Popped in for a quick lunch before heading back home. We were hoping for something vegan and found it! The Tofu and Vegetables was amazing and much more exciting than the name implies. Also got the japchae which was very good. Tons of fresh vegetables and flavor in both. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant is clean and bright with lots of beautiful plants. The bathroom is gender neutral AND..........it has a v fancy heated bidet all in all, a perfect spot! We will definitely be back to try more on our next desert trip! read more

I come here every year for the meteor shower, and visiting this restaurant has become part of the tradition. I'm always welcomed by the sweetest Korean chef , who makes me feel right at home and serves delicious, authentic Korean food. The restaurant is cozy and beautifully decorated with gorgeous plants, which makes the atmosphere feel so warm and inviting. I always order the spicy tofu soup with dumplings and the beef bulgogi BBQ. Both are absolutely delicious, and the portions are very generous! This place feels like a hidden gem with truly homemade, comforting food and such a welcoming atmosphere. I look forward to coming back every year! No read more

Super clean restaurant . Toilet also very clean & Japanese bidet washlet First time I show washlet in the toilet in USA We oder sea food tofu soup, kalubi beef. Bibimba , taste fine read more

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If you're looking for Korean food after a long day at Joshua Tree, this is the location to come to. The restaurant is very clean, and you can tell that the owner takes pride in their space. There is parking at the front so it was very convenient to not have to worry about that. You have to go up to the counter to order your food, and then it is brought to you. The person that was working at the counter was extremely nice. I would definitely give them 5/5 for the service. I ordered bibimbap, short ribs, beef bulgogi, and fried chicken. The short ribs were my favorite. They were very flavorful and well cooked. The bulgogi was also very solid- you can never go wrong with this order. I expected the fried chicken to be more Korean style fried chicken, but it was regular. I would probably stick to the traditional dishes. read more

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I spotted this Korean restaurant while on my way to Joshua Tree over the weekend and was delighted to stop by. The restaurant atmosphere is wonderful, and Julie, who works here, is incredibly friendly. Above all, the food and service from the owner were surprisingly delicious and excellent. The ambiance is fancy, comfortable, enjoyable, and clean, which I love. It is perfect for spending time with friends or family, and the prices are reasonable. It is great to be able to enjoy Asian food without breaking the bank. There is a wide variety of drinks to try, allowing you to experience new flavors. The Korean coffee is also excellent. read more

8 Star K - The tteokbokki, Korean side dishes, and fried fish are also very delicious. - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

This is where you want to go if you're looking for no-hype Korean food. We stopped by 15 minutes before closing, and they were gracious enough to offer takeout options. We ordered galbi (plenty of meat with a delicious, tender marinade), bibimbap (five different namul and a nicely fried egg), and seafood sundubu (somewhat mild, but more of a homemade flavor with real seafood broth rather than MSG or premade broth). Everything tasted great, and the flavors weren't overpowering, which isn't always the case with many post-K-pop wave restaurants. We really enjoyed our meal, and this place deserves a true five-star rating. From what we could see, the kitchen was very clean and well organized, and the husband-and-wife team worked hard to prepare everything fresh rather than cooking in batches and reheating. My family loved the food, and the cashier was very pleasant--friendly and enthusiastic about explaining Korean terms on the menu. We hope to visit this lovely hidden gem again the next time we're in Palm Springs/Joshua Tree. read more

8 Star K - Kalbi, 12. Bibimbap / 비빔밥, 6. Seafood Soft Tofu Soup / 해물 순두부 - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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A hidden little Korean spot right before entering Joshua Tree National Park and honestly one of the most unexpected finds in the desert. From the outside it looks like a total hole-in-the-wall, but the food tasted very authentic and home style, like something comforting you'd eat at someone's house rather than a commercial restaurant. Everything tasted clean, fresh, and not overly salty or greasy. The owner was extremely kind and even brought out complimentary appetizers for us, which made the whole experience feel warm and personal. Service overall was genuinely friendly and welcoming. What made the place even more memorable was the interior filled with plants everywhere inside the restaurant. Kind of ironic and funny considering you're literally about to enter the desert at Joshua Tree, but somehow it made the place feel cozy and relaxing. Definitely one of those random travel food stops that ends up being more memorable than expected. read more

