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Gomnaru Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Korean Korean [Edit]
2505 Hearst AveSte D
(between Euclid Ave & Le Roy Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94709
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
(510) 486-8715
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 9 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
88 reviews for Gomnaru Restaurant
Review Highlights
"The spicy BBQ chicken is absolutely delicious."
(in 10 reviews)
"I got the Kim Chi Soft Tofu Soup and the portion was HUGE."
(in 4 reviews)
"Fried potato is the best complement on the dish."
(in 4 reviews)
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88 reviews in English
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Review from Augusto T.
Berkeley, CA
12/19/2011 27 Check-ins Here
Satisfying portions, good value, and warm service.
Gomnaru is one of my favorite lunch destinations. They had a change of ownership sometime last year and since then the good has gotten much better. For lunch, they offer food court style multi item plates. The food is not going to be the best Korean food you have had, but it is not too expensive and the large portions and the variety make it worth it. The trick is to order the items that are coming fresh out of the kitchen. My favorite items are the japchae, spicy chicken, spicy pork, fish cake soup, and the sweet and spicy chicken. Be sure to ask for some complimentary miso soup and kimchi.
They are also open for dinner, when they offer waiter service and an a la carte menu.
The staff is really nice and friendly. I have ordered items that are not on the menu and they have been gladly made for me. I have even seen customers that forgot their credit card being told it is OK if they pay next time.
Definitely one of the best lunch options in the Euclid north Berkeley area. -
Review from Elaine L.
Berkeley, CA
11/22/2011
This cold weather makes me crave soup. I was on northside and I figured. Why not get some tofu soup! I had a meeting in 20 minutes so I couldnt dine in which made me sad because I was thinking of all the side dishes I would miss out on. Wah.
After I got my order, I was pleasantly surprised to find the side dishes in its own container, separated by foil so the sauces dont mix! YAY!
I got the Kim Chi Soft Tofu Soup and the portion was HUGE. I could not finish the soup and can make a meal out of what is left over if I made some more rice. YAY!!!
The only NAY out of this meal was that the tofu soup was too oily in a it-stained-my-white-spoon kind of way. :( Wah. If it wasnt for this, I would have given Gomnaru 4 stars. -
Review from Andrew C.
Small Korean joint in the Hearst Food Court, the Northside version of the Durant Asian Ghetto (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Short menu with a few K-BBQ items, stews (chi gae), soon dubu, and bibimbap (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
I saw a BBQ Trio deal from MunchOnMe so gave them a try wondering how they compared to Southside Steve's BBQ (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
5 banchan came out first with some kimchi, fish cakes, tempura veggies, honey potatoes, and seaweed salad (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The BBQ Trio had some sesame seed dusted rice and a miso dressed salad (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
Much better quality than Steve's. Lean cuts of reasonably juicy meat (chicken was a bit dry). They did give me spicy beef instead of spicy pork, but I can live with that. Also, fresher kimchi / better banchan than Steve's. Came with a small bowl of miso soup.
Serving size was smaller (maybe due to deal?), but I think worth it for the better ingredients.
Starving student scale: 4+ stars
Korean food scale: 3 stars -
Review from Julia L.
Berkeley, CA
2/3/2012
Try the numerous Korean establishments on Telegraph (Oakland) for better luck, I think. I got a $6 lunch special, the kimchee fried rice and some stir-fried vegetables. It was really oily and the whole afternoon I had a funny taste in my mouth (MSG?). Usually Korean restaurants gives out banchan (small plates) but there were none here. Or better yet, check out Koreatown in Santa Clara.
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Review from Sunny J.
Berkeley, CA
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars. Have gotten the BBQ chicken plate twice. Chicken was a little dry both times. The first time it was topped off with a sauce which was nice, no sauce the second time so it lacked flavor. Price is okay, but please ditch the styrofoam containers!
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Review from LeeLee C.
Milpitas, CA
11/21/2011 2 photos
Tucked in a small corner of the food court, I was attracted to it by the Yelp sticker, Service was ok and since I ate at the table outside, I didn't get much help besides my food being served. I do like the fact that customers can use a big coke cup and refill hot tea as much as we'd like. Tried the Bul Go Kee lunch set, the beef came in a bowl with onions and pepper, it was ok but for $10, I was hoping for a little better.
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Review from Beatrice E.
