Ate at Southgate on a Wednesday night, and they were crowded. Even though my friend and I had made a reservation, we still ended up waiting approximately 15-20 minutes for a table. The place is dimly lit, crowded and offers a variety of Korean and Asian fusion dishes. We started with their Korean Fried Chicken "KFC" and had half soy garlic and half spicy gochujang sauce. They were delicious! Crispy on the outside and the meat piping hot and tender. My friend ordered their dolsot (hotplate) bibimbap with tofu and I ordered their bibimbap with beef. The portion size was large, presentation colorful, and absolutely delicious. Service was a bit lacking, but could be due to how busy they were. We found ourselves waiting for a table even though we had a reservation, waiting for our check, and waiting for boxes. Our waiter did box up our leftovers for us, but swapped our boxes. We didn't check so the next day, we ended up with each others leftovers. read more

Southgate - Dolsot Bibimbap with tofu - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Solid 4-star, only because I merely did not quite try enough to bump them up to 5-star (yet)... Came here with CP a few days prior to Turkey Day (i.e. Thanksgiving) to give them a test run. We each had some food and drinks. The bartender was happy to describe the drinks on the menu and help guide selection. The P&P I had truly hit the spot and the tacos were filling without being heavy (if that makes any sense). We did not try to wings, as described in so many other reviews. They looked awesome, friends say they are awesome, I will confirm during a future visit. The wait wasn't outrageous, but we found seats at the bar. The hostess was willing to move us to seats once they opened up, but we decided to stay put. I wouldn't call the atmosphere unique, but it still very nice yet a bit tight. Therefore, I would probably recommend reservations in advance for a larger group. Otherwise, more details will come as I try more... And I will be trying more! read more

Southgate - Korean Tacos - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My friend and I came here for brunch last week and had a great experience. Our server was the right amount of attentive and the aesthetic of the restaurant was Instagram worthy. We ordered the korean fried chicken and waffle and the short rib loco moco. Both of them were really good and a nice break from your typical brunch options. The korean fried chicken was served with green tea waffles which were the perfect balance of macha and waffle without being overwhelming. The short rib was super tender and melts in your mouth. I recommend this place for people who love brunch but want something a little different. Southgate does a great job of combining brunch with Korean flavors! read more

Southgate - Korean fried chicken and waffle and the short rib loco moco - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Had a great evening at Southgate! Food and drink was really yummy. Had the Happy Hour bao buns, the burger and beer, and the fried chicken. All was really tasty. I also had the Seoul sour cocktail and it is my new favorite cocktail in the area. Service was good. Ambiance is very relaxed and casual. read more

Southgate - Seoul Sour - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Can't believe I have not yet reviewed Southgate - it's a staple! We live very nearby and frequent Southgate heavily (like, at least 1-2x a week) because the service, ambiance, food, and drink selection are so good - and the prices are so fair. We love Southgate! The happy hour, in particular, is probably the best I have encountered in Philly, with $4 Two Hearted on draught and $2 banchans (small but delicious side dishes, like warm crispy tofu with chili sauce or soy braised potatoes - 2-3 are sufficient for a meal for me). They have excellent outdoor seating as well as a warm, chic interior, and all the dishes (especially the pork ssam and pajeon, as well as the rotating burgers and chicken sandwich - oh, and the brunch!) are reliably delicious. The service is friendly, prompt, and never overbearing. My only critique is that they do struggle sometimes to meet demand during restaurant weeks and after street fairs on South St, so I suspect they need more service on hand for surge capacity - but they've always tried to make it right when wait times have been long. We feel very lucky to have this gem nearby!i read more

Southgate - Two Hearted and banchans (tofu and cucumber)! - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"Southgate is a neighborhood gastropub elevating food and drink in our own unique way. Heavily influenced by both modern food culture and our Korean roots, we feature craft beer, wine, an impressive spirits list, and food that takes a creative direction through traditional Korean to classic American." Since reading that description over a year ago and bookmarking Southgate and also reading a ROTD by Nando F., I finally and much too long over due dined at Southgate. The restaurant is located on the corer of 18th and Lombard and has both seating inside and outside. We chose to inside as it was only 6:00 PM and still warm outside. The inside is modern, cool and pleasant. It is a very comfortable space. My dining companion on this night, who is also daughter, and myself ordered with three small plates. KFC - Korean Fried Chicken, Short Rib Steamed Buns and Pan Roasted Octopus. The steamed buns were the first to appear and these were soft and fresh and had some heat. They were much different then the Chinese style ones we were used to and came with a spicy dipping sauce. The octopus was very tender and had great flavors. It came with a Kimchi style sauce and baby corn. The KFC was excellent. The chicken was crispy, moist and flavorful and we preferred the spicy Gochujang sauce over the soy garlic. Southgate also has a decent beer list on tap and in bottles. We were fairly full with the three small plates and we passed on dessert. I am looking forward to returning to Southgate to try Korean Steak Tacos and the Bulgogi burger. I really liked the concept and I hope that Southgate will continue to do well. read more