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This experience was PHENOMENAL!!! When you walk in you're immediately acknowledged by the wonderful Crystal who was so friendly and knowledgeable about everything. The food was fantastic. The Japchae was incredible. We had the dumplings which were also cooked to perfection. We also had the tofu soup and even the cucumber radish and kimchi were absolutely amazing. You can tell that everything is homemade and made with love!! This place deserves so much more business!! Please support your local business. She is fantastic. I would take this over Aki sushi any day!! This was the best meal we have had in forever! I would recommend them being on Upside to get more business!!! You will not be disappointed ever!!!! read more

8 Star K - 7. Kimchi Soft Tofu Soup / 김치 순두부. This came with rice - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

1st of all yelp only allows 140characters..BS!! This place is awesome, great service & the food is DELICIOUS. Price is below what they should be charging. Total hidden gem in Yucca!! read more

8 Star K - 28. Japchae - Stir-Fried Glass Noodle with Veggies / 잡채) 20. Spicy Stir-Fried Squid with Veggies / 오징어 볶음 - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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Chicken fried rice was very good. Staff was very friendly and hospitable. Good menu selection with many delicious options. If you are in the Yucca Valley and want Korean food, this is the place! read more

Unfortunately, we had a very unpleasant experience here and ended up leaving without eating. First, the restaurant charged an additional 3% credit card fee without informing us beforehand. I did not see any notice at the entrance, could not find any disclosure on the menu, and no one mentioned the fee before processing my card. I only found out after my card had already been charged. When I asked about it, one employee said she didn't know why the fee was charged. Another person told me, "If you don't like it, pay cash." The problem is that no one gave me that option BEFORE charging my card. If I had been informed beforehand, I could have simply chosen to pay cash. When I raised the issue, I was also told that "everywhere charges 3%" and that "even the DMV charges a credit card fee." Again, my issue was never simply the existence of a credit card fee. It was the fact that it was not disclosed before my card was charged. On top of that, the restaurant was extremely hot and the air conditioning did not seem to be working properly. By this point, we were so uncomfortable and frustrated that we no longer wanted to stay and eat, so I asked them to refund the ENTIRE transaction, not just the 3% fee. The employee told me she did not know how to process a refund, so we had to wait for the owner. There was also an uncomfortable interaction involving my 6-year-old son. The restaurant has many small potted plants and cacti displayed throughout the dining area. My son touched one of the plants once, and he was immediately told not to touch it. That's completely understandable, and he stopped. But afterward, when he was simply looking at the plants closely without touching them, he was again told not to touch them. As a parent, I found the way this was handled unnecessarily unfriendly. If numerous small, fragile or potentially sharp plants are going to be displayed within easy reach in a family restaurant, children are naturally going to be curious and look at them. Any one of these things by itself might have been minor. But the undisclosed fee, the dismissive response when I questioned it, the uncomfortable temperature, the difficulty getting a refund, and the way my child was treated added up to a very disappointing experience. We came in simply wanting to have lunch as a family. Instead, we left frustrated and without eating. Unfortunately, I would not return. read more

My first time here and I was craving korean food after a long hike at the national park. The lady at the front is super sweet and recommended us the fried chicken which i would say had the best crunch and was not oily at all compared other fried chicken i had before. The veggie noodles were bomb the seasoning and flavor was on point! The place was clean and had cute plant decor, will definitely be back here when i visit joshua tree! (i got hungry and ate most of it before taking a picture) read more

8 Star K - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Instant 5 stars. Currently homesick from LA and missing my k-town favs and 8 Star K is everything and more. It's quaint, delicious, and refreshing. From the japchae, dumplings, tteokbokki, bulgogi, each dish was perfection. This spot is a literal oasis in a sea of burgers. Much love to the owners for blessing the Yucca Valley with their amazing korean cooking. A must try, we'll be back! read more

We stopped by for lunch on our way home from Joshua Tree. We ordered Bulgogi, Japchae, and Cucumber Salad. Th service was great, very quick. We sat at the restaurant so there was a little bit of banchan served too. Bulgogi: 7.5 out of 10. Served with rice, the taste was good, the meat came out almost like chopped beef though. Japchae: 9.5 of our 10, the only ding is that the onions were close to raw but fantastic dish in general Cucumber Salad: 8 out of 10. Served in a take home jar which is cool. The cucumbers weren't super crispy but think that's b/c it as previously frozen. Will be back next time we go to J-Tree and try other dishes! read more

