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Bedford Ave (L)
Mon-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
We've ordered delivery twice from Dokebi in the past week. The first time was spectacular. My wife and I each ordered an entree and split an appetizer. All of the food was fantastic. Fresh with incredible flavors.
It was so good, we ordered again tonight. Different story. I'm writing this review before I even finish my dish. My wife and I both order the BiBimBahp with pork. The dishes were mainly rice and cheap vegetables with little tiny pieces of pork and no sauce. HORRIBLE.
I can't understand how their food can be at opposite ends of the spectrum just 6 nights apart.
After this experience, I'm hesitant to order here again.
I unfortunately waited too long to go to Dokebi, despite living so close to it. It's got a cool atmosphere. Kind of like a bar, with a laid back Asian feel. It's not your typical Korean/Japanese vibe, which is a nice change of pace.
As far as the food, definitely good, if not a little bit generic. I had some fried gyoza, kimchee, and bi-bim-bop, all good, but not great. But definitely serviceable and wouldn't rule it out again. Their beer selection was vast, a good mix of American and Asian brews.
Def worth a trip.
What a cool experience, and oooh the fun!! Food was a bit pricey I thought considering you're cooking your own food.
It is definitely something I would do again when I get sick of eating in Manhattan, and want a change of scenery. It is a great Williamsburg find!
OMG Korean Tacos is all I have to say and they are amazing!!!!! I eat at Dokebi often for their regular menu - great Korean BTW, they do BBQ at the tables or you can choose to sit at a regular table (or the bar in the back). I absolutely LOVE their Bi Bim Bop, Jap Chae, Kim Chi, and their Tofu Seafood Stew (good for the winter time). However the last 2 times I've been there I had their new Korean tacos which are out of control, YUM!!!!! They use high quality ingredients (ie Berkshire pork, sushi grade Tuna chorizo) give substantial portions and offer them at a more then affordable price $3-3.50 each. You can get them Korean or Mexican style (prefer Korean). This is my first YELP review - that just goes to show you how impressed i am with this resteraunt, oh and not to mention the service is always spot on!
Cheers
Went for Lunch.
Wanted to have BBQ but it was too much for the hot weather.
I had a Bibimbap and it was great!
I'd go back there again to try some bbq..
oh.. It was very hot so I could not really have a drink but they had some sort of Watermelon soju drink as a special. I'd recommend try it before the summer is over!
While its nice that being able to eat Korean food in Wburg is nice and convenient - it is far from getting the experience of eating GOOD Korean food.
For one, when I asked the servers for more kkakdooghee, one gave me a look of confusion, then proceeded to correct the Korean that its not called that but "Spicy Radish", and the others seemed to ignore my requests until finally the one Korean server got me more.
Second, the grill pan is designed so that you can't really get the bbq crispy - sure it cooks the meat, but the process is slow and half the meat just get broiled - that's not bbq.
At least the flavors are more authentic than one would expect - alas, I have yet to actually see "Americanized" Korean food.
Perhaps their tacos or soups will be better - or maybe the caucasian servers will actually learn what the dishes they serve are called. Just a thought.
3.5 stars - this place was really good, although over priced compared to some other places I've been to. Still, I'm not aware of many Korean places in Williamsburg so I'll definitely be revisiting this place.
Happy Hour ends at 7pm here, and the sake is kind of expensive. Their drink special today was fresh watermelon juice and soju - tasted delicious, but I'm not sure there was much soju in it and it was a bit heavy on the ice.
For our meal, I ordered the Beef Bibimbop and my boyfriend ordered the a Nakji Bokum (a sizzling dish with Octopus, Udon style noodles, vegetables, and a spicy red sauce accompanied by a bowl of red bean rice).
My Bibimbop consisted of a layer of rice, topped with fresh and sauteed vegetables, sauteed beef, and topped with a fried egg over medium.
Both of our dishes had huge portion sizes and were very tasty, although I felt mine could have had a little more beef in it.
My boyfriend absolutely loved his dish - I thought his was very good, but I found the octopus slightly tougher than I would like.
