Came here with a friend before an event because she was craving Korean food. We ended up having slightly different opinions on the service, but we were pretty much in agreement about the food. My friend had arrived before me and wasn't happy with her initial interaction. She asked if she could move from her assigned table to a booth and felt the staff were dismissive and rude about it. I wasn't there for that part, so I can only speak to what I experienced afterward. Once I arrived, service felt fairly typical for a Korean restaurant. They took our order, brought water and food, and largely left us alone. Not particularly warm, but not terrible either. The food was where I struggled the most. I ordered the stir-fried squid because it's one of those dishes I use to gauge a Korean restaurant. The good news is they were generous with the protein. There was plenty of squid, and the portion size was respectable. The problem was the flavor. There were lots of ingredients in the dish, but somehow it all tasted surprisingly muted. Usually stir-fried squid has a bold combination of spice, sweetness, garlic, and savory depth that makes you want another bite immediately. This version felt oddly neutral. Not bad, just lacking the punch I was expecting. My friend ordered the bulgogi and had a similar reaction. It was perfectly edible, but the flavor never really popped. She also received a noticeably smaller portion of meat than I did, which didn't help her impression. The banchan were also pretty minimal. We only received two: kimchi and danmuji, the yellow pickled radish slices. They were generous with the portions, but compared to many Korean restaurants, the selection felt sparse. The kimchi leaned toward the more heavily fermented side, which I personally don't mind, but it may not be everyone's preference. The restaurant itself is small and a bit cramped, but I didn't really mind that. The decor is simple and utilitarian. No frills, no trendy aesthetic, just a place designed for people to sit down, eat, and move on with their day. Honestly, I can respect that. Overall, I wouldn't call it bad. It definitely scratches the itch if you're craving Korean food and happen to be nearby. But having just returned from Korea a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't help comparing it to what I'd recently eaten. The portions were fair, the food was decent, but the flavors felt toned down across the board. It's the kind of place I'd eat at if I were in the area and wanted something convenient, but not somewhere I'd go out of my way to visit regularly. read more

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Solid food in a casual dining environment. Service is quick and prices are really reasonable. It's a cozy experience and a wonderful option for local students! I got the beef tofu stew, served with rice and an egg (#18). It was just spicy enough without inhibiting my tastebuds from sending the actual flavor. There were generous portions of tofu and beef in the stew. The space is quite small and doesn't seem like it could accommodate more than about 6 people as a group. read more

U-Town - Beef tofu soup and rice (#18) - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A small casual Korean eatery offering lots of authentic Korean dishes. The staff were friendly and attentive. But the food was honestly very mid. We ordered a LA galbi combo with soondubu jjigae and a jaengban jjajiang. The la galbi was really good, meat was tender and well flavored. On the other hand the soondubu jjigae and jaengban jjajiang were a little underwhelming. Flavor was not there and both were pretty bland. I was happy that they gave a raw (yes, raw) egg to crack in the soup yourself. Overall, I wouldn't consider this an authentic Korean eatery, but I would be down to try their other dishes. read more

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U-Town is delicious. Trust that whatever you order will be phenomenal and packed with flavor. I loved the hot stone bowl- it made the rice so crispy and the muscles were delicious. I wish there were more scallops. Know that service can be slower, but it's all worth it and the restaurant is typically full. read more

U-Town - Seafood Stone Pot - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Went for a dinner on a Friday night. When we got there at approximately 6:30 PM, the place was already full. We can see that it's a small mom and pop outfit, which is great. There were lots of pictures of items on their menu on the wall. We ordered the seafood pancake, which was one of the items they had a picture of. It came out as the last item, was rather large with many pieces. Tasted good, but it could have been ja little bit more crispy as the pancake was slightly undercooked and chewy. The bibimbop stone pot was the best item we ordered. Came out nice and hot with an egg on top, tasty and also at the bottom the rice was crunchy, which is important for a stone pot entree. The beef rib and daikon soup was tasty, although it did not look like the pictureson the wall as there was less beef than we saw on the picture. Overall, we enjoyed the good service and tasty Korean food. Certainly worth another visit. read more

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Went here with my friend and got #10 bulgogi hot plate! It was good but it didn't have a ton of meat. The service was fairly quick and the place is clean! It was pretty busy around 6:30 on a Thursday. read more

