Warm and friendly staff, great menu variety without seeming overwhelming. This place is simple Korean rustic dishes done to a high standard. In many ways, it feels like food a friend's mom would make for a nice family meal. I don't have any notes - really enjoyed everything. The bar program was wonderful as well. Loved the cocktails! While this place is more expensive than the Allston Korean spots - the food quality is less of a gamble there and the service is demonstrably better here. Am really looking forward to coming back! read more

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Absolute gem! We were trying to go to their sister restaurant on a Friday night with no reservations where their host recommended we try this place out that has JUST opened in the downtown area. The host at Somaek was very friendly and seated us right away. We had a Broadway show in an hour and a half and our server took note to bring out our orders at a decent time. Our server was so knowledgeable about the menu and provided great recommendations! She took great car of us. We got a bunch of banchans (potato, beef, kimchi and rice), mushroom Mandu, Galbi, and seafood pancake. Everything tasted absolutely amazing. The seasoning, the texture and acidity. Top notch. Our bill for the food and drinks was just around $125 before tip. Which is pretty decent for the amount of food and location we were in. Definitely give this one a try before it takes over social media and becomes impossible to book :) read more

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Kind of them to fit our party of 4 in without a reservation. We ended up getting 5 dishes: fried mushroom dumplings, vegetable japchae, pork bulgogi, bossam, and tofu and pork jigae. The japchae and bulgogi were quite good. The bossam and dumplings were solid. The jigae was not very good in my opinion. Too much potato, and surprisingly bland without any real kimchi flavor. Three adults and a baby finished everything and were satisfied but not uncomfortable. Fun spot. read more

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Wow. NYT wasn't lying. The food was great, but the service put it over the top. Smaller place, so may be tougher for bigger parties.

The good: amazing soju drinks and drink selections, yummy pork belly, Galbi, and fried perilla leaf, great downtown location. Banchan was good. Great ssamjang. Needs work: Cold noodles lacked sauce, charging for fresh lettuce and perilla leafs and then only giving 2 pieces of perilla is not okay. Give people free kimchi, please. Charge for the radish if you have to. Last Thing: I am Korean. Being told by non-Korean people about Korean food felt weird. Maybe ask, are you familiar with Korean food first? It was the equivalent of being mansplained too. Not an epic first experience but there is definitely promise. read more

Had an amazing dinner here, will definitely be back! The pork belly is not to be missed. read more

Somaek - delicious!!! we had an amazing meal - Korean Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I wish I could give 10 stars. I'm not sure what was better the food or the service. One of the best if not the best dining experience I've had from around the world. Chef Jamie and his team are phenomenal. read more

Much needed Korean spot in downtown Boston. So so much better than Koy and Seoul. You can only find better if you go out to Allston. Wait staff all really kind. Galbi: 8/10. Can't go wrong with Galbi to be honest, really liked it. Pork belly: 9/10 really high quality, but hard to taste it when you fold into lettuce. Honestly recommend just eating on its own. Wish the lettuce was smaller or pork slices were bigger Soup: 8/10 super salty and tastes like the dried shrimp things I ate growing up. Drinks were super fun too, and came in aesthetic glasses. Would 100% come back! read more

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Somaek is still relatively new to Boston, but they've definitely left a footprint on the Boston Asian food scene. This restaurant specializes in modern Korean cuisine and has an extensive list of creative cocktails! It's a small place so the service is also really great. The team was super kind and helped pick out cocktails for us to try! For food, we got the sashimi, bossam (pork belly), octopus stir fry, seafood pancake, and daenjang jjigae (fermented soy bean paste stew). Sashimi and bossam both come with ssam wrapping ingredients like sauces and different greens. The sashimi was super fresh and fit the wraps really well. The bossam had great texture but was too gamey/smelly for me, which is important in pork belly. The octopus came stir fried with rice cake and other veggies which was nice. I expected it to be spicy but it was on the sweet side instead. It depends what you want - good for non-Koreans to try. The seafood pancake was honestly delicious. The crispy texture was great and there was an appropriate amount of batter. I hate when there's too much batter but the ratio was good. Daenjang jjigae was my least favorite. I could barely taste the daenjang and instead all I could taste and smell was shellfish. Also the pork belly pieces were super fatty, which I didn't like. This is probably the only dish I wouldn't get again. We also got a few side dishes: kimchi, spicy acorn muk, braised burdock, sesame spinach, and jang jorim (soy sauce beef). My favorite was acorn muk and sesame spinach. The kimchi is also on the fresher side, so it's less fermented. It's sad seeing new modern Korean places charge for side dishes sigh... Lastly, this place is called SOMAEK so you have to drink SOMAEK. Somaek is soju + maekju (beer) and it's a classic Korean bar drink that is so delicious! ps. Make sure you eat your ssam (wraps) in one bite! or else you're cancelled read more

