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    BigSpoon Korean Restaurant

    4.5 (172 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Order BigSpoon Korean Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    BigSpoon Korean Restaurant Photos

    BIGSPOON KOREAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - BigSpoon Korean Restaurant

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    Banchans!
    Jenny T.

    This is a cute little restaurant on the East side of San Jose and I was surprised by how busy this place gets on the weekends! They have a special lunch combo on the weekday where you can choose your choice of a sizzling plate of protein and tofu soup (protein of choice) for only $19.99 however certain proteins do have an up charge fee. For that same combo on the weekends - it is $32.99, which isn't bad at all! Fair warning though, this place is less salty than most establishments which I personally didn't not mind at all, the service was quick and the food came out piping hot. The food was pretty good but I'd skip the chicken wings because it isn't Korean style fried chicken, it's just a dry fry with a soy garlic glaze on top.

    Lunch special $19.99 : tofu stew and bbq meat with purple rice
    Crystal H.

    Lunch special $19.99 : tofu stew and bbq meat with purple rice. What a steal! For some proteins, you need to pay extra. They also got a good variety of side dishes. The lady asked if we wanted refills on any of them when she brought out our food. Everything was so good! We liked the creamy seaweed and imitation crab side dishes. The beef short rib was so tender and juicy. Seafood tofu soup had a lot of pieces of clam, squid, mussels, and a big prawn. The lady was really nice and friendly. We came here around 11:30am and it wasn't busy. It started getting a little bit busier after 12pm.

    Tofu soup (mushroom)
    Gabriel G.

    - Really good banchan selection. Kimchi was nice and salty with the good fishy taste. - Great deal, 32.99 combo gets you a tofu soup with protein and purple rice

    BBQ meats and soft tofu soups and kimchi pancake and dumplings
    Christine P.

    I was craving kimchi pancake and banchan so I made my way to check out this Korean spot I have not heard of before. They have a really good lunch special deal where you can get BBQ meat and soft tofu soup. Food: 5/5 The portions of food here are very Big like the name suggests. Along with the kimchi pancake, soft tofu soup, and BBQ meats, I got purple rice and banchan too. Not all Korean places give you purple rice so I was happy to get it. The texture of the rice was perfect! My favorite banchan was the kimchi, fish tofu, and the cucumbers. I got the soft tofu soup in medium spice and it was a good amount of spice. I've tried a lot of soft tofu soups at places but this one tastes different with a bit of sourness making it more flavorful than other places. The BBQ short rib was seasoned well and BBQ pork belly had some char to it making them both amazing. I like that they cut the kimchi pancake up for you. Everything tasted well together. Service: 5/5 The server was very nice and checked in on us a few times. She even gave us dumplings on the house too! I feel like places don't give you things on the house anymore. Ambiance: 5/5 There is ample amount of seating with tables and booths. It has a nice spread out layout. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant. I know Korean food can be expensive so I'm glad I found a place that had large portions and is inexpensive.

    4 pepper spicy tofu soup - so good but probably would get the spiciest level next time
    Deanna Y.

    Review for take out! Went to grab takeout from here to bring to a Friendsgiving. Decided to just come and order versus over the phone. Quoted about 20 mins so went to take a walk and return. Spicy beef tofu soup (1 mild 1 level 4 had good spice but I'd probably try the highest next time) 10/10 Sweet potato and cheese tonkatsu 10/10 Pork belly 10/10 Galbi 6/10 (good but didn't have that bbq char) Chicken wings 5/10. Flavor was good but wings were quite small. Probably would not get again Banchan 100/10 (so many different options and all were so good and addictive!) Overall, majority of the items we got were delicious! I'll be back to dine in and try some other things I was eyeing on the menu.

    Combo Plate
    Brian T.

    Came to this restaurants on a quiet Monday evening to grab some dinner. Haven't had food the whole day, so I was ready to feast here. We ordered the Army Stew and the Wings combo with the soy glaze. First impression was that the bonchons were delicious. They had dishes like kimchi, pickled cucumber, broccoli, seaweed salad, seaweed with mayo, spinach, candied potatoes, and fish cake. My top three were the seaweed salad with mayo as it came with the crab salad, spinach, and seaweed salad. Army Stew - It had a lot of variety of toppings in the soup ranging from mandu to pork belly, spam, cheese, ramen, sausage, rice cakes, and fish cakes. The broth was definitely my favorite broth for army stew I ever had in the area. The ramen cooked just enough mushy that fits my preference and the cheese melted perfectly into the broth. It could feed 3-4 comfortably. Wing Combo Plate - Initially, they came out undressed as we ordered soy garlic, but it was fixed quickly. The sauce was on the lighter side which is perfect for people that don't like sauce heavy wings. On the other hand, the meat was juicy towards the bone, but the a bit dry towards the top and bottom of the drumstick. The rice was cooked perfectly to my preference and the salad had a good amount of dressing to it. It was nice to return here after having it for the first time a while back. The korean auntie was very nice and even refilled all our bonchon dishes. A very cozy restaurant that I would return to again in the future!

    Happy bvo
    Andrew W.

    Yeah honestly a great hole-in-the-wall Korean spot with a convenient location at east side San Jose. Honestly glad I have a decent Korean spot close to me. The prices are actually quite good here. Korean food I feel is known for being overpriced, so I find that the prices here are quite reasonable. They are very generous with the free banchan here. Whether you're dining in or taking togo, they're definitely gonna hook you up with the Kimchi, beansprouts, broccoli, etc. Some items that I got here that I would recommend: Army Stew, Soft Tofu Soup, and Bibimbap. Items to avoid: The wings - even though they're a great deal for KFC, they kinda suck The service is pretty good, with a sweet old Korean lady running the joint. Definitely feel the mom-and-pop vibes. Looking back, I'd recommend BigSpoon to anyone in ESSJ looking for some Korean food. It's not the best Korean food by any means, but it's affordable and convenient. Enough talk.

    Pork belly Tofu Soup
    Amity H.

    Solid Korean spot in east side San Jose. I did a togo pick up and they were so quick! My order was ready in 10-15 minutes from ordering on the phone. Sweet lady helped me out with the order and was super friendly. When I got home, the soup was still hot so it was very enjoyable. They do not skimp on the ingredients, my bowl was filled with pork belly and tofu. Side dishes were tasty and came packed on the side. Great portions and price. After tax, about $20 for a pork belly tofu soup.

    Cheese Tonkatsu ($17.99), Ox Bone Soup ($17.99), Stir Fried Squid ($21.99) & plentiful ban chan!
    Evonne C.

    [Food] Takeout - Cheese Tonkatsu ($17.99): Pretty good, although I wish the tonkatsu patty was a tad bit thicker, but honestly, can't complain because I was shocked there were two tonkatsu portions when most places usually only give you one portion! - Ox