Union City, CA
7/1/2011
My friends love eating in this little area because it's cheap and nearby. I was in Boston for awhile and had awful Korean food, so I was hoping to get some good Korean food to compensate.
I was hungry, so this place did the job for me, but it was by no means the Korean food I was hoping for. I ordered a two-item combo with spicy pork and jap chae. Pork was a little tough and the seasoning was kinda... off? It wasn't as flavorful as I expected it to be. The jap chae was good though, the noodles were the perfect consistency. Rice was a good consistency too. Portions are big.
I'm not crossing this place off, but if I find myself here again I'm going to get a different meat. -
Review from Amiee H.
5/9/2011
Finally tried this place for lunch after living next to it for 3 years now...and I kinda regret it...
Food:
Tofu soup: WAY TOO MUCH SPICY OIL in the soup. There was literally a highly unhealthy layer or red spicy oil that covered the very top of the soup. It wasn't too spicy but it just looked disgusting. It completely coated the spoon I was using and the rice I was trying to eat with it. Kinda over did it. I couldn't really even concentrate on what I was eating I was so distracted with how disgusting it looked.
Service:
None, you order at the counter and your number gets called when your order is ready
Ambiance:
Kinda a small, hole in the wall place. Very dim and shady looking. If there weren't so many people eating there for a quick fast korean food lunch meal, it would CREEP me out to eat there.
Price:
The tofu soup was $7 which was ok for tofu soup but NOT ok for the quality that was served.
Overall:
NOT COMING BACK. Sorry. -
Review from Alice M.
Updated - 4/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Ok, I rarely do updates on reviews. In fact, I've only done one other than this one.
Tried Gomnaru again because I was craving Korean and this is the closest place from my building.
This time I got the beef bibimbap to-go. It was actually pretty decent! Lots of food (and not skimpy on the bulgogi) and it tasted surprisingly good. I guess I can't write off Gomnaru after all! Will have to give it another try sometime soon to see what else I can get.Listed in: Food from my Motherland!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/1/2010
Worst. Korean food. EVER. Seriously, I've had those chain fast-food places before and at least… Read more »
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Review from Heather C.
Walnut Creek, CA
11/15/2011
I came here hungry so despite the fact it is cheap, I found that the portions were small. I ordered the spicy pork and potstickers. The pork was spicy but the rice helps kick it down a notch. The potstickers were just ok. They had a few tables inside which is where we sat. Outside was crazy busy. So if you want a table, come early or plan on table crashing with a stranger.
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Review from Pilan C.
Updated - 9/26/2011
I used to love this place when I was an engineer at Cal. I've gone back a few times since and, after a few ownership changes, it's just not the same. The spicy pork used to be my standby, and their menu used to be simple -- basically 5 or 6 plates that people ordered, and a couple of other things that people didn't really order. Now they have a very elaborate menu, with 20 choices and combination plates and numerous things that aren't very Korean. The spicy pork was still good, but not as good as before, and the portion size is MUCH smaller than it used to be. I'm still a fan, but I long for those good old days...
Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/29/2007
As an engineer, Gomnaru was my favorite place to eat on Northside. Come with a large appetite… Read more »
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Review from Max L.
Berkeley, CA
8/24/2011
This place used to be a 5-star cheap Korean place back when it was owned by that old Korean guy and his one Mexican ho who was the chef.
Now it has been replaced by a younger guy who cares more about marketing and decorations than food. He buffed up the menu and pictures and dumbed down the food.
Let me tell you what you get if you order ramen:
-Soup
-Ramen
-Green onions
-Tiny portion (about 8-16 ounces)
You used to get a BIG portion of:
-Soup
-Ramen
-Delicious real carrots and vegetables and spices
-Meat of your choice
Let me tell you what you get if you order Bi bim bab:
-Tiny strips of fake egg (excuse me? I've had Bi Bim Bab before and I am not a Bi Bim Bab N00B. I know that it is supposed to have a real DRIZZLING fried egg on top!)
-Way cheaper vegetables than the standard plate
-Way less meat than the standard plate
This used to be quality dining, but now it ain't.
This review is for 6 months ago. If the restaurant has changed since then, this review will not reflect those changes. -
Review from david g.
Berkeley, CA
9/11/2011
Decent food at reasonable prices, but hot damn, an unreasonable amount of msg.
Comment from Daniel C. of Gomnaru Restaurant 10/11/2011
David, we appreciate the feedback but please keep in mind… More » -
Review from Viola L.
