Thank you to the staff for informing me that to-go orders must wait outside and cannot sit inside, especially in this hot weather. I was allowed to stay inside this time, but was informed of the policy. I likely won't be returning. read more

One of my favorite comfort Korean foods! Service was excellent, they refilled my water and pickled radish when asked and the place was clean. We got the yuppduk in extra mild. Their spice levels are VERY spicy so be mindful when you order. Extra mild was still a great spiciness level to it, but I can never see myself going higher than that. We also got Rice balls (DIY), you get a glove and mix in the seasoning to form a ball, very fun activity and delicious to eat! We come here whenever we're looking for great comfort food or a quick bite. One bowl can feed about 3-4 people. Definitely part of my restaurant rotations. read more

Yupdduk Irvine - YUP DDUK, RICE BALL DIY - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

I'm not sure what I was doing here lol! This place has been bookmarked for a while, so I wanted to check it out. Once I sat down, I was scared after looking at the menu. All the warnings about the spice level had me ready to run out the door (I always ask for non spicy for everything!). I really wanted to try something new, so we decided on getting the extra mild Yup O (had more fish cakes than rice cake) plus the fish cake soup. The reviews on Yelp warned me that extra mild was spicy so I knew what to expect. They don't make anything less than extra mild (I did ask). The dish was quite large, perfect for sharing. I enjoyed the cheese on top, and the rice cakes and fish cakes were tasty. As expected, it was too spicy lol even for my boyfriend, who can tolerate spice pretty well. I was still able to eat a few pieces of the rice cake/fish cakes and 1 small sausage. The fish cake soup was mostly soup and didn't have a lot of fish cake, but it was tasty because it was not spicy. After eating all the fish cake and vegetables in the soup, we dipped the rice cake/fish cake from the Yup O in the soup to make it less spicy. We ended up taking most of the Yup O home (hopefully it will taste even better once diluted and with rice!). Overall, it was a unique experience and pretty tasty. We are just wimps when it comes to spicy food! read more

Yupdduk Irvine - *YUP O* - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

DELICIOUS AUTHENTIC KOREAN FOOD!!! I come back whenever I miss Korean especially spicy food. Highly recommend! read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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Very flavorful, it's been years since I've been here. Got the extra mild and honestly, I was expecting a little bit of spice since I was told that it was going to still have a kick. If you're looking for a little kick, go with mild. The tuna mayo ball is amazing good bang for your buck. read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Yup YUP DDUK - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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Yo definitely a place to share your food with friends!!! Food was tasty and yummy just beware even mild hot is still spicy and I'm a brown girl telling u this The space inside is small and you'd think for food that's meant to be shared it'd be a bigger space??? Idk that part was annoying Other than that service and food are worth it! You gotta try the famous yyupduk bowl!!! read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

Yupdduk Irvine now has mala yupdduk! It does have the strong mala taste which is just perfect for me. We ordered the extra mild - but keep in mind that it's still very spicy because it has that mala spiciness too. All the side menu were tasty as well - I highly recommend the fried seaweed because it goes along so well. read more

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Had the displeasure of visiting Yup Dduk recently because nothing else was open/looked appealing in the same center. Restaurant is tiny, food preparation is slow (even though the restaurant was empty), items are expensive, but tastes just ok, and makes you feel sick afterwards due how thick/spicy the sauce is. We specifically asked the waiter which one was non-spicy and he said the Rose Dduck. It was spicy. However, 1 star awarded due to how challenging it is to run a business serving this kind of slop - albeit likely temporarily, before it goes out of business. read more

10/10 - b set yupp-o Yup dduk is a classic comfort food spot for when you need something spicy! Definitely beware that the spice levels here do not play (as someone who can usually handle spice, anything above mild here is pushing it). Also note that one portion is probably good for about 3-4 people, so bring your friends! Definitely prefer going to the one in Irvine over the one in Koreatown since there is usually less of a wait and service is much quicker. Very casual and chill place to hangout with your friends for a spicy bite! read more

