New Oriental Market

I really do appreciate the authenticity that come from hole-in-the-wall restaurants! The Korean restaurant inside the New Oriental Market is the epitome of homemade cooking. It is a self-service restaurant where you order and pick up your food where you paid at. You get your own water, utensils, and sauces. What I appreciate about this place is that they do not compromise the flavors and the quality of their dish due to their relatively low prices on the menu. The portions for an order can feed 2-3 people and come with the traditional Korean side dishes like kim chi (pickled cabbage).

Galbi - marinated short ribs are my favorite dishes to get at any Korean restaurant. The galbi at this restaurant was very satisfying. The meat was tender, moist, and cooked perfectly. The sweet and savory taste of the meat from seasoning and marinade made the galbi delicious.

Bibimbap - is bowl served with rice, sauteed vegetables, fried egg, beef, and a chili paste. The textures and flavors you get from the bibimbap at this restaurant is amazing and satisfying. To be honest, you can never go wrong with a fried egg and its rich yolk! Finally, the mild chili paste and the sauteed vegetables add more to the flavor profile of this dish that compliments its entirety. It is a full meal along with the side assembled together in a single dish.

Unfortunately, it isn't all good reviews for this place. I found the bulgogi at this restaurant to be a little above average. Nothing too spectacular with the flavors. But at least the meat was not fatty or tough. It was moist and the left over juices that collected on the bottom was a good sauce to use to put on top of your rice to add more flavor. Finally, I got the Kim Chi pie and it was kind of disappointing because it was the one Korean dish I had never tried before. It lacked the spice and kick I was expecting from a Kim chi pie! On top of that, it was a little dry.

Galbi - 4/5
Bulgogi - 3/5
Kim Chi pie - 2/5
Bibimbap - 3.5/5

I come here for two things:

The cheap food at the unassuming kitchen
and those damn addictive melon bars where I can't find anywhere else!

I'll start with the food.. almost everything is $5 and they give you enough for two people with each entree usually (except the Soondubu jjigae - Spicy Tofu Soup dish) because they come with free sides also. The sides are kind of like Korean Tapas. They'll include things like pickled radish, kimchee, and tofu.

My favorite dish here is the Soondubu jjigae (Spicy Tofu Soup) which comes in super hot bubbling pot. There is soft tofu, seafood, and other goodies in the soup which you eat with the rice they give you. Coming close is the bimbibap, Yuk Gae Jang, and the jap chae. They're not going to win any points for presentation or service but when has any asian place won in those categories anyways?

And onto the crack-laced melon bars that I can't seem to stop eating once they are in my freezer (if they make it back home in the car that is). I can't find these anywhere else.. but I guess that makes sense since they are a korean treat?

Also for fun, I'll walk down the aisles and look at all the chinglish printed over almost every product.. good times!

$5 can't get you much these days. Not a movie ticket. Maybe an "eh" meal off a dollar menu at McD's... I freakin' paid $8 for a car wash the other day... but what I CAN get for $5 is a KOREAN FEAST at New Oriental Market, or as I like to call it: NOM. Perfect, eh?

This is the CHEAPEST Korean food you are going to find anywhere in Austin!

For $5, I've tried everything from the bibimbap, japchae, ramen, and soon du bu. Most of the dishes are $5, but for a few dollars more, you can try the fried rice, galbi, bulgolgi, galbi, cornish hen soup and more!

When you order, you also get complimentary soup, hot tea, banchan (the little side dishes), and shikye (a rice dessert drink.)

All this for only FIVE dollars!? You betcha.

So you've gotta come out and give it a shot. It's NOMilicious. You won't be disappointed.

NOM NOM NOM

**I apologize for this sounding like a shameless, obnoxious commercial. I promise I am not employed by this establishment.**

I used to come here all the time when I'd drive through Austin - especially when Morning Glory was still up and running. I still come in every once and awhile but have gotten distracted by a lot of other things Austin has to offer.

