Another fun Korean restaurant field trip with my parents- this time to So Korean Grill in Philly. They're pretty picky, so I'm always curious to hear their verdict. This one was a winner. My dad's review: Good interior Good atmosphere Good food. Meanwhile, I'm still ordering mul-naengmyeon every time. It's the perfect summer meal for this perimenopausal ajumma. Lol The servers there were really welcoming and kind. Also patient as it took my parents like 15 min to decide. We will def be back! read more

Came on a Saturday afternoon and it was surprisingly quiet. We went specifically hoping for yukhoe because we saw it on a photo outside and yes, they do have it. It just is not on the printed menu. Very cool, but also slightly chaotic. If you speak Korean, there is basically an unlocked menu situation. Same with tteokbokki. Not listed, but available. Love that for the insiders. The only downside is you do not really know all the prices ahead of time, and things ended up being a little higher than expected. It is right next to H Mart though, so prime real estate. The yukhoe came out still a tiny bit frozen in the center, but the seasoning was great. Nicely balanced sesame oil, garlic, a little sweetness. They mix it for you at the table which is a nice touch. We were mid mixing and they tried to take our picture which caught us off guard, but honestly it is a fair trade for how attentive and kind they were. Seafood tofu pot was a bit underwhelming protein wise. One shrimp and maybe two squid rings. Not exactly seafood heavy. That said, the broth itself had good depth and the tofu was silky and comforting. Service was warm and attentive the whole time. The space is super picturesque. Small booths with grills built into the tables, wooden frames, very traditional KBBQ vibes. Cozy and cute without feeling cramped. Overall, good experience. Just a little pricey and I wish everything was clearly listed on the menu. But vibes and service are definitely there. read more

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This place might be one of the best K BBQ places in North Philly. It is located in a shopping complex next to H Mart. We walked in and there was a lot of open spots. There are a ton of TVs playing K music videos. We ended up getting the sliced boneless beef ribs and spicy pork bulgogi. The server was very helpful. My friend didn't want to cook the bbq herself and the waiter was able to do it for us which was super nice. The order came with refills of kimchi, pickled radish, spicy cucumbers, pickled green beans, lettuce, and potatoes. I really liked everything except the potatoes. I thought it was daikon and was disappointed it tasted like potatoes with mayo on it. My favorite of the small dishes was the pickled radish and the string beans. The place also offers alcohol and other Korean dishes if you don't want to do BBQ. The meat we got was so tender. My friend's spicy pork was put in marinade and was very tasty. I really liked my boneless beef ribs. They were dry but very succulent. I was sad it wasn't spicy so the waiter ended up getting me some chili sauce to put on after it was cooked. They also provided some good dipping sauce. My favorite dipping sauce ended up being a sweet one. read more

So Korean Grill - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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So Korean Grill was so yummy!! The food came out super fast and the employees were super friendly. I got the bulgogi and the yuk gae jang (spicy beef stew) and they were so delicious! The banchan were perfect as well. I highly recommend! read more

So Korean Grill - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I dine in with a party of 6 including kids on a Sunday night. To my surprise, it was quiet! There are only 2-3 other tables along with ours. The restaurant is pretty clean and does have a great ventilation because there are barely any BBQ smells! The server basically cooked the food for us the entire dinner in an order. She even cut the meats into smaller pieces for my kids. That is definitely very considerate and caring. We did a combo set and add a galbi dish. The combo set comes with steam eggs, a bibimbap hot pot / white rice, different amount of meats and chicken, squid, etc. Majority of the meats seem marinated but to be honest, I think they are still not flavorful enough. Other places seem to have a better taste and meat quality than here. Overall not bad, but just missing that flavor and texture. read more

So Korean Grill - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is one of the better Korean bbq restaurants in Philly I food is delicious and I love all the side dishes and what the set BBQ menus have to offer including the egg soufflé and bibimbap. As for the service they are very attentive and the staff will help with grilling if you are not used to the Korean bbq concept of grilling and eating at the same time. The restaurant is located next to a H mart and there's ample parking. read more