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Ok so if you are ordering the Korean fries, you probably cannot eat anything else - the portion size is humongous! I had the bibimbap and the boyfriend had a burger - both were delicious! Staff was super friendly and attentive. They also have a great cocktail menu so definitely keeping this on my "go back" list. read more

This is going into my regular rotation for happy hour starting now! They have awesome kfc (either spicy or sweet) and $6 sangria, half off drafts and a nice city wide. Their French fries are very yummy and a large portion. You can get a lot of very inexpensive food/drinks during happy hour in their cozy dining room. I'll be back very soon! read more

Southgate - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great ambiance and delicious food. From the bippembop to the burger and the kimchi everything is tasty. Even the drinks are good. Fantastic place. read more

I went to Southgate after winning a gift card through Instagram. After exploring the menu online I was excited to try many items! We went during happy hour and there were so many great deals. We started off with the soju punch, a delicious cocktail that you won't realize is strong until you finish it. Then we got the southgate fries and mushroom bao buns. The fries were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the coating of gochuchang kind of threw me off because I wasn't used to the flavor but I really enjoyed the aioli it came with. It was my first time trying bao buns and this was delicious! Next I got the tofu bibimbap. I wish I got the dolsot bibimbap because everything in my bowl was pretty cold and I would've been satisfied with just veggies and no tofu. My boyfriend got the hot chicken sandwich and enjoyed it. read more

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Asian fusion, shareable plates. They tried to make a modern, American twist on traditional Korean dishes, however wasn't innovative enough to create a blast on the pallet, yet also failed to present the premium quality Korean traditions. Good selections of drinks and quality of food, nice atmosphere to gather with close friends or date night, but the flavor of food is just so-so read more

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My night began with delicious fried chicken and ended with a stomach ulcer (ok not really but I lied in fetal position for the next 12 hours praying for the sweet relief of sleep that never came). My friend and I went on a Wednesday evening for happy hour and split some korean fried chicken and fried calamari + shisito peppers. When the chicken first came out, it was hot, crunchy, and flavorful. Amazing! But after not even 15 mins., the outer layer turned soggy and a bit chewy. I think this was because the coating was thicker compared to other KFC I've had. If you're a slow eater, beware! Now ... For the experience that had me downing tums all night. To be fair, when we ordered the calamari and shisitos, our waiter mentioned that they were out of the regular peppers and only had the spicy ones left. We were both the type to order extra hot sauce on the side and have had shisito peppers before, so bring it on! Oh what fools we were. When the waiter returned with our order, he reminded us that the peppers were very spicy and actually apologized before, wait for it ... slowly backing away with his palms up! I'm not even exaggerating. But we paid no mind (because hanger) and dug in. One bite of those peppers and we were in a world of regret! After dabbing our foreheads profusely and downing 3 glasses of water each, we wondered if removing the seeds on the inside would make the peppers more palatable. It didn't. Moral of the story is, if your waiter apologizes for the spice level, take their word for it! read more

Southgate - KFC half spicy, half soy. Batter is thicker compared to other places I've been (e.g. Bonchon, Cafe Soho) - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This place is a diamond in the rough! I love Southgate for it's authentic menu, intimate atmosphere, and reasonable prices. This place is great for grabbing a bite with a friend or a casual date night. Yesterday I took my mom here and she too adored it. We each ordered kimchi and a small plate of steamed pork dumplings to share. Both flavorful and generously portioned. We then ordered the traditional bibimbap with beef. The bowl was filled with rice, veggies, egg, seaweed, bean sprouts, beef, and an unforgettable red sauce. We left quite full because it tasted so good. I will be back soon! read more

Southgate - Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Southgate's Korean fusion is interesting and has some bright spots, as well as some duds. The banchan and the crispy brussels were amazing, and the "kfc" fried chicken was delicious, too. Unfortunately, the ssam was just so-so and felt a bit overpriced. We came here for restaurant week and got a lot of variety, but still at just a mediocre value. I'd recommend over-indexing on the appetizers and small dishes and maybe just getting one main dish to share. read more