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Delicious food! Been coming here for some time and it's awesome! Highly recommend sitting at the chefs table and enjoying the evening.

Feed was delicious, we showed up without reservations and they were able to squeeze us in. Would go again. read more

Somaek - Menu - Korean Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Do yourself a favor and eat here. It is delicious. The whole experience was great - the hospitality, the food - everything. Reservations a good idea since it is a small, popular restaurant. Server was very knowledgeable and happy to make recommendations. Note that they do not have dessert on their menu so if you have a sweet tooth at the end of the meal, you will need to go elsewhere. Highly recommend! read more

As a Korean, I'd say this restaurant feels like the food your grandma would make. Korean food often leaves a strong garlic aftertaste, and here, the garlic lingered all day long! I tried the sliced pork and octopus, and while the portions were a bit small, the quality of the food and the sauces were spot-on. They even served kimchi and radish kimchi, which tasted surprisingly close to what you'd get in Korea. Overall, the food is tasty (the grilled mackerel is fantastic) and the staff are friendly, but the small portions and high prices are a bit of a downside. In Korea or New York, you'd typically get kimchi and side dishes as part of the meal, but here you're paying extra for them. If you're craving authentic grandma-style Korean food in Boston, I'd recommend it--just be prepared for those "premium grandma" vibes! read more

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Not kidding when I say some of the best food I've had in a long time. We found this place by accident and I'm super happy. If you don't know what to pick on the menu the bartender will help you find the best options. It's very small inside so definitely get a reservation. If I lived here I'd totally go back. read more

Somaek - Korean Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Always a delicious meal, always a fun night. You pay for the banchan because it's actually really good and fresh.

Great experience at somaek! We got the banchan with seaweed, kimchi and burdock. The burdock was amazing, I've never had it before and I highly recommend. We also got the stir fried squid, cold buckwheat noodles, and seafood pancake. My favorite was the squid, but they were all incredible. Service was quick and attentive. It's a small restaurant so make a reservation. read more

Somaek - Cold noodles - Korean Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I was really excited to try Somaek after seeing it on Instagram. As others have pointed out, the price point is steep, and having to pay for banchan and rice ($4 for half a bowl's worth!) is very abnormal for a Korean restaurant. After having tried 5 different dishes here, I can say that the food tastes authentic and is average to good, but for most of the dishes, the price is not justified. Good, would get again - Nong-eo hwe/striped bass sashimi ($18): I really enjoyed the flavor and texture profile of the perilla leaf, raw garlic, wasabi, soy sauce, and fish. But, given that there are only 6 small pieces, the price felt a bit steep. Also, they give you so much sauce (3 different sauces) for so little food, which is a bit laughable. Okay, probably wouldn't get again - Dwenjang jjigae/soybean paste stew ($14): This was one of the more reasonably priced items, but it doesn't come with rice or banchan, so it's hard to compare. This tasted authentic but was a bit mild in flavor, and didn't wow me in any way. I also didn't enjoy the pork belly in this -- it was a lot of fat and very little meat. - Ojingeo bokkeum/stir fried squid ($18): I thought this dish looked really good on the website so I made sure to get it, but it was nothing special. The squid was not particularly tender. My favorite part was the rice cakes, but it's hard to go wrong with those. Definitely wouldn't get again - Galbi gui ($25) - This was noticeably very burnt which made it inedible for me. The flavor and texture was otherwise good. - Kkaennip jeon/stuffed perilla leaves ($17) - This dish was fine, but the price was the most ridiculous to me. There were 3 perilla leaves with ground beef inside. This should be closer to $10. We also got the Jejudo hallabong drink, which was fine but just tasted like orange juice. The rice was nothing special (other than its price tag), and was on the wetter side. We didn't try any of the banchan because I'm morally opposed to paying for it. The service and ambience were great, but at this price point, I would expect more elevated, inventive food. Instead, what we got was very average Korean food with a confusingly high price tag. For the price of one dish at Somaek, you could get a full meal with banchan, rice, and stew at basically any other Korean place. I'm glad I got to try it, but I probably will not be coming back. read more