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Let me preface this by saying I come here often. Loved it here until my most recent experiences. Both times I ordered the premium galbi (I always order this) and the last two times our server overcooked the meat, making it super dry, tough and honestly inedible. First time I didn't say anything, I just let it go. Today, same thing happened and I brought it up to the staff. The server tried to gaslight me by saying I ordered pork so it was going to be drier than the other meat I ordered (beef sirloin). I then reiterated, no, I ordered the premium galbi - it's beef, I order this all the time. She then proceeds to say that because the premium galbi is not marinated, it's drier than the sirloin. I honestly didn't even try to explain any further because there was a communication barrier so I just let it go. Got our bill, paid full price and still tipped 20%. And just so we are clear, I never asked for my meat to be cooked well done. Wish we could have rectified the situation in a better manner, but unfortunately I will not be returning. read more

So Korean Grill - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Haven't had Korean BBQ in years so this was a delicious and affordable treat. The old school/traditional interior creates a quaint atmosphere. Ended up ordering Set A which was more than enough for two people. Pounds of meat and an abundance of side made a delectable evening (plus soju). Fun experience cooking your own food and the wait staff is extremely helpful and gave great tips. (My have overcooked a few items) Awesome date night spot. A big bonus is that there's an H Mart right next door so you can do some shopping before or after! read more

So Korean Grill - Set A - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Pretty good but not my favorite. I wish there were just beef or just pork options. The best korean bbq i've ever had in pennsylvania would probably be Mr.Pig. read more

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It's been a while since I went but I recall this place being one of the best Korean bbq experiences! The service was decent, and the portions seem less but actually ends up being perfect and even taking home some leftovers home. The combos definitely are worth it! The space is large and I really like how the booths are separated in a way that you get more privacy than a lot of other places. I will definitely come back here again when I get the chance! It's only a shame I live so far:( if I didn't I'd come here way more often! read more

This place was ridiculous. I called to make a reservation and had my name/number written down. We had a 7:00 PM reservation for 4 on Valentine's Day but were NEVER seated OR acknowledged. I came at 6:55PM. We stood at the "please wait to be seated" sign for over 10-15 minutes without being acknowledged. We tried to be patient since we saw the hostess juggling multiple tasks at once. Multiple couples arrived after us and were seated first. Emphasis on they were in line AFTER us. When a waiter finally showed up, he started seating people that were last/behind us without asking for names for reservations. Who starts from the back??? Even after telling that waiter we had a reservation and were there first, he looked at us like he felt guilty. Very poor organization and guest management. Disappointing from the moment we walked in. I was excited to try the food at this place but will never show up again after what was experienced. read more

If you're looking for a good place to eat some Korean bbq, then So Korean Grill is definitely worth a trip. The restaurant is tucked next to H-Mart. The restaurant was clean and modern in terms of layout. Grills are also modern where the smoke is pulled under the grill so you don't smell like Korean bbq afterwards. The menu offers different sets from A-C, where each set offers the perfect amount of food per person. My party of 6 went with set B and ordered galbi a la carte on the side. Eat of the meats and dishes were fresh and deliciously seasoned. My favorite was the spicy squid and the spicy pork. Both had a great spicy kick. The galbi was also super flavorful and definitely worth a try. Wait staff was super helpful and kind. They were very insightful and helped us chose a good option for our party. Definitely recommend! read more

So Korean Grill - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We got the set for two people that come with rice and steamed egg. The waiters were all very attentive and would cook for us as needed. I also needed more lettuce and garlic but they gave it with no hesitation. read more

So Korean Grill - Set A - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My friends and I were a group of 5 people, and we came to So Korean Grill one night for dinner. We ordered Set B, which serves 3-4 people, and added on an extra order of egg souffle and some seafood pancakes. The banchan were unlimited, and the staff refilled them upon request. The meats were fresh, high-quality, well-marinated, tender, and not overly salty. All of the food was so good. It was a lot of food, and we were so satisfyingly stuffed. If everyone is extremely hungry, then Set B is good for 3-4 people. Otherwise, Set B with some add-ons is a good amount for 4-5 people. Despite it being super busy and short-staffed, the staff did a great job. The service was a little slow, but they were really great about consistently changing out the grills. They also helped with grilling and cutting the meat. So Korean Grill is located in the same plaza as H Mart and is super convenient for getting groceries and a meal in one visit. It is not AYCE KBBQ, but the meat is really good. It is a pricey meal, but it is worth the money. read more

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Very nice Korean bbq with lots on the menu apart from the barbecue. Has a few drink options but the focus is on the tasty food. Combo set for 4 has lots of choices of proteins and meats, and also includes many veggie plates as well. All come with miso soup and salad to start with. Great staff friendly to help you and make the experience better. Interior is cozy sectional areas, and it was nice and clean. Thanks read more

