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    Spoon Korean Bistro

    3.9 (393 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Spoon Korean Bistro Takeout or Delivery

    Spoon Korean Bistro Photos

    SPOON KOREAN BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Seafood Pancake
    Jessica M.

    What in the world? I paid almost $25 for this tiny piece of food? NOT WORTH. Never coming back here. Also got the beef bone soup which was mostly noodles and tiny pieces of meat.

    Alisher I.

    Not bad. Asked for a mild soup but I didn't felt any spice at all. I like when it's a little bit spicy. Soup itself is good

    Bibimbap
    Melinda K.

    My family decided to try this place on a Monday afternoon, since it's closer to the 99 Ranch Market. The owner served each of us a hot cup of Barley Tea and a complimentary Banchan. We ordered Vegetable Pancake, Japchae, and Bibimbap with beef. I lost my appetite halfway through my meal. * Banchan- the pickled cucumber slices were served yellow (not fresh), the kimchi was salty, the soy sauce potatoes were sweet, and the pickled daikons were sour. The palette was all over the place. * Vegetable Pancake- too salty without dipping the sauce, and too loose when I picked it up with my chopsticks. Generous vegetables inside. * Japchae- there was no shiitake mushroom and spinach like the traditional version, a lot of black pepper, and it was salty too. * Bibimbap- the menu said it had purple rice, instead I was served white rice with white lies; not so much beef, one shitake mushroom was half raw, yet the vegetables were fresh. I was jealous when I saw a table next to us that served a bowl of purple rice and two trays of Banchan. I wanted that purple rice when I realized later it was for customers who ordered the soups and stews. They should have corrected the Bibimbap ingredients with "white rice," rather than stating "Purple Rice" on their menu. The owner was nice and was only in charge of serving everything. The restaurant was clean. They should've trained the cooks more or hired someone else with real Korean culinary experience. It's turning into food court quality rather than a restaurant itself.

    Orders
    Jessica A.

    I hate to leave bad reviews but I honestly believe people need to be warned. When your food is worse than Hawaiian Ono.... Lacks umami, the sauce is pure sourness with no flavor and the Bonchon is dry and funky.

    Banchan
    Rucha S.

    Came here for dinner on a Tuesday around 8 PM. The place was almost empty, with just one other table occupied. The server welcomed us warmly and told us to sit wherever we liked. He brought over water and cutlery right away. After a bit, he came to take our order. We got the vegetable soft tofu stew and the bibimbap with spicy tofu. He confirmed we were vegetarian and asked if eggs were okay, and also took the time to explain which banchan items contained fish sauce--which we really appreciated. The food arrived quickly, and the portions were generous. Everything stayed hot until the end and was full of flavor. Overall, we really enjoyed the experience and would definitely come back.

    Arlo T.

    Spoon was a good experience! The food was good and the atmosphere was inviting. The parking lot was pretty crowded, just park near the end and just walk. I just got the soup with chicken. I think the bonchon and the portions are just enough. It was good. I would come here again.

    BBQ Combo Spicy Pork
    Jessica H.

    The restaurant is located in the Ranch 99 plaza, near Paris Baguette. Parking is a bit tricky b/c the parking lot is generally pretty full but if you're willing & able to walk a few rows, it isn't bad. The veggie pancakes were amazing - super crispy & flavorful. There were also a lot of options with the banchan (9). The portions were big & very filling & generally tasty. Unfortunately, the spicy pork & the crispy dumplings from the combo plate were pretty dry. I think the owner works there & she's was really sweet. She was attentive & very quick with everything. Overall, I'd come back to try more items on the menu.

    Thanh T.

    Met up with a friend for dinner as it was a convenient halfway point between us. The plaza is big and has lots of parking. We were seated quickly for an early 5pm dinner. The service was very friendly and nice. They checked on us often but not too much. All the food was good! There was a variety of side dishes! We got the bibimbap in the stone pot and galbi plate. Both well made classic dishes.

    spicy chicken Hot Stone Pot Bibimbap
    Catherine T.

    Solid portions and fair pricing for your Korean food fix! Quality and taste was standard - nothing spectacular nor out of the ordinary. This is a solid lunch spot if I'm craving something hot, yummy, and filling. 4/5!

    Hot Stone Pot Bibimbap
    Crystal L.

