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So Moon Nan Jip
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
106 reviews for So Moon Nan Jip
Review Highlights
"The kalbi was very well flavored and fresh."
(in 44 reviews)
"I always get the seafood pancake and the Kalbi."
(in 17 reviews)
"All the side dishes are fresh and plentiful."
(in 20 reviews)
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106 reviews in English
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Review from Rich K.
Manhattan, NY
2/1/2012
English Translation of this restaurant name: So Moon Nan Jip = Reputable House
Food: My favorite is the Hot Galbi Tang during lunch. It always hits the spot and I never get sick of it. There's usually 3 pieces of Galbi in the soup, wish there was more but its good to the point I'll order it 4 out of 5 times we order from here. The place is probably one of the go to spots in Palisades Park for Korean food. Hands down on the Kalbi, there meat selection is delicious! I love the banchan selection as well with the hot egg custard that only comes out for dinner.
Service: Servers are friendly and nice, I like to see them smile when they serve me.
Ambience: A little smokey inside because of all the meat being grilled other than that its a nice clean spot to eat at.
Cost: A little on the higher end compare to other Palisades Park restaurants but worth the money! -
Review from Nobu W.
Brooklyn, NY
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
My mother's been recommending So Moo Nan Jip for a while, saying it's the real deal. But she's also someone who thinks that Yon-sama (Bae Yong Joon) and Won Bin are equals to DeNiro and Gregory Peck.
So yeah.
So I go. It's kinda far from me, prices aren't cheap, and there's also a bit of a wait.
But that grill (charcoal). THAT GALBI. My goodness, it's got soul. And I really dig the variety here-from the soups to the side dishes. Many, many things on their menu. Mom was certainly right about So Moon Nan Jip.
Yon-sama and Won Bin, not so much. -
Review from Jason S.
Manhattan, NY
1/2/2012
Their Korean BBQ is good, I have to say. Sadly, that's all there's to it.
The unfriendly staff, overpriced dishes are just few that I can add.
Of all the dishes that I've tried--other than the Korean BBQ--were below average at best.
If you're willing to travel, there's this place called Go Ba Woo, about 30 minutes from Palisades Park. Their price and service is superior to this one. If Go Ba Woo were to move in to Palisades Park, So Moon Nan Jip will be ever so fast to go broke. -
Review from Suga S.
Ardsley, NY
1/24/2012 4 Check-ins Here
BEST KOREAN BBQ EVER!!!!!!!!! This is my all time favorite Korean BBQ. The Galbi is so juicy, tender and tasty. The amount of banchan they give you is insane. You can almost get filled up on the banchan alone. My favorites are the fried whiting and steamed egg custard. So yummy with a nice steaming bowl of sticky hot rice.
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Review from Lily B.
Paramus, NJ
1/17/2012
I always come here for their kalbi, it's a bit sweet~and nice and chewy. Their bulgogi sometimes tastes a bit dry. I love how they provide you with the egg casserole with their appetizers.
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Review from Alice L.
12/17/2011
Our friends love So Moon Nan Jip and it's easy to see why.
Taste: Fabulous! The Seafood Pancake was Delicious. But the Kalbi (Short Ribs) were out of this world Fabulous. We had the kitchen cook it for us because when they cook it, it comes out saucier and yummier - perhaps a larger flame? Ban chan was plentiful and more than average with fried fish.
Price: PRICEY! It was $95 for 2 in our group. Between the 2 of us we had 2 orders of Kalbi, shared 2 Seafood Pancakes with our group of 8 and had 1 beer. But to be fair, Korean BBQ is expensive.
Staff: Genuine friendly smiles but you only see them 3x. Order, Food Delivery and Cleanup/Check. We wanted to refill our Ban Chan but could not get their attention. We ran out of tea and spent the whole night trying to get more tea. Finally got some tea when we asked when they came back to give us the check.
Tip: Be careful, some seats in the restaurant under the heating vent will blow 80+ degree heat directly on your face making you nauseous and will then turn to 60 degree AC making you shiver as if you were standing outside in a windstorm. The people surrounding me felt it and mentioned it but I was directly under the vent and it was 5x as bad.