Yupdduk Irvine - YUP O - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

I've wanted to try this place for so long and it was so good! It's super spicy though - we got mild and it was still pretty spicy for us. We ordered the B set that came with spicy rice cakes, fish cakes, and fried veggies. The rice cakes were so perfectly chewy and the cheese complimented the spiciness so perfectly. It also has a few mini sausages which were so delicious! My favorite of the set was the rice balls with seaweed that you make on the side. Dipping it in the sauce was so good! I just went but I'm already craving this place again! read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

Good, quick service and food. Portions are big and very shareable! Would recommend going with friends who are able to handle spice. read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

Love Yupdduk! This was my second time here and it definitely didn't disappoint. The food was delicious and the service was amazing! It is a bit small in there so if you plan on eating there, expect a wait time. However, it is definitely worth the wait. read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Yupdduk with FRIED DUMPLINGS (5) and RAMEN NOODLE - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

I haven't been here for years, but I just came today since I was close by. Everything was just as amazing as I remembered. The service was super friendly and food was outstanding. Keep in mind the extra mild is still VERY spicy! I always get a yogurt drink or milk drink to lessen the spice lol I came on a Sunday evening and it was pretty full. The tables are tight and close together but it's still a great vibe here. read more

My fave tteokbokki spot ever. This place makes it spicy and savory. I like the Yup O since I love fishcakes. They offer 4 different levels of spice. Even their mild is pretty spicy for most. The portions are huge so you can definitely share a bowl. Each starting bowl is $25 and you can add additional toppings. Be sure to add ramen to your bowl. The noodles soak up the sauce really well. Rice balls are also a must here. I love dipping them into the sauce. The restaurant itself is really small with only 4 tables inside. But you can order to go and eat on the tables outside. read more

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such a good go-to place near uci. only a few indoor seated at a time so wait times can be awhile sometimes but always worth it! read more

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Prefer ordering the Yup-O to get more more fish cake than rice cake. I highly recommend the Assorted Fish-Cake Soup as well (not spicy). It's easy & convenient to order online; my food has always been ready by the time I drive over from my place. Parking does get busy sometimes because of the market and other restaurants there so keep that in mind. Warning - even the extra Mild is SPICY .. and that's coming from someone who loves spicy foods & doesn't find most foods spicy. As spicy as it is, I find it delicious and tolerable with a side of rice or ramen noodles! I personally love how spicy it is because a lot of foods advertise themselves as being spicy without actually being spicy lol. The portion size is pretty big and one order lasts me a few meals - one order can easily feed 2-3 people. read more

So so good. Got the Rose Yup Dduk with ramen..aka Rabokki. Fun texture, but till quite spicy!! You can see the chili flakes in the gochujang sauce. Loved the melted mozzarella cheese on top and mixing it in with the ramen and TBK was so satisfying. Would love to try with the Chinese Flat Noodles next time (are those the same as glass noodles? Curious.). Service great too, was ready in 15 minutes or so! read more

When they say mild is very spicy... believe them. Everything tasted great! It's very cozy inside, so be prepared to rub elbows with your neighbor. Down to try it again, but a milder version lol read more

Yupdduk Irvine - YUP DDUK - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

Been going to Yup Dduk in LA, the one in Cerritos until they changed it, as well as the one in Irvine. Ddukbokki, basically Yup Dduk, has always been my soul food. I remember they were notorious for the huge portions that were shareable between large parties - but the portions are just getting pettier and pettier. It used to fill all the way up to the top but now for the to go orders and as well as for the dine in, the portions are not living up to it anymore. Don't get me wrong, the portion is not tremendously small, but when two people can clean up the bowl when it used to feed four people or there were leftovers to take home - you know there definitely has been a change in the portion. Yes we blame it on the inflation, yes the COVID happened, and so yes there will be butt hurt customers. But with the portions decreasing with reduced quality and service while the price is still $25+ for a bowl is insane. read more

Yupdduk Irvine - YUP DDUK TUNA MAYO RICE - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