    The food is delicious here! My favorite Korean spot in Fremont. The server is super nice and the service was quick. I ordered the Hot Stone Bibimbap with beef + kimichi fried rice and the Seafood Pancakes. Both are 10/10! The inside is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

    L D.

    Came here after a while didn't come. Been here for several times in the past and I remember that this place was good. But today, was just ok. We ordered seafood pancake, spicy pork and tofu soup. And the service was just ok. There was no people around dinner time and it was Friday night. Is there any change of management?

    Menu June 2024
    Christianne L.

    Quick To Go Order! I've been in the plaza so many times and I kept seeing this small Korean restaurant but never had the time to try it. I was in the area and had some time before heading home and decided to go in for a To Go order. I was there at a weird time (around 4:00 pm on a Tuesday) so I didn't expect it to be busy. There was a nice lady prepping some utensils and I let her know I would like to place a To Go order. I went up to the register where she gave me a menu to look at. There's so many options here and one that caught my eye was a SMALL SIZED GALBIJJIM! Most places only have a large sized Galbijjim and it's expensive but it's VERY AFFORDABLE HERE! And I really appreciated that they have 2 sizes. I ordered a Small Spicy Galbijjim, the Spam Mayo Rice, and a Galbi Short Rib. My total was around $80 but I think that's a good price for the amount of food I got! I liked that the Spam Mayo Rice was simple and yet really satisfying! I think there was some type of teriyaki sauce under all the rice and it was really good. The short ribs were very good too! Marinated perfectly and the portion was a good amount. Spicy Galbijjim was good, but I feel like it was lacking flavor? I'm not too sure what is used to make Galbijjim sauce, but compared to other places, it was missing something here. Just not sure what. I didn't wait that long for my food. I think it was only 15 minutes? I would definitely come back here and flbring family with me!

    Lunch spread, Spicy Beef Noodle Soup, Soft Tofu Stew
    Cynthia C.

    This is the best hidden gem in fremont! They have weekday specials that are amazingly priced. They also have the best banchan (little dishes like kimchi, tofu, daikon) to go with your meal. Everything we've tried has been amazing! We typically come on Tuesday or Thursday since they have specials on their soft tofu. Must try if you're in the hood!

    Spicy Pork Combk

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    3 months ago

    I ordered takeout from this restaurant quite often and love their biminbop stone pot. The food is flavorful and I enjoy their side dishes.

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    3 months ago

    I like this place so much. Food portions are amazing! Service is amazing and fast. Very attentive

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Spoon Korean Bistro

    Hello, wonder if banchan will be refilled for dining (on BBQ beef set?

    Sure refill available

    Do you have outdoor dining?

    no they currently dont have outdoor dining!

    Is this owned by the same people that operate the similarly named restaurant in Berkeley?

    It is same coporation but we do have different management on every other restaurants under this name. Basaically menu could be bit different depends on who we are targetting.

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    Smoking Pig BBQ

    Smoking Pig BBQ

    3.1
    (1.3k reviews)
    5.2 mi
    $$

    How did I just find out the Bay Area has BBQ that's as good as the one I had in Texas…read more Come with me to Smoking Pig BBQ, and they've been quietly smoking meats low and slow since 2011. Every brisket, rib, and pulled pork shoulder is smoked for hours over real oak and apple wood. And you can taste it in the tenderness of the meat. The brisket is rich, smoky, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. The pulled pork is packed with flavor and practically falls apart with every bite. The ribs are juicy, perfectly seasoned, and pass the pull test every single time. This is my first time having burnt ends and they were bursting with savory flavor but doesn't taste burnt at all. This place isn't just about the food either because the whole family can enjoy watching the World Cup right here. And right now, when you order any main dish, you can get ONE FREE item of your choice link in my bio: Wolf Turds, Wolf Turd Quesadilla, Mac & Cheese Balls, BBQ Beans, or Banana Pudding. The voucher link is in my bio or comment BBQ to get it sent in your DM. Trust me... It's time to put Smoking Pig BBQ back on the map.