11/30/2010
I decided to get the bibimbap as I walking back from BART because I was starving. Who likes walking from Downtown BART back to Northside, raise your hands? Anyone? Didn't think so. So I was starving and in need of food. All of a sudden, I saw Gomnaru and had visions of dancing kalbi and kimchi.
I ordered bibimbap to go. The price was pretty decent. And the food itself was pretty decent. Very average, but not bad at all.
The man who worked there was super nice, he made sure I had all my utensils, added a few napkins, and then sealed my box with extra tape. Then he told me to be extra careful because everything was hot. I mean, it sounds normal, but the way he did it was super cute, like a dad packing a lunch for his daughter. I really appreciated that! -
Review from celia and jeff c.
Berkeley, CA
12/3/2010
After the remodeling they had a year ago, this place looks pretty cool. It's the "coolest" place to have lunch in Asian Ghetto (north side) because they use foam letters for their menu.
Come for the daily lunch special: $5.99 for 2 items, $6.99 for 3! Friendly, generous portions. Best of all, it's not cash only, while all of the rest of them are.
For lunch, it's sort of school-lunch-y-Chipotle-y style. They have trays of food. You choose, and they scoop.
This is a three primarily for the value-- for lunch. We would avoid coming here for dinner. It's a lot more expensive, and the portions are smaller. And the stuff tastes way worse, for some reason.
Once we had a really good gomtang there, but then we never found it on the menu again. And when we asked the people about it, they didn't know what we were talking about.
HOW MYSTERIOUS. -
Review from Annie S.
Berkeley, CA
4/19/2011
I got a three item combo to go and it was a hot mess, literally. I got the doppoki (hot rice cake), spicy chicken stew, and the fish cake soup. When I opened up the box of food...it was just a red saucy mess.
The doppoki and spicy chicken stew were a big let down. The flavor was really bland and the chicken was super dry. The sauce for both of them was watery and wasn't even very spicy.
The fish cake soup was better, but wasn't good enough for me to really want it again. The broth was flavorful and light as were the fish cakes themselves, but I've definitely still had better.
I don't understand how so many people flock here for lunch all the time. Just because you're a college student, it doesn't mean you can't get quality food. For sure, the food here is cheap...but even still, I won't be coming back. -
Review from Jimmy N.
San Francisco, CA
11/18/2010
Decent Korean Food.
Decent Lunch Menu.
Decent Spicy Chicken.
Decent Service.
Decent Prices.
I'd say this place is pretty decent.Listed in: Back in the College Days
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Review from Edward W.
Fremont, CA
3/29/2011 4 Check-ins Here
The 2 item lunch is by far the fastest food to be served in the NorthSide Asian Ghetto area. There is plenty of food and it comes with miso and kimchi. I ordered the bbq chicken and korean noodles and it took less than 5 minutes. The food quality is fresh and the service is excellent.
TLDR; Fast service and good food. -
Review from Kat C.
8/13/2010
It's interesting to see the different star ratings for this place... it's like people either love it or hate it. There are definitely some terrible Korean food establishments (Sorabol??) but this is definitely not one of them. Deep in the depths of a North Berkeley alley-esque food court that doesn't see as much foot traffic as Shattuck or Telegraph, it's a hidden treasure! What I had:
Kalgooksoo: Knife cut noodles in a soothing and comforting broth made me melt in my seat. They put shredded seaweed and all the traditional ingredients like the shredded veggies, potatoes, and meat. This is my favorite thing on the menu. MMM!!
Soft tofu soup: Came out bubbling hot in the classic stone pot with chewy beef and spicy veggies soaked in the delicious broth. Smothered it over my rice and went to town. Nyams!!
Bulgogi+Spicy Pork+Spicy Chicken: Flavorful, spicy, chewy yumminess. Get in my belly.
Seafood pancake: I always get this at any Korean restaurant as an appetizer. (It's hard to mess up on this, I think, so it's safe to order anywhere.) Nailed it!
The painting that surrounds the interior is nuts. I can't imagine how someone painted it by hand and with such details! Makes me feel like I stepped back in time to a distant village in the homeland preparing to feast on wholesome, traditional Korean cuisine. (Minus the kpop playing softly in the background or the flat screen TV) I left smiling from ear to ear and a bag of leftovers. Hope to come back soon! :) -
Review from Justin F.