So Korean Grill - Combo for 4 - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A premium korean BBQ experience. I came here with 3 other people and we got the 3-4 persons course meal. It came out to be ~$205/210 total after tax. It is quite pricey but the meat was pretty good quality. When we arrived, we were immediately seated. The food came out within 3-4 minutes after we ordered; everything was placed on our table. Our group would have preferred if the waitress did not place everything straight onto the grill, but it wasn't that big of a deal. The meat is good quality with decent marbling, but it didn't blow my mind especially for the price. However, they give you so much food and variety. My friends and I were all stuffed. The marinades are well balanced, salty yet sweet (2-3 meats were marinaded). I would come again! read more

So Korean Grill - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My favorite kbbq in philly, and definitely the best kimchi-jjigae in the city. They also have my favorite cold noodles during the summer. Definitely recommending trying the other dishes outside of the bbq, although their bbq options are all top tier. Kpop music videos playing, service is fast and super friendly, and even when it's packed with all grills going, the temp stays cool and comfortable. read more

This is the best Korean bbq I ever had in Philadelphia! We came in 4 people and were ordered the set for $168 serve 3-4. Everything came out so fast that we didn't even have much time to take pictures lol. We were so busy eating. Everything starting from the miso soup, salad, side dishes and bibimbap, they were delicious. Especially the egg soufflé is to die for. I scraped every bit of it off the pot lol. And that one particular sauce, we all like it so much, it made with wasabi and/or sesame oil. It was so bomb when you dipped with grilled meats. The set that we ordered came with a little bit of everything in the menu. We had pork ribs, ribeye, marinated chicken, pork, shrimp, squids, bulgogi, pork belly, and more. Services are excellent! Staffs are very attentive and helpful. They cooked everything for us. All you have to do is eating lol. Everything was flavored perfect with the right amounts of food, we finished everything because it was so good. I highly highly recommend this place! You won't be disappointed! It's definitely a hidden gem in North Philly, just right next door to the new H-Mart on N Front Street. We will definitely be returning! read more

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Spacious and clean. But server was bit slow Took awhile to serve us even water. And multiple servers came to table. No consistency. We order set A $75 which is for 2 people. It would have been better with set if it comes with rice and daenjang jjigae. But we got little bit of different type of meat And they gave us plenty refills for everything we need. read more

So Korean Grill - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

So Korean Grill is located in the same shopping plaza as Hmart, making it a great location with easy and free parking. We arrived at 5pm on a Thursday and the restaurant was empty, no reservations needed at this time. They offer Set Menus, but are not flexible in substitutions, none are allowed. We were hoping to do set A and swap out some of the beef/pork items for chicken and seafood, but the server informed us that wasn't possible. I would say that the Set menus are likely the best bang for your buck! For a la carte, we ordered the LA Galbi, shrimp, spicy chicken, seafood pancake, and egg souffle which came to $63 per person pre-tip. The quality of everything was great. I usually like my egg souffle a little bit more watery, but it was still good. I loved the taste and texture of the seafood pancake, nice and savory and oniony just how I like it. The quality of the meats and seafood were good too and well seasoned/marinated. Service was friendly, but a bit slow towards the end as we were ready for our check for probably a good 20-30 minutes and had to wave them down eventually. I would recommend this Korean barbeque spot to just about anyone, except for vegans and vegetarians as there really aren't any great options for you. You're better off going to KPot which has lotssss of veggie options! read more

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Came early evening on a Sunday for the two-person bbq special. Normally, I'm torn on 'feeds two/four' type meals because there usually is a catch. However, after reading the listing, I was impressed with the selection offered and figured the worse than might be done with this special would be a trade off of volume for variety. For $75, you get the standard banchan, two miso soups, two salads, a tempura basket, hot egg dish, veggies to grill, and a whole lot of meat! The meat covers their beef and pork offerings, but does not include any fish. I'm guessing the portion of each meat is smaller than an à la carte order. To the potential portion concern, it was not a concern. We left full with a small take home bag. The banchan is amazing and unlimited if you aren't quite full. Likewise, you can also add on some meat if you want more. As for quality, well damn I was impressed. I wasn't a huge fan of the sausage, but beyond that we were fighting for each piece. The pork belly or bulgogi were the overall winners in my mind. To wrap things up, my own regret was not bringing more people in the party to try more dishes. We plan to correct that mistake near term. Hope to see you there! read more