So overall between the Taste, Price and Staff (not including comfort because there is normal seating I'm sure), So Moon Nan Jip lands a solid 3 stars. -
Review from Lucky C.
Old Bridge, NJ
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
The best Juk gae jang!!!!!! Their sushi is always fresh and great. Of course let's not forget the Kal-bi it is always awsome!!!!!! Love this place when we are up in this part of Jersey. :)
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Review from Eugene K.
Bergen, NJ
The one thing that makes me coming back to this place is their wood charcoal grill. This is simply a taste that no gas grill can replicate. Their galbi still tastes the same and still really good.
HOWEVER, their portion sizes continue to SHRINK. I used to order 1 order per person back in the day and now I seem to have to order one extra order than usual. They also have been charging for extra banchan (side dishes) and rice last time I went which was a real turn off considering the price for galbi and their shrinking portion size.
There's a real love/hate relationship with this place.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/19/2009
Recently, my girlfriend has grown a furious addiction to Korean BBQ, galbi in particular. The… Read more »
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Review from Omar J.
Perth Amboy, NJ
1/21/2012
One of the better and most consistent Korean BBQ restaurants in NJ
~5 visits over many many years
~$30-50 per person (though we usually ordered too much and took it home)
Yaay!:
- food is generally good (as good as i've tried around Palisades Park)
- the seafood pancake is the best i've had anywhere
- i think it's open late
- service is attentive (but nothing spectacular)
Ehh!:
- pricey as #$@& - (i think it's way over priced for what it is)
- street parking, and parking lot in the back
worth trying at least once ...maybe only once - as the price doesn't really justify what you get - there's a few of k-bbq places on Broad street that are financially more reasonable. I give it 4 stars bc i feel it's still better than average, and i like their seafood pancakes more than any other place. -
Review from Nancy H.
New York, NY
10/30/2011
The food is good, the service is not very friendly or welcoming, kinda typical for Korean restaurants... at least in my experience. It felt like they felt like they were doing us a favor by seating us and letting us eat at their restaurant.
I don't usually like Korean food but my Mom likes the little dishes they give you so she wanted to go to a Korean restaurant for dinner. I think the dishes are over-priced for what you get. $12 for a bowl of spicy tofu soup?
All that being said, of the Korean restaurants I've been too, and I've been to many the Kalbi was marinated well, but chewy and for $26/plate I'd rather make my own. The seafood pancake was probably the best I've had, and despite the $12 price tag the tofu soup was pretty good.
The jap chae was also really good, it was tasty and not oily. But I think $18 for vermicelli noodles and veggies and 1/2 an ounce of meat is a rip-off.
For me, the food was good, service sucked, and price point, like most Korean restaurants was not a good value. -
Review from Food C.
Syracuse, NY
1/6/2012
So Good!
The soon tofu is perfect for a hangover/night after hard drinking. And reasonably priced. Service is good. Kalbi is good. If I lived in the area, I would come here every Sunday morning. -
Review from Mai L.
10/10/2011
This is a good place to go if you like seafood base korean food. Their Kim Chi is made with oyster which lends it a very unique flavor profile. Also, their side dishes consist of various seafood selections that you don't see in many other korean restaurants. They definitely don't skimp on the side dishes and the service is very attentive and friendly as well.
I didn't get a chance to try the BBQ but it seems to be very popular as well. -
Review from Juliette J.
Bergen County, NJ
9/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Admittedly, I am not a Korean BBQ aficionado, but that's only because I rolled with peeps who knew what the hell they were ordering and I followed their lead. I also wasn't a vegetarian so everything was fair game and hella good!
Right, so that was back in the day. Now I'm a vegetarian, at a limited English speaking Korean restaurant with 3 other not-Korean folks. It was the first time I EVER looked at a Korean BBQ menu, which pretty much read 'meat meat meatidy meat'. The word and concept of vegetarianism was foreign to our hasty waitress. I am almost certain she wanted to grill my face for daring to make substitutions. Eventually a loving, patient Nana on staff stepped in and offered to help me veggie-fy some dishes. [Nanas are always saving the got-damn day! go Nanas!]