Berkeley, CA
9/7/2010
Pretty good, but honestly it takes about 9+ bucks to get enough food to be full. It's really not worth going to when there are so many other choices right next to it.
If you MUST go here, the spicy chicken with kimchi fried rice is pretty good. But seriously, it's probably not worth it - they reduced the amount of food they give out and it's a bummer that they did.
edit: Against my better judgment I went back there. They didn't have prices listed so I just ordered a normal chicken with rice type thing. It cost 10 dollars... :( It's my fault for not asking beforehand, but I won't be doing that again.
disclaimer: they did have a "special" for a vegetarian meal for ~8, so that is more reasonable, especially if it is for something that you are interested in trying! -
Review from Michael T.
Berkeley, CA
3/23/2011
Although I've had much better Korean food in Irvine, Gomnaru is one of the better Korean restaurants in Berkeley. It's right across the street from the north side of the UC Berkeley campus, convenient to eat at between classes or just to walk to if you live on North Side.
All of the dishes are excellent, and I have to note that the side dishes that come with the meal are my favorite! Every time I go to Gomnaru they have a different assortment of sides (which are always delicious) so meals never get boring.
Recently they added more items to their lunch menu (there's a bigger selection for lunch than dinner, so it's a great place for lunch). Pricewise it's not too bad, and definitely worth your money (between $8-15 per meal for one person). I love their stone pot bibimbap and their Korean BBQ wrap (this one is only served at lunch), which is like a tortilla with noodles, bulgogi, rice, and some veggies. I also recommend the spicy chicken and spicy pork. For cold days try the soups or ramen!
The thing I love the most about Gomnaru is their tea! Their barley tea has such an addictive flavor! The tea is complimentary with a meal and I can't help but go for another refill since it balances out the meal so well. -
Review from Skylar S.
Los Angeles, CA
7/10/2010
if you are Korean, you hate this place.
If you are an American of Korean descent, you kind of sort of hate this place.
If you are a non-Korean who is familiar with Korean cuisine, you will hate this place.
The rest might find this place palatable.
At the risk of sounding malicious, though I wish no ill to the business, seriously, Gomnaru? You really need to step up your game because this is comparable to the Americanized Chinese food-- Korean version, only worse because for the price, I expect better.
Try this place if you want some quick bite to eat (since there really aren't many Korean restaurants near the north side of the campus). But if you're new to the cuisine, don't expect to be wooed by this "experience" because trust me. You won't be. -
Review from Elmer M.
Berkeley, CA
3/22/2011
I LOVE Gomnaru! It's my favorite Korean restaurant in Berkeley.
It's a 5 minute walk across the campus from the south-side, but totally worth it! Food is amazing with incredible portions, kind service and authentic Korean atmosphere!
My favorite dishes: Stone-pot Bibimbap & Spicy Pork
The side dish is also delicious (seems like it changes everyday)
The employees and the Korean ajuhmmas working there are really kind!
I always gobble down the side dish before my main order and they always give me extra with a smile.
Although it is at the far end of the North food court on Hearst,
it is definitely not the least if not the best of all the others.
Oh, Gomnaru where have you been all my life!? -
Review from Yushan K.
Berkeley, CA
11/21/2010
I reeally wish this place were better, because I live and work so close! The food is just ok, but is always ridiculously salty, which I really can't stand when I'm guzzling gallons of water hours afterward. I've had some really good meals and other meals that weren't satisfying in flavor.
I'll go back cuz it's there and it's ok, but not something to go out of the way for. -
Review from Jonathan L.
San Francisco, CA
4/17/2011
Tried this place today and it was just OK. I didn't love it or hate it. They didn't have the lunch special because it was Sunday so my girlfriend and I ordered the Bulgogi Beef from the dinner menu instead. When we sat down my girlfriends spoon was dirty and we had to ask for another one but the waitress brought her a new one promptly. The food came quickly but the portions are really small for the price. The beef was also kind of bland but the sauce on the bottom was very flavorful so you have to saturate the rice with the soupy sauce for it to taste good. Moreover, their small appetizer dishes did not have a variety. It was mostly pickled dishes and didn't come with Kim Chee which is what I love most about Korean restaurants. Overall this restaurant was decent and I would come back to try their lunch special if I were in the area but wouldn't go out of my way to come back.
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Review from Kitty N.
