My family and I came back to Omogari today after quite a long time. We used to come here often, and today was the first time bringing my younger sister. She absolutely loved it! We ordered the Stone Pot Bibimbap, Soft Tofu Soup, and the Korean BBQ Beef Short Ribs (Galbi). The short ribs were, without a doubt, the highlight of our meal. They were perfectly marinated, incredibly tender, juicy, and literally melted in our mouths. Easily one of the best Korean BBQ short ribs we've ever had. The stone pot bibimbap was also delicious, with crispy rice on the bottom and fresh, flavorful toppings. The soft tofu soup was hot, comforting, and full of flavor. The restaurant was very clean, cozy, and welcoming. The side dishes were fresh and tasty, and the staff was friendly, attentive, and provided excellent service throughout our visit. We're so glad we came back, and we'll definitely be returning again. Highly recommend Omogari to anyone looking for authentic and delicious Korean food in San Jose! read more

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According to the notes on my phone, I have some updates for you for SJ Omogari. ha ha! A noteworthy change is that they now have outdoor seating with a covered patio. Also, even though there is a small parking lot behind their building, do not park there. That is for employees only. And before you ask, no, I did not park there. I'm a rule follower. Just sharing for your information. There is always plenty of street parking. Just make sure you feed your meter. I paid $3 for an hour and a half of parking. Again, this update is after multiple meals with different people. SJ Omogari continues to be a go to favorite, especially if you want Meat Jun. I've tried it at other restaurants, and none come close to the flavorful, tender version from SJ Omogari. My friend and I had lunch at SJ Omogari yesterday. The tables seemed very close together. It's good for the restaurant to get more people, but it felt a little closed in for my personal space preferences. This was my friend's first visit, and she loved it! I ordered Meat Jun (duh), and we shared a dumpling tofu soup. I was feeling bold, so we asked for medium spicy. I was sweating, but it was very flavorful and I kept eating as the sweat dripped down my head. My friend ordered the chicken bibimbap, which SJ Omogari calls, "Chicken Ricebowl." That stone bowl was SUPER HOT! It was sizzling when served, and we could still see steam as she packed up her leftovers! My friend loved the crispy rice on the bottom. SJ Omogari is on the pricy side, but still worth it. Go! read more

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Went with a friend on a Friday afternoon. Not busy so thankfully they let me sit and wait for my friend for several minutes! The guy was so nice too, helping us move things around for optimal sharing. Food: - seafood pancake: 5/5 wow surprisingly the batter was thicc but not mushy very good balance - chicken fondue: 5/5 sooo good sooo flavorful omg would get it again for sure - combo seafood and beef tofu soup: 5/5 can't go wrong with a soondubu read more

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I've been here a few times and their basics (bibimbap, tofu soup, pancakes, grilled meats) are normally pretty good! Love the seafood pancake because it came out and perfectly crispy. Service is great and the banchan provided is refreshing. I don't have many complaints besides their spicy rice cakes. The photo on the menu makes it look more like a stir fry, but the actual item is very soup-y and extremely tooth-achingly sweet. It was difficult to eat. But if y'all like it super sweet then this dish might be for you! We also had the army stew which was lackluster. read more

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This was my 2nd time visiting this spot, and I still like it. Scratch that. I love it! My boyfriend and I had dinner here this last Friday night before hitting up 7Bamboo next door. I joined the waitlist, and I think we waited for about 10 minutes before we were seated. We got the Flaming Chicken Fondue, Bibimbap, and Kimchee Pancake. Everything was delicious , and they were big portions. We also enjoyed the banchan that they gave us. We had so much leftovers that we had it for lunch the next day. Service is friendly and attentive. We would definitely come here again & again. :) read more

