Food here is SO good! Got home from our trip and can't stop thinking about the kimchi fried rice and bulgogi, making this a go-to every time I visit the area! Customer service is great, good selection of drinks, and most definitely worth it. read more

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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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

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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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

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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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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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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Amazing food! We ordered the chicken fried rice and Korean bbq spicy pork. Would recommend to anyone and would visit again! read more

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

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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The food was authentic. It was a pleasant surprise in a small town in the way to Joshua Tree National Park. We did not expect much from such a remote location far away from LA Koreatown. But the food was just as good. It turns out it's because the owner goes to LA to get fresh ingredients twice a week! We ordered Chicken Teriyaki and Bibimbap and they were both authentic! Service was excellent and the many plants like small cactus bonsai trees added to the ambiance! read more

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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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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

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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Best Korean food in town The server was very nice and friendly Hope they bring back the Boba and dessert soon 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

Love this place. Have never had a bad experience here! Especially love the tteokbokki and spicy pork

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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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

I used to go by here for food but stopped because I couldn't justify the price. Was going by Thai cafe but they were closed so went back to this place. I got two dishes, $50. I thought fine, whatever it's been a while since I've done this. Then the older man working there was bagging up my food and I asked if I could have two styrofoam to-go bowls and he said "no only one" and I was like seriously? I just spent my hard earned money on this insanely priced food and I can't have two STYRAFOAM to-go bowls? He then asked why I wanted them (wow lol) and I said for the food and he was like "fine just take them" and walked off. Wish I was exaggerating. I didn't bother taking them and just left. They've lost another customer yet again! Definitely the last time I go by here. Overpriced and terribly rude to customers. read more

So good. Some of the freshest food in the high desert. Everything i eat here is delicious!! Unique menu with great food. read more

8 Star K - Kimchi fried rice - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Sooooooo delicious, the food came out so fast within 4 minutes! And it was really fresh, came out super hot, exactly my preference. Service was great and the inside was really cute, there were a bunch of plants! read more

The food is incredible -- every dish is packed with flavor and made with so much care. It's the kind of food that feels authentic and soulful in every single bite. But honestly what makes this place truly special is the atmosphere. Walking in feels like stepping into someone's cozy, lovingly decorated home. Plants everywhere, warm and inviting decor, and just this overall sense of calm that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. It's honestly one of the most charming dining spaces I've been in. The staff treat you like family from the moment you walk through the door. You don't feel like just another customer -- you feel genuinely looked after and welcome. It's rare to find a place that puts that kind of warmth into everything they do! If you're looking for great food AND a place that just makes you feel good, this is it. Easily one of my favorite spots and I'll be back again and again. read more

They updated their menu, so I had to try their bibimbap. It was super yummy and definitely a huge portion! read more

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It's Friday evening, you've just pulled up to Joshua Tree with your friends for an absolute RATCHET WEEKEND W DA BOIIIIIS, and you hear your stomach grumble. Another homie's stomach growls. Pretty soon, like a Newton's Cradle (that toy on usually on a teacher's desk with the balls clanging) the hunger transfers from friend to friend. To satiate your hunger you have a couple options, you can have some mid kale salads and soggy soaked sandwiches... OR why not have some authentic Korean grub! Upon walking into 8 Star K our entire gang was greeted with smiles and a contagious warm energy. There was some playful ribbing and roasting of one of our friends (dw we roast him daily/hourly/per minute, it's kind of his role in the group) - lots of laughs to be had; absolute stellar service where we felt taken care of throughout our meal. The star of the show was the Spicy Pork BBQ, the tteokbokki - oh my the sauce/marinade was EXCELLENT - and the fried chicken as well. I think my heart may have skipped a beat just typing that out, or maybe that's my new anxiety meds kicking in. The only area for improvement / cons we felt were that the lack of presence of alcohol - no alcoholic drinks means no Soju or Makgeolli! Alc would hit the spot... BUT they do make it up by having a great selection of sodas and other drinks like Milkis and Chilsung cider. Another small critique would be that the banchan (aka 'side dishes' as Google Translate taught me in 2017) was a bit watery. If you ever find yourself and DA BOISSSS finally makin it outta the group chat and headin out to Joshua Tree for an unforgettable weekend under the stars, make the trek over to 8-Star K Restaurant and you'll have a hell of a time my boy! read more

