Soban

If I could eat here every day, I would.

Everything was insanely good. In order of preference:
1. Black cod - MUST get.
2. Kimchi stew
3. Beef bulgogi
4. Seafood tofu pancake

The banchan was super good, there were 9 small dishes. Our friend was vegetarian and dishes were very vegetarian & pescatarian friendly. The restaurant is small but works fast.

The cod chodim (braised black cod) is the dish to get here. It was worth every minute of my msg crash after. Tender and perfectly executed. Get this.

The marinated raw crab was good. I'd come back for just the cod. The banchan layout was refreshing. Yes, there should be that many. And, replenished. Yes, it also still greatly appreciated.

Our server was awesome.

I found out about Soban when the movie, Parasite, won the Best Picture, and the crew came to this restaurant after the Oscar celebration. Having that fame helped put this restaurant on the map. What I didn't know was that it was one of Jonathan Gold's 101 Restaurants back when he was still alive. That's another accolade that you can count on.

The restaurant itself is relatively small, accommodating around 25 guests, making reservations highly recommended during peak hours. As soon as I stepped inside, a pungent soy aroma enveloped the air, and you can see an array of different types of vinegared and pickled containers on display. It became evident that the true magic behind their dishes lies in the skillful use of these fermented ingredients, emphasizing the importance of time in creating culinary wonders. Interestingly, either the initial smell dissipated over time or my nose acclimated to the unique climate within the restaurant.

Soban serves 12 diverse side dishes which includes kimchi, black bean, pickled radish, eggplant, glass noodles, peanuts, fried tofu, gelatanous acorn, pickled radish, and mushrooms.

What we ordered:
BRAISED BLACK COD (Black Cod, Kabocha, Potato, Radish, Rice Cake, Tofu, Onion) - This is the BEST BRAISED BLACK COD I've ever had. Sadly to admit, but it's better than my mom's version. The flavor of this masterpiece dish comes from the simmered broth, which has transformed something remarkable into a state of absolute perfection.

SOY-MARINATED RAW CRAB (Crab, Soy, Garlic, Onion, Scallions, Ginger, and 17 other aromatics) - I've been lately seeing a lot of TT and IG videos about people praising soy-marinated raw crab. To partake in this delightful meal, put on a plastic glove and skillfully squeeze the crab meat onto a bed of rice. The crowning touch involves drizzling a touch of soy marinade to infuse the dish with its delectable sweetness. Lastly, do not overlook the ingenious utilization of the crab shell, serving as a makeshift bowl to hold a generous portion of rice, allowing the mingling of its head meat with the grains in a harmonious symphony of flavors.

SPICY FISH ROE STEW (Fish Roe, Bean Paste, Onions, Squash, Jalapeno, Potato, and Radish) - This was a delightful stew to have with rice. The roe was fairly large and there was a small piece of crab.

Soban's braised black cod is one of the best versions of this dish I've ever had! Super flavorful, buttery, and tender, it just melts in your mouth. All you need is some white rice with it. The banchan spread is great too, really enjoyed the variety and amount we got for the table.

We also got the kimchi jjigae and raw marinated soy crab. The stew was a nice accompaniment as a side to share. I know they're known for their crab but I found the herbal notes to be a bit too strong for my taste. This is all personal preference, clearly there are lots of reviewers who loved it!

The restaurant is small and the service is on the slower side. I'd recommend making a reservation and keep in mind that you may still end up waiting depending on how quickly people eat. We ended up waiting for 45 min (without a reservation) but the cod was so good it made up for it. The owner and her daughter were very welcoming as well, I'll definitely will be back!

Came here with a large group near closing hours with a reservation. We were seated almost immediately.

I ordered the marinated raw crab (one piece per order for $61), bibimbap, and cod. Total including tax was $145 not including tips.

The crab was okay. Probably not worth the $61, especially for one crab. Not the best marinated crab I've had but it was decent.

Great service, just that the food was not worth the price tag.