8 Star K - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

This is a fast food Korean option in Joshua Tree. A little surprising to see this out in the middle of the desert. Near both a Japanese and Thai restaurant, we decided to give it a try. I ordered the Kimchi Soft tofu soup. Nice and spicy/tart and lots of tofu. The obvious missing ingredient at the table is hot sauce or hot spices or even a bottle of sriracha. 6-piece Korean fried chicken. The thin double layered batter is light and crispy. Stop thinking about how much this is going to disrupt your arterial blood flow and just eat it. Service is great and the Asian lady behind the counter gave us extra Kimchee bon chon (which by volume, is quite less than normal) Watch out for the 3% surcharge on credit cards. Nobody said anything to us. That's all. read more

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was driving through yucca and was super excited to see the sign for a Korean restaurant. About 7 tables inside, clear menu and super nice staff. Koreans in the kitchen doing the cooking (yeah, it matters). I had the Bibimbop and it was delicious. I do wish they had hot pots to get that crunchy rice but they just don't have the space for it but fortunately this was delicious and served hot. All the ingredients tasted Super Fresh and very authentic. Looking forward to coming back and trying more items like the short ribs or some of the other barbecue offerings. read more

8 Star K - bibimbop... it was prettier before I got too excited and dug into the egg right away - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Delicious portion sized appropriate for price and is definitely shareable definitely date worthy spot read more

8 Star K - Yaki soba veggies+shrimp - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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The owners of this restaurant were verbally abusive to the server while customers were there. The server was very sweet, but obviously upset due to the verbal abuse. I personally will not return, as the servers get abused by customers now and then and should not need to endure the same abuse from the owners. read more

I stopped in for dinner after hiking in Joshua Tree and ordered it to go. I got the seafood tofu soup which comes with white rice and a 3 types of banchan. They did a great job with packing my to-go order by placing a cardboard underneath the soup. It hit the spot after a hard day bouldering in Joshua Tree. The staff was great and I didn't have to wait too long for my order. read more

8 Star K - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

decided to stop by for lunch on New Years since we'd been here before during summer for japchae and a jar of kimchi. We tried different foods, fried shrimp to share, I ordered the dumpling tofu soup and my friends ordered the pork cutlet and the seafood tofu soup. All the food was tasty and I enjoyed the flavor of their pickled veggies. We also took home 2 jars of the cabbage kimchi although their radish and cucumber salads are also good. The cutlet I was told was tasty and as expected for a fried pork cutlet. The tofu soup had a different flavor compared to the tofu soups in LA. It seems like they use a chicken(?) broth base and a portion of the flavor/heat profile is black pepper instead of the Korean chili peppers. It wasn't bad, but the style is different if you've had it at your typical tofu soup places in LA. I would happily order it again. We did ask for the spiciness of 'how it comes' just to see what the default heat is, I'd say this was probably a mild to what I'm used to. The food came out at a reasonable amount of time and we had a chance to make it through half the shrimp before the soup showed up, granted for a bit we were the only people there around 2p. Sadly, the server recommended the rice cake & dumpling soup after we had finished and said that was a typical New Year's soup :( The BBQ options are a bit pricey but the soup is reasonable and look forward to coming back! read more

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My son ordered spicy pork and thought it was rather bland. I tasted it and had no problem with it (it was not spicy, I'm a wimp with spices). He said he would not order it again. My niece ordered a rice dumpling soup which she really enjoyed, but the serving was more than she could finish. She would definitely order it again. I ordered the chicken yakisoba which was a very generous portion and ate about half. I loved the amount and variety of vegetable and found the sauce sweeter than the Japanese versions I have had both here and in Japan. I prefer the Japanese style sauce. I would order it again if they could make it without the sauce. Now, the big problem was they were a bit busy and they charged me for our food when we ordered and I paid. At the end of the meal, my son decided to buy us each one of the canned Korean canned drinks that they had. It was around $12, but on his bank statement he was charged over $60. I'm thinking it was an honest mistake because of how busy she was. We are going in today to see if they can rectify the mistake. I'll update afterwards and hopefully can increase the star rating because the food was about a 3 to 4stars. Ambiance was an average Asian place about a 3. The plants were nice to look at. The table service was about 3 to 4. However, the massive overcharge was a 0. read more