Overall, I consider this place a good neighborhood restaurant, but I wouldn't say this is a destination restaurant by any means. The food was very tasty and seemed very fresh, service was fast and friendly, and the ambiance was pleasant. Although it's a spacious place, it was very empty. There are some decent lunch hour and happy hour specials so I recommend trying to come here at lunchtime or before 7pm if you'd like to try it. The entrees here are quite pricey for simple Korean fare, the cheapest one being a vegetarian Bibimbop for $11.
Note to those loving hot drinks: $5 hot sake & $5 hot toddies during Happy Hour!!!
Food was OK. Love the decor and the service was fine. I would only come here if I absolutely NEED some Korean food and am too lazy to go to 1 more stop on the L. Honestly, you're much better off going 1 more stop back into Manhattan and going to other "Korean" restaurants that are not necessarily authentic but significantly better.
Yummy. Expensive. Koren BBQ.
But nice to have this option in W'burg.
the service here was really sweet.
however the food was really subpar. the panchan was medocre and ill seasoned at best. they gave some tofu and napa kimchee, but neither was well made. i had a overly soupy soondubu which was mostly water without much else. for korean food this place is a littl overpriced- especially for willaimsburg.
but the place was clean and kinda artsy/ cute so that evens out the poor quality of food.
Only been to the bar so I can't speak to the food but I love the idea of cooking at your own table so I'll definitely be back soon to try it!
You can get into the bar area from N.1 and Driggs street. It's smallish but there are tables and space to dance if you feel moved to do so.
Great, friendly bar tenders and the owner is a sweet guy .
Crowd is your typical williamsburg crew.
Fun! I don't know anything about Korean; I'd heard that it was meat-heavy and, as a vegetarian, was worried. I went for a friend's birthday and was happy that the birthday boy ordered for us.
I ended up with a tray of exotic mushrooms to cook myself--oyster, shittake, portabella, little yummy meaty white ones--so good. There were also some other veg staples--broccoli, etc. The tables were lit and we cooked with chopsticks. There were also various oils to put on the food, and it certainly tasted as if it came with some seasonings on it.
This was a pyro's delight--squishing the mushrooms created nice puffs of flame.
These dishes came with spicy pickles, kimchi (so weird but so good), sesame leaves (somewhat like spinach), little salads...
This, plus two pitchers of Sapporo, and a tuna platter and two beef dishes were split among seven of us and, tax and tip included, it was $37 each.
So, yes, pricey. A special occasion place, and--my friend pointed out--a great spot for a date. After all, if there's ever a lull in the conversation, just put something in the fire and poke at it.
Yeah, it's cute n cozy, and yeah, it's fun, but yeah, it's overpriced.
Good stuff:
Bibimbahp -- surprisingly one of the best I've had, even at more authentic Korean spots. Rice is perfectly cooked, sauce is just spicy enough, egg holds everything together. Very satisfying.
Fried tofu -- crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, yummy soy paste sauce on top. I was actually the only one to enjoy this one, though.
Spicy pork/rib eye for table grill -- well seasoned and lean.
OK stuff:
red bean rice -- didn't really taste like much.
Weird stuff:
Tuna Sashimi & Avocado Salad -- why is the tuna neon pink? And isn't sashimi nonKorean?
All around: expensive. That tuna salad was not worth $11. And a single sized serving of meat costs $21? I can get a steak for that. That someone else cooks.
Verdict: I've visited twice, but I probably won't be back a third time.
The biggest thing that it has going for it is that it is really the only Korean place that I know of in Williamsburg.
I'd ideally like to give this place 3.5 stars but I have to pick one of the other and it got the short end of the stick on the rating war.
Its got a great atmosphere and the food is pretty good - I like the dessert (ice cream types), the bulgogi and spicy soup were really good. However, I didn't think this place did BBQ as well as establishments in Korea town.
However, on a winter night - when I've got the urge to stuff myself silly with Korean food, the food isn't that much better in Kore town to get my lazy ass on the L over to Manhattan, the walk to Dokebi is bearable.