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I haven't been to too many Korean places, but I do know that this place is the place to go to get your bang for the buck. We had 2 appetizers ( Beoseot Mandu / Bossam ), which were brought with a couple sides that you usually get and the appetizers were really warming up your tastebuds whilst being a refreshing start. As mains we had pork bulgogi and ojing-eo bokkeum and they were simple but very delicious and filling dishes when combined with rice. My only con is that they served no dessert so maybe a hint for them to add some options. The staff were really friendly and helpful and attentive . Kudos ! The interior was nice and comforting and making sure you know you're in a Korean restaurant. All in all everything cost ~140$ ( including 30$ tip ), which is in my opinion a fair price considering the food and the location ( Boston ). If you're in the Boston area and are craving smth funky ( but in a good way ) then do consider going to Somaek. read more

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I could not make a reservation on Friday due to a last-minute change of plan dining here. The place was packed. The people without reservation sit at the bar. Their menu changes, but the traditional dishes will likely be on it. The cocktails are one of the best drinks that I had recently. Even though the drinks might not be on the menu due to menu changes, they still can make it for you. The portions are more like tapa style, and it is better to come alone or with two people; this is not traditional Korean. This is also the first Korean restaurant where Banchan is not free and has no refill. For me, the dishes that we order are neither hit nor miss. The yukhoe is too seasoned, and the beef is too lean. The bossam was light, and highly recommended but the portion considered small. The haemul pajeon was crispy outside and soft inside. Service is a little slow, and food doesn't come out in order since this is more family-style serving, meaning whatever dishes are ready will served first. read more

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I had the absolute best time at Somaek this past weekend. We made the reservation about a week in advance and the only option for dinner were 5p and 9pm. We picked 5pm and ended up running late but the staff were accommodating with a shift. When we arrived the staff was incredibly friendly and took their time explaining the drinks and menu. The restaurant is pretty small, but the bar seems very social and a very fine place to dine so I wouldn't be shy about getting a reservation at the bar if there are no tables. Most of the tables weee tables for 2 which may be why the reservation time weee tight. easy access from the green and red line as well. We were given some complimentary seaweed dishes. We ordered the pork bulgogi, pork + kimchi dumplings, pancake, the kimchi banchan, and 3 sides of rice. There are few things I eat and think about for days but the pork bulgogi was one. The AGM was incredibly kind and went above and beyond to help move our temple record reservation to earlier as well. After those menu items and 3 drinks the total came to about $130ish for 3 people. I don't think this is particularly outrageous for the location. I was at Yvonne's and the total bill for two drinks and one entree was 40ish so also close to 40pp. I understand that in Allston and some other areas the food is cheaper but I think that Somaek is on par with the rest additionally the complimentary side dishes were great as well. It's still a new restaurant so there was not a dessert menu but hopefully they can add a few options in the future. I am looking forward to my next visit. I think these restaurants in Boston are particularly important as Boston tends to be over saturated with tapas and pasta. This was a nice and much needed change from the typical. read more