U-Town - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My husband and I visit this restaurant. I walk in, it's very busy filled with many students. I believe the elder man did X signs with his hands saying we closed. I turn to my husband who is part Japanese I said they are closed. My husband said it's early to be closed. When the workers and the owner saw my husband holding my hand. They said take out only. My husband said they are Korean they don't like Filipinos and you just experience your first racist. After we order He said thank you and bow his head. When giving our take out food, I looked at him without a smile and turned my head. To me bad service. To my husband they were so extra respectful to him. 0 star for my bad experience with them. I gave them 2 overall. The food is 4, we got the short ribs. This is the first visit. The 2nd visit we were able to sit inside and I took pictures of the food. The elder man and his workers are being extra nice but I felt uncomfortable still and I let my husband speak for us. The food is delicious, I'm satisfied. I'm still disappointed how they treated me from the first visit. read more

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I kinda have a bone to pick with this place. I used to always get their sundubu no vegetables (easier to eat for me)... so just broth and soft tofu for take out. It's supposed to come with egg, but they never give it to me. One time I asked for a little bit of extra rice and they were trying to charge me extra two bucks (I said no). Oh and I always tip too for take out. So no vegetables (per my request) and they intentionally leave out egg... you can't give me a break on extra half a scoop of rice? Last I checked eggs are waaaayyyyy more expensive than white rice. JHC I feel like Oliver Twist over here. Then one day my friend and I decided to dine in. I ordered sundubu and asked if I can just have some radish in the stew instead of all their other vegetables and they said they'd charge extra. Of course out of principle I said no... I just have a hard time understanding how someone can be so unaccomodating. But hey, at least they gave me an egg this time as advertised on their menu. This place is a joke. We asked for iced water, and they only serve tepid because they don't have ice. If we want cold drinks we have to pay. Not everyone wants Milkis so this place can go pound the sand. read more

UTown is by far the best Korean food in UCity. Their items are all very reasonably priced, banchan is free (expected, I know, but some Korean places in Philly charge for it!!!), and everything is delicious. The wide variety of vegetarian options makes it easy to bring any group here, and menu items are marked as spicy or not spicy. I have a low spice tolerance but got a soon doo boo anyways, and the spice was not at all overwhelming. U Town is a popular spot for penn students especially on Friday and Saturday nights, so be prepared to wait ~20 minutes if they're busy. Service is fast once you're inside, so I would say it's worth the wait. read more

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imagine yourself in a hot humid small street in Seoul and you come across a lovely small restaurant that makes the best barbecue and potato noodles. Now you can enjoy that in Philadelphia right next to Penn consider for a moment that fact. Now there seems to be some people rating this restaurant less than five star, those people have never been to Korea, know nothing about Korean food, and should resume eating at honey grow and stop wasting everyone's time on this app. on top of that there's a TV in the center of the restaurant playing the most dramatic career dramas you can imagine but you'll only get to see five minutes of it because it only takes them five minutes to cook food unlike honey grow, which can take up to an hour. read more

I love the cold buck noodles. A cool dish for this hot summer. The free kimchi is also good!

My daughter and I were really craving Asian food and thought we would order from here. The kalbi was amazing.

U-Town is a hit or miss; they have an expansive menu, and some items are tasty enough to satisfy your cravings for a particular Korean dish. The service is friendly, but unfortunately, some classic dishes, namely their soondubu jjigae and tteokbokki, are so poorly made and not at all an accurate reflection of authentic Korean food. The good: 1. Jjamppong If you want a warm seafood noodle soup, their jjamppong did hit the spot. You can adjust the spice level so that the seafood flavors of the soup can stand out a little more. The saltiness of the soup still overpowered the seafood flavor, but the variety of seafood (shrimp, mussel, octopus) was yummy. Their jjamppong is served in a large bowl, with complimentary danmuji (sweet pickled radish). 2. Japchae The japchae (glass noodles with vegetables) were al dente and surprisingly good. They were sweet, but in a way that pleasantly complimented the flavor of the stir-fried vegetables. The decent: 1. Galbitang Served with glass noodles, a bit of complimentary kimchi, and meat on the bone. The broth is refreshing when you are craving this particular dish. 2. Bibimbap Rice, meat, vegetables, and egg, mixed with sauce in a sizzling stone pot. This has a bit of everything and was as expected, but nothing in particular stood out. The reasons I took off 2 stars: 1. Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) Love yourself and do not under ANY circumstances order their tteokbokki. I'm not sure this is possible, but U-Town somehow made it SO ridiculously spicy, yet without any other flavor, so all you get is pain. Tteokbokki is a classic Korean street food that should have hints of umami and seafood flavor in the sauce, but unfortunately UTown's version was only spicy and lacked even sweet or savory flavors. 2. Kimchi jjigae 3. Soondubu jjigae Kimchi jjigae and soondubu (soft tofu) jjigae classic Korean stews, yet UTown's versions were so sparse in ingredients and watery that I even reordered the dishes twice, thinking it must have been a fluke. Alas, they have consistently been watery and bland, and stingy with the amounts of kimchi and meat and onion in the soup. Over half is just water. The convenient location is what makes many college students visit, but students and natives alike agree there are far better Korean restaurants in Philadelphia. read more

