I've been here twice during the last 3 weeks. The food is truly outstanding.
I tried the following over the two visits, both to go and shared with family. We were all excited about it at the time:
Gobo Kimbap
Bulgogi Kimbap
Spicy Pork Kimbap
Spicy Chewy Cold Noodle
Perilla Oil Mixed Noodle
Original Tteokbokki
Pork Cutlet
My personal favorites were the kimbaps along with the Cold Spicy Chewy Noodles. The spice level was great, the sauce was high quality, and the noodles were cooked so perfectly.
So why the low 2-stars on this review? On one hand, I feel bad about giving the rating. However, the truth is the service and attitude are THAT bad. Short of being cussed-out-bad.
The food is so damn good. But my 2 stars should actually be 1 star... That's how horrid the attitude is.
On my first visit, I was taking time to read the menu and see everything they had... The dining area was full, but no one was in line behind me.
After 1 minute of me reading the menu, older lady sitting at the order table was really impatient. She wanted me to hurry up and order. I asked her if the spicy chewy cold noodle came in a combo.
She gruffly said no, was irritated and sighed and pointed up at the wall menu. No joke or overdramatic description here.
She spoke and pointed as if I was an idiot and couldn't read. So I just ordered, waited 25 minutes for my food. She gruffly handed my food to me and said a disingenuous gruff "thank you" in Korean with a scowl.
Since the food was so good and my family wanted to try again, I went back the following week. My wife told me to take the high road and get over the lady. So I returned to order other items. Same lady was there, and same freaking attitude.
I hate to not support what looks like an independent family business, especially in California where I know firsthand how difficult it is to operate a business which is further exacerbated by inflation and poor attitudes of consumers in general. Everyone's road raging, got a hot temper, ready to start a confrontation, complain about high prices and then give a 1 star review.
Sorry everyone, but I'm really telling the truth here.
You should definitely come try the food, but I'll never return again to try their admittedly delicious food.
The interior decor is well-done. It has style, is nice and bright. The owners decided to maximize the small space. I don't blame them for doing that, but you should know it's definitely cramped. If you're claustrophobic, on a crowded day this place might get to you.
This eatery is in a small strip mall. The parking lot got maxed out both times I visited. The immediate street in the area that allows parking had no space because it's high density, and the other parts of the streets near it are red zoned.
Since there was no immediate parking available, I parked about two blocks away in a residential area, just past a church.
I walked the roughly two blocks to get the food, and walked back to my car. It beat the stress of trying to maneuver inside the crowded parking lot.
Again, I'm never going to return even as a Korean American myself. If you're willing to get through all the above, the food is DELICIOUS.
I've already done the foodie miniature version of Lord of the Rings. I've traveled to Mount Doom and made it out twice with kimbaps, noodles and a cutlet. It's now all a memory that I've memorialized for you in this Yelp review.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." -- Gandalf read more