Somaek - Pork and Kimchi Dumpling, pork bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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My Korean friend and I (both of us are Korean) visited this Korean restaurant and were excited to experience their "mother-in-law's house" experience, as they claimed it was inspired by this, but we were super disappointed. As a Korean American, this was far from what our culture is about - they charged us separately for banchan (the small side dishes that are supposed to be endless and complimentary in any Korean restaurant) - and even for plain rice which is also traditionally included. It would be one thing if this was going for Korean food with a different twist. But the fact that the chef is claiming this is inspired by his "mother in law" is misleading as a Korean mother in law would never charge you for banchan and rice. Claiming this shows "Korean hospitality" is truly so far off. It really goes against our culture. The food was fine, nothing spectacular. Portions were small and the prices were high. If you're looking for a real Korean experience, I would not recommend. read more

As a Korean, I was really excited to try Somaek. Menu selection is unique compare to other Korean restaurants. We love the menu options which are very traditional, and foods taste authentic. As it is known that foods were inspired by the chef's mother-in-law, foods taste like grandma's cook. However, it was quite non-traditional that rice and side dishes were extra charge. Overall, foods were authentic but services and prices were westernized. Dishes were overpriced as well for the portions. Staffs were nice and well educated about the menu too! read more

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Been seeing posts on Instagram about Somaek, and after trying to get into some restaurants after work on a weekday, a friend and I thought we would try this place out. I'd like to say first the service here is outstanding. The front of house is delightful, accommodating, and was always looking out for us. We had a drink at the accompanying bar, which was a really chill vibe. Having a seat at the bar, the food looked like it would be pretty good. Not badly priced, but a red flag for me is charging money for Banchan and rice. The food was actually not bad, but a bit different than what I'm used to. I've usually had bo ssam with oyster kimchi, but there wasn't any of that in this, and there were maybe 8-10 pieces of pork. Galbi was quite good too, and quite tender. The entire time I was here, I kept the thinking any other Korean restaurant would have better food for a cheaper price and more portions and DEFINITELY wouldn't be charging you for banchan or rice. What you get here that you're sacrificing all of the rest for is the atmosphere. I'd maybe back just based on the service, maybe just drinks and some light bites. If I wanted to eat at a Korean restaurant, I would look elsewhere. read more

The fact that they charge for banchan is not how I would honor my Korean mother in law. The food in general is way too salty. It's not good Korean food, I would go somewhere in Allston, this isn't it. read more

We got the soy bean paste stew, pork bulgogi, and grilled beef short rib -- everything was super flavorful and really well done. The grilled beef short rib was the best I've had in Boston! The soy bean paste stew had a bit of a strong seafood taste, which might not be for everyone. The staff were all incredibly kind and warm, felt almost like being taken care of by family. The food feels like it's been slightly adapted for a more local taste -- a bit lighter and less greasy than what you'd usually get in Allston, but still very much Korean and super satisfying. Prices are a bit higher than other spots, but honestly worth it for the quality and service. Definitely planning to come back! read more

Semi new to Korean food and the experience was very well curated. Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about giving recommendations for staples as well as their own takes on Korean dishes. We walked in later on a Thursday night and we're able to get 2 spots at the bar with ease however the space is small so reservations are definitely recommended. Will definitely be adding this to the rotation of date night spots. read more

Somaek - Korean Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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We got several overpriced, tiny, not even that tasty entrees. Was it fine? Yeah, it was ok. The bill? No way. You'll get much better food at better price nearly anywhere else. I've had great Korean food from places ranging from food trucks to nice KBBQ restaurants, and this is easily last place. The service and decor were nice enough, but not enough to make up for the food. I am definitely never coming back. read more

There are many things that can use some improvements. First of all unless you like really salty food the dishes were way over salted. The japchae was inedible and when I mention that to the server she said she's sorry and will tell the chef so maybe the future dishes will be ok? The other complaint is the bonchans (Kimchi etc). Most Korean restaurants server them free of charge. I knew Somali charges for them before we came. I don't mind if they are better or special. Turns out all of them are ordinary and overstated The pork belly dish was good but could be a little warmer. Pancake were so so. All things considered you would do much better with any of the Korean restaurants server in Allston read more

One of the best Korean places in Boston. We arrived last weekend evening without a reservation and they were extremely accommodating and found us a table quickly. Everything we ordered were absolutely amazing, and better still, the service was top notch. Will 100% be back here. read more

