience, the artistry, the creativity and the complexity of which Paju's cuisines were delivered. As Korean Americans each dish brought a filed memory instantly of the taste, yet so indistinguishable of flavors and texture that was new to our palette. We would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to chef Bill and his entire restaurant staff for making our experience exquisite! read more

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We literally had everything on the lunch menu today. Not the best option for kids, but they still enjoyed a number of the dishes. The food is outstanding. World class. Will be back again to try the full dinner menu. read more

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what an exquisite dining experience! paju is a korean fusion small plates restaurant with a small menu that seems to have remained the same for some time, but each dish is tried and true. reservations can be made online with a $50 deposit that is refunded as soon as you are seated. the ambiance is a small, dimly lit space that is suitable for date nights or small group gatherings, probably best less than 6 people. we got the yellowtail, beef tartare, pancake, octopus, fried rice, and the bulgogi. it's recommended to order 2 dishes per person. some of the dishes are frankly difficult to share (such as the yellow tail). the pancake and the octopus were delicious and i'd highly recommend. the bonito flakes on top of the pancake was a perfect crunch that complemented the sweet, gooey texture of the fried dough. and the garnish on the octopus was impeccable, i could wipe the plate clean! the fried rice is a bit overrated. we finished every morsel and grain of rice. read more

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Best meal I've had in years. This goes on the list of places that are mandatory to visit on any subsequent trip. For Seattle, it's this place and Parson's Gardens. read more

Only took 2 attempts to try this place; reservations are pretty much mandatory at this point after attempt 1. Don't worry, as same day reservations were okay for us on a Wednesday as long as you have a reservation when you show up. Otherwise you will likely get turned down or have to come back 1-2+ hours later, if at all. Call them for reservations as there doesn't seem to be a way online. This place serves somewhat upscale modernized Korean cuisine, and they nailed it pretty well. 3 of us shared 3 dishes: Paju fried rice, Paju crispy pancake, and truffle rib-eye steak bulgogi. The fried rice aesthetically looks nice with the squid ink, though it pales in comparison to the pancake and bulgogi. The crispy pancake is like takoyaki, but way crunchier and more seafood. A friend that did takeout a while back said it wasn't good because, the pancake is designed to be consumed immediately, so I highly encourage dining in for the maximum quality. The bulgogi wowed me as the beef cut was solid and the rice at the bottom had a nice truffle flavor. There is also slightly torched enoki to further enhance the flavor. For dessert we got the only dessert they had which was the panna cotta, which has torched cream on top with a subtle citrus flavor. It was very light and the waitress was right that you can eat multiple of it and not really feel too heavy. The dishes were small and it can get pricey; 3 dishes + 1 dessert for 3 people was almost $30/person and we weren't quite full. The quality is definitely there, but I would treat this as a higher end $$ or even $$$ restaurant if you want to be full. Service was quite good. It was a bit slow with 2 waitresses even though the restaurant was not full, but at least they tried their best because the one that was serving us was her first day. Big props for the effort, though it would be even better if she asked fewer questions cause it felt a bit weird answering "do you think you will come back?" etc. I just said yes and brushed it off, but in general, my honest answer is, yes, but not for a long while, because I do want to check each restaurant on my radar once before I revisit my favorites. read more

Paju - Paju fried rice, truffle rib-eye steak bulgogi, Paju crispy pancake - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Very comforting environment. Very authentic menu and atmosphere. The menu is small which I appreciate. Service was very professional and accommodating. It's a little expensive, however it's in line considering the location and quality of food. read more

Paju - Seafood Jeon! Delish. - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We went here for our 5th anniversary and it was so lovely. The atmosphere, the food, the service was all top notch. I loved trying all the different dishes, and it was a very nice laid back experience. It is a little pricy, but for a special occasion it's worth it. read more

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We sat at the bar at Paju and ordered three starters and one small plate and it was amazing. The ambience of Paju was very cool as soon as you walk in there is a yummy smokey perfume smell that is super distinct to the restaurant. Additionally after we ordered we waited 5 minutes and was served our food. I have an egg allergy and the man helping us went as far as marking the menu to note what I can and can't have. Definitely a hidden gem in Seattle. read more