The food here is amazing! Large portions, larger than mine and my boyfriend's heads. The flavors are great, super spicy although we got extra-mild (thank you to the server who recommended it to us), and there was a great amount of toppings. The pork bulgogi was good as well, sweet, salty, and spicy. Then we got the mayo-spam (OMG? So good?!) which was also pretty large! On top of all this, the server was so sweet and attentive and never left us hanging. The inside is a nice interior, small, and cozy. Be careful when you go at night around this time, it's freezing and other guests tend to leave the door wide open. read more

Yupdduk Irvine - YUP DDUK (RAMEN NOODLE + BOILED EGG (2) + FRIED SEAWEED ROLL (5)) - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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I got to start off with a WARNING: DO NOT GET MILD. I had once visited this place before with friends, but did not remember what we got besides a friend ordering the Challenge level spice...With this in mind, we ordered: Yup Dduk ($24): We ordered mild spice thinking it wouldn't be that bad, but it was BAD. It was so spicy, we had to ask if there was anything the employees could do to help us make it less spicy. They refilled our water, gave us extra cheese, a bowl of hot water, and some stomach protection smoothies to help with the spice after they practically saw me crying... We added deep fried spam ($5), ramen noodles ($3), and chinese flat noodle($4). I was a fan of all these add ons besides the chinese flat noodle, as they were stuck together and a bit hard to eat. I'd have to thank the servers for helping me out and providing all the help they did to help reduce the spice. I definitely will take their advice of ordering extra mild next time. They were overly generous to even provide us the extra cheese and smoothies free of charge. I will definitely be returning, because even though it was so spicy it hurt, the flavor was something I would be back for. Everything was so great, I convinced a few friends to try it out the next day, and they also loved it. Thank you and see you soon, Yup Dduk! read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Yup Dduk Mild with Deep Fried Spam, Ramen, and Chinese Flat Noodle - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

Three most important things you need to know about Yup Dduk: 1. It's wonderfully delicious. 2. Portion is huge and meant for sharing. 3. It's spicy! Even extra mild is spicy. And that's it. Enjoy those addicting tteobokki and pay for it later lol. read more

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We got the Yup Dduk signature very spicy rice cake with ramen noodles. We got EXTRA MILD SPICE, which was the least spicy option on their menu, and thought it was just right. BEWARE that anything higher is probably really spicy... We added ramen noodles as a topping and it was really good, would definitely recommend adding more toppings as only the rice cakes is a bit plain. The mini sausages that come with the dish are really good, however I wish they gave you more than 3 :( I thought I wouldn't like the mozzarella cheese on top but it was good. It's also funny because when my friend and I arrived we were going to order one dish each but after we finished ordering 1, the waiter started to leave. Seeing our confused faces, she told us that this dish is for 2-3 people, so MAKE SURE TO KEEP THIS IN MIND. There is A LOT of rice cakes in there. As for service, it was quite a long wait: we only got our dish after around 30 minutes. It is a very small restaurant so there were only like two workers. Will definitely be back though! read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Yup Dduk signature very spicy rice cake with ramen noodles - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

I came here with some friends for a small get together. Mystique was very kind in assisting me with the menu. One of my friends dropped their chopstick and Heejin, one of the workers, reacted instantly and dropped off another pair of chopsticks within 5 seconds. My favorite part of this experience was the energizing edm music that gave the whole restaurant an upbeat and positive vibe. read more

Yupdduk Irvine - I dunno what this is - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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So yummy and well priced. Great spot for groups and the service was amazing!! Min, our server, was awesome and super attentive. Will definitely be comimg back read more

I've ordered delivery from here 5-6 times total and let me tell you their spicy level is ALWAYS inconsistent. Last time I ordered medium and it was spicy like a challenge level. One time I ordered mild and it was not mild so today I ordered extra mild because of my previous experiences and it was indeed mild lol. Their rice cakes always arrive super overcooked. I'm not new to yup dduk.. I used to always eat at the LA location and also used to order delivery from Rowland Heights location prior to moving to Irvine. This location needs to step it up. The only reason why I keep ordering is because it's the only yupdduk in Irvine lol. read more