Castro Valley, CA
8/23/2011
Like the rest of the restaurants in the area - especially the ones in this particular green double wide food court - it caters to college students needing a quick lunch between classes. So if you are expecting the best of Korean BBQ here you will be disappointed, just as if you expected Chinatown's best dimsum at TC gardens or the best burgers ever at Peppermint Grill. It's food court food, and for what it is it's quite good.
Gomnaru's food is served hot, fresh, and fast, well seasoned, and with loads of fresh vegetables (especially the bi-bim-bap). One thing I particularly like about it is its the only Asian place in the green trailer and surrounding area that serves brown rice. (Jasmine Thai on Euclid has a very tasty red rice, which is also a whole grain, but everywhere else has white rice only). If you are concerned for those things, that may be something to keep in mind. -
Review from Mark S.
Oakland, CA
8/11/2011
Finally, a decent to great place in Berkeley. Best place for the quality and price. The dinner is a better bargain believe it or not.
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Review from Jay P.
Berkeley, CA
I had the three item lunch special.
--spicy pork (interesting flavor, not traditional though, seems like a fusion)
--bqq and spicy chicken -- bbq ckn was blah, the spicy chicken was interesting and surprisingly very spicy
-- butternut squash chicken stew: was very flavorful and very spicy as well.
For $7.50ish, I would recommend you give it a shot, not an everyday eatery though.
Interior is very cozy. -
Review from Dann D.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2010
(trying out Yale romanization cuz yelp still only allows latin characters)
Looking for a place to live in the city, and staying with the in-laws. It was pretty trying, and I was exhausted. Asked the interwebs for the closest korean restaurant, and here we go to gomnaru.
The owner & cook were both really pleasant. The teevee was playing some korean variety show. The whole thing made me really wanna be in 'pwusan' (where at least I know how to find an apartment....) i asked them to make me 'toincang ccikay', and they said they would.
came out, looked good, had 'cokay' in it. Sadly tho, the food tasted just like the only korean restaurant in Nuremberg. I'm starting to think that korean restaurateurs try to americanize their food by replacing 'myelchi' and 'ces' with salt and chicken stock.
i mean, i gobbled it down, but i'm not sure i'm gonna go back. i wonder if there's something here that doesn't just taste salty. -
Review from Karen W.
2/23/2007
I came to the one on Durant, by the Asian ghetto. The portions here actually aren't that huge...or maybe I eat too much because I finished the whole bibimbab ($6). It was delicious, with beef mixed in all sorts of unidentifiable vegetables (but hey, they tasted good). Came with a little side of okay miso soup.
The downside: Our food took quite a while, even though there was hardly anyone else in the restaurant. My friend said that his BBQ chicken plate was "okay." It looked sort of boring to me. Chicken and rice, yay.
Also, I would like my bimbimbab ten times more if it were served in one of those sizzling stone bowls that make the bottom of the rice/other stuff all nice and crunchy. yum. -
Review from Alyssa C.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2010
*Under new management*
I ate here w/ a couple of friends. Small but gets the job done. We ordered BBQ Pork Sandwich w/ cheese (reminds me of a Korean version of Viet sandwiches, comes with salad), kal-gook-soo (Korean noodle soup), BBQ chicken, pan-chan (Korean side dishes, kimchee being the most important). Washed it all down with hot tea. Everything was delish.
They also serve fusion dishes that are influenced by Mexican and American cuisines such as Korean style burritos w/ choice of bulgogi, spicy pork, and chicken and sandwiches w/ same choices of meat.
There are several indoor seating w/ TV, K-Pop (aka cool music) and outdoor seating.
Overall I'd come back as a repeat customer. Don't miss out if you want tasty, authentic family style Korean food in Berkeley area and for reasonable prices! -
Review from Dmitriy S.
San Diego, CA
5/24/2010 1 photo
After a long morning of engineering classes, one has to wonder what's the best place to refuel yourself for the rest of the day. My answer for you: Gomnaru.
I walked in for the first time and ordered the Beef Bibimbap. Although it was a bit expensive from what I remember (~$7 for lunch), it did not disappoint. I walked off after paying for a minute or so, and my dish was already served. Now that's fast! I sat down in their cozy setting and began devouring the large concoction of carrots, mushrooms, cucumber, cabbage, sprouts, seaweed, minced beef, and rice, all topped off with a hefty egg. All of the vegetables were very fresh, and the egg added the perfect texture. I've had bibimbap before, but never this good and this big! It was the perfect way to fill up an empty stomach for the day. -
Review from Alison S.