We love their spicy pork bulgogi. It's enough for two people if you add an extra side of rice. It's delicious and tender. We come all the way from the valley to get god quality Korean bbq. This last time we called in our order, they reported they don't serve the fried chicken on days they are busy, so eventhough we had been really wanting to try it, we can't say if it's any good. They did also inform us they no longer serve any of the teas they have in the previous reviews and photos, so that should be noted. We also have tried their breaded fried shrimp and the fried dumplings. Both pretty good. read more

what an amazing place! currently on a road trip to Joshua tree but saw a sign that said Korean restaurant as a Korean I had to go and try it. The restaurant was really cute and cozy and our server was super nice and made conversation with me. The food was delicious. I got the japchae, kimchi fried rice, and the rice cake and dumpling soup. Everything tasted authentic even the side dishes and reminded me of my parents cooking. I think it is owned by a mom and dad seeing how they were the only ones in the kitchen so I really appreciate their hard work since it got pretty busy after we walked in, but the food was delicious and we ate all three dishes without leftovers. Not to be dramatic but I would drive from orange county to here again! read more

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Highly recommend 8 Star Korean Restaurant in Yucca. The Kimchi Fried rice is a 10/10!! Everything we got was fresh, hot and delicious. Definitely going back. read more

still 5 stars! food is incredibly delicious and authentic. A must try when in the area!

Food is good, place is clean, ambiance and service is nice. The portions are extremely small, the prices are extremely high, they couldn't make the ice cream. We left still slightly hungry after a high price meal. It's the only Korean food in the area. read more

Very unassuming restaurant, but their menu speaks volumes. In addition to the usual grilled meat options (galbi, bulgogi, spicy pork, etc.), they had fried fish entrees (corvina and mackerel), various Korean pancakes, comforting soups, taiyakis, and delicious homemade kimchi, which can be purchased by the jar. My girl friends and I ordered the Galbi, kimchi fried rice, and kimchi soon dobu. Everything was wonderful with authentic flavors. Generous portions. Asian restaurants are slim pickings in this area so this was a delight to see next to a sushi restaurant. P.S. Do yourself a favor and buy the radish kimchi salad! It's soooo good! read more

8 Star K - Outside - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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Very poor service and disappointing experience. We came in for lunch around 12:48 PM as two families with triplets, so we had three infant car seats. The restaurant was nearly empty, but we were immediately told we couldn't use the adjacent table to make room for the car seats. The staff, especially the older lady and gentleman (looks like the owners!), were not welcoming, and we felt like we were an inconvenience. We lost our appetite and left without eating. A little kindness and accommodation would have made a big difference. read more

8 Star K - Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Whoever thought you'd find some of the best Korean food in a small town like Joshua Tree? I was blown away! Even though the prices are a bit higher, the food quality more than makes up for it. The seafood tofu soup was, without a doubt, one of the best I've ever had. Its flavors were perfectly balanced, and I loved every spoonful. The beef short ribs were also incredible--so flavorful and tender, just perfectly cooked! My only wish was for more sides, which would have been the icing on the cake. Overall, the owners were so kind, and the customer service was fantastic. I highly recommend it! read more

Service was awesome and food was delicious. I will definitely be back!!!!! It was inviting and the food was amazing and I love the plants!!! read more

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Good hole in the wall eatery in the middle of Yucca Valley if you are craving Korean food. Wonderful owner who has the most amazing assortment of succulents and cactus as well a good food! Need to support these small family businesses!! read more

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I came here when it was owned by someone else, was happy to see it here but sad the previous owner wasn't there anymore. Didn't interact with the new owners, but service was friendly. We came in after a hike in Jtree and needed to get our calories back. Parking: Super easy, it shares a lot with other businesses Pay the counter, find a seat. Although later I saw them sitting people and providing menus, just depends. I can tell they're working through their process during busy times, so just have a little patience if they are busy. :) Food: ban chan - little light on that front jap chae - yep still delish and flavorful kalbi - would get this again and again tofu soup - lacked depth of flavor, and I love when it's spicy & garlicky, this wasn't the case friend chicken - it's just battered lightly and fried with like a spicy dipping sauce. I would pass on this. All in all I did enjoy and would come back. read more