8 Star K - The 21. Tteok-Bokki / 떡볶이 along with the 3. Spicy Pork Bulgogi BBQ / 돼지불고기 - if I could bathe in this marinade sauce I would. - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Stopped in on a Friday night for dinner and am now kicking myself for living here this long and sleeping on one of the best restaurants in town. I LOVE Asian food, It's always the thing I'll miss most about NYC. From dim sum in Sunset Park, to authentic northern Thai in Queens, to Szechuan in Hell's Kitchen, to Korean BBQ & soju-drunk karaoke in K-Town, good Asian food is something I'm willing to go out of my way for, which is typically what I have to do ever since moving to the desert 4 years ago. Finally, I've found an actually yummy local fix! My husband and I shared: - Spicy Pork Bulgogi (came with white rice): spicy in a good way and delish! extremely flavorful and tender - Kimchi Fried Rice: one of the better versions I've ever had. They make their own kimchi in-house (you can also buy jars of it there for a very reasonable price) and mix plenty in so the rice is fully coated, and I loved all the other veggie bits mixed in (edamame, corn, etc.) - Brown rice tea (a favorite, I love that they have this, along with quite a few other teas & various beverage options) Portions are generous, we took some home and have enough left for a lunch for both of us. Ambiance could use slight improvements. Lighting is very bright and they had no music playing. But the abundance of healthy plants certainly helps improve the vibe. Staff is incredibly friendly. I'm so glad to add K to my regular local roster. read more

8 Star K - kimchi fried rice / spicy pork bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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Awesome food and amazing service. Loved the pickled cucumber and the beef bulgolgi. Super clean restaurant and a very informative server.

The older woman who took our order was a blend of friendly, yet somewhat condescending and mean. I think she means well, but wasn't exactly sure of the vibe she was putting out. The food was pretty good but a little pricey, especially the $22+ bulgogi that was a rather small portion of beef atop rice and veggies. I think $15 would have been a more appropriate price for the amount of food. The tofu veggie stir fry was pretty good. Good flavors and a decent amount of food. The mango slushie with boba and thai tea were solid choices The place is clean and a decent size. Order at the counter and they'll bring the food out to you. read more

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Food is amazing! Really enjoyed the spicy pork and seafood tofu soup. It was super delicious. Love here!! I definitely recommend this place. read more

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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

Review for 8 Star Korean Food: First time here and I was thoroughly impressed. I ordered the bulgogi, which came out sizzling hot with rice and three tasty sides. Everything was delicious--comparable to some of the best Korean spots in the San Gabriel Valley. The owner was incredibly attentive and a pleasure to chat with. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

We were going in for a boba drink, except we got hooked for their menu. We were greeted right away by this very energetic aunty and mind you it was 45 minutes before closing time. We ordered the tofu soup and shrimp fried rice. The portion is rather huge and the foods are flavorful. The service was A+, the lady checks on us to make sure wether we need more top up on side dish. This small business deserves to give a shot for sure! read more

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On April 17th, my friend and I decided to have dinner at 8 Star. I ordered the following: the Yakisoba dish with chicken, the dumplings, a jar of kimchi, and jujube hot tea. The food arrived on time, served with traditional banchan (pickled daikon, pickled cucumber, and kimchi). The food was large in portion and very delicious, and the customer service was excellent. The waitress checked on us twice, asking if we needed any additional items, and we were provided napkins and extra bowls for soy sauce. When we were ready to leave, we were offered To Go containers for our beverages and food. I very much enjoy the quality of service--the waitress made themselves available while the cook focused on the quality of the food. The ambiance was excellent, as the shop is covered in plants there is a TV playing nature videos, and the menu is displayed clearly above the counter. Would recommend to friends, couples, and families. The homemade jarred pickles are EXCELLENT. read more

Japchae - so good! My new noodle addiction. Kimchi fried rice, spicy and flavorful. The owners are so kind. Love this place! read more

8 Star K - Cutest Taiyaki box :) - Korean Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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My husband and I had the rice cake and dumpling soup and it was absolutely AMAZING. The staff were so friendly and we were greeted and helped right away. Great service and great food! We'll definitely be coming back! read more

Service is good. Love looking at the plant life. Fried chicken good and love the cucumber salad. Gonna try the kimchi next

There is genuine Korean food in the high desert! It's delicious too! Honestly, I have tried all the K-food down in the Palm Springs area, and none of them compare to this little hidden gem. It's definitely worth a trip up the hill if you're a fan of Korean cuisine. The service is great. The Taiyaki machine was off but they fired it up just to make me just two instead of a full order (and they were amazing). I usually get take-away, but the dining room is spotlessly clean. read more