It's too expensive for what you get. We ordered the sirloin, bibimbap, and the scallion pancake. It was all tasty, but it wasn't worth the 62 dollars plus tip. For the price of the sirloin, 21 dollars, we could have gotten a deliciously prepared steak with sides at another restaurant. At Dokebi, we got a small pile of thinly sliced raw meat we grilled ourselves and 2 raw broccoli florets. It's not that I minded grilling our own dinner, it's just that it wasn't reflected in the price and I felt sort of ripped off by the lack of food. Same thing with the bibimbap - why did we have to pay 2 extra dollars for the sizzling bowl? Did it require that much extra labor on their part that they have to charge for the extras? I suddenly felt like I was at the airport, paying to sit in the exit row. It doesn't make sense. And, It's annoying to pay 14 dollars for rice. I guess it's nice to not have to trek to midtown for decent Korean food, but next time I think I'll make the trip.k
One day, after getting some work done at Tattoo culture, I walked by and smelled a wonderful aroma. Walked in and the rest is history. I am NOT an expert of Korean food, but--to paraphrase Prof. Peter Schickele --if it smells good, it is good
I found the appetizers very tasty: egg, sautéed mushrooms, pickled cabbage and scallion pancakes=Yum.
The grill was the best, IMO: I had a double beef portion wtth the fixin's: mushrooms, onions, zucchini and others. I was so full...it was joyful.
Dessert is ok. Gelato and ice cream. They need to spice up that area.
Good place to eat and have fun with friends.. i will return!
I've only been here for drinks, and it was good times.
Thanks for the hangover, Dokebi.
Disgusting food.
I ate there last fall and it was terrible. No other way around it.
I can be very easily persuaded whether I like a place or not by good music. We walk into Dokebi sit down at our picnic style table and order a few pitchers of Blue Point with the Gorillaz playing in the background.
Um. Yes. I think I am going to like it here.
Then I received the menu... and got very confused.
I've never been to a restaurant where you cook your own food, let alone eaten Korean food! A friend of mine that had been here a few times explained it to me. Thennnn it all made sense.
I couldn't be a poop and order something already prepared, I had to take part in the fun of cooking in my very own grill in front of me. Ok now I was excited to get my steak to see what kind of grilling skills I had.
Food arrives. And then I remember one important thing. I forgot I had NO skills whatsoever in the cooking department. The only time I've ever grilled anything was a grilled cheese. I winged it and did pretty good. I got the spicy lean steak strips and had a great time with it. I also loved their little munchie food you get before your entree. I tried everything and loved everything.
For being a virgin to Korean food as well as BBQing... I definitely enjoyed this new experience and would definitely come back.
Sky*
No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No
Get thee in a cab and go to Koreatown or Sunnyside.
You'll spend the same amount of money, get more food (what's Korean without the overwhelming banchans) and get better food.
If you're seriously lazy and want some Korean this will probably do, but just knowing that ersatz Dokebi's exists makes me sad.
I was so excited about the prospect of having a Korean place in the hood, but after a few times here, I realized I still don't. I'm not sure what happens once they cross the Williamsburg bridge, but it's like this hood is the Limbo for Asian restaurants when they die culinary-wise. If they had called it a Korean-inspired restaurant, maybe my taste buds wouldn't have been so offended since not all of the food is completely terrible.
For the sake of getting through this review, assume that nothing about the menu is authentic and the flavours for all of the dishes are not what they should be. That said, the bulgogi isn't terrible, and the quality of the meat is pretty decent. The kalbi is also the right type of meat, but the marinade was ridiculously bland. The broth for the yukgaejang and the spicy kalbi tang taste exactly the same, which is a bit criminal and can be likened to making lobster bisque from cheap chicken stock. Whatever the broth for both is, it's not terrible tasting, though.
The banchan, however, are the absolute worst! Because in some ways it's the cornerstone of a Korean meal, if a restaurant can't get that right, they may as well not exist. I'm pretty tolerant of all different types of kimchi preparation, but here it tasted literally like rotting cabbage. I'm not sure what some of the other banchan were even supposed to be but a taste revealed that it was all inedible.
I think I feel so betrayed because I really like the space and the vibe of the place. It's super comfortable and spacious, and the service has been pretty good every time. I'd guess it's not Korean-owned and whoever is heading the kitchen is probably working off of generic Korean recipes that never quite make Korean food taste like what it should. It's a valiant effort, but to give it any more than a star would be cruel and unusual to future patrons expecting real Korean food.
this place has excellent well portioned entrees but what is really cool is the bar in the back, they have a good happy hour and the best tacos, how the hell those koreans learned to make such delicious tacos escapes me , the staff was really on point, i have eaten there many times and always have excellent service, i just wish i knew they were hiding tacos in the back, they all looked good but the spicy tofu ones i had where top notch
You know, I hate to give this only 3 stars so I'm kinda rounding up here. The menu is very Westernized and the bulgogi isn't very Korean, really. But the kimchee pajeong is quite good and everything tasted very fresh. The marinades, spices, and banchan were lacking the authentic, and for me, addicting Korean flavors that keep you wanting to eat more and more and...