    I'll start by saying that I don't normally eat southern food but my partner is from Nashville…read more We came to this place once for a quick drink at the bar. The bartender was very attentive and friendly and the drinks were good! My only complaint is ambiance, the place feels a little dead. We then ordered takeout from them. Everything was delicious! Better than most barbecue places I've tried! I got the burnt ends and my partner got the brisket. The burnt ends were perfect, juicy and full of flavor! We also tried all the sauces and Sassy was my personal favorite. We'll definitely eat here again

    Photos
    Electric X Band playing on a Saturday night
    Electric X Band playing on a Saturday night
    Pulled Pork Fries, Mule, Mai Tai, Wolf Turds
    Pulled Pork Fries, Mule, Mai Tai, Wolf Turds
    Sauce bottles

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    Sauce bottles
    Dynasty BBQ

    Dynasty BBQ

    4.6
    (368 reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $$

    We had been craving some bbq while in the area that wasn't the standard kbbq. Ever since we tried…read moreChinese style bbq skewers last year, we definitely wanted to try more, Dynasty bbq came up on Yelp and seemed quite reasonable in price and serving size. When you enter and get seated, you will be prompted to go on the url code at the table to pick your items. While I understand that this is the new way for restaurants to serve guests post-covid, the vast menu items you have to scroll through makes me long for physical menus of the past - but that's just my boomer take for the day. There were a bunch of other items like rice and noodle dishes that looked interesting to pair with the meats, but we were only craving bbq so we skipped out on the carbs. We ordered a BUNCH of skewers, from the standard beef, lamb, pork belly to chicken skin and a fried quail. All of the skewers had the same type of dried chili powder spice seasoning mix so unfortunately there wasn't too much of a diversity in flavor profile but on the flip side, it allowed us to focus more on enjoying the meat quality itself (this is where rice or noodles would definitely help cut through the richness). All of the meats were incredibly well-cooked and charred. It is on the drier side, so be aware if you are looking for a juicier, plumper cut of meat that some other restaurants have. Paired with the Chinese vinegar, soy sauce, and chili oil, they were super delectable. My personal favorites were the pork belly, chicken skin, and beef. We had some leftovers to go and the staff provided us some extra sauce to go so that's a big plus. Great food here and definitely will be back to try more of the other menu items for the full experience.

    Skewers for dinner. What's not to like? This place always has the best lamb skewers. In fact, their…read morepork, pineapple chicken, and enoki bacon are tasty as well. We always order the cucumber salad here and dip our skewer meat into the sauce. Absolutely delicious! Their decor is fun, too. There are large, ornate wooden tables with candle heated (sterno style) warming plates throughout the whole restaurant. The ceiling is completely covered with hanging pink flowers. And not sure if they still have entertainment on weekend nights, but a few times in the past they had a musician playing a Chinese zither. If you like skewers, this place is definitely worth a visit.

    Photos
    Inside @lesminaddio
    Inside @lesminaddio
    Clams @lesminaddio
    Clams @lesminaddio
    Spicy Rice Noodles

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    Spicy Rice Noodles
    The Yakitori Bar

    The Yakitori Bar

    4.2
    (552 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    Some of the tastiest Yakitori in the Bay for sure!…read more Really enjoyed the standard chicken thigh skewers, but the squid was also very tasty. Highly recommend coming on weekdays due to the limited seating inside!

    Came here last night (Tuesday), party of 2, no reservations, around 6pm ish. After reading some of…read morethe reviews, I would highly recommend coming on a weeknight to avoid crowds. We didn't have to wait and were immediately sat at the bar. Total was about $60 a person but we ordered ALOT, including 2 sake drinks, 2 shitake mushroom skewers, knee cartilage, short rib, ikura grilled rice ball, 2 chicken hearts, 2 shishito peppers, two tofus, oyster chicken, and probably more. I'm honestly a sucker for tapas-sized items because I love trying a variety of things when I eat, so I think I naturally would rate this place higher. Also not a ton of yakitori places in the East Bay so very little competition. Pros: - Honestly, pretty good meat skewers. My standout favorites were the chicken hearts, the kalbi short ribs, the mushrooms. I liked the crunch of the chicken hearts and the tenderness of the kalbi cubes, and I like that there's some non-meat options like the tofu and peppers to cleanse yourself a little bit. - Really easy ordering system, with paper and pencil. - Great for parties of 1-2, my friend and I were right at the bar and we got to watch the skewers cook and have them handed right to us. I think because we were seated here, I felt like the service was really fast. - Because it wasn't too busy on a Tuesday night, even though it says there's a 90 min seated wait time, we were there well over 2 hours (but also maybe because we kept ordering lol) - Plenty of easy parking spots in this plaza - All the staff were nice - Nice dark Japanese street food bar like ambiance, great for a casual night out Cons: - not great for parties of more than 2, there's a few booths in the restaurant that could fit 4 people maybe but I could see a long wait if it's a busy night. - The chicken items (other than the chicken hearts) were subpar in my opinion (which I guess shouldn't be surprising) so I won't be ordering them again Overall, I would definitely come back, but maybe order 1-2 dishes fewer and avoid the fried rice ball (I loved the ikura on this but felt like I could do without it).

