Really good and authentic food. Authentic atmosphere too - classic Asian restaurant where there are tables, office space, living room, and even sleeping quarters in this small restaurant space. Our service was good too. However, I was not pleased with the pricing. It seemed that all of the dishes were quite overpriced and that the pricing was very arbitrary and random. If the price issue gets corrected, I would return here as I enjoyed the food. read more

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My friend and I were craving Korean while in the area for the day for our very short and spontaneous trip. I loved the LA Gal Bi Box and all that it came with. The Kimchi was on point and so was everything else. Nice staff and great food. Nice small place to have lunch and even a quick meal. P.S. Be careful. Do not get too close to the green onions... They really burned my eyes.. I was wondering why I had tears coming out of my eyes haha! read more

Seoul Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I ordered take out: bibimbap and beef bulgogi. My total was $57. The bulgogi was more like Mongolian beef and they used ground beef for the bibimbap. ‍‍‍ read more

If I give this place 10,000 stars, I would! Everything we had was absolutely delicious. Many items on the menu can be made vegetarian friendly! read more

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Okay so hear me out being very honest the service is not the best but the food is really good especially the bulgogi Hot Pot Bi Bim Bop & bulgogi Japchae!!! If y'all are looking for a new iced tea to try y'all NEED to try the white plum tea !!!!!! read more

In a day an age where everyone is cutting corners with the quality of their food to pack-in the margin, Seoul Restaurant stands apart! They only use olive oil, Cage Free eggs, No MSGs in the food, etc. Beyond the health benefits, the food is absolutely delicious and the service is kind and through. Thank you for the awesome dinner! read more

Be aware with overpriced dishes. The average cost for one dish is 18$, and the portion is not big enough at all. The restaurant is not fancy and they want to charge like up-scale restaurant. This is actually not a good idea at all. Every where around the city or even different state, korean restaurants normally charge avg 12-15$/dish. But here like 18$-24$/dish. Unbelievable!!!! They advertise cooking with 100% olive oil and no msg but please remember olive oil is not good with high temperature and their food is required heat to cook( like stir-fried, bbq,soup, etc...). So don't be fooled with this and accept the overpriced!!! Then I never seen any restaurant that charges for water. I understand this is Covid time, but for dine-in, you have to eat with plastic plate and food came in a to-go box, 90% good taste is gone. Some dishes are ok, but some are very salty, like chap-chae or tofu kimchi soup. The worse is their customer service. They can not communicate well in english that I can understand. But when we were in the middle of eating, the owner gave a check even though it was not even to close time( around 7.30pm). They close at 9pm. This was very harsh for us who want to enjoy the food, not hurry going home. I definitely never go back to this place. read more

Yes, yes, yes, I agree with ALL of you other reviewers...it is expensive. Probably more expensive than it needs to be. What I DISAGREE with is whether it is worth it. I, personally, think it is. It is good, authentic Korean food in an atmosphere that reminds me of good times in the Army. I have had almost all the items on the menu and have enjoyed all of them. The soups are served very hot and are full of meat, noodles and vegetables. The kimchi stew is hot, hearty and tangy. The pork and tofu (sun du bu) is hearty and rich and the Yook Gae Jang (Spicy beef noodle soup) is SUPER spicy, but sooooo good. My all time favorite, though, has to be the hot pot rice bowl (dolsot bi bim bap). The rice gets a delicious crisp on the bottom from the hot pot, there are gobs of veggies and beef on top and an egg to stir in to cook on the hot stone. Top with a good dose of red pepper paste (gochu jang) and Heaaavennnn!!! My husband gets the bul-go-gi or the pork bul-go-gi. Both are a little sweet for my taste, but he loves them. For a special treat, get the Ddok Boki (spicy rice cakes). They are sweet, spicy, hot and hearty. They come with fish cakes (don't let the name scare you, they are super yummy), onions, boiled egg wedges sautéed in as well. The serving size is meant for a table, though... As for the service, the gentleman who owns the place (I assume) is always present, and always welcoming. The pan chan (side dishes) are out quickly and are fresh and tasty. the cucumber kimchi is always super, and the bean sprouts have a great sesame flavor. You never know what you will get...but it's always good! All in all, don't let the price point intimidate you...it's worth the investment. read more

Birmingham has a pretty decent Asian restaurant scene but I'm not aware of too many Korean restaurants. Not like montgomery at least. I do really enjoy coming here when I want something different but the prices are a bit high. Last time I came I ended up spending $30 for lunch and that's just for one entree. I ordered the sautéed octopus with veggies and though it was plenty (you could say too much) food it's not a dish I would be interested in saving as leftovers or else the octopus will be quite rubbery. I always enjoy the banchan and last time they brought us a slice of watermelon for dessert. If you love spicy and bold flavors I highly recommend giving this a go. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Sautéed Octopus and vegetables. - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Service is really quick and we got our food really fast. Great place to get authentic Korean food! Kimchi jjigae was my favorite, and they give you side dishes of kimchi and others read more