Paju - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I really enjoyed my time at Paju. The restaurant is quaint, has excellent decor, and really friendly staff. There are candles on each table which really helps with the atmosphere. I came on a Monday evening and found the place to be not very packed. One note about the dishes are that the portion sizes may be a tad on the smaller side but each are executed exquisitely. The menu is very slim, and this results in fine tuned attention to detail for each item. Collectively the small dishes can get pricy after ordering a few but I felt it was well worth the experience. Our waiter was helpful in helping us choose the items which would suit our taste and complement each other. Each of the dishes we had were beautifully decorated and the flavor didn't let me down either. The Salmon Carpaccio was tangy and complex in flavor due to the dashi stock. For the Truffle Bulgogi it had a strong truffle aroma in both the rice and the bulgogi. The Paju Fried Rice featured squid ink and while I could not taste this component, the color sure showed! In all I would come back for sure. This place is worth a try! read more

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The food was good. The Octopus was especially good, and the bingsu was yummy. The rice was alright. Found it a bit stingy when they charged me 50¢ for a slice of lemon. Otherwise, this place is nice for a good dinner (the price is a bit on the higher end, though..) read more

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Wow we were blow away by this culinary experience. I don't even know how to describe it but everything was top notch from the food, ambiance to the service. I want to book a flight to Seattle just to eat here again. Can't wait to try it again. read more

Paju - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I made a reservation here on a Thursday evening. This place was recommended by a coworker for my boyfriend and I's anniversary dinner. After being seated, the server informed us that they were out of 3 menu items. This is pretty substantial, since that's already about 1/3 of the menu options. That was pretty disappointing, since that eliminated some of the things I wanted to try. We ended up getting the rice cake ragu dish, truffle bulgogi, and the seafood pancake. The dishes all looked great and also tasted very good. Pretty high price point, so would only come here for special occasions. read more

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I've had my fair share of Korean food but Paju takes the cake on quality for your buck

I came here with my husband, daughter, and her boyfriend before a play at STG. We had an amazing experience! The food was unique, impeccably prepared and well described by the wait staff. We tried a variety of things and loved them all! The place is on the small side, but since we had a reservation, we didn't have to wait for our table. The aesthetic is clean and modern, but still feels cozy. We all loved our meal here and will be back! read more

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We went to Paju for an anniversary dinner and it did not disappoint. The ambiance fit well with thorough and warm service throughout the meal. Paju is known for their Korean-inspired fusion dishes--my favorite was the lamb, but it was also the dish that I felt didn't have much Korean influence from and could've been served at other restaurants as well. However, the dessert was honestly one of the best desserts we've had--the texture of the merengue was perfect and the flavor of the yuzu was perfectly balanced. Considering the somewhat small portions and dishes that I felt could've had drawn more inspiration from Korean flavors, I am still overall pleased with Paju because of the final dessert and overall service. If you are looking for somewhere to spend a special occasion, this is a great place to celebrate (but maybe look elsewhere if you want something more casual or experience extremely unique flavors)! read more

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Food was unique and delicious. Served a table of seven of us with ease. Be willing to try the unusual dishes

I went here on a weekend trip to Seattle. I think it might be reservation only? We called ahead an hour before we wanted to eat, and thankfully we were able to get in. Interior design is simple, clean, modern. Small-ish place. DINNER (June 2022) - Amberjack - Endive Salad - Truffle rib-eye steak bulgogi - Panna Cotta My cousin said the panna cotta was life changing, and truly it was. The crispy quinoa in the bulgogi dish provides a unique texture that elevated the dish. All the food was EXCELLENT. So yummy and unique. Service was good. I highly recommend. read more

We live in the neighborhood and love this place! The chef is infinitely creative, the ingredients are fresh and thoughtful, the service and ambience are phenomenal, and the flavors authentic yet playful. One thing to be mindful of when ordering is that some dishes can be heavier than others, so be sure to ask what's fried, as it's not always clear on the menu, and mix and match appropriately. read more

Best korean tapas restaurant in Seattle area!! Food was fantastic and service was great!! Mist try!!! read more

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we ordered the endive salad + octopus + truffle ribeye steak bulgogi + paju fried rice I was drawn to Paju initially because of the squid ink fried rice; but, surprisingly, everything else we ordered was so much better than the fried rice -- burrata, walnut and smoked vinaigrette is perfect on a salad; that octopus was crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside; and that bulgogi was frankly, so so umami/satisfying! read more

Paju - truffle ribeye steak bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Absurd!!! The info and website say the restaurant closes at 9 pm and when we came by 8.30, they first refused to serve us. When we complained, they said that we could order food but would have to leave by 9. Never coming back here! read more

Love their food. They have good fried chicken and rice. Service is good. Ambiance is good too. Dining dining spot for sure.