SJ Omogari - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

9.5/10 Tried the Short Ribs, Stone Pot Rice Bowl, and Tofu Soup, overall an amazing Korean meal and definitely a must-visit! The Short Ribs were delicious, savory with just a hint of sweetness, perfectly cooked and well seasoned. Loved that the cuts were already portioned for us. Generous serving for the price, and the sides were fantastic, kimchi and potatoes stood out as my favorites. The Stone Pot Rice Bowl was the highlight! One of the best Korean bowls I've had. I got it with beef, and it came with assorted vegetables, a perfectly cooked egg on top, and rice on the bottom. Big, hearty, and extremely satisfying. The beef and vegetables were cooked perfectly, and adding the sides and sauce made it absolutely delicious. The Tofu Soup was rich, spicy, and flavorful, a great warming dish. Service was good, and while the restaurant is a bit small, the ambiance is cozy and welcoming. Highly recommend if you're craving authentic Korean flavors! read more

SJ Omogari - Beef Short Ribs, Stone Pot Rice Bowl - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

I came here on Saturday around lunch with a group of 5 and there was no wait! Street parking was also pretty easy around the area. We ordered the seafood pancake, galbi, pork ribs with cheese, stir fry squid and combo tofu soup. I'd definitely say the galbi and pancake were my favorites! I wouldn't say any dish specifically amazed me but it does seem like a solid spot for Korean food. The waitresses were also very attentive to us during the whole time. Definitely worth checking out! read more

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Checked out this place with my friend for dinner on a weekday right as it opened and we were seated immediately. What we tried: Meat jun (3/5) -- This was definitely sweeter than savory and the eggy batter didn't add much to the dish. The vinegar sauce was okay, but too dilute for my preference BBQ pork ribs with cheese (3/5) -- Pretty tough and flavorless meat, the sauce held all of the flavor (smoky, umami, sweet, spicy). The cheese was a bit too heavy for the dish, but necessary if you can't handle the heat Beef fried rice (4/5) -- A bit oily for me, but plain enough to eat alongside the other dishes By the time our food arrived, the place was packed and people were outside waiting. I would be open to coming back to try some of their other dishes if I were in the area. Note that the items are a bit pricey, but their huge portions reflect this. read more

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My favorite Korean restaurant is SJ Omogari. If you haven't tried it, now is your sign! The food is absolutely delicious, authentic, and amazing. Everyone is so kind and friendly with the service never disappointing. If there's any Asian restaurant, specifically Korean, that you are craving, you must come here. It is a must-try restaurant that is very family-style oriented with large portions and a great selection to choose from. Although everything is honestly my favorite, the starred (*) are definitely a must if you are limited in options. Here's what we ordered at SJ Omogari: 1. Spicy Chicken* 2. Kimchi Chi Ghe 3. Beef Short Ribs* 4. Tteokbokki Rice Cakes* 5. Stone Pot Rice Bowl w/ Beef Bulgogi 6. Spicy Wings 7. Mushroom Jeongol 8. Potstickers (Beef Bulgogi not shown)* read more

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Banchan: I thought the Banchan (provided) was extremely fresh and among some of the best I've had, which includes some high end Korean restaurants. The kimchi was particularly fresh, and the rest of the side dishes were basic but perfect. 5/5 Flaming fondue chicken: I personally really liked this dish, it's on the heavier side with the cheese but I thought the chicken was very flavorful and cooked perfectly. 5/5 Beef short ribs (galbi): These were also cooked well, the beef was super tender and their marinade was excellent. The biggest problem with this dish was the price, at $40 it is definitely way too overpriced even for Bay Area standards. 4.5/5 Tofu soup: This tasted kind of basic to me, nothing particularly bad but nothing great, and it was pretty expensive (I think ~$22?). Would pass on it next time. 3.5/5 Service was a bit slow and ambience was pretty standard for a mid scale Korean restaurant. 4.3/5 read more

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Omogari was good if not a little forgettable (but then again, I was still reeling from a hang over when I went with friends to sober up). Strictly speaking, the food was fine. Me and my friends ordered the Kimchi Jeon and some Soondubu; the Jeon being crispy and Soondubu being well... Soondubu, but honestly, nothing quite mind blowing. That said, the array of 반찬 was pretty legit, and the two dishes were enough for a party of three, so I would come again with friends if (and really if) there were no lines. read more

SJ Omogari - If anything get the jeon, very crispy - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