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Food here is terrible, service really bad They only accept two cards, and there is a mandatory tip?? 0/10 read more

U-Town - Food here sucks! 0/10 The tempura and dumpling tastes terrible Check says mandatory tip, RIDICULOUS Only accept two cards Poor service - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup) is solid here!!! Huge portion! My boyfriend and I got takeout and the samgyetang alone came in two large cylindrical containers. One had the jujube, chicken, ginger, and rice in it with broth and the second had extra broth. It was enough to feed us both (with leftover broth)! The soup tasted clean and homey. I just wish U-Town had better banchan options. read more

I have such an emotional attachment to this place because its where my parents and i ate my move in day frosh yr. I love coming here for meals and most stuff i order has been great. Today got jjolmyun which was wonderful and rlly spicy. Always a staple for me read more

U-Town - Jjolmyun - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Every time we dine at Utown my heart is full. I love the quality and the service. Food is always spot on no matter what you order. My faves include Bulgogi Bibim Bap and the Yuk Gae Jang. Simply delicious always. While this place is on the small side you won't feel cramped. Highly recommended read more

This place has potential. We ordered a couple of popular dishes: Bulgogi Hot Stone Pot, Jangban Jjajang, Kimchi Jjigae, La Galbi, Soondubu and they were all good for quick-serve, no frills cuisine. The dishes were seasoned well and the additional fermented bean paste was on time to give the Stone Pot some extra kick. The soups were flavourful and served with generous portions of rice The only problem was as a previous guest as mentioned, the kimchi was well, well past its prime. So much so that I won't even be using it when we heat up the leftovers today. Usually I would toss it in the jjigae but I feel it would ruin the flavour balance and didn't want to risk it. It is the only reason U-Town received three stars actually... For me that kimchi will make or break a review every time. All-in-all, a good little spot with great potential that I will be ordering from again. read more

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U-town is arguably the most authentic Korean place near Penn. It's slightly pricier than Koreana but my Korean friends swear this place is better. Service here is fast and I haven't been disappointed. - Bulgogi Bibimbap: My favorite dish. They give you a huge serving and it's delicious. They have the best bibimbap I've had. - Jajangmyeon: It's pretty good and normal. Just what you'd expect. Definitely tastes more Korean style than Chinese style. - Soon Doo Boo: The soup is great and tofu is soft but I actually prefer Koreana's because their tofu is even softer. Overall a solid place for Korean food! - Kalbi Tang: I was craving a light soup dish when I got this and it did it's job. You get a huge and I mean huge bowl of soup with soft beef ribs. - Haemul pajun: Good amount of seafood and crunchy yet soft. This is great for sharing with friends - Edamame: I always get this as a side. They literally give you a boatload of edamame and it's just awesome. read more

U-Town - Bulgogi Bibimbap and Edamame - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love the service here; it's the same people and they're really nice. I would say I've been here 20+ times. There are a few items I regularly get: Bibimbap - Pretty classic but it's aight. 3.5/5. Bulgogi Taco - It's surprisingly good for a menu item that sounds pretty sus. 4.5/5. Bulgogi Tteok-bokki - It's a lot of tteokbokki and bulgogi but there's nothing else. It's also kind of spicy. 4/5 Soondubu - I'm not the biggest fan of soups so I'll leave off a rating but I think it's aight. Japchae bap - I really like it; they're like glass noodles. 4.5/5 Jajangmyeon - It's pretty normal, which is good. It's more Korean than Chinese says my friend. 4.5/5 Chicken bokkeumbap - I also like to get this. It's kind of like fried rice and chicken together, but the flavor is good and it's pretty homey feeling. 4.5/5 Tang Soo Yook - This is a sweet chicken and it's good, but it's pretty sweet. 4/5 Ganpoong Ki - The above but spicy. 4/5 read more