Korean BBQ ain't the place for strict vegetarians, but if you don't mind fish sauce/broth then you'll fare well. Nana hooked me up with the following:
- Scallion pancake [sans fish]
- Jap Che Vermicelli noodles [sans beef. This was my favorite! My friend found itty bitty pieces of octopus, but my face was already all up in that plate of goodness, so whatevs.]
- Bibimbap - sizzling pot of rice with vegetables and egg? Why yes please!
- Kimchi and the other million veg friendly free accompaniments. Yummers!
It goes without saying that the carnivores loved their BBQ beef. All that eye-rolling and moaning made me want to grill their faces!
We were the only non-Koreans in this shiznit, which tells me that this place must be the real deal. I also really liked their super clean, well lit space. Food is a bit pricey but portions are large. Also as mentioned before, they speak very little English here so forget about asking questions. Go with a Korean speaking friend, or just point to a dish on the menu, STFU and things will go swimmingly. -
Review from Skeptisys S.
Cliffside Park, NJ
10/21/2011
Stopped here for lunch at about 3pm and had hot bowl of spicy kimchee beef vegetable soup. They served many delicious appetizer plates and some bean soup. For $11 plus tip, I was stuffed and happy.
I have eaten the BBQ here before and it was excellent. This one of the best Korean restaurants on the street, and there are many.
The sushi looks ordinary, so I can't recommend it. -
Review from Dan S.
Ridgewood, NJ
10/8/2011
Love the BBQ here. The banchan is nothing special, the atmosphere is sterile and bright, and the price is not cheap but this place still made it's way to the top of my list of NJ Korean bbq restaurants. How? Charcoal grill, great service, and excellent cuts of meat. The kalbi, bulgogi, and and jaeukgui (spicy pork, im totally butchering that transliteration) are all worth getting, though two meats are plenty for 2 people (with meats to spare).
The staff doesn't speak much english so if you don't speak any korean try and figure out what you want before you get there.
And the charcoal guys. I hope theyre well paid, I always wonder how they keep from sneezing when carrying around the tin of hot coals. -
Review from Monica K.
Tenafly, NJ
1/3/2012
My husband and I had 2 orders of kalbi. I was surprised to find that they didnt' serve us egg custard(gae ran jjim) or soybean stew(denjang jjigae) which usually come with kalbi at a Korean restaurant. When I asked them if they served them on the side, the lady said, we have to buy the jjigae and they do give free egg custard. I waited for it but they never served us so when I asked again, the lady now said, it's no longer available.
The kalbi was ok but we both thought it wasn't as tender as it should be and I was able to taste strong MSG in the seasoning.
The service sucked. It was as if they were doing us a favor by serving food.
At the end, we were not full so we ended up ordering an order of spicy cold noodle(bibim naeng myun) which was one of the worst cold noodles I've ever had and I've had a fair share of naeng myun as I am a big fan of it. I will not be returning to this restaurant. -
Review from Mindy J.
New York, NY
11/15/2011
Enjoyed the kalbi.. Very good service. But I don't think it's necessarily better than Kum kang san and it's the same price.
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Review from Holly C.
11/21/2011
This place has been here for at least a decade. Restaurants around this area only stay open for 2-3 years, max, so that says a lot about this place. If you want Korean BBQ - this is where to go (although it's pricey; actually all their food is on the pricier side). They give decent ban chan/side dishes (I have had better). I ordered their hwae mool ddolbaekgi (seafood with tofu stew) and it was pretty good. The service is okay - they've gotten nicer from what I remembered, but still on the not-so-friendly side; even for a Korean restaurant.
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Review from N'jaila R.
Newark, NJ
8/9/2011
If I could make sweet gentle love to a restaurant , this would be the one I choose.