We came on a Thursday night and sat in the patio which had nice heating so it was comfortable to sit outside. You can order family style or individually which is nice. I ordered individually so I got the stone pot bowl with short rib and it was delicious! The rest of the table got different dishes which they liked as well! It was good service too and would definitely come back again! read more

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Came on a Saturday at opening and was seated right away. Parking and spots inside are no problem if you come at opening. Pretty small inside and does get busy quick! We ordered the soy garlic wings, galbi short ribs, kimchi jeongol, flaming fondue chicken and the meat jun. Meat Jun *not pictured* (10/10): By FAR the best dish we ordered this afternoon and would recommend everyone to have this dish on their order. Soy Garlic Wings (7/10): Can't really go wrong with soy garlic wings, nothing overly amazing but good nonetheless. Kimchi Jeongol (8/10): Tasty kimchi stew with enough portions for my table of 4. Two hot chili signs on the menu, but if you're a spicy food lover like me, you won't find it spicy at all. Galbi Short Ribs (7/10): Short ribs were tasty but like the soy garlic wings, I didn't find them anything other than "good." Flame Fondue Chicken (6/10): Very cheesy taste to the point where it does feel like it was mellowing out the taste and needed either less cheese or spice to balance it out. read more

SJ Omogari - Beef Short Ribs - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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Really good Korean food. We were 4 adults ordered 3 hot stone pot, 2 with the ribs one with CB sicken and one ramen soup. I haven't been here in over a decade, it was a Wednesday evening and it was packed. The place is a little loud or maybe it was just about the diners this evening. All in all for 4 adults $120 not cheap but the dishes are BIG. Personally I think it was a little on the oily side and I couldn't finish my portion but didn't leave much haha. I love Korean food so it was definitely worth it read more

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My little comments won't make a dent in the overall status. The location speaks to the volume of its success. The side dishes are decent. Upon our 4th visit, the food is poorly done and the service is terrible overall. My wife is from Jeolla-do and I lived in Korea. SJ Omogari would not survive in K-town or another pocket of Korean communities. In Korea, they'd be out of business in a week. It's not cheap either. 5 people. $220. 1 bottle of soju. $40 bulgogi that tasted like beef jerky. I'd recommend it maybe if it was the last Korean restaurant that I could remember. read more

I had a positive experience dining here for my 3rd visit. My group signed up on the Yelp waitlist and were able to wait in our car until the table was ready. It took around 20 minutes on a Friday dinner. The mushroom soup was a good amount of food and I loved how chewy the udon was with the veggies. It was a nice change from the usual soondaboo I usually get. We also got the bibambap, which was so good with the red spicy sauce mixed together! The side dishes, kimchi, broccoli, potatoes, and bean sprouts, were tasty. The meat jun was also very tasty and it had a good amount of meat! I actually just loved everything here. One thing that I wished was different was the bright lighting shining directly down to the table, I usually prefer more dim lighting. I would definitely come back to this restaurant for a cozy korean meal!!! read more

SJ Omogari - Mushroom Jeongol (버섯전골), Meat-Jun (육전), Bibambap - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

A cozy Korean spot in San Jose's Japantown. This place is tasty and nostalgic - I had only ever Doordashed this spot back in the day on late nights at work, but it was my first time dining in this time and it was just as good as I remembered. Service was good as well. I ordered the mixed stone pot rice with short rib. So delightfully warm and comforting and flavorful. Not to mention beautiful presentation. I had some leftover for the next day, and it was still very yummy. I also had a taste of the flaming fondue chicken which is deliciously saucy and cheesy and indulgent. Great flavors all around! Great spot and would definitely recommend. read more

SJ Omogari - Short-rib Stone Pot (갈비돌솥) - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

If you want Korean, this place does that. Good banchan, good galbi, staff was nice. I went on a Friday at 7-8 and it was paaaaacked. Came back the next day and walked right in. read more

Incredible food! Everything came out very quickly and was all delicious! Entrees served with traditional sides and white rice, would definitely come back again. Soy garlic wings were super crispy read more