Seoul Restaurant - kimchi jjigae - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Warning: DO NOT GO THERE!!! We went the restaurant tonight. The price is over-charged according to the quality of food. Then the waiter served us bottled water, however we didn't ask for it. While we were eating, there was a fly landing on the side dish. Then the owner changed a new side dish for us in a different small plate and the explanation was that the soy sauce would attract the flies. It is a funniest joke that I have ever heard. I went to different Korean restaurant at different places, why their soy sauce didn't attract the flies? When I saw the pay check, the price for the bottled water was still on it. We talked to them, they canceled it. However they refused to give us a discount for the bad service because of the fly. It is the worst Korean restaurant that I have ever been to!!! read more

With limited choices on places that serve Korean food in Bham, this place ends up being the go-to when I get a craving. The food is good but I wouldn't say the best. However, seeing as my family is Korean, I am a little bias bc nobody cooks Korean dishes like my mom and dad did. (Esp my dad) You do get little side dishes of kimchi, odang, bean sprouts etc which is nice. Does have that Korean Restaurant vibe. One downside is the prices as the food is a bit expensive. Would recommend if you're craving some Korean dishes but make sure you're ready to spend a bit on the overall meal. read more

Let's just get to the point: 1. Banchan-so salty, couldn't even eat most of them 2. Food-ok. Supremely overpriced (aka 2x). I guess that's what happens when you're in a non-competitive market. Wouldn't come back. read more

Be ready to return to the 60s No service grandpa takes order he doesn't speak English no help to explain menu that's in Korean food good but never again read more

Definitely looks like a traditional mom and pop Korean restaurant when you pull up and go inside. Reviews told us the food was good but a little pricey and we were ok with this thinking a little pricey due to covid and limited supply of additional Korean restaurants. The food was good, but not good enough to be charged $4 per refill on panchan and an 18% gratuity on a table of 3. We were not told about the charge on panchan refills or the gratuity ahead of time. For the record, we ordered a soup for two and one additional entree of spicy pork to the toon of $141. Be sure to enquirer about ANY additional charges before ordering. read more

good place for a rainy day meal! splitting an app and an entree is more than enough food for two people. try the plum tea! staff is not invasive so this is a perfect spot for friends or introverted individuals trying to enjoy warm meal. definitely a spot worth trying, it always cheers me up! :D read more

Seoul Restaurant - good place for a rainy day meal! splitting an app and an entree is more than enough food for two people! :D - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Showed up here for dinner on a Thursday night at 7pm and was told they are closed. The door said they close on Monday and Tuesday but the rest of the week closes at 8pm. The guy was in watching TV and seemed annoyed I opened the door. Won't be coming back here. read more

This place from the outside looks suspicious but once you get inside it's decent. Wait staff was awesome! Food was relatively good just extremely pricey. The side dishes were ok and the one thing is that they charge for extra and that's not how traditional Korean food spots do. I've been to S. Korea and eaten at plenty of Korean spots in the us and for this place, Overall good food just way too expensive. read more

Walked in at 7:43, was told they close at 8 even though the website and door says 9. Wasn't even able to order something to go

The food here is authentic and delicious. The ingredients are high quality. It can get pricey, but you get what you pay for. Will be back again! read more

They have the best banchan! Their kimchi is my absolute favorite. I prefer theirs to the Korean places I've been to in Atlanta. The marinated fish cakes and tofu are A+ as well. We always order the seafood pa jun. Always. It's filled with veggies and bits of seafood - oysters, squid, clams, shrimp, and lots of green onions - so good!! You can't go wrong when ordering the bulgogi or fire chicken. Lately I have been craving their soups - the spicy beef soup - or yook gae jung is filled with bits of shredded beef brisket, bean sprouts, clear glass noodles, frenbrake (gosari in korean), and finished with an egg - they can adjust the soups spice to your level. It is so good and has a great subtle umami to it, and just what I need when I feel a summer cold coming. I love that it's a hole in the wall. The decor and vibe remind me of mom and pop shops I frequented in Asia. While the prices may seem steep - my husband and I typically spend $65-80 when we go and we ALWAYS have enough for 2 more full meals - if not 3.5 (I do make my own rice at home). read more