This is by far the best wood charcoal Korean BBQ restaurant in New Jersey and better than most in manhattan as well. All the side dishes are fresh and plentiful. The best part is that the regular Korean food menu is just as excellent as the BBQ. They have wonderful soups and rice dishes. The seafood pancake is just decadently satisfying. I have not eaten anything that matches its perfection except when cooked for me by family and friends.
If you are not Korean or have no korean language skills ordering might be a bit embarrassing as most of the staff's command of english isn't so great then again I don't remember there being any english descriptions of food so you might just want to bring a Korean food loving friend with you. -
Review from Christine G.
Englewood, NJ
8/10/2011
When my parents want Korean BBQ this is the only place we go to. They enjoy the charcoal grills since others do gas. There's usually a long line but the wait isn't too bad except in the winter when everyone squeezes in their "waiting area". It is not a big place but if you have a large party they put you in a separate room that they have with a long table. The waitresses are very nice and attentive with the grill.
We usually order all bbq: kalbi, bulgogi and shrimp. I have also tried their fish egg soup, seafood pancake and spicy pork dishes.
If the dish is spicy expect it to be very spicy!
Note: In order to sit at the grill tables you need to order at least 2 items from the bbq menu. If not you can sit at their regular tables and they will grill it in the kitchen.
A bit pricey but the quality and taste is worth it. -
Review from Christine W.
New York, NY
They definitely receive the award for BEST kalbi I've ever tasted and was the highlight of my meal. In addition, other noteable dishes are their jap chae, bon chan and bulgogi with broth (#50 on the menu). I cerrtainly left with a very happy (& full) stomach.
Very bustling atmosphere, very lively (and probably on the louder end).
One last note So Moon Nan Jip, I know you may think that I'm picking at a system that is "working" since you clearly have a lot of business, but along with several other Yelpers' opinions, I too have to chime in and say that the customer service area needs improvement. -
Review from Eric P.
Brooklyn, NY
7/18/2011
This place is overpriced and not exceptional Korean food. Can't argue that you get a huge selection, as this is one of those "all-purpose" korean places, but getting a huge selection also means that no one thing is exceptional.
Service is poor. Try another place. -
Review from Hani B.
Teaneck, NJ
9/25/2011
Probably the best Korean BBQ in NJ... Love the way they marinate their beef (Kalbi & Bulgogi). I am definitely going back again.
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Review from Xavier S.
Jersey City, NJ
10/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is currently my favorite korean restaurant in Pal Park. I've been here at least 4-5 times with my wife. The place has ample parking in the back (about 10 spaces), but can quickly fill up. Early dinner time is the best because there's plenty of seating in the restaurant. The BBQ at the table is really good and if you're really hungry, go for an order of sashimi followed up by 2 orders of whichever meat dishes you're craving that day. I've had the kalbi, bulgogi, and the sliced sirloin there. All were a hit and don't forgot to order that bottle of Soju (or 2) to compliment the meal. The banchan given with the meal is also very generous, so much better than the portions in NYC. Looking forward to the next visit!
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Review from Brian Jin M.
Manhattan, NY
9/16/2011
Took 166T from Port Authority Bus Terminal to Palisades Park to meet up with an old friend/co-worker for dinner tonight. We haven't seen each other since 2008 due to busy life, marriage, etc. We had bossam here which was definitely noticeable with large portions and fresh ingredients. The side dishes I thought were also pretty good. The service was pretty attentive. Overall, it's a typical Korean restaurant with the majority of its patrons being Korean but I did see several Americans too. I heard from my friend that this is the most popular restaurant in the area. Will definitely come back in the future when I'm in New Jersey
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Review from Christina Y.
Manhattan, NY
5/29/2011
Great for large groups. I didn't know, but there's a room in the back for more people. Service is alright. I don't recommend getting the mool neng myun here though. The noodles are super thin and the soup is nothing special.
Fine. I came back here again only to give it a 4 instead of 3 this time. Their spicy kalbi tang was amazing. Their hwe dup bap isn't bad. And they actually had jook (porridge) for my friend who couldn't really eat! This was good because the jook restaurant next door just closed down. -
Review from John K.