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The Korean restaurant is small, but it can actually fit lots of tables & chairs indoors & outdoors. What's there not to like about a good Korean restaurant in San Jose's popular Japantown district? There's private parking lot behind the restaurant or you can find public parking with parking meters 2-4 hours on streets nearby. The restaurant is not easy to miss near the corner lot. Good service and authentic Korean family foods. Best of all, you get all kinds of soju beverages and pretty good tasting rice wines to choose from as desired. Small restaurants still have great vibes. Pricey for food items though, so keep that in mind during inflation times. Our group had a bit of everything to share. All were delicious and legit. For five people, staffs filled our table with two sets of banchans/one on left and one on right side. Portions are plentiful, so yes, definitely come hungry. We started off with yummy seafood pancakes, and then added the rest. Everything was good: beef rib-eye, spicy pork bulgogi, stone pot bibimbap, japchae, kimchi, potato banchans, etc. There's plenty of vegetables to go with it and bottled sauces are generous. They have a bit of everything on the menu. We were all enjoying this delicious Korean lunch very much after playing sports. Leftovers were plentiful too. Yes, this is a small place worth visiting a few times in the area. I'll be back for sure. Delicious. read more

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My wife and I visited SJ Omogari awhile ago. It's nice to see them going strong and still serving the community. They've remodeled and now offer both indoor and outdoor seating opportunities. The staff are super nice. Today, I ordered takeout for my mom. *Beef Short Ribs (4/5). Slightly flame-kissed in all the right places of this lightly marinated short ribs. The banchan included was a good variety, though only 1 spicy one, the kimchi. Support your local business. read more

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Omogari is popping here in the Japantown neighborhood and I was excited to dine here with some friends in their outdoor patio. With a long line for Korean food and indoor/outdoor seating, be sure to use the Yelp waitlist if you can to get ahead of the wait. They have classic Korean dishes with fairly generous portions from what I could tell. Limited veggie options (and you'll have to ask to make sure something can be fully plant-based/vegan), but I was happy to see they could make their Mushroom Sundubu with veggie stock. I ordered that spicy and it luckily also came with rice. The sundubu was fantastic and hit every note I could want from a tofu stew. Loved the veggies, the broth was not too salty, and the accompanied banchan was great with the meal. Service was also pretty fast considering how busy they were and they checked in on us for just the right amount of time. Thanks Omogari for a great dinner experience. read more

SJ Omogari - Tofu sundubu - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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Loved Omagari. We got a few dishes to split, such as the kimchi pancakes, the pork ribs, and the bulgogi. Loved all three, as well as the delicious banchan. Will definitely be back! read more

SJ Omogari - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

Came here on a Saturday night around 6pm. Surprisingly, Japantown was really empty at the time, and it was really easy to find street parking. The restaurant was half empty, albeit it was still considered early for dinner service. We were seated immediately and could order quickly. We ordered the seafood pancake, japchae, and bbq beef with bean sprout. Seafood pancake is a must at every Korean restaurant I visit, and the one here did not disappoint! The batter was packed with seafood and fried to a perfect crispiness. Not to mention, the portion was relatively large. I expected the japchae to be cold but it was warm (and good nonetheless, I guess I just expected it to be different haha). The noodles were already stuck together by the time the dish arrived at our table, but that's to be expected of glass noodles. The flavor profile was on the sweeter side with hints of savory. The bbq beef was a generous portion - the beef was tender and there were plenty of cabbage and bean sprouts. I probably wouldn't order both the japchae and bbq beef with bean sprout at the same time -- just because the flavor profile and ingredients of both dishes tasted relatively the same. The bbq beef did have more of a spice kick to it, but again, flavor profiles relatively the same. Still tender and satiating regardless. Would visit again and try other dishes! read more

SJ Omogari - japchae - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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Had come here before and decided to order the same things. I brought my partner here when I wanted to celebrate getting my promotion. The vibe is very much like a dive pub with really good food and beers to enjoy with friends. This was the BBQ ribs and Shakin Beef Fondue which I found on TikTok and led me here in the first place. Both times the same experience was epic. The flavors on the ribs, the crispy cheese from the sizzling plate. We definitely went for a walk around SJ after this. The food is really straightforward savory which is really good when you have a craving to be full but also want to be with others. The portions are huge which allows me to share with my partner and I can see me bringing 2 more coworkers and sharing these two items with 4 people. Overall the best when it comes to portions read more