    Photos
    Wall with stickers
    Wall with stickers
    Takoyaki, fried oysters, beef tongue, fried baby octopus
    Takoyaki, fried oysters, beef tongue, fried baby octopus
    Pork belly

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    Pork belly
    Ace King BBQ

    Ace King BBQ

    3.4
    (294 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    I've had this on my list for the longest time but after the reviews dropped, my interest dropped…read more We were hungry after going to the movies and the boyfriend suggested skewers. He had no idea that I had this saved so we ended up giving it a try. Dude. So good. The house special fried rice is crack albeit a little pricey ($13.99 compared to regular white rice at $2.49/bowl) but they pack it with a lot of different ingredients. It's perfect with some veggies like the chive skewers. We also loved the classic beef and lamb (minimum order of two) and lamb belly (comes in two skewers). The cut on the lamb belly is smaller than the classic lamb. The Taiwanese sausage, bbq pork with garlic, and tofu wraps (comes in ten skewers) were also delicious. Only skippable thing was the a-choy. The flavors weren't too spicy and they have a lot of drink options. Service was relatively quick but sometimes confusing in the order that it comes out. We ordered everything at the same time but the chives came out first and the a-choy came out last? Plenty of parking in the plaza; friendly (enough) service. It's a plus if you know Mandarin lol. Total was about $60 after tax and tip. We'll definitely be back!

    Great Food Selection Foods were very Fresh…read moreGreat Variety to choose from. I've gone there two times in three weeks The best Buffet I've visited in Year's

    Photos
    Jan 2023 @lesminaddio
    Jan 2023 @lesminaddio
    Cucumber salad
    Cucumber salad
    Takeout @lesminaddio

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    Takeout @lesminaddio
    Sweet Crisp Duck

    Sweet Crisp Duck

    3.0
    (131 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $

    Refreshing Cold Noodles and a Great Variety of Skewers…read more This was a standout meal that balanced comfort and something a little different. I came in mostly curious about the skewers, but the cold noodles ended up being the surprise highlight. Cold Noodles If you're on the fence about cold noodle soup -- get this. The broth is lightly tangy and deeply refreshing without being overly sweet or vinegary. The noodles had the perfect bite, and the sliced cucumber added crunch and brightness. Topped with two soft-boiled eggs and fresh cilantro, it was simple but extremely satisfying. On a hot day, this hits the spot in a way hot ramen just can't. And even though it's light and chilled, it's still filling. Grilled Skewers There were a lot of unique options and cuts -- lamb, chicken, beef, and more. Each skewer was well seasoned and cooked properly, with a good char but never dry. The flavors leaned slightly smoky with a hint of spice, and the meat was tender. It's a great way to try a few different proteins without committing to a big entrée. Overall Experience There was a bit of a language barrier when ordering, but the staff was friendly and made sure everything came out as expected. The service was fast, and the atmosphere was casual but comfortable. If you're looking for something outside the usual ramen or hot pot spots, this is absolutely worth visiting. Great variety, excellent flavors, and that cold noodle bowl alone makes it worth the trip. Highly recommended

    I really wanted to like this place based on previous reviews. However, when you enter the…read morerestaurant and see ABSOLUTELY no other patrons, you get suspicious. We ordered a whole duck to-go. We got home and it was COLD. Like it was sitting in the refrigerator for days and they just repacked it for sale. After warning it up, it was evident that this duck wasn't made fresh. Parts of it were so tough and dry it was equivalent to jerky. If you like your duck DAYS OLD, I repeat.... DAYS OLD and DRY, get it from here. For me, I will never return again.

    Photos
    This is how they dry one of their vegetables. No wonder it tastes so good.
    This is how they dry one of their vegetables. No wonder it tastes so good.
    String bean, eggplant, chicken heart, lamb, chicken skin
    String bean, eggplant, chicken heart, lamb, chicken skin
    Sweet potato, eggplant, bell pepper, chicken!

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    Sweet potato, eggplant, bell pepper, chicken!

    Spoon Korean Bistro - korean - Updated June 2026

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