U-Town - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I was a huge fan of my night at U-Town. The meals are pretty hearty and filling and it's BYOB so you can make a whole night if it. I got the kimchijigae and loved how spicy and full of flavor it was. There was tons of meat and kimchi inside, plus sides of rice and banchon to fill out the meal. The whole place was packed all evening, and I think that's a testament to how much people enjoy getting some quick Korean food on a weeknight for moderate prices. Vegetable mandu were alright. read more

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This review hurts to write because I the food here is decent! But the reason why I'm leaving a negative review is because the Galbi-Tang I got for takeout wasn't sealed properly. So the soup spilled onto the bag, causing a rip with everything falling out. When I called asking if it could be replaced, they replied that after I picked it up it no longer became their responsibility. That's disappointing for me.. what's $20 to a restaurant for something that they were responsible for? Is money that important? They've lost a loyal customer, with a pretty big Korean network in Philly. Can't say I'll recommend them to my friends anymore after this. Hopefully y'all don't go through the same thing! read more

Loved the food! Some dishes better than others and it gets pretty packed in there but overall lovely environment and staff! I enjoyed the bimi bap and hot stone pot dishes! read more

Delicious. Ordered crispy pork rice and deokboki. I asked for both super mild spicy, and they delivered! Not too spicy but still flavorful. Great textures, great service. The pork crispy rice was especially good. Very clean restaurant, light, respectful chatter. Not too loud or too quiet. Decently busy around dinner time but still some available tables. read more

I came here for lunch and had the tofu soup ($13). It's decent. I wish the soup had more flavor and salt, but I think it is as close to homey Korean food as you can get in University City. You can get the essentials here and have daikon and kimchi. read more

Not the best Korean food in the city but it's nice to have around campus. The place is small and family owned, with a menu that hits the basics: bibimbap, many soups, toppoki/rice cakes, etc. as well as stuff like Korean fried chicken and tacos. The only bonchon/side dishes are kimchi and pickled yellow radish, which I personally think is fine but know some might find it lacking. I've been here a few times and I've gotten bibimbap, soondoobu (spicy tofu soup), and jajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce). Everything tasted alright, nothing out-of-this-world but good enough if you're craving Korean food. Service is usually prompt, prices and portion sizes are fair, I would have no problem coming back. read more

U-Town - Jajangmyeon ("jangban jajang" on the menu): noodles in black bean sauce with potatoes and pork; tasty and pretty sizable portion - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went to college here and it's always nice when I'm visiting to stop here for a second. I was taken here by my Korean roommate and while nothing will ever compare to her homelands restaurants, she says the bibimbap here is amazing even compared to restaurants back home. Throughout the years I've had plenty of dishes here but I always return to the yae jook bibim bap (and usually order seafood scallion pancakes and dumplings on the side). Get the hotstone bibim bap and make sure to ask for their spicy sauce (they will bring more on the side if you're a spicy junkie like me!). They are also byo so feel free to bring any alcohol your heart desires. It's not the most elegant of spaces but great casual dining spot while you drink and eat surrounded by Kpop music videos. read more

U-Town - Fried pork dumplings - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Average Korean food. I got the beef soondobu. It wasn't anything spectacular. I think Koreana has better tofu soup bowls with more meat. Plus they didn't provide many small dishes -- just kimchi and the yellow raddish. If you're in West Philly craving Korean tofu soup this will satiate the craving. But justbwakj the extra 2 blocks to Koreana for better read more

U-Town - Beef soondobu mild - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Nice Korean spot on Penn's campus. Nice service, great for a casual bite. Love the pickled daikon and kimchi too read more

U-Town - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My friend and I were randomly craving something warm and filling in the middle of summer. Then we found U-town. Thank you U-town because I throughly enjoyed my Jjampong seafood noodle soup and my friend enjoyed her tofu soup. I do wish that there were more variations in side dishes but the volume of the food was so much (and priced reasonably!)--we left satisfied and super full! read more

U-Town - a bowl of soup and bowls of rice - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

3.5/5 - i love spicy rice cakes but this spot didn't really do it for me. it wasn't bad but i also wouldn't get it again. my boyfriend got the donkatsu and it was also not bad but not that great. if you're craving korean food in the university city area, it's worth visiting but there are better korean restaurants in center city. service was okay. good prices though! read more

U-Town - Spicy Rice Cake - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This was a very nice family owner Korean authentic restaurant. They have a lot of different things on the menu. One of the best things I tried was the mushroom curry in the hot stone pot. It was served sizzling with well done white rice on the side! They also give you a fresh egg that you can crack into the curry table side. They also have this spicy powder you can ask for if you like spice- warning it really does its job! This place had fast service and attentive staff. The water jugs were the only questionable thing here. It was fine but was a little strange to see all the different plastic wares- but def a family owned type of feel. Loved every bite! read more