Southgate - The bulgogi ssam was just so-so - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This is a great spot to grab dinner and drinks on a Friday night! With a group of 4 and no reservation, we ate at the bar. Happy hour with half priced drafts and wines is from 5-7 pm. They've got a nice variety of drafts here and also offer discounted snacks like a 3 pc kfc and banchan. We tried the soy garlic kfc; it was so yummy! Super crispy skin but still juicy chicken. I'm glad we got the happy hour portion though bc this is heavy, and I don't think I could handle an entree portion of this. My bf had a bibimbap that I know he enjoyed! Although he was bummed that getting a hot stone bowl would make it a $16 dish so he opted out. I had the japchae which to be honest I'm still thinking about. It's stir fried veggies with glass noodles. I added the beef to it, and it was so savory, flavorful, and spicy. I will hands down be getting this again when we go back. read more

Southgate - The japchae I'm still dreamin' about - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

VISIT HISTORY: - last visit: this past weekend for their happy hour - frequency: been there ~10 times as I live very close - next visit: not particularly drawn to the place. will go if friends haven't been there FOOD: * firstly, i must state my conflict of interest as I am Korean thus I have an innate tendency to criticize westernized Korean food* - good introduction to Korean food, made very approachable and educational - appreciate that the food items are in Korean so there's that cultural learning - fried chicken is similar to what I used to have in Korean so not totally far off - dduk bok ki is served with rice which does not happen with conventionally dduk bok ki but it seems like they wanted some carbs on that plate - overall, over-priced for the quantity/quality of food you get (my opinion) but if you're new to Korean food, not a bad place to start VIBE: - friendly - home-ly - i always see the same bartender with the cool hat. very friendly guy. read more

Southgate - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My girlfriend and I ate here during an evening rush. We ordered a few appetizers/small dishes and drinks at the bar: pork dumplings, crispy Brussel sprouts and the galbi. Everything came out pretty fast, the bartender was pretty fast and didn't rush us. We also got the persimmon panna cotta dessert; it was delicious. It was a little cramped and pricey but that's to be expected in this area. We didn't get a chance to try any of the entrees but we'll get to that the next time. read more

Southgate - persimmon panna cotta - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I walk past Southgate most days on my commute and they have a decent crowd every single time! I finally decided to check out this place on Friday night. At 7 PM, it wasn't too crowded. Although the outside seating was full, there were plenty of spots inside. The place is definitely better for smaller groups, however. I was feeling something basic, so I got the fried rice with pork belly. With a side of kimchi, it was perfect. The portions are fairly generous and it also reheats well. I especially love the little pieces of potato mixed in. My friend got the bibimbap, and said good things about it too. For a westernized Korean place, I really enjoyed it. It is a little on the pricier side - $14 for the fried rice, $3 for a small size of kimchi - and these were two of the more reasonable dishes. They have happy hour and brunch too, so I might save this for a treat yo self place when I'm too lazy to venture far. read more

Southgate - Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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A great neighborhood gastropub with a spin. I live very close to Southgate and had been wanting to try it out for some time now. On a rainy Sunday I figured brunch was the perfect excuse to stop in. The space it fairly small with a long bar and about 6 or 7 tables. Great for groups of 2-6 although I did see a larger group in the back. The decor is dark and reminiscent of a pub/Korean soju bar. The brunch menu is concise with a good selection of dishes to choose from. We got the chicken and waffles, short rib loco moco, and deviled eggs. Chicken and waffles was a hit. The chicken was flavorful with a crispy cracklin skin. A spicy maple syrup or honey drizzle would have been a great addition but then you run the risk of soggy chicken. And no one likes soggy fried chicken. The matcha waffles were dense and crisp and a good compliment to the chicken. My short rib loco moco was hearty and rich. You get a generous portion of soft short rib. The rice and pickled jalapenos were a nice offset to the rich egg and meat. We were intrigued by the deviled eggs and they were a fun spin on the party classic. The kimchi's funkiness cut through the creamy yolks and the whites were soft boiled. Overall, I'm a fan of Southgate. It's a great place to take friends for dinner, drinks, brunch, pretty much any occasion. read more

Southgate - Short rib loco moco - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Great food! Drinks were equally as good! Been here 3 times since my first time my friend took me, feel in love with the food and the service was great! Great hidden gem for happy hour and the ambiance was phenomenal read more

During this quarantine, Southgate kimchi has become my Quarantine anthem and the Southgate spicy cucumbers are my source of comfort. I believe it's because Southgate slathers their cucumbers in joy. So while the chicken wings are lovely - the Southgate banchan is what I crave! read more