So, I'd definitely go again if I couldn't get to k-town, or Dok Suni's.
dokebi is super fun with groups or on a date! sometimes you have to wait a bit for a table with a grill, but the bar area in the back is cozy and the food is definitely worth it. i love the bibimbap in the stone bowl, but i also love the grilled items and the scallion pancake. overall great experience in all 10 times i have been there.
ps- it bothers me when people review restaurants after 1 visit or after only drinking at the bar. that's not fair.
Dokebi is a rockin' little joint nestled on one the best streets in williamsburg.
The atmosphere is cool, lots of clean lines and good art, the bar is a little more divey looking.
I LOVE the Jap-chea and shabu shabu and I always have enough to eat. The beer and Saki list is long and full of Asian and American goodies.
This is a GREAT PLACE FOR A DATE or for a BIG GROUP. If you want to sit and chat over candle light try a window seat in the front room, or hey, there's one at the bar too.
If you need to accommodate a big group, that's cool too, they've got a long row of shabu shabu tables. If you call ahead then you can have your whole group together and the shabu shabu really doesn't come out to be that much when you're sharing.
So a few tips: you can always ask for more sides and the ice cream there is AMAZING, so many exotic flavors and the taste is just to die for.
My only suggestion when you're going to Dokebi is be ready for something different, this is not an average place, it's a nice little mix of what you've had and what you'd like to.
Not the best Korean BBQ I've ever had, and certainly not the cheapest. However, the service is attentive and friendly, their selection of beer, wine, shocu and other specialty drinks is good, and the food is fresh and delicious. Not huge portions tho, but I guess I'm so used to stuffing myself in restaurants I'm always surprised when there's just enough food instead of way too much. And the interior is clean and pretty and nice and not overwhelmingly Asian (read: accessible for whitey).
We did the Korean-grill thing. It's fun and interactive and you grill your own meat and then make little lettuce burritos. It's fun and (somewhat) healthy, I think. But at $86 (total) for two entrees, one drink and one small sake makes this place a sometimes-only dining experience. They do have cheaper menu items tho, but expect to spend if you wanna grill your own. Which seems counter-intuitive.
Alright so it's not super k-town authentic and my Korean girlfriend mocks me for patronizing this establishment, but whatever. I still enjoy myself and everyone has a pretty delicious time when we go.
It can be a bit pricey and a lot of people start to complain saying, "what, I pay all this and I have to cook it myself?" But sitting around a grill and interacting is one of the fun things about eating at Dokebi. The provided ingredients are fresh and tasty and you can cook your meat exactly to your liking.
Also make sure to give the soju a try, very smooth and sweet.
I often go to this place for their lunch special. The price is just about perfect then. I usually get my beef Dol-Sot Bibim-Bop special (hot pot dish of mixed rice, veggies, your choice of meat, fried egg and hot pepper paste, gochu-jahng) which is very authentic, tasty and clean. They actually do have one of the better tasting Kimchi (Korean spicy fermented cabbage) in the city including all Korea town restaurants!! (well, it's hard to beat K-town Gahm Mi Oak's variation of kimchi, Gahktugi which is the diced Korean white radish version of kimchi.)
The service here is horrendous and the room is always freezing in the winter, but I really like Dokebi. Sometimes you eat enough pizza and hamburgers in Williamsburg that you demand something different.
Ten times out of ten I order the same thing here which is a bottle of soju, the fried pork Gyoza, and then the khalbi (short ribs) bbq. The meat is super fatty in a good way and melts in your mouth. The bbq usually takes forever to come out which is weird because they don't have to cook it, and the sides are extremely limited and pre-chosen for you. The desert menu is weird as it only contains ice creams and the wait staff REALLY tries to push it on you. I admit the ice cream is good, but it's a weird thing to eat after you just stuffed 30 pounds of flesh down your throat.