4+ this place has been on my list of places to go to ever since I've seen it on Jonathan Gold's list. This place is supposed to be known for their raw soy marinated crab and black cod dishes.

When I went, I ordered the crab and the beef bulgogi. I also got a lot of banchan with the meal. The beef Gogi is as good as to be expected. Always a fun order to get when you go to these places. It's nice and salty and goes well with rice. I thought the crab was good, but because I'm not used to eating shelled crab, it was a little hard to eat, but not a big deal. Very tasty indeed! Also, I don't think I've ever had the soy marinated crab in my life before, so it was definitely different.

The place itself is not huge and there's like six tables lined up near each other. It was smaller than I expected but again, not a big deal at all. I think I went on an off hour, so I was able to get seated really quickly. It feels like a nice small quaint cafe.

The folks were nice and the service was pretty efficient. Parking was pretty easy to find at the time because there's a lot of street parking in the neighborhood. It's kind of on the outskirts of the busy area I think so that's why it's easier to find parking here.  

I definitely would go back, but I would like to probably try that marinated so I crab at other places as well just so I can kind of get an idea of what how well it's being done. Also, next time I would like to try the black cod.

We ordered the black cod, SO YUMMY! The fish is also very tender and melted immediately in your mouth. The soup is also very good. Service is awesome everybody is super polite and welcoming. We came on Father's Day evening and luckily there aren't many people and no wait. Will go back next time to try the Short Rib and crab with friends!

Soban was recommended to me as a better soy marinated crab than Ktowns Crab House and it didn't disappoint! The waiter (owner?) was really nice and helped us with choosing what to order.

We ordered the crab and the fish roe stew. After we ordered, they brought out a huge platter of about 12 different banchans. I particularly liked the nuts, dried fish, and squid banchan.

The crab was the highlight of the meal! The meat inside is so fresh and has an excellent creamy texture. Mixing the head meat with rice is a perfect combo also. I noticed that every bone was cracked as well, making it easy to access the meat in the claws and legs.

I didn't think the fish roe stew was anything to write home about, and it's definitely an acquired taste thst we enjoyed.

Overall, I'd say Soban is a 9/10. The crab has a great marinade and Id prefer to Crab house because of size and the way all the shells are cracked.

First, I'd like to know, in a small place with six tables arranged 3x2, with one in the middle and the other five around and against the walls... Why did they seat the only Asian group (us) in the very middle (the worst one), and white parties in the surrounding 5 tables? You can see the customers from the photo I took (two parties behind and next to us left before I snapped the pic). Maybe I'm too sensitive, but one does wonder; given that everyone seems to come with reservations, I assume they can guess the race beforehand. *Shrug*

Food: I personally found it only ok. The marinated raw crab dish was interesting and very good, almost like sashimi in texture. This was probably the highlight of our dinner. The black cod was tender but imo a bit fishy. The pork dish didn't stand out compared to similar dishes at other Korean places. It's all a bit overpriced. Lots of banchan dishes, including some unusual ones like lotus, but all tasted only average.

Parking is good. They have a small lot and there's plenty of street parking. Service is attentive and friendly, weird seating aside.

It's cool that the Parasite cast came here after their Oscar win. I personally wouldn't return.

This place has been on my to eat list for quite a while now. I've seen it on articles, shows, YouTube, etc and we finally came on a weekday lunch and it was full of Korean uncles and aunties so you know its good.

Braised Black Cod - braised black cod fish with radish, squash, potatoes, and rice cakes. Honestly this is 5/5. The cod was literally melt in your mouth. Possible one of the best Korean dishes I have ever had.

Spicy Fish Roe Soup - spicy fish roe soup with radish, squash, onions, and bean sprouts. This was just okay. I felt like it was a little bland and lacked flavor. 3/5

Spicy Stir-Fried Octopus - stir-fried octopus with onions, squash, and red pepper sauce. Octopus was nicely cooked and tender. The sauce wasnt as intense as the cod but it was still good. 4/5

Banchan. We got about 12 banchan and the lady never offered to refill so I am not too sure if its free refills.

Great good, friendly service.