Utica, MI
10/17/2011
the best korean bbq joint in new jersey!!
been going here for over 25+ years now
everytime i go they never dissapoint me!!
everytime i visit jersey...this is always my first and the last stop before i head back home. -
Review from Jewel Y.
This is my new favorite Kalbi place, So Moon Nan Jip rocks!!! Wooohooo!!! The quality of the meat and the flavor is top notch, they serve really authentic and amazing kalbi!!!! Their bulgogi and beef tongue too were very noteworthy, I was in heaven!!!! Mmmmmmm!!!! Enough said, I'm not gonna even elaborate on my review because all you need to know is their mind-bogglingly delicious KALBI. I repeat, K-A-L-B-I. Just go and you'll thank me later.
Listed in: Bergen County (mainly…
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Review from Mooie G.
Manhattan, NY
5/29/2011
Kalbi n pancake is very yummy. Had the spicy shrimp on the bbq also, which aren't too spicy :)
The only thing is there is at times a language barrier but everything I wanted I got :) -
Review from Kim B.
9/21/2011 3 Check-ins Here
The service is great, but the meat is here is alright. It should be marinated just a bit more for better flavor. Not the best Korean BBQ I've had, but definitely not the worst either. We have also ordered and enjoyed the jjigaes here. They are delicious and flavorful. I enjoy eating jjigae here more than the bbq.
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Review from Nancy R.
1/3/2011
Yes the price is a little on the high side, but the food is good. I've come here every time I've come to NJ. It usually has a crowd of people waiting. Great parking lot behind the restaurant.
FOOD: I usually get their BiBimBap(mixed vegetables with rice) which is really good. It's hard to mess up. But this time I got sushi which is decent. The fish tasted fresh and the rice is seasoned nicely. The other people usually get their soup dishes which they love! -
Review from Rach K.
1/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum!
I'm Korean and I love Korean food so it's hard to give a bad review for this genre of food. They have all of the typical stuff and Korean barbecue, which is what my companion came for. We ordered 2 servings of kalbi (marinated beef) and 1 serving of samgyupsal (pork belly) which left us SO full, but it was so good. We also ordered a naengmyun (cold noodle soup) because it was summer time and it really hit the spot.
I'm not going to say this is the best place ever, because it's not (I think Korean food at home is the best) but it's pretty good and prices aren't that scary. It's not cheap, I won't lie, but the portions are better priced than Koreatown restaurants and comparable to the other restaurants on Broad Ave.
Of course, ladies, be wary of leaving the place with your hair and clothes smelling smoky. This is definitely not the place to hang out before you head out to party (unless you want to smell like food). -
Review from Haris H.
Englewood, NJ
3/6/2011
We had the kalbi, the bi bim bap and they were flavorful, spicy. The meat was particularly tender. The sides were splendid, especially the fish cake, the pickled peppers.
The service was very nice too even though English was a remote 2nd language. They let us cook ourselves, refilled the sides and were very courteous.
Will go there again and again! -
Review from Jake M.
Bergen County, NJ
1/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
So a Korean friend of mine recommend this place and I have been back many times since.
The food here is outstanding especially the kalbi. My other favorites include the spicy beef and clear noodle soup and the spicy squid.
The place is pretty big and has good service. It can get pretty packed but the wait has never been too long. Get the barbecue some soju and OB and the night is set. Mmmm getting hungry just writing about it. -
Review from Jennifer R.
Brooklyn, NY
One of the top Kalbi places in NJ. I've been coming here for years and they never disappoint. If you've never been to a Korean restaurant before don't be alarmed if you start receiving 5-10 small dishes aka tapas which include different types of kimchi, a whole fried fish, mook (jello consistency), cold kimchi soup, salad, steamed egg, fish cake and etc. The catch? There is none, they're all included in the dinner and are free!!
You have to order at least 2 servings of Kalbi for them to open up the wood-coal grill at your table. If you only order one, they cook the Kalbi in the back and bring it out. NEVER do this unless you really can't finish 2 servings cuz 1) The Kalbi doesn't taste the same and 2) You don't get the whole tantalizing experience of watching/smelling your meat cook right in front of you.