I would recommend coming here with a group of people as their portions are huge! This is honestly one of my favorite Korean comfort food spots. It will always hit the spot. The staff are extremely kind and quick with our order. I would definitely come back read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

Yup Dduk hits the soul with their perfectly spiced tteokbokki! I like to refer to myself as a spice lover and mild was quite spicy for me. I'd compare it to the Sam Yang fire noodles since the sauce targets your tastebuds right away; simply delicious on a cold day. The service is quick and fast despite how small the restaurant is. I love that the cashiers warn customers about how spicy it is, which truly shows that they care that the food is at least enjoyable for everyone. It's quite a cozy spot located in the corner of Campus Plaza- sometimes I even walk there with my friends after class! DIY Rice Ball: 5/5 -Simple yet helpful for when the spice attacks! my friends and I take turns making little rice balls for each other with the provided gloves! Nothing is more comforting than a steamy bowl of rice too. Set B: Yupp O w/fried goods: 5/5 -My group and I typically enjoy fish cakes more than rice cakes so this was perfect! Even with less rice cake to fish cake ratio, the bowl was filled. Portions were worth the price as we tend to get left over for days. read more

Yupdduk Irvine - YUP O - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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Located in front of UCI, Yup Dduk is located inside a small plaza w/ Albertons's. If you've seen First We Feast: Hot Ones, you've probably also seen their new series First We Feast: Heat Eaters ft. Chef Esther Choi. She did one of her videos here and she was not playinggg. I didn't get the Challenge like she did, but I opted for mild. Girlll, when I tell you it was spicy, it was spicyyy - the waitress told us it's about as spicy as the Buldak 2x spicy one (the black one) or a ghost pepper. My bf wanted original initially but changed his mind after the waitress told us. My bf and his cousin were sweating with almost tears in their eyes. I started feeling light headed at one point! Lets just say we had to take the rest to go. Next time we're opting for the EXTRA mild (and probably add more cheese to help with the heat). The rice cakes & fish cakes were good, but it was just too spicy. Have some milk on hand when you're going to eat this. First time I had this was at my friends farewell party (to-go order) and to reduce the spiciness of the sauce, she cooked it at home with some buttermilk - basically rose tteokbokki and it was delicious (and bearable)! Highly recommend if you want to challenge yourself. read more

I'm Korean, and I love Yupdduk. After immigrating to the U.S., I was so excited to find one even if it meant driving an hour and a half to get there. The taste was just like what I remember from Korea, which made me really happy. My American husband doesn't like rice cakes, so we dined in for the Yupdduk Chicken and took the tteokbokki to go. However, at the restaurant, it was quite uncomfortable because loud Mexican music from the kitchen and the store's own music were playing at the same time. It wasn't a pleasant experience. The Yupdduk Chicken was absolutely delicious and satisfying, but the potatoes were slightly undercooked and crunchy. Also, the rice cakes had no chewiness at all--they were dry and odd. Since the chicken dish didn't have many rice cakes, I didn't think too much of it. But what I feared turned out to be true... The rice cakes in the to-go tteokbokki were just like the ones I had in the chicken dish completely lacking in texture or chewiness. They tasted like dull lumps of flour, not rice cakes. I was really disappointed. They looked just like the usual Yupdduk rice cakes, so maybe they were just really old? I've microwaved leftover tteokbokki so many times before and never experienced the rice cakes losing their texture like this. These were so bad, I don't even want to call them rice cakes. It honestly ruined the experience for me. Next time, I think I'll just avoid the rice cakes altogether and only eat the other ingredients... Even though rice cakes sometimes look like that, they've always still had a chewy, sticky texture until now. But this time, they didn't. Not at all. As a Korean who truly loves Yupdduk, it really upsets me to see it being sold carelessly in the U.S. It means a lot to us, and I hate seeing it poorly made or treated like just another spicy dish. Despite everything, the server was genuinely kind and made us feel welcomed I really appreciated that. read more