SJ Omogari - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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This place is busy, but we were seated quickly. Our server was on top of his game. We got our food and drinks quickly. The livations were a hit and a bit dangerous. We ordered quite a bit of food. The table had no complaints on any of the food. I definitely recommend trying this restaurant. We sat outside in their covered dining area comfortably. read more

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Had nothing but excellent service and food! If you're looking for good Korean cuisine, especially a traditional Korean pancake with rice wine, this place is the spot to try in a cozy, family-run setting. We arrived shortly after peak dinner hours, so tables were being cleared as we walked in, and we were called only a few minutes later. As soon as we were seated, we ordered yukjeon (meat pancake), japchae, army stew, and bulgogi with extra rice, along with makgeolli and Sprite. And it was nothing but perfect. A small amount of Sprite with shaken makgolli was absolutely incredible with Yukjeon, and japchae, bulgogi, and banchans made a perfect bibimbap for the meat lovers. Service was absolutely outstanding, nothing but gratitude. I highly recommend it for anyone visiting the Downton SJ area who wants to stay close or experience a cozy Korean restaurant with great food and services. read more

LOVE this place - everything is excellent, including the service. Especially love the bibimbap and hot tofu soup. Even my Japanese mom, who is not an adventurous eater, loves it! read more

It's not picture but the meat jun literally transported me back in Hawai'i. I thought I could only have meat jun in Hawai'i, so it's super nice to have found a place that does it justice. My friends and I went on a Saturday night, so there was a bit of a wait. You can join their yelp waitlist before making your way to the restaurant so that's always a good plus. Serving portions are hugeee so we had plenty of leftovers. Definitely will be going back. read more

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This is my absolute favorite spot in SJ for seafood pancake! This hole in the wall restaurant is small and get pretty pack. You have to find street parking, which is a bummer, especially on weekends. Love the service and the food! read more

SJ Omogari - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

This is my favorite Korean restaurant. It's a very casual place, but they serve authentic Korean food.

We came on a Monday night and (luckily) found parking because we arrived around 5 PM. We ordered the Flaming Fondue Chicken, Pork Ribs, and the Seafood Pancake. Any order comes with numerous Korean sides (banchan) that we enjoyed while we waited. Fondue Chicken (5/10): Sweet and savory sauce, with a vegetable medley (corn, peas, carrots), topped with cheese. The sauce was a bit too sweet for my liking and would've been more appreciated if it was spicier. The cheese mellows out the taste, so it would've been better balanced with more spice. Pork Ribs (9/10): Minus one point for the portion size compared to the price, but the seasoning was yum! Skinny pork ribs, but the taste makes up for it. Would order again! Seafood Pancake (8/10): The portion is very large and it was so crispy and yum! It could've used a bit more seafood, but not bad for the price. I would maybe come again to try different items, but the pork spare ribs will be a repeat dish for sure! read more

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Awesome food with big serving sizes. Loved the shrimp fried rice plate. Amazing authentic Korean cuisine. :) read more

I have visited this place once before, and I was very satisfied with the tofu soup that they served, so I ordered it again: the seafood one, and I was very satisfied. I wanted to try a chicken version of Galbijim, and I got a recommendation for this place's flaming fondue chicken. It did not taste as soupy as Galbijim, but I was still satisfied with the dish; I love cheese. The service was quick and responsive, and the ambiance was typical of a Korean restaurant. read more

SJ Omogari - Seafood Soft Tofu (해물순두부) - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

Stumbled across this gem after getting a tattoo over the weekend! I was craving some soup after a long day and found this place serving Kalguksu so obviously I had to check it out. It was a Saturday evening so it was quite busy. I recommend getting on the waitlist through yelp before showing up or you'll have to wait for some time. There is indoor and outdoor seating. I saw that the outdoor seating had heating lamps so don't worry about getting cold. Once seated inside, I ordered the beef kalguksu and the pork katsu. I was very happy about the unlimited side dishes and almost filled up on those before the food arrived. The fish cake was my favorite! The broth of the kalguksu was light in flavor so I asked for some pepper to spice it up a little. If you like light broths that have a depth of flavor, you'll love this dish. The noodles were a perfect consistency. It had some give to it without being too chewy. There were also plenty of vegetables in the bowl, which paired perfectly with the beef shreds in the broth. I wasn't a big fan of the katsu as it was very chewy and the breading didn't stick to it, but the sauce it came with was delicious. I definitely want to come back and try other dishes some day! read more