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They required vaccine card to dine in- don't forget to bring it! We got combo A- very good amt of food The meat quality is great. Had enough to bring home for leftovers. Have the option to cook ourself or they can cook it for us on the grill. We opted for them to cook for us which honestly worked out great. read more

So Korean Grill - a lot of food on the table - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My friend and I came here early for dinner! My friend didn't eat pork or beef so we couldn't do one of the sets. We asked if we could sub out different meats in the set to do them but were told we couldn't. We ordered a la carte so we both could eat what we wanted :) There was a little confusion about how many meats we could order but it got sorted out quickly. We ordered seafood pancake, Egg custard, LA galbi, shrimp and spicy chicken. The seafood pancake was really good! A bit soggy but still packed with seafood :) The meats were the star of the show ofcourse. The galbi was seasoned perfectly! The shrimp was regular shrimp but still succulent. The spricu chicken had good flavors and wasn't too spicy. The egg custard is a favorite! Goes perfectly well with rice. Overall we had a great meal :) I've been to So Korean bbq in VA and really glad they have one up in PA! read more

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Sooo much fooood! Cool and clean interior; spacious and spaced out booths; service was fine. The food: They offer different rice and noodle dishes, soup, à la carte bbq items as well as different "sets" with a variety of bbq items and veg, that serve different numbers of people. If you go there really hungry, perhaps your party can finish the set designated for the number of persons in your party. Our set included different cuts of pork, including pork belly, sausage, different cuts of beef, chicken, shrimp, squid; a variety of kimchi; vegetables; salad and miso soup. It was a LOT of food. For the most part, all of the proteins were tender and quite tasty. The kimchis were all excellent. The miso soup was unexpectedly good. The side salad was just filler. Staff set the grill temperature and assisted with cooking, as needed. When we turned up the grill to hasten cooking, a staff member came by and flipped it back to her setting. Lol. The beauty of this place is that there is plenty of time for good conversation and noshing on the side dishes, while the food is grilling. There is a return in my future, hopefully with a lot of greens in the interim to prepare for all of that protein. 4.5 stars read more

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Beef tofu soup is delicious, bibimbap was good too. Side dishes were delicious (even had beef!). Kimchi pancake was a bit too greasy. Everything was amazing. Service was quick. 10/10 read more

This is one of the better kbbq places in the area. The service was great and we got japchae for free. Some of the side dishes were old (dried up sauce and vegetables were not as fresh) but overall, all the food tasted pretty great. Set A was more than enough for 2 people and we took home some leftovers. There was one meat that tasted almost identical to the Premium Galbi Beef Ribs, so there is no need to order the galbi as an addition to the course ($32.99). The atmosphere and the decorations are really nice! I would definitely go again. read more

So Korean Grill - Course A for 2 people - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Spacious clean restaurant that is great for Korean food and groups. The quality of their meat is higher than most bbq places. Must gets are seafood pancake, LA galbi for bbq, and stir fry bulgogi (the portion is huge!!) read more

So Korean Grill - Bbq - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Had a great time at SO earlier this fall. We got there in the mid-afternoon (2-3 pm) on a Tuesday so a little after the lunch rush. The staff was very attentive and the side dishes were plentiful. They taught us a bit about how to drink soju and offered us some soda to mix because they didn't have the flavors we were looking for. Ambience was nice for a group outing. Food. The camera ate first in this one shot but we were too busy eating afterwords for me to get a shot of the entire combo. It wasn't the highest quality kbbq but quite nice for the price range. Would definitely come again! read more

So Korean Grill - Combo C - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The meat quality is great. Some of the best meat I've had in Philly. However, it is a bit on the pricier end for kbbq. The inside of the restaurant has a great vibe to eat with friends and family. Super clean, new, and well kept. And, the servers were very attentive and kind. All in all, I recommend this restaurant, and I would come here again. read more

So Korean Grill - Beef sirloin and galbi - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Right the next to a convenient H-Mart lies a good Korean bbq restaurant with plenty of parking. Interior wise- a good looking authentic Korean restaurant. Makes you feel like a good vibe to be at. We opted to get the Set A menu and also added Kalbi. The meats were pretty solid and delicious. Typical Korean restaurants it comes many bonchons. Kalbi is always the best tasting meats. Service wise, not sure if it was past lunch hours, but half the time we had to cook our meats. Not a big deal, but use to servers doing all the meats Good place to dine at after you shopped the heck out of H-Mart. read more