Definitely not pricey and I got a huge Blue Bear for 50% off its original price (one of the many items Morning Glory had sold off to NOM). They have a great selection - especially on frozen foods - and the employees are always nice.

The restaurant in the market is super cheap for tons of food! Yummy korean food that is. I like to try something different most of the time and I usually get number 3, which is a spicy beef noodle soup. I also get the bbq ribs and the bbq beef. I never finish it and always have to end up taking it back home. My friends usually get the fried rice there and it is super amazing too. I like the free soup they give you and the dessert after is also quite yummy for me. The ladies that takes the orders are also very cute. I definitely think everyone should go here for cheap and delish korean food. I've been here for about four years now...so DO IT!

K FOR KOREA!!!!! :)

It's not the best korean food in the world, but definitely the best for its price.

$5 gets you just about anything on the menu. Thats $5 for soup, korean sweet rice drink, meal, and two kinds of kimchi. And this is for food that actually tastes pretty good too.

I've tried the soondubu, fried rice, and the spicy rice cakes, and they're definitely worth the $5. The fried rice comes with a huge egg over the top and never disappoints. The soondubu is pretty good, but obviously not as good as those in places like Tofu Village in houston.

The supermarket is pretty well stocked too. Me and my friends love to spend money on Hi-Chew which they happen to have for a pretty low rice (think more flavorful starbursts).

Don't know how this could get any better for a college student.

This place is amazing. The prices are incomparable, and the quality can't be beat. I love coming here. My friends say they go through withdrawal if a week has gone by and we have not gone.

The only reason this place does not get a five is because of the occasional mess ups with the food or the quality of the dining area or the lack of soup/dessert.

Yuk-Kay-Jung.. I don't know how to spell it, but I do know how to order it. I love it! So good
Galbi- So delicious!
The spicy tofu soup- so good. I love how sour it is.
I think bulgogi is over-rated, so I never order it. My friend Kien loved the bibimbop?

Overall, amazing place!

Ive been to this place plenty of times and even though Ive moved away so I havent been recently, I decided it will have the honor of my 100th review!

This place is inside an asian market and its cash only, made by korean moms and grandmas in the kitchen, and its relax laid back atmosphere. Who cares theres no servers and its all self service, when i go eat at a place, i want GOOD FOOD. Everything is $5 bucks and some of the most expensive meat dishes are 8-10. Me and my best friend come and for $20 bucks, we eat to our hearts content and have plenty of food to take home.

I miss this place and when i come back to visit, this will be my top place to go to.

I'm always ready for a lunch adventure. I came into this place not knowing whether they'd have a vegetarian option. There's one, the #1 Bi Bim Bap. It usually comes with beef; the lady at the register said they could omit it. Win. I wish the tofu dishes were actually vegetarian.

Close proximity to work, a $5 lunch and tasty bi bim bap are worth the visit. I have friends who used to eat at this place daily. I'd give it more stars if I were a meat eater. The restaurant portion is cash only, so bring a 5 dollar bill.

As for the grocery store, there's Pocky and lots of it (gentleman's and regular). I love Pocky. Titus L. brought some back to the office. The token Asian Americans from work came back with well received Asian snacks.

Do you have a Korean grandma? I sure don't.

But if you come here and go into the restaurant portion (past the video rentals) and give $5, you will get a (practically) home-cooked traditional Korean grandma prepared meal.

You'd be hard pressed to take your $5 and get a home cooked meal anywhere else in Austin. And on top of all that, you get free soup when you dine-in and all the food is made with the freshest ingredients (since you are eating at a grocery store) and the little Korean ladys barely speak enough English to hassle you.

My favorites are the Hot n Spicy Seafood, the Gom Tang (Clear Broth Beef Noodle Soup), and the Fried Rice (it's actually really awesome, they use a particular oil and they put sesame seeds in it!) For $10 go for the short ribs, they are equally as delicious.

This is NOT a sit down restaurant, nobody takes your order and you barely have to tip and you get your food quick! If you are on a budget, skip the fast food and come here. I have been coming here for 9 years and this place never lets me down.