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This is second time I visited. Food was amazing and portion of food is very generous. The side dishes are so good that we bought some togo. They sell it in mason jars which is a plus for us. Our server was friendly and attentive. She realized we couldn't finish our food and even offered us togo boxes. read more

Great hospitality and food! Props to the chef, everything came out fresh and delicious

The best galbi in the country! Do not walk, RUN!!! They seriously need to be in the city with the flavorful dishes they offer. This place gives a homey feel, a nice and quick sit down. The service felt like I was in Asia, the older lady can be a little harsh but I'm sure she means well. Lol. read more

8 Star K - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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I was super excited to see that there was some type of Asian cuisine out here in the desert, but honestly this place was pretty mediocre. I ordered kimchee tofu soup and an iced barley tea. The food was ok, but the service definitely contributes to my rating. Just within the first 2 things I attempted to order, the cashier shot me down with "we don't have that." I understand if you don't have certain menu items available due to the season, but an indicator of which items weren't available before I got up to order would have been nice. Even though it's casual dining, just a bit more customer service would have lightened the ambience in my opinion. I want to give this place another try, but I don't think it's actually worth it given how limited the menu and service seems to be. read more

8 Star K - Kimchee tofu soup with banchan - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Came here on a Monday for lunch and had a pretty good experience! We called in the order ahead of time because we were on a time crunch, and they were happy to accommodate. Food was ready in less than 5min when we got there, and it was delicious. We tried the kimchi fried rice, yakisoba, and vegetable pancake - all very good. The yakisoba had great salty flavor, but not too salty. Nice chew on the noodles, and the toppings were well-cooked. The kimchi fried rice has a good amount of heat - just enough to taste it without overwhelming the rest of the flavors. Probably the best dish we tried. The vegetable pancake was also pretty good, though we all agreed that a little more crisp would have made it better. They also sell boba and taiyaki, which we will probably try next time we dine there. read more

8 Star K - Yakisoba - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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Visited Yucca Valley with my fiancé this weekend to celebrate our birthdays and ran into this gem while we were up there-- and I'm so glad we tried it out! For our birthdays, we typically have a tradition of having noodles on birthdays, but because the nearest Filipino restaurant was over 30+ mins, we opted to have the next best thing, Japchae! We ordered to-go since we wanted to spend the day in our Airbnb, the worker over the phone quoted us about 15 mins. We then entered the building and the place was exceptionally clean! The staff were friendly and the food was absolutely delicious. We can't wait to make this a normal place to visit whenever we're up there :) read more

8 Star K - Banchan - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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I reviewed this restaurant several years ago, and am not sure what happened to it, so apologies if I end up repeating myself. The restaurant serves several soft tofu soup options, including kimchi, vegetable and dumpling. I've had both of them, and they both are tasty, and come with small sides, which taste good with the soup (or you can eat them on their own). I have also ordered japchae, which is a stir-fried glass noodle dish with vegetables. I like this, but prefer the soft tofu dishes, which to me are a real stand-out. A while back, one of the ladies who worked there helped me with "mixing" the japchae the traditional way, which I appreciated. So far, the people have been friendly, and I love the fact that there is a Korean restaurant up here. By the way, although I have not tried them, they also serve non-Korean dishes such as ramen, tonkatsu, and yaki soba. They also have generally Asian fare, such as pan-fried dumplings, which appeal to almost anyone. And of course, they have boba. And there's also Korean Fried Chicken, which I have not tried, but should... Hmmmmm....I think I need to return.... read more

The food is amazing, especially the jars with kimchi and radish. Pork bulgogi was divine. The service was pleasant, the food was ready quickly and the whole place had a very relaxed and friendly vibe. Will definitely be back read more

8 Star K - 21. Tteok-Bokki / 떡볶이 3. Spicy Pork Bulgogi BBQ / 돼지불고기17. Rice Bowl -Beef / 소고기 덮밥 - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California