U-Town - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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U-Town is a good place to go if you're looking for a quick Korean fix on campus! I've been here a couple of times before, but my last visit really stood out and made a lasting impression more-so than before (whatever that might mean to you). I got the beef soondobu, which I thought was fantastic. The broth didn't taste like it was watery, and the stew contained a hearty (and well flavored) mix of vegetables, tofu, and beef. (Tip: the beef is at the bottom of the dish, so you should mix everything up a bit before eating). You're given a raw egg to crack and cook in the bowl while it's still hot, which is pretty neat if you've never seen it before. My friend got the jajangmyeon, which came in a fairly large serving. It was perfectly flavored and contained onions, pork, potatoes, and what I think was zucchini (it was hard to tell?), along with the noodles. Better than Koreana and similarly priced. They don't have bubble tea, but they have desserts like shaved ice. There are better places for Korean food in general, but this is one of the best in University City. read more

U-Town - jajangmyeon! noodles + pork + potatoes + onions + zucchini (?) - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

4.4/5 I enjoyed their Dak Galbi (chicken) a lot, and thought the spice level and flavor were both just about right, especially in combination with the rice. The banchan and veggies mixed in with the Dak Galbi were good at balancing out the chicken as well. I also thought the food was very reasonably priced. read more

U-Town - Dak Galbi (chicken) - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This is probably not one of my go-to restaurants, but it still tastes good whenever I go. Now since I do not eat beef or pork, the menu does become quite limited, hence my desire to not come very often. But it should be noted there are some pretty good dishes here. My favorite is the Chicken Katsu Curry. I for some reason cannot find this dish very often in Philadelphia, as my favorite is Abiko Curry in NYC. But overall, the restaurant is very family friendly, hole in the wall type of restaurant. There are many things to order, and an even taco portion of the menu that I have yet to try as I am confused on how the flavors might mix. They serve you water in plastic small glasses that could be bigger, but for most of my friends, these small things are all overshadowed by the taste of the noodle dishes. For a reminder of home, (you know who you are), I think it's perfect. But for those with another place to eat, I would choose otherwise. read more

U-Town - Chicken Katsu Curry with smiley face in the rice :) - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

U-Town is a solid place if you're looking for a Korean food (as well as other Asian Fusion foods) and doesn't disappoint. I ate the Octopus Stone Pot and was pretty satisfied by it - no complaints in sight! read more

U-Town - Octopus stone pot - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Food here is bland and more Korean fusion. Lack of flavors and pricey location in the U Penn area makes this spot passable. read more

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Of the two Korean restaurants in the area, this is the better one. I went here about once a month for about 3 years. They offer a wide variety of options, and I have yet to try a dish that I thought was bad. That being said, I wouldn't say it has amazing dishes. The place is super crowded at dinner times, and may have to wait for up to 15 minutes at peak time. Their carry out option is also good. read more

U-Town - Jjajangmyun - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honestly- it was a good meal! Reading some of the reviews before coming here made me feel sort of iffy, but since it was raining and close by, I decided to give it a try! I'm Korean, so korean food is near and dear to my heart! I came in around 8 with in a group of 5 and we were seated immediately. We ordered a seafood scallion pancake for the table and needless to say- we demolished that. It reminded me of my mom's and was perfect for the weather outside. My friends had ordered Galbi Tang, Jjangmyun, Tangsooyook, Ddak Galbi, and Naengmyun. It all came out pretty reasonably and needless to say- it was good! It wasn't mouthwatering but it was enough to fill me up and it put a smile on my face. The only tip I have is to order several things that are sort of different from each other so that everyone at the table can try something new. Give this place a try for yourself- it looks like this place is owned by a Korean family, so you can't get anymore authentic than that! read more

U-Town - Menu - Korean Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I find it hard to give a Korean place 3 stars because I want more of them to pop up in the city but U-Town is pretty much a hit or miss. Some dishes, mainly the soups and stir fried proteins with rice, are really, really good and taste like I got them in Korea. Others, like the ddeokbokki and pajeon, really don't meet my expectations for Korean food, especially at this price point. Don't get me wrong, I go here all the time, and the staff are super nice and remind me of my go-to spots in Seoul. At the same time, it doesn't quite take the edge off of "homesickness" as some (still very few) restaurants in the city do. Still, if you're in the neighborhood and want to try some Korean food, this is probably a good place to start. read more