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Lee's Korean
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for Lee's Korean
15 reviews in English
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Review from Melanie K.
Louisville, KY
My Korean Proverb would be YUM for this place!
I love this place for multiple reasons. With every meal you get the traditional Korean appetizers that include Kemchee, Cucumber, and Tofu. All of their dishes are traditionally prepared and the menu is pretty extensive.
We arrived an hour before closing, however, we never felt rushed and our drinks were refilled even before needed. My cousin had never had Korean before and when we mentioned this the husband and wife owners gave us extra special attention. We realized later, on leaving, that the attention was partly due to being the only customers in the restaurant.
As each dish came out, our husband and wife team described the ingredients and how to serve the dish. When our clay pot arrived the wife even took the spicy red sauce and helped mix it in. We ordered a beef clay pot and it was delicious.
After our meal we both received a small liquid frozen yogurt treat. I actually liked the taste and texture, but my cousin said it tasted like the toothpaste scrub at the dentist.
Overall, we had a great time at Lee's Korean. A very good Korean recommendation from my time there and a very great married team of owners.Listed in: International Louisville
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Review from Mari G.
12/5/2011
I love Korean food --like the last meal of your life sort of love. Having been to a million Korean BBQs across Hawaii and in most cities I've visited, I have to say: this place is legit.
First off, the service is impeccable. Our waitress was friendly, funny, attentive, and efficient --a killer combination for any server. The surroundings are pleasant, nothing too special, but let's be real: you are not coming here to experience the ambiance. Now the food. I tend to grade a Korean restaurant not only on the quality of their main dishes, but the authenticity of their side dishes. Most Korean places will have anywhere from 6-8 side dishes that come with your meal. They'll likely include a variety of kimchees (picked, spiced vegetables), tofu, pickled bean sprouts, and even watercress (my favorite.) I love kimchee, particularly the cabbage variety, but I am not discerning. Lee's did not disappoint. The daikon kimchee (radish) was particularly delicious, so much so that I was greedy enough to consume the entire plate my self (sorry, I'm not sorry.) For my main dish I ordered the kimchee ji gae --a type of piping hot kimchee soup perfect for a cold rainy day. The stew included bits of pork, a generous amount of tofu, and lots and lots of kimchee. It was divine. I ate every last bit of it. No regrets. My friends ordered the Galbi (Korean beef ribs) which were tender and fantastic tasting, as well as the chap jae. To say that we were merely satiated is an understatement
For an authentic, Korean experience this place is where its at. Only complaint is the obscurity of the location (a weird office building out by Newburg Road.) -
Review from Brittany L.
Indianapolis, IN
This star was lost not due to service or food, but because both times I've been here, nearly ALL the tables in the main/back dining room were dirty! And they stayed dirty the entire time we were there (like 2 hours each time). That's kinda gross...to have all the "used food" and dirty dishes sitting there, and it's not very pleasant to look at either.
Food is awesome. First time, for lunch, I had Chap Chae (kind of like Chinese Lo Mein, but with different noodles-clear ones) and it was great! I asked for "no onion, no cabbage" and my order was correct. One coworker ordered bulgogi, which I tried, and it was also tasty. Another coworker ordered some awesome little chicken nuggets in sweet sesame sauce (Na-Jo-Gi) and it was fantastic! We also got the seafood pancake. It should've been called the "green onion pancake," as that was by far the most prominent ingredient.
Second time was for dinner, a week later. I shared dolsot bi-bim-bap, an order of egg rolls, and an order of tofu with sauce with a coworker. I was very impressed with everything. My coworker, who had never had Korean food before, loved the eggrolls, bibimbap, and the radish and cucumber sides. The eggrolls were awesome-lots of flavor, not just cabbage rolled up in a wrapper. I think the hot bibimbap is the way to go. I love mixing everything together and the way the rice gets crispy on the bottom from the hot stone pot. After dinner, you get a tiny yogurt drink to "help digestion".
Six side dishes seems to be the standard here, and I was impressed that when we said "we don't like cabbage" the server brought something else instead of the cabbage kim-chi. The evening I ordered tofu with sauce, that usual "side" was replaced by some tasty hot potatoes in sauce.
Lunch special prices range from $6.50-8.50, dinner entrees mostly $11 and up.
It is right next door to the airport Best Western; this restaurant is located on the first floor of the multi-level office building which has a basketball player on the side. If you're staying at either the Best Western or the Holiday Inn, stroll on over...you don't even need to use your car. -
Review from James C.
Chicago, IL
9/24/2011
Not sure why I am writing a review about a korean restaurant in louisville considering there's only two of them. Haven't tried the other so I have nothing to compare it to except for ones in chicago.
It's authentic but its not that good. I think I can make the stuff I ordered better if not the same at home... but that's not the point. Food came out fairly quickly but missing some veggies... probably cause korean groceries are hard to come by around here. The banchan (little side dishes) were just ok. The kimchee was kinda old but that's probably cause they don't have that much turn-over.
My gf and I both didn't finish our food... rare for her and first time for me at a korean restaurant. I didn't hate it tho... they were nice and its not like there's a lot to choose from in this city.
You know what? They had jjampong and jja jjang myun here also... for those who don't know, they're korean-chinese fusion noodle dishes. I would probably come back here just for that if Im ever back in louisville... which will probably be never.
I write way too much.
In short, I kinda enjoyed it. Prices are stupid high and the food is mediocre at best... but we had no choice. I wonder how koreana is.... -
Review from Eriko K.