I came here for dinner and ordered the korean fried chicken (KFC) wings (half spicy and half soy). The wings were crispy and tender. The flavors were okay - I still prefer Cafe Soho over these. Comes with about 6-7 wings. I had to get the burger, which was recently rated as the best burger in Philly. The bulgogi burger is a nice combination of american and korean fusion. Very juicy and perfectly cooked to medium. I'm a traditionalist so I wouldn't say that this is the best burger in Philly. This is the best bulgogi burger though! Wifey had the bibimbop and she said it was ok for her standards - I think I would rather get the hot stone pot over at Giwa at 16th and Sansom. Overall - good new restaurant in the area that I'll come back to! read more

Southgate - Katsu burger with fries - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Solid Korean food!!! So, as sad as I was when Tangier and its cheap brown bag "mystery beers" left, I am happier that Southgate took its place. I walked by this place so many times without realizing it was Korean. It is. It's awesome and you should go! I got the bibimbap with tofu. The gochujang has some heat, so I recommend asking for it on the side if you are sensitive to spicy food. (They're super nice about doing that. No problem at all.) My partner got the beef sparerib noodle soup. It was very good, but mild if you're looking for something spicy. The sparerib is excellent, and totally worth trying in any dish. Full bar, and very nice tap list. Lots of cocktails to try. The service is friendly and the perfect amount of attentive. There to refill water, take your order, and give you a check, but no interrupting conversation every two minutes. read more

Southgate - bibimbap with tofu - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Yum! Perfect for a cold winter night! Cozy little restaurant with delicious food. We split the kfc Korean chicken wings which are really some of the best wings in town. Then we each got a bibimbap in a hot stone bowl and added tofu. The serving size was huge and had enough for lunch the next day. The price is very reasonable, and they also have a great happy hour menu (with drink AND food specials). read more

Southgate - "KFC" Korean Fried Chicken - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I liked this place a lot. I had the KFC (korean fried chicken) wings. I got half soy and half spicy. They were super crunchy and meaty and delicious. You only got 6 which was an odd amount in my opinion. My boyfriend got a beef hot pot dish that I tasted and it was really good. My only complainant was that the sesame oil stood out a little too much. But all in all it was good. They have local beers here from across PA which is neat to see. We sat outside despite the hot temperature. From what I could see inside, it looked very nice. A little small, but nice. This place is in a residential area so it was quiet, I liked that. Although while we were sitting there I could help but notice a man walking down the street looking at bikes with his flashlight no doubtably checking if they were locked. I of course yelled at him from where we were sitting and told him to go buy his own bike and that all the ones on the street are locked ;) After that, I began eating again. Just a few minutes go by and my police officer senses are tingling. I see another male standing on the sidewalk watching very closely as people walk past him. I know he was waiting to either grab someones phone or wallet out of their hands. Luckily he gave up and walked away. I say this because it is in a nicer area but still be careful! read more

Can I give 6 stars?!?!? Literally the best meal of the year and the rest of our group loved the place. I had the Spicy Pork Ssam, it was so good with the lettuce wraps without feeling bloated. read more

The happy hour here is amazing! The flavors are so unique and the food is delish. I've ordered here occasionally over the years but slept on their happy hour...until now. The happy fries have this incredible sauce on them with kind of a spicy Mayo dipping sauce. Just thinking of the combo is making me crave those fries. Their bao buns are also so tasty. They're a little expensive on the regular menu so happy hour the price is perfect. The beef ones are my favorite. I've also tries their burgers and rice bowls which are good, but the chicken bites appetizer is also amazing. Packed with flavor and crispy on the outside despite having a lot of sauce. The service at happy hour was great too. We had a kid in tow and they brought a kid cup which was super nice and had a lot of patience for an antsy toddler. Definitely check this place out and don't miss their happy hour!! read more

This is a place that I'm sad that I didn't come to sooner. I came for brunch and it was awesome. The food was super tasty, the vibe was fairly trendy, and the service was just the right amount of attentive. We got the short rib and tacos and both dishes were very tasty. The mimosas were also reasonably priced. A cute neighborhood place that I'd like to come back to have dinner or brunch at! Definitely check it out. read more

Southgate - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Great brunch place. A lot of Rittenhouse places are overrated but I like this restaurant a lot. It's kid friendly, has an interesting menu that appeals to different palates, and they have a legit full bar. They have fun beer options and their cocktails are strong. Every time I've been, the staff has been really nice. As for the food: everything I've tried has been really good. The green tea waffle with the Korean fried chicken are delish. Bibimbap is my go-to. The Korean tacos and the bulgogi burger are also fantastic. If you're a little more adventurous: try the kimchi poutine. It actually works! Can't wait to go back. read more