This place is different for sure. My first experience with Korean food and not a bad one. The decor and ambiance could use a lot of work BUT this place is what I would consider a hole in the wall. The food was different/good. They bring out a bunch of small plates for you to pick at before the entrees. We ordered the Jap Chae and kimchi pa Jun. Both vegetarian version and they happily accommodated this request. I preferred the Jap Chae..the Kimchi pancake is good but a lot to eat for 2 lol in one sitting. It's on the pricey side we spent about $40 on 2 entrees we did have plenty of leftovers though. read more

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Great delicious food, the workers are very respectful and nice. Food is great and authenic as well. Definitely felt like I was in little Korea with the atmosphere. would greatly recommend. read more

Best Korean food I've had since I left the Army My son and I are both Veterans and have made the Seoul Restaurant our go to place for authentic Korean food. I've seen some reviews about it being a little pricey, well you get what you pay for and it's worth every penny. I believe the issue is not the price but it's location. If it were located in Vestavia, downtown, Mountain Brook, or in any other upscale area no one would complain about the cost. I assure you the price fits for the amount of food you get and the authentic quality. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Seoul Korea - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Amazing Korean food, I wish they had more customers. The inside is nice also. Food is fresh taste so good and huge quantity.

Cool spot. I definitely get the vibes that this is some very authentic Korean food. Its hard to say whether or not this place is overpriced because they give you an almost ridiculous amount of food. They start you with a variety of different Korean style appetizers.. some better than others but in general they are all pretty good. I have tried hot pot bi bim bop, duk bokki, bulgogi, and (some sort of seafood pancake forgot name). All unique and satisfying options. My favorite by far is the hot pot bi bim bop. If you go here I recommend you go with an open mind and be ready for a different experience. Also be ready to be ready to spend a good bit. read more

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This is the most amazing Korean place in town. However, I can only afford to eat here about once a year. The best thing on the menu is the LA galpi. But for two with drinks and appetizers it will be about $100. The man is super friendly but don't ask for non-Korean Asian products, he will make fun of you lol. I wish they had more specials. ****Also, this place is not like the all you can eat, trendy hip bbq places with cool waiters, personal grills and K pop like you see in Duluth/ATL. So if that's what you're looking for, this place is not it & you'll be disappointed. Those places are amazing but unfortunately there are NONE here in Bham! But try Breakers or Iron Age in Duluth next time you're in the A. The lunch boxes can be found during the week but not on Fridays. They don't really fill me up but are nice. Also, don't come after 8:30pm, they will not seat you. Call before you go because they close when they want. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Big mistake. Styrofoam plates for small amount of appetizers. 3/4 plate of rice to the other ingredient. Nice place, very kind host.

Gloria W, Here is the original picture before I separated them from a bed of onions. I understand that the place is run by your family and generally, I hate to write bad reviews. However, put yourself in my situation. Wouldn't you be upset? Galbi I received that night was not even close to $24 worthy.. I did not receive 10-12 strips. Now, I did try few soups from the menu and they were actually good. Once again, portion wasn't up to my standard but they were tasty and authentic. I would come back time to time but ya should consider changing the price / portion if you want to attract more customers. I did not know that this place charge extra for additional banchan (side-dishes)...That is quite shocking really... Take care read more

Seoul Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I like to go here with one of my friends. It definitely has the feel of a little Korean restaurant, kind of like the chicken shop my aunt in Korea owns which she runs it out of her home down a back alley. The good is always good but the prices are high so my friend and I usually share a meal and appetizer which is always enough for the both of us. The owners are always friendly and the food comes out quick. Plenty of sides that come with the bulgogi. tteokbokki is very good with a nice sweet spice. Panjun is a bit thick compared to what my mother and aunt make but still good and it's filled with chunks of seafood. Food...delicious. Price...high. Atmosphere...feels like my aunt's home. read more

The waiters that handled our dining experience were fantastic, friendly, and by far the sweetest Asian kids that I've ever met in an Asian restaurant in the Birmingham area. They always seem ready to start a conversation and ensure you were satisfied with your Korean food experience. The appetizers were good. The kimchi had some zing and the trays had at least 4 variations of fresh pickles The bulgogi definitely did not taste like bulgogi back in California but it was alright. We cleared this easily. The pork tofu pot was a mild flavor and easily manageable for people like me who are more sensitive to spicy foods. Just give it some time to not sizzle so much or you will cry. Seeing them play Asian concert videos and music videos with a giant 2NE1 poster below the TV sends me back to my nostalgic California Korean restaurants. read more