Skokie, IL
5/19/2010 2 photos
Authentic Korean, competently prepared. Was there yesterday (Tuesday) evening and the place had a good number of customers. The lone server was very quick and attentive. The seafood hot pot with noodles and vegetables was quite delicious. Keep your bowls of rice until the end, and once you're done eating most of the casserole, ask the wait staff to toss the rice in the remaining broth with some special ingredients at your table. Delicious Korean risotto!
We enjoyed the flavorful kalbi and two kinds of fried appetizers. The kimchi was great, especially the crunchy radish cubes (these are among the side dishes that come included with your meal in small bowls. Refills are free). -
Review from Elizabeth S.
Jefferson County, KY
5/23/2011
100% amazing authentic Korean. I have no complaints about this place. Upon sitting down, you're presented with small dishes (pickled cucumbers, bean sprouts, egg, etc.) and can order other small delectables. The main dishes are no let down either. A small little place, but don't let it fool you.
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Review from Lynn L.
6/29/2010
I never would have found this place if it wasn't for my co-workers. Thanks co-workers! Had a nice lunch here the other day. Definitely a hole-in-the-wall vibe.
There was a mistake on my order (she brought me out the wrong dish), but it was quickly corrected. I ended up with the bee-bim-bop, and was pretty satisfied. My co-workers swear by the pure tofu soup, but I don't like clams and shrimp. Too bad - it looked delicious!
Honestly, I think the food deserves 3 stars, but because it's Louisville and not exactly a hotbed of authentic Asian cuisine, I'm bumping it up :) -
Review from Adam C.
Louisville, KY
9/18/2011
I might have had my expectations too high, but it seemed to me this place fell way short of what I was hoping for. The egg roll was better than most but nothing special. The chop chae chicken was bland at best, if it had different noodle(not a fan of the noodles) and more flavor it would be much better. I think the food was cooked well and if flavored better it would have changed my whole experience. Won ton soup was extremely hot, even after letting it sit til the end of the meal it was just then cooling down to a temp we could tolerate. It was probably the best part of the meal. Not impressed overall for me it was ok at best and I would not make a return visit. I can get mediocre ethnic food for much cheaper close to home.
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Review from Yen N.
Louisville, KY
5/15/2011 3 photos
Great place for authentic Korean food. We'll be back!
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Review from Mr and mrs G.
San Jose, CA
MR says... perfect! winter is just around the corner
MRS says... first of all restaurant signage is not quite visible from the street so don't get lost because the restaurant is located in your least expected buildling common to office space and not for a restaurant. just focus on the 1941 Bishop Lane physical address and you'll be OK
its an ethnic food and since we do not know any other korean restaurant yet in Louisville, i would say we discovered a great korean restaurant. i would just give this 3stars because i was not too happy with the bulgogi
i was expecting it to be in a sizzling plate, hot and chardboiled grilled finish but it wasn't. well, the menu says pan-fried so i guess i was expecting too much. the meat was tender though but really, i would have enjoyed it more if it had a flame broiled after taste. OMOGARI in Japantown San Jose, California serves the BEST ever bulgogi :)
the chapchae noodles was good. lots of shrimp that i did not bother to count. side dish such as kimchi are served with the ala carte. generous refills too. i enjoyed the tofu and pickled cucumber.
very nice service and we look forward to more hot and spicy food as winter season comes near -
Review from Sandra F.
La Canada Flintridge, CA
8/2/2010
I am a native of Louisville, KY and discovered this place while I was a college student ( 20 years ago!). I had never tried Korean food before, and it tasted amazing! I have never found my favorite dish anywhere else unfortunately... Chicken Chop Tang? I live in Los Angeles now, but everytime I come back home I have to go here for dinner at least once. Its hard to believe I can't find this dish in Los Angeles (maybe it has a different name?) but I haven't so far.
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Review from Emily Y.
Louisville, KY
10/28/2010
Husband and I give it 3 stars but this would be a 2 1/2. It gets 3 just bc it is in Louisville and there's not many Korean restaurants here. We've only been once but order many of the standard dishes. For starters, the seafood pancake was scant on the seafood and a bit soggy. The dolsot bimbimbop was a bit bland. And the other dishes (I don't even remember anymore) were nothing memorable. The extra side dishes that they bring out were ok. Only had 2 that we really liked out of the 8 or so mini dishes.
Update after 2nd visit:
Downgrading this place to 2 stars. Went back bc was craving Korean food. Tried different standard dishes in hopes that they would be better. They were edible but not flavorful. The dishes are also pricey and the service is very slow. -
Review from S P.
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
6/27/2010
The food and service were great. Due to a bit of a language barrier, we were a little unclear on where we were directed to sit, but this didn't seem to be a big deal. As they do not have an online menu, and it has been a few months since I was last there, I cannot recall what was ordered. However, I can say that no one in our party of 5 was disappointed.
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Review from Jim G.
Louisville, KY
Updated - 4/22/2009
Lee's Korean seems to be undergoing a renaissance. The service is upbeat, the aromas are mouth-watering, the Stone Bee-Bim-Bob is heavenly as the rice sizzles and crisps below.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/5/2006 First to Review
This Korean restaurant in the lobby of the office building at this address appears to be a… Read more »
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Review from Bryan W.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2008
Fantastic restaurant with a great staff. You get what you pay for and then some. There is so much to recommend that I don't know where to start, the Buolgogi is amazing in both Chicken and Beef flavors, and the Kim-Chi is also some of the best I've ever had. It's hard to go to other Korean restaurants because I would probably just be disappointed.