9/30/2008
Gomnaru, on the northside, definitely enjoys a slightly better ambiance than eateries on the south side. Came here today and tried their bibimbap w/beef.
Serving was pretty big, with lots of veggies and meat on top. Not crazy about the lettuce in there but I just got that out of the way first. After a while I realized that it was pretty oily...which I'm not really used to in bibimbap.
My friend got kimchi fried rice...I think I've had better kimchi fried rice in a Taiwanese restaurant...but the accompanying meat was good [chicken]...not too dry :)
At $6.50 after tax, it wasn't a steal, but was on par with other campus places.
My search for decent bibimbap in the area goes on! -
Review from Ryo M.
Berkeley, CA
12/14/2006
Compared to their southside location, this place is unbelievably hit-or-miss. Their spicy pork plate can range from bland and mild to painfully spicy. The volume of toppings they serve on the bibimbap varies quite significantly. And worst of all, the meat tastes slightly undercooked sometimes, which is rather unsettling.
They have a television screen in the back dining area, usually showing ESPN, but on occasion, gems like MTV's "True Life: I Want the Perfect Body". -
Review from Andrew S.
5/7/2011
This place hit the spot. I really like the banchans and the spicy pork and calgooksoo (knife cut noodles). It's a tad pricey but the sweet korean lady makes up for it. Reminds me of home cookin.
Comment from Daniel C. of Gomnaru Restaurant 8/19/2011
Andrew, glad to hear you enjoyed our food! We definitely… More » -
Review from E. C.
Mountain View, CA
5/24/2011
The best Korean place I've been to so far in Berkeley. The side dishes are good (includes japchae!), much better than Toust where one of them was canned corn... I came here for dinner and had the spicy chicken. It was served on sizzling stoneware and the seasoning was perfect. My friends thought their food was too spicy though so maybe it's just me. The waitress was very nice, and the setting was clean and cozy (they play SBS on the TV!)
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Review from David L.
4/9/2010 1 Check-in Here
Taste: 4
Value: 3
Service: 2
Back before they remodeled, I came here a couple times. In terms of Korean food, I think this place is the second best near the Berkeley campus, after Koryo. Their spicy chicken plate is quite good, which comes with an okay salad and plenty of rice.
However, I have to give them two stars simply because the cashier told me that they take credit card, then proceeded to charge me 75 cents extra without telling me. First off, that's illegal. Second, you should at least tell me about it if you're going to charge me. -
Review from Chuck N.
6/30/2009
Spicy bbq chicken was the reason why I grubbed here a few times. That and public policy classes at the Goldman School in North side.
While it satisfies a craving, sometimes the chicken comes out 'soggy' and void of tenderness. It's kinda gross actually, feels uncooked (even though the establishment swears its well cooked).
+ Rice dishes comes with miso soup, salad, and fried potato
- Bland salad, dressing is too watery
+ Fried potato is the best complement on the dish
- Miso soup is only warm sometimes, needs to be hot for it to be good
- Need to work on professionalism and hygiene - dirty front area and the cashier is known to work without his shoes or socks on (ack!)
Final Call:
If I'm on this side of campus and have that occasional craving, I'll be back. Otherwise, the competing Thai restaurants in the area gets my dough. -
Review from I A.
Hayward, CA
5/15/2010
I've read a few reviews on here and somewhere I read that this place is under new management. So, my review is based on the pre-december 2007 era ( which is while I was attending UC Berkeley).
I've been craving this place since I've graduated. It's always been my lunch stop during my college days and the owner at the time was really cool. I highly recommend the spicy BBQ chicken and add some of that good old roster sauce on it too (sarachi can't spell sauce). Off the hook! Prices were within straving student budget too and they were quick to get the food out so you didn't miss the next class.
I'm gonna revisit this place soon, I just hope this whole "new management" thing doesn't mean food quality fell off cause then thats really gonna suck for me.
-1 cause the place is so small and I used to hate fighting for seats with the neighboring restaurants... this place was good enough to have its own building. -
Review from Robert L.
Tustin, CA
4/19/2011
Gomnaru fed me 1-2 times a week 3 years at Berkeley. The complex that it's in probably provided half my meals. They have relatively inexpensive meals, large portions, friendly service, and everything is good! I think I had their spicy chicken almost every time.