Loved somaek!! Honestly Boston korean food scene is really lacking, so I am glad we now have Somaek to fill in this modern trendy korean cuisine we are lacking. Service is good however place is a bit on the smaller side. Definitely get the galbi, meat was so tender and the stir fried squid with tteok and fish cake was cooked well and super flavorful. read more

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First time at Somaek and had such a wonderful dinner at the bar with my friend. The bartenders, David and Al, provided amazing service. The food was delicious. Would definitely recommend! read more

TLDR: not authentic korean food, flavor in general too salty, but great service We got the bossam (salty), beef tartare (overly marinated, salty), pork bulgogi (the only thing we liked! very good), doenjang jiggae (honestly criminal. the flavor was just off. it did not taste right like it had a weird off flavor but i couldn't tell what it was it...), japchae (too salty), and seafood pancake (a little cakey but not bad). they charge for banchan and rice. which is whatever except that they don't fill up the rice bowls (it's like 3/4 full) which is annoying when you have to pay for each bowl. the ambience is nice but we came in December and every time the door opens a huge gust of cold air would come in. I had to wear my coat the entire dinner. The one saving grace is that the service was great. We explained our disappointment to our server and they did not charge us for the soup, japchae, banchan or rice. All in all I would not come back here if you're looking for authentic Korean food. However, if it's your first time having Korean food you may like it! Also can't speak for the drinks but they sounded good. read more

The food was great and the service was even better. Can't go wrong on the menu in my experience. You have to try their namesake drink, Somaek (soju + beer)-- perfect for washing down all the bold flavors. If you can, sit at the bar area overlooking the kitchen. For a good combo, head to Temple Records next door beforehand for a cocktail. read more

Oh how I love you Somaek!!! And Temple Listening!!! The accolades are so well deserved, chill vibes, great service, casual and the best food and drinks in Boston! It's well priced and when one goes out to eat you want all of the above and this nails it... this may sound like a no brainer but I believe you need to like Asian cuisine but that being said it is AMAZING. I love everything - seriously, pancake, leaf, sashimi can't go wrong. Rock on che read more

We had multiple celebrations so we chose to eat here. Let me tell you that choosing to eat here was the right choice! Honestly I LOVED the food SO MUCH. Honestly there isn't a SINGLE bad thing to write about this amazing restaurant. The service was also immaculate. Judy and David were both so amazingly sweet to us. We honestly loved them! Vibe of the restaurant was also so nice. I loved every single thing about this restaurant. I recommend coming here everyday for the rest of your life. The best part about the service was that they made us really feel comfortable. It didn't feel like they were being fake and just wanting us to write this review, it felt genuine and I loved that about both Judy and David!! If there was an option for 10 stars I would give it to this amazing restaurant. read more

The food and service here were great! This might be some of the best Korean food I've had in Boston. The steak tartare was the highlight of the meal! I will say it is quite pricy here (the banchan isn't complimentary and neither is rice) but if you can get over the cost, it is well worth it. Definitely worth the visit and would recommend! read more

Some of their dishes are decent like the fish and their side dishes, but the LA Galbi is too charred and tastes very burnt. The kimchi jigae is not on the menu, but you can order it. I recommend that you don't because is it too fishy and not edible. Maybe there's a reason why it's not on the menu. The service is very good and the atmosphere is pleasant. read more

Judy had good recommendations and was incredibly eloquent in presenting and answering questions regarding the menu. Fantastic food, wonderful variety. Well worth the visit read more

Service and portion sizes were great but the atmosphere and food were just OK, nothing special. Also charging for banchan is odd -- no authentic Korean restaurant charges for banchan... would suggest trying out Korean restaurants in Allston for a more authentic experience and better food. read more

I am quite surprised to see that this place does not have a 5 star rating because it deserves at least a 6! The food is nothing short of amazing - excellent dishes with layers of flavor and expertly prepared. The service is personal, attentive and spot on. If I could I would eat here every night I would. Don't miss this one - it's going to blow your mind. I am gluten free and every time they carefully advised me about the appropriate dishes - you won't miss out even if you can't have all the dishes. Ask for Cesar, he will take amazing care of you! read more