I love this place! First of all, it's only one of two(?) actual Korean spots in the Lake Forest area, so it stands out simply for the fact that we can get Korean food here now. But it's one thing to just open a restaurant, and Seoul Eatery provides something a little more unique by doing grab-and-go style food. I've met who I think was the owner a couple of times and she was very kind as well. All of the staff I encountered there were equally nice and helpful ^^ It reminds me of some spots up in North OC that sell banchan and homestyle Korean food deli-style. Nothing like that exists south of Irvine, until now! Their kimbap is perfect - the filling to rice ratio is amazing and they have a great range of classic to more unique filling options. I've personally tried their Classic kimbap which had the usual seasoned veggies and egg, 새우 튀김 (Fried Shrimp) flavor which included tartar sauce(? But so good), and their take on 참치김밥 (Tuna Kimbap) which features 깻잎 (Perilla leaf) pesto... all were amazing, and you know a place is good when they can get the classics down perfectly but also create something unique. I have to try their banchan and hot foods, because any place that does kimbap so well must do everything else nicely too~ :) 아니 근데 우리 집 근처에 김밥 맛집이 생겼길래...너무 행복해요... 모든 메뉴가 정말 신선하고 맛있어요~ 추천해요!! read more

I stopped by because the musubi caught my eye, but I ended up leaving with the bulgogi gimbap instead. The portions were generous, and the gimbap was packed with filling. The employee also shared that everything is made in-house, which was great to hear. They even mentioned that if there's a specific dish you'd like, you can contact them ahead of time and they'll have it ready for you. The service was warm and welcoming, and the shop itself was very clean. The only downside was that I found an eyelash on one piece of my gimbap, which was definitely disappointing and put me off a bit. Thankfully, the rest of the gimbap tasted good, so overall it was still a decent experience. I hope it was just an isolated mistake because the food and customer service were otherwise enjoyable. read more

Seoul Eatery - bulgolgi gimbap - Korean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I was pleasantly surprised by the food! Not gonna lie, I was a bit apprehensive at first because good Korean food in Lake Forest is not a thing. Also, I didn't realize there wasn't any seating in the location and did not expect it to be a convenience food-esque place. However, this is one of the best Kimbap I've had! I love fresh flavors and veggies and this delivered in that respect. I ordered the Crispy Tofu Kimbap, Pork Katsu Kimbap, Veggie Japchae, White Kimchi and Cucumber Kimchi. I loved the kimchi! When I buy kimchi at h-mart it's always a bit over pickled and salty. This was well balanced and super tasty. I could eat a whole pack myself! Usually I'm done with kimchi after a few bites and need to eat it with rice. The tofu kimbap was flavorful and there was still a semi crunchy texture to the tofu which made it extra tasty. My husband ate the katsu kimbap which I tasted as well and it was also pretty good! The veggie japchae noodles were not too soggy or too hard. I think adding some tofu to it would make it even better! Would've loved more than mostly mushrooms in the japchae. Overall the food was really good! Would definitely come again. read more

With our monsoon type weather, I decided to try the take out at this Korean restaurant. I got crab Gimbap, a small bowl of Bulgogi Japchae and a plate lunch of Bulgogi Japchae. The Japchae was the star and the beef was very flavorful and tender. Reminded me of the Teriyaki beef sandwich at the historical Big-Way Burger in Wahiawa, Hawaii. Delicious. The proprietor was very gracious and she brought the food to me parked in front, because I have mobility issues. She thanked me for calling ahead which I appreciated. read more

A new gem selling authentic Korean takeout that feels like a home-cooked and healthy meal! I tried the seafood tofu soup, which came with a generous amount of seafood, including shrimp, mussels, and crab. The broth was flavorful and had a rich seafood flavor, and it wasn't overly salty like other tofu soup restaurants. It was also incredibly affordable compared to other spots, especially considering that it had so much seafood. The spicy pork bowl was also tasty, and I loved the addition of salad to make it a more refreshing and light meal. Next time I'd love to try the kimbap! I came near closing but the staff was very friendly and welcomed me in. The interior has a few tables and counters where the food is displayed. They are still in the grand opening phase, so I'd imagine things are still constantly evolving. I would definitely recommend supporting this business. read more

Seoul Eatery - Seafood soft tofu stew and spicy pork bowl - Korean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Great new spot to grab some healthy and delicious Korean dishes to go! Arrived an hour before closing and most items were already sold out -- a good sign! Loved the japchae and gimbap. You can taste the quality of meats and vegetables. They also sell Korean drinks, side dishes and desserts. Will definitely come back when in the area and grab some before heading to the beach. So convenient! read more