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Really great Korean barbecue. Service was outstanding, the price was reasonable (we got the dinner for 2) and it had a ton of food. Absolutely delicious. Will come again: their Kim chi is outstanding. read more

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I normally prefer going to AYCE Korean bbq but this place is amazing and worth the money! I usually get the set A option, which serves enough food for two people. The set comes with miso soup, salad, tempura basket, bibimbap as some of the starter's items. As for the bbq meats, the set includes pork ribs, pork belly, sirloin, bulgogi, and sausages as well as others meats. I have to say, the set did make me full and I also didn't feel overwhelmed with the food, just enough to have a good balance of the various food items. The services are always very good. Everyone is so nice! I always enjoy coming back. read more

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The short review - IT"S GREAT For lunch, we ordered three servings of premium galbi for four people. The galbi was marinated wonderfully - slightly sweet and filled with flavor. The grill vented the smoke away from us and it was a clean cooking experience. The serving size is something Fred Flintstone would love (for you young folk - he's a cave man cartoon character that loved to eat). The banchan was tasty and our meal came with a small soybean paste soup (doenjang jigae). We also ordered a haemul pajeon (seafood pancake). The pajeon was crispy and filled with seafood. Service was attentive and prompt. Overall, this place is great. The owner spoke with us for a bit and she's a real professional that takes pride in her restaurant. It's only two years old, the decor is spacious and clean and the food is excellent. Check it out, you'll love the Korean BBQ. read more

Favorite dinner date with my partner! Every time we crave Korean bbq, this is our spot. From our most recent visit, I realized how consistent they are with quality of food, presentation, and service. They never disappoint. From our recent experience, they were cooking most of the time. It was nice to be taken care of. They gave a specially made salad on the house. The salad tasted good! read more

Very aesthetically pleasing interior separated into typical booths with a center for grilling. We got the set A for $80. It's recommended for two and it's safe to say it really is the perfect amount for two people. The waiter was nice and attentive. They also help grill the items and cut them up. Just pay attention to the vegetables yourself or they'll end up as charcoal. They help out as much as they can, but still up to you on taking it off or flipping as necessary. The tempura basket are just some fried veggies. Nothing too special, it seemed a bit soft for us. The miso soup was good. If you had some before it's likely similar to it. The egg soufflé is a fancier way of saying steamed egg. It was a bit overcooked leading to a tougher texture instead of a soft and light. Bibimbop was pretty decent. Either the bowl was hot enough or something but we were definitely missing out on that iconic crispy rice that happens at the bottom before you mix it. The meats were pretty good and tender. Pork rib, pork belly, boneless beef rib, beef sirloin, beef bulgolgi. No seasoning at all, but that's why you get the sauces. Definitely be nice if we could've gotten some salt or pepper on them. The beef bulgogi was definitely my favorite of the bunch. All in all it was a decent experience. $80 for what we got, in my opinion, was a little pricey considering the alternatives out there, but nonetheless something you should try once in a while. read more

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I considered this the best KBBQ in Philly right now. The food, the service, and the atmosphere are great! Set A is more than enough for 2 people. The quality of meat is good, and I love the side dishes they offered. The waiter was super nice and accommodating. They regularly checked on you and helped you grill the meat. The atmosphere is very modern but still cozy. The restaurant is very new so I love how I did not smell like bbq food on me. I will definitely come back here again. read more

So Korean Grill - Set A - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Unlike any Korean bbq place I've visited! Please know IT IS NOT AYCE!! Just a forewarning for those expecting this as it is a prefixed menu. We decided to get the A option which was $85 and was meant for two people. There are 3 tiers and that was the cheapest option. This was plenty of food for the both of us and all of the meat was amazing. A server comes around every couple of minutes to help with cooking the meat and they even cut it for you which is nice. I wish they gave us more veggies to grill but overall everything was amazing. The place was also extremely clean!! read more

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Beef Short RibsGalbi Beef Ribs, Tempura Excellent! I love Asian ribs . These were excellent! read more

Food are the best been long time always great place I love it will see you again awesome

A good surprise. It's a part of a shopping mall but their foods are good and a waiter made good recommendations based on my interests.