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We ordered the extra mild Yup O with extra mozzarella cheese and deep fried spam with a side of the tuna mayo rice. Extra mild was great for someone like me who likes spice but doesn't have the best spice tolerance (though you'll need some tolerance to eat at Yup Dduk)! Yup O had more fish cakes than rice cakes, which was the perfect balance for my preferences. It was also my first time here, and the spice level was the right amount of spice, as expected. Service was not bad. The restaurant space is on the smaller side. We got to the restaurant right before another party, and the wait for them would've been another 20-30 minutes, but they ended up doing take out. Ambiance was super casual - the front was playing korean songs and the back was playing spanish songs. Love both types of music but this is definitely a more casual spot. read more

Yupdduk Irvine - YUP O and TUNA MAYO RICE - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

Yup o level 1 or 2 depending on how much you hate yourself. The rice balls in seaweed, deep fried vermicelli wrapped in seaweed, or the spam mayo rice ball are all good sides. I like adding ramen or udon noodles and extra mozzarella cheese. You can split this between 4 people and everyone will be full. Good take out for game night / movie night. Ambiance is basically fast casual but honestly I've never eaten in at the store I only do takeout. read more

First time here at YUPDDUK The food was so delicious and fulfilling so come hungry! my favorite dish was the grilled pork. The atmosphere here is very chill with great kpop music. ‍ Great seating and vibes. Our servers were very sweet and helpful! Will be back. read more

The restaurant is located in the same plaza as Albertson's by UCI. Parking spaces are ample even though this location shares the parking lot with other businesses. I ordered take out, but I want to dine in the next time I visit Yup Dduk. Yup O [4/5]: Yup O has more fish cake than rice cake. It also comes with mini sausages, cabbage, and mozzarella cheese. I also added an order of the ramen noodles on the side. I highly recommend adding the ramen noodles because it goes so well with the sauce. For the spice level, I got extra mild and it was spicy enough for me. I would definitely come back again if I'm craving tteokbokki or something spicy! read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Yup O - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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loved the food, have visited most of the yup dduk chains and I always come to this one. The seasoning on the rice cakes hit different read more

Yupdduk Irvine - YUP DDUK mild and SPAM MAYO RICE - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

Yummy food and good customer service! I come here often and have never had a bad experience:) read more

Yupdduk Irvine - YUP O - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

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I had been craving Yupdduk for so long, but this is the first time they served it with barely any sauce. The portion has also gotten smaller! So disappointed! read more

Yupdduk Irvine - YUP DDUK YUP DDUK - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

The service was amazing, the person helping us was very attentive and very friendly 10/10. The food was very delicious but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to their warning on how spicy the food may be. I got the mild and oh my lord when I tell yall that I saw the light as I was eating it, my ears were ringing and I got light headed. The server warned me and I ignored it and now I must face the wrath of 1000 suns. Besides that it was really yummy. read more

Yupdduk Irvine - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

amazing food and price, server was top notch overall a great experience would come back again also got a $19 coupon for their 4th year anniversary read more

Yupdduk Irvine - classic YUP DDUK, GRILLED PORK BULGOGI - Korean Near Me - Irvine, California

I no longer have to drive to Cerritos to satisfy my spicy dukboki cravings! Yup Dduk recently opened up in Irvine in the past year and I finally found time to try this location out. I arrived at around 3PM on a Friday and the restaurant was completely full. Granted there are only about 3-4 tables. Luckily, there is ample outdoor seating! I ordered a Yup O, veggie fries and cellophane noodles(think jap chae noods). This meal was about $30. I opted for the original spicy and oh man, it is actually very spicy. Not going to lie, my eyes were twitching for a bit after my meal. It was very satisfying though! The veggie fries are a bit different from the Cerritos location. They serve regular onion rings vs. the potato ring I love from that location but overall, I prefer this location due to the customer service and accessibility! read more

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