One order of Kalbi is around $20. Totally worth it. The Pa Jun (seafood pancake) is pretty good too. I'm usually too stuffed to order more than my usual. You'll see a lot of ppl eating Kalbi with Soju (Korean rice liquor). If you're not a light weight, try out the combo. :) A popular brand is Jinro.
It gets really busy here on the weekends and sometimes it feels like they hurry you to order, eat and get the heck out but I understand. However, there is one waitress that's a BIOTCH. She looks like a witch, I swear. I won't get into it and I've let go of the anger but if you do go and see her please put a kick me post it on her back, thanks.Listed in: FFF - Fit For a Fatty
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Review from Joy G.
Union City, NJ
9/7/2010
Finally made it to So Moon Nan Jip! The awnings were a bit confusing because under the one in English the windows and doors were covered. At first I didn't even notice that the place next door (signage in Korean) was the same place.
We ordered 2 Kalbi dishes and we could not finish it because we were so full. But I really wanted to finish it. The meat was so tender and so yummy. I've had better special sauce and side dishes, but the meat quality will have me going back for more.
Price for Kalbi there is more expensive than places I've been to in NYC, but it is a great local option.
The waitress was very good about flipping our meat at the right time and cutting it into bite size pieces. I was keeping my meat a little longer on the coals to give it a little char and she warned me that the yummy char will give me colon cancer. Lesson learned- the meat tasted great without the colon cancer causing char anyway. -
Review from Lily T.
This is the best korean BBQ place around. They use real charcoal.
Everything is fresh, and they give good service. The only reasonf or this place to get 4 stars is that it is a bit expensive. The seafood pancakes and Kimichi jigae were also excellent here. -
Review from Matthew G.
Union City, NJ
12/19/2010
Kalbi is good, better than Ktown in Manhattan.
The staff is friendly and neighborhoody and is always watching out to make sure you don't let your meat burn if you're not paying attention. -
Review from Izabella G.
New York, NY
9/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
Pricey but food and service were awesome. It helps though that we were there sometime before the dinner rush (probably 4pm) and stayed till it got packed. We weren't rushed or anything.
barley tea - delicious!
Seafood pancake - awesome!!
Jap Chae - standard deliciousness
Kalbi - amazing!!!! phenomenal!
BulGoGi - too thin to absorb marinade, skip it
I love this place. Too bad you need a car to get there from the city, otherwise I would be there once a week. -
Review from Andrew K.
5/28/2008
My sister and brother in-law told me this place served the best Korean food in all of New Jersey. Now, that's hard for me to gauge how good that is being from California. Having dined out with my sister on many occasions before, I know I could trust her opinions when it comes to food. And this place certainly did not disappoint.
So Moon Nan Jip serves a variety of outstanding Korean dishes. They even have a sushi bar which I didn't try.
I didn't care for their maeuntang (spicy fish stew) too much and their ban chan was good but nothing special. However, their gui (grilled dishes) like galbi and gobchang gui (bacon) were outstanding and the mul naengmyeon (cold noodles) was excellent. And they gave us free haemul pajeon (seafood pancake), which was excellent, compliments on the house.
The dishes are all quality and you get big portions too. I was stuffed after trying everything and had to force myself to keep eating because the food was so good and it's not everyday that I get treated out like this. My family there in Jersey are regulars here and I could see why.
This place is certainly LA worthy and ranks right up there with the best places I tried anywhere. I might have had some better individual dishes in Los Angeles but I have my roots here in California, so I have my biases. The BBQ was definitely very tasty and I loved the mul naengmyeon.
I'd give them five stars for the number of tasty dishes they serve here and because I think overall, they have a greater variety of excellent dishes than most others I've tried in LA. Many places really just specialize in one area (i.e., BBQ, noodles, soup).
I'll just let the fish stew just kind of slide by, not that it was bad or anything.Listed in: Korean Food Junkie, My New York & New Jersey…