SJ Omogari - beef kalguksu, pork katsu, Banchan - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

Love the food here. But sadly found roaches when I visited the restroom. I hope the management can mitigate this immediately to avoid getting shut down by the County Health Dept. read more

Finally tried SJ Omogari after living near it for 2 years! I've seen this place can sometimes have a wait so I went when it opened at 11:30 on a Saturday. Thankfully we didn't need to wait and were seated right away. The inside is small but I didn't notice till leaving that there's plenty of outdoor seating as well. I ordered the short rib bibimbap and shared the fried tofu appetizer with my friend. The banchan here is excellent, I love their kimchi, broccoli, and potato. Our banchan never got refilled though, which I was a little bummed about. The bibimbap was excellent, came out still crackling and sizzling, which I love! The rice crisped perfectly at the bottom, so just remember to give it a scrape when mixing everything together. I thought the ratio of rice to vegetables was good, but did feel they skimped on the meat. Most bites I felt didn't have meat at all, so that was my only complaint. The fried tofu was okay, felt strange that it didn't come with any sauce. I will likely come back sometime to try some of their signature dishes like the chicken fondue! read more

SJ Omogari - Short-rib Stone Pot Rice Bowl - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

One of my favorite restaurants in jtown! The chicken fondue is to die for. If you're a cheese lover then you will love sj omogari. They put a lot of cheese. The chicken is also not too spicy. The kimchi fried rice was also very great! Compared to other restaurants, I can tell they sauté their onions separately which brings out a lot of flavor and makes it taste really good. The staff were very friendly and brought out our food very quickly. Definitely come early if you don't want to wait in line, but since there are no reservations, the line during the weekends may be long since the restaurant is small. read more

SJ Omogari - Kimchi fried rice - Korean Near Me - San Jose, California

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There is seating inside and outside. The outside has heat lamps so you don't need to worry about being cold. We came for the meet June since we had read the reviews. It is pretty good :) We've had better but it was pretty solid. We also had the beef short ribs which was sweet and the flaming fondue chicken was yummy. Customer service left a little to be desired. W weren't always checked on so you really have to get attention of the wait staff. That is a little annoying if they don't seem terribly busy. My one ding is that you need to check your bill when you pay. They calculated your tip based on the total which included tax whereas tip is usually calculated on the subtotal without tax. Otherwise, I'd say this is not a bad place to come for food. read more

TLDR; Homey Korean spot with a wonderful outdoor patio in Japantown! I caught up with an old friend here, and it was perfect. We came here 2 days before Christmas Day, so it wasn't very busy, especially on the outdoor patio. Our server was really nice, and checked in on us often. Food came out pretty quick too! Most of the menu are items to share, but you can definitely get your own dish too, like the soups and soondubu. Portions weren't too big, too small! We ordered: Pork Spare - Rib Dae Ji Gal Bi with Cheese (4/5): Oh man the cheese was so good. The sauce can get a little messy, but this was definitely flavorful and filling. Beef Short Rib Galbi (4/5): The beef was kind of tough, but still flavorful! Your standard short rib dish!!! A bit expensive for the size, but to be expected for this type of cut. Seafood Kalguksu (3/5): As a kalguksu fanatic, I was a bit disappointed by this dish! The noodles were on the softer side, maybe too soft for my liking. I love it when my noodles are chewy and bouncy, esp for this dish. The broth was really good when it was fresh and warm, but once it cooled off a little, the clammy seafood flavor became too pronounced. Not a bad dish, just not the best I've had! I would come here again bc the ambience is so open and comfortable! Plus, comfort Korean dishes are always a bop. And you can get dessert across the street or walk around Japantown afterward! read more

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