One tip: When you are done and they take away the top of the table grill DON'T LOOK DOWN INTO IT! You'll see the pool of fat at the bottom and might not ever eat again.
I found Dokebi Bar Gamp; Grill to be incredibly cozy and relaxing. I totally enjoyed the food - the beef was excellent. Loved the fig gelato too. My boyfriend took me recently and we didn't leave until almost closing - sweetest part - no one thought of throwing us out.
Expensive and you got hardly any kim chee!! I love all the little side dishes that get served with Korean BBQ. You know... all the pickled vegetables? Well, I got like only 3 or 4 different kinds and one of them was basic kim chee. Borrrring.
The meat quality was good but the portion was too small. I spent a lot of money to walk away still hungry. Bummer.
Decor is clean and simple. There's a cute bar in the back of the restaurant that has a separate entrance too. It looks like a cute place to have a drink but I haven't done that yet.
I haven't been back and I probably won't since it looks like they have a pretty good busines s going with other locals. I'll make the trek to Flushing or NYC for Korean BBQ.
Dokebi rocks. If you don't feel like going to Koreatown for good bulgogi or spending mad bank in SoHo, go to this sweet restaurant in Williamsburg. It has a great bar space in the back to chill and relax. They play cool music, too. I have yet to try their DIY grilling, but I really should do that soon.
No complaints. I just visited this joint with two friends. We sat at the bar and enjoyed PHAT-ASS tunes, delicious grub and fine drink. Red Hook Copperhook and Blue Point Toasted Lager on tap as well as Kirin Ichiban, Soporo, etc. Well-rounded scotch selection and sake too!
I always eat too much here. Always. Especially the bi bim bap.
Overall, it's a decent value and they have good beer on tap. The music is kind of lousy, though. It's probably less authentic than Koreatown or Sunnyside, but as far as Williamsburg goes, this is it.
Not really worth the trip out to Brooklyn... Dokebi is supposedly a "Korean" restaurant; thus, I assumed that one of their signature dishes, shabu shabu, would be done Korean style. Nope. Not the case. It was done Japanese style and not all that tasty. Their "rice bok-kum" dishes (which literally means "fried rice") was not the case either... it was more of a Chinese style where the sauteed meats/veggies were served over plain white rice. The jap chae was pretty good and we liked the assortment of beers available by the pitcher but that was about our only source of joy. Other disappointments: lack of the side dishes (ban chan)... all we got was a plate with a bit of kimchee and spinach (none of which tasted all that great), the strange decor / vibe / lighting (felt like there should be pool tables and beers on tap rather than a Korean restaurant), and the slow service (it's almost a given that Korean restaurants have speedy, almost too abrupt and harried, service... they can turn those tables like no one' s business!)... our waiter at Dokebi was close to incompetent as he was slow and confused and had no idea how to serve shabu shabu (he was ready to dump the entirety of the veggie plate into the boiling water all at once!).
No need to go out here for good Korean food; and for better shabu shabu, stick to Shabu Tatsu in the E. Village.
Went here to celebrate a birthday, and our party of five was held hostage for three hours. Horrendous service-- the waitress only circled around at the flash of a credit card. Waited half an hour just to place the order.
Food was okay if you don't mind the fact that each person's order was served at half-hour intervals. Really made it festive. Great place to go if you want to feel guilty about eating out and enjoy being harassed by the wait staff.
refreshing...not your typical korean
go in with a williamsburg open mind and you'll be pleasantly surprised. im korean but wasnt looking for a typical 32nd st experience. this place had a pretty cool vibe, it was different but cozy. the food was pretty good and cuz they had vacuum smoke grills i could go out after dinner and not smell like it was me who was BBQ'd in soy sauce, garlic and sesame oil. service was friendly and a bar scene in the back turned me onto a new beer (ayinger)....all in all a refreshing change from the norm.
I'm half korean, and have lived in Korea, and this is as good of Korean food as you will find anywhere. Really great platters, BBQ and soup. Just like any other Korean inspired place, they have all of the little side dishes, and their Kimchee is really fresh. It is a bit pricier than your avergae lunch, but is good for a dinner date, or a good lunch. Try the spicy seafood soup.
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