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It's pretty expensive for a hole in the wall kind of place, but the food's good, and the portions were big. Service: Waitress Mia is very sweet and provided great service. She's fluent in Korean and English and is just here to help out her family for a year. Food: This restaurant prides itself in organic foods and the non-use of msg. If you're used to msg and high sodium foods, you may think their food is bland. /spicy rice cake - Loved it. It didn't have red pepper flakes (I hate em), and it had noodles, dumplings, and veggies, and I added rice because I'm a pig like that. - I was surprised it wasn't red and spicy. Although it was mild, it was tasty. - meat was really good! Ambiance: Old Korean style. Not modern, but clean. Comfortable and homey. They have multiple TV sets playing Korean shows and American shows. There was an old Korean man and woman sitting in a lazyboy watching tv Bathroom was very clean. read more

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Passed by this place a million times and decided to give it a try finally. Everything is quite pricey in my opinion and based on the pics, it is a lot of food. I settled for some dumplings. They give you a complimentary tasting of cucumbers, kimchi, and bean sprouts while you wait for your food. The dumplings came and they were huge. It was six and a dipping sauce. They could truly be an entree by themselves. They are very filling. Their were several other items that I would like to try but would definitely need someone with a larger appetite than myself. read more

One thing that is definitely lacking in Birmingham is really good Korean food. After having been disappointed with Ginza, we decided to check this place out after someone recommended it to us. We went in expecting to be able to have the full traditional Korean BBQ experience, however that is not the case at Seoul. There are a couple of tables to the left when you first walk in that give the impression that they serve BBQ, however we were a bit disappointed when we ordered and the server brought a table-top contraption that resembled a Presto Pizza Cooker (https://goo.gl/cV6Daz). Although the flavor was decent and the serving size large, I felt that the price was high for what you actually get ($36 per person for sliced meet cooked on an electric appliance). At that price, I was expecting not only the flavor but the experience to grill my meat on a high powered gas or charcoal grill - nothing beats meat grilled on the real deal! However this restaurant is simply not setup for proper ventilation to support true table-side Korean BBQ. Something I should've been more aware of, when we first walked in. I also ordered the stone bowl Bi-Bim-Bap expecting it to be served in a stone bowl. However to my disappointment, it was served on a cast-iron skillet plate. I suppose the end result was sort of the same. But again it lacked the experience that I've come to expect, having been at many Korean restaurants on the west coast and in other big cities. One a more positive note, the banchan (variety of side dishes) was very good in flavor and variety compared to what you get at Ginza. However in my experience, it was definitely lacking in the number of plates / variety. I think the problem here is that a lot of folks in Birmingham have never really been exposed to traditional Korean food and BBQ. Seoul restaurant plays on that lack of exposure to skimp out on some of the more traditional aspects that I've come to expect from a Korean restaurant. It's not just about the food, but the overall experience (like cooking on a real grill, eating out of a stone bowl, being awed by the numerous plates/variety of banchan the server brings to your table). Yet their prices are in-line with restaurants that do provide the full experience. I would say that if you want decent Korean food, check out Seoul as it seems to be the best option in Birmingham at the moment. But if you are expecting the full experience, take a drive to Atlanta or save it for your next trip to a city that has a Korea town. read more

Food was incredible. great service and friendly people. 2nd time there. Authentic Korean dishes.

I've had my fair share of Korean food and this place feels as though it is adapted for more mainstream tastes. However, if you are not an adventurous eater but wanting to steer into that direction, this place offers items that won't intimidate a first timer. For those who want a taste of home, this place is not it. The fire chicken I got was far from spicy though it was advertise as such. As far as the ups, the Banchan (side dishes they bring out before your main course) options were not bad, the owners were friendly and the wait staff were quick but the flavors of the dishes came up short. read more

The good: The food. It was really tasty. Lots of variety and new flavors for me and my dinner companions. The bad: Everything else. The joint is really weirdly decorated (beach towels staples on as seat covers). The table to our side was covered in dirty dishes that were never cleared. And to the other side? A trash can full of scraps. It was really unappetizing, especially for that price point. If I hear they get the place spruced up, I may try it again for lunch, when the prices are much more reasonable. read more

I love Korean food, and they don't have so many restaurants around the area. I've ask for the pa jun, tempura and green tea. Tempura was ok, green tea wasn't great and the pa jun was disappointing. It wasn't well cooked, supposed to have some sea food but mostly was veggies. It's way over price, my bill was around 40 dollars. I was expecting at least for the price food will be great, but this wasn't the case read more

Seoul Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

When I moved here from ATL I was devastated by the fact Birmingham had no korean restaurants to speak of. I found this one by accident while out driving and I am so happy I did. While it is a bit pricey the food is amazing. I really enjoyed what I got last time...I cant remember what it's called but I have a picture. The atmosphere is nice. Pretty relaxed. On the side with all the booths they have pictures of other korean dishes. Super yummy. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Really nice service! Taught us how to eat jumbo dumplings. Very friendly! Delicious food! read more

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