Seoul Eatery - Japchae with beef was so good! Noodles were perfect and bouncy! - Korean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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So I debated on rating this spot or not... it's not really a restaurant but more of a to-go prepared food pick-up spot. There isn't any place to eat inside unless they let you eat at the counter (which I have no idea) Super clean and nice inside. The staff was amazingly kind, but being the only person in there they didn't really explain the concept or what they had to you. I'm not sure if the food was excellent, average or poor because I just took a try at a box of food. Some of it tastes good, other parts not so good but it may because of my preference and not because of their preparation. If you know this style of food you may love it, but I would have no idea how it compares. Just wanted to give an honest review. We really like the vegetable preparation and sauce. Other than that! You are on your own for picking. My suggestion to the staff would be to have a conversation with someone and try to point them towards something that seems like a match. I guess in the end this is as much a negative review of my own ability to rate this food. Give it a try... you may absolutely love it! read more

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I came across this place when I was on my lunch break at work. Also I love that they open early. The staff is nice and the service was fast. Food was amazing especially the kimchi!!! Best kimchi I ever had!!!! read more

Seoul Eatery is a quick food spot with authentic korean banchan, soups, and kimbap. I got a few items to share with my husband at home and everything tasted fresh and delicious! I loved the burdock kimbap. The soybean soup had ample beef brisket and lots of veggies! The interior is clean and modern and all of the items are well organized. I regret not buying more items while I was there. read more

Seoul Eatery - Soybean soup and burdock kimbap - Korean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Decided to give this new place a try and wasn't disappointed! We were there around noon on a Saturday so it looks like a lot of food was sold. The owner offered to make us any kimbap we wanted if it wasn't out on the table. That was nice of her. The tuna kimbap was so fresh tasting and their chap chae was delicious. We had their tofu pocket pack with dumplings and the dumplings definitely tasted house made and not from a package. The rice inside the pocket was so well seasoned. The food prices were reasonable and it is super clean inside. Definitely support small businesses like this who take pride in their products! read more

The definition of a mom and pop store- all of the food is prepared fresh daily and you can tell they're so proud of their items! The tteokbokki was delicious and still warm- not to mention at a great price. I'm going back to try their kimchi and kimbap! The girl at the register was super friendly and the owner was doing a check on the availability of items which really shows that the food is fresh! This is definitely a grab and go place but I'm so glad they're making delicious Korean food in Lake Forest! read more

I am really looking forward to trying more of a selection as they continue. Personally I would like a fish cake only version of Tteok-bokki. Or at least more fish cake, less rice cake. read more

Reminds me of the gimbap I used to get in Berkeley and Oakland at the markets on Telegraph. So flavourful with just the right softness of rice. Lots of variety, Restaurant is clean to a fault with no health violations. Wish there had been a tiny bit more bulgogi in the gimbap but still very flavourful. Cashier with long hair was so sweet and kind. Will be back! read more

A hidden gem of lake forest!! There isn't many Korean food around here so when I saw this place was in construction, I'd check weekly to see if they were open yet! The kimbap is fresh and so beautifully made. They're little mini bite sized pieces of art. My favorite has been the immitation crab Kimbap. Can't wait to try more flavors. It tugged at my heart strings when the employee told me the shop owner arrives at 5am to prep the dishes. I wish them much success. read more

Food was delicious! It was made fresh and hot to our order and was delivered very quickly. All the staff in the shop were extremely kind and welcoming, and the interior of the shop itself was very crisp and clean. A wide variety of food was available at extremely good prices especially considering the quality! Will definitely come again! read more

Seoul Eatery - Bulgogi Tteokbokki and Katsu Curry - Korean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Quality food. All the ingredients were fresh and prepared with skills. Cucumber inside Gimbaps had their seeds removed. All veggies sliced well to mix well while chewing the Gimbap. Rice, which most of the other places forget to do, were seasoned just enough to go well with other ingredients. First time visiting but happy we found the place where we can get good authentic Korean food with reasonable price. read more

highly recommend. I also got the spicy pork Gimbop and it was so good I didn't have time to take the picture. Will definitely recommend and going back asap. 12/10 read more

Seoul Eatery - Spicy pork kimchi fried rice!!! - Korean Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This place known for making good fresh food Emphasizing the healthiness of Korean food,freshly made and sold everyday. It seems like a good place. I can trust and eat! I have almost everything on the menu and they all taste very fresh and healthy It is a place I think l will visit often in the future! read more

Awesome food and service with a smile. I've been driving by this place and had to stop in. It's great to see some authentic Korean food in this neighborhood. I highly recommend it. read more

Want health? Curious about Korean cuisine! This is the place. If you did not have a Korean mother, start here! read more

So tasty, quick and welcoming service . Best Korean food I have ever try. U can order online or buy inside the shop