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Beware the chicken sandwich! This place has very interesting dishes, but beware of that chiken sandwich. As someone who has tried the hottest of the hot and the spiciest of the spicy, I was blown away by this sandwich. Those of us who got it were crying and sweating, our skin was burning and we couldn't really taste anything because of how overwhelming the spice was. We asked the waiter if that was normal and he said we were not the first people to ask that that evening and maybe it was just extra spicy that night. Whatever it was ,it wasn't really enjoyable. The only thing I really liked from the dinner was the kimchi fries. We sat outside and the ambiance is nice. The staff are nice too, but I'm not racing back. read more

After years of passing by this unassuming business in my neighborhood, I finally tried it and can't believe I've been missing out! I was easily able to make a reservation for my group of 6 on a Sunday evening. The restaurant was not crowded at all on this particular night and they made sure to set a table for six prior to our arrival. The place itself is rather small, with a long bar running down one side and a row of tables along the opposite wall. There was a pretty narrow path between the two. This did make it a bit squishy for those of us with our backs to the people at the bar and awkward for others to walk in between. Our server was very friendly and helpful with the eclectic menu. We opted to eat family style, with food delivered as it was prepared. We started with the korean fried chicken, one spicy and one soy garlic. These are essentially amazing chicken wings. I say go for the spicy - it was super flavorful and not all that spicy. My personal favorite were the short rib ho-ppang. The buns were fresh and delicious and the pork was seasoned absolutely perfectly. We then had the beef dolsot bibimbap - ours was not served sizzling as described, but was very tasty all the same. Finally, we had the japchae which was probably my second favorite. Overall, this was a great group experience. We loved the food and option to eat family style. I'll definitely return for more of those pork buns and other deliciousness in the future! read more

Southgate - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My husband and I were going to Plays and Players Theater, and decided to try Southgate as it's only a 5 minute walk. What a find! The place is intimate, inviting, has a beautiful bar and an open kitchen, with a very welcoming staff. Happy hour kept our DELICIOUS meal VERY affordable. We enjoyed the burger of the month, the kimchi burger, cooked perfectly MR and juicy without being messy; spicy pork tacos, which, while not very spicy (3.5 on a scale of 1 to 10) were PACKED with savory flavors of garlic, soy, and (I think) gochugaru; southgate fries were crisp and well seasoned, and sprinkled with sesame seeds and herbs; and the four small plates of bonchon (kimchi, crispy tofu, spicy zucchini and pickles) were a perfect complement to the meal. Two glasses of red sangria (me) and two soju punches (him) and the EXCELLENT service from a staffer who answered all our questions made for a VERY enjoyable experience! Try it! read more

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I am so close to giving this place five stars! Honestly, everything we've had has been VERY good and the Happy Hour specials are great! That being said, we have only really ever eaten the happy hour food and have yet to try the entrees. Maybe once we do, this'll be a five star review! The house made sujo is amazing--get a flight so you can try all of the flavors! You MUST get the Southgate fries (and ask for them crispy) you won't forget it. My ONLY disappointment is that the sujo is not part of the happy hour menu. Definitely worth stopping in to try the unique Asian flavors. The cones out quickly once you order! The staff is also really great and always on point. read more

Good ambiance. Lovely food. Went out of my comfort zone and had a great experience. Would go again if I wasn't just visiting. Service was ok, food was not very fast but was well worth it. read more

Food was good but it was tough walking in after passing their dumpster at the front door. Filthy read more

Southgate - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went for dinner with a few friends and ordered their southgate fries which were delicious. They have a separate sauce for dipping, and I'm not sure what's in it but I need to buy it by the gallon. I also ordered the kimchi cheeseburger which was delicious as well. My friend ordered the bibimbap- and that was the overall fan favorite of the group. Eating it the next day for leftovers was even satisfying!! read more

This is a pretty good spot for a blend of Korean-American food at a mid-price level. Service was solid and attentive. Everything came out in a timely manner. It can get busy and loud so keep that in mind when deciding when to go. It is a bit tight in there as well. For the food, I really enjoyed it. I got the Korean Tacos and Fish & Chips. For the price, it was definitely on par and maybe even better than I expected. I would definitely go back and try other dishes they have to offer. read more

Their burgers are my favorite in the city. Absolutely amazing and happy hour has good deals. Also really enjoy the spicy ramen

Quite good bibimbop dolsot. Maybe could be a little spicier. Liked the portion sizes. I've been twice - it gets really busy at peak times so visit during non peak times read more

Southgate - Dolaot bibimbop - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I have lived next door to this place for over 5 months. My biggest regret is that I took so long to come here. Dolsot Bibimbap done the right way! Bibimbap is a classic lesson on how temperature enhances flavor. These guys nail it. read more