Short menu of fusion Korean food with mostly Korean food with a nice twist while some nonKorean ones had a fun touch of a typical Korean ingredient. Haha, glad there was nothing weird and enjoyed the greater majority of a nice dinner, especially the dessert! With tapas/appetizer portions, we 3 small women were able to order and try the entire menu! Finished all except the steak, which we took home. Food Beet Salad is beautiful & taste great persimmon, walnut, mint yogurt & soft finely grated cheese $15 5* Salmon Carpaccio carpaccio saturated with dashi soup doesn't seem like carpaccio. Kimchi caviar had a mushy texture with a bland taste. $16 2* Octopus seasoned & fried, octopus is lightly crispy on the outside yet tender inside. Served with ssamjang sauce and garnished with tomatoes & orange segments $20 5* Beef Tartare seaweed cracker crisp is excellent. Tartare is saucy & seasoned with gochujang.Tasty! Topped with pear. $19 5* Chicken Wings (6pcs) Light, crisp & meaty. Half are tangy and saucy with red Korean sweet chili (gochujang). Other half is barely sauced with honey(?). Comes with some radish pickles $15 4* Paju Squid Fried Rice visually intriguing because of the black squid ink, green seaweed dust, and yellow quail yolk. Can taste only just a bit of the spice of kimchi and the flavor of bacon $20 3.5* Truffle Rib-Eye Bulgogi Rice has a great smokiness to it. Like how dry it is though it's bulgogi (no photo) $23 5* Paju Crispy Pancake has okonmiyaki toppings on a crispy Pa-Jeon pancake with small seafood pieces. $20 4.5* NY Steak steak on a seaweed aioli with sides of slivered mustard green & pickled onions plated on top of pearl barley. $28 4* Panna Cotta tangy & super light soft meringue is excellent $9 5* Service no issues and dishes were staggered so we could enjoy them all properly Located -in the middle of the south side of Mercer St between Queen Anne Ave N & 1st Ave N read more

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Taste Rating: 10/10 Overall Rating: 10/10 Verdict: My new favorite spot in Seattle. Modern cafe featuring stunning plates based on classic Korean dishes inside a lovely, small nook in Queen Anne. Overall Breakdown: * Flavor: 5/5 * Uniqueness: 5/5 * Value: 5/5 * Ambience: 5/5 * Service: 5/5 Summary: I was extremely impressed by the quality, creativity, and value of the dishes at Paju. The attention to plating, careful incorporation of modern techniques and blend of different cuisines, and strong sense of flavor/texture balance delivered a meal that I would expect of a Michelin star restaurant - yet under $40pp. The smoked butter lettuce was a fantastic take on a little gem salad, incorporating Korean flavors with modern techniques without going over the top. The octopus was cooked to perfection and paired wonderfully with the citrus. The salmon crostini was the perfect bite - the crispy baguette topped with seared fatty salmon contrasted against sweet citrus was delightful. The okonomoyaki was a clever hybrid of the Japanese classic with a Korean seafood pancake. The bulgogi bowl was an interesting take of a Korean classic with a pleasantly unusual texture. The rutabaga tagliatelle was the best vegetable pasta I've ever had. And the squid ink kimchi fried rice was a unique variant of the Korean staple. We were lucky to get a table for 10 last minute with no wait on a Saturday lunch. Service was great. The interior was spotless and well designed to fit the modern theme. Great spot for a date, business meal, hangout with friends, or solo meal to indulge in fantastic food. The menu and portions are small, but this makes it perfect for sharing and evaluating the chef's careful attention to each dish. I cannot wait to dine at Paju again. read more

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This might be one of my favorite meals I've ever had. It took some time to process it because it seemed to happen so fast, but every single dish had purpose and presentation, no two flavors felt alike and I couldn't decide which I'd like best cuz one moment it would be the pork belly and tuna, the next it be the squid ink fried rice, or the herb crusted lamb, and then of course the bulgogi. I recommend coming with a group of friends so you can taste the whole menu, because there's probably not a single dish you'll want to miss. The only con is a 25% auto gratuity for 6 or more people that feels a bit outlandish, especially because the service won't live up to that. read more

Paju absolutely blew me away! We found the reservation online because I was craving Korean and I'm so glad we found this place. It is a small restaurant, so I highly recommend a reservation because there was a long line for walk-ins. On top of the great ambiance and service, the food was out of this world! We ordered a wide variety of dishes (all served family-style) and enjoyed every last bite. I recommend the bulgogi, Tteok-Bokki, and "little gems" had great flavor as well. They did have some great wine and cocktails on the menu though we did not try this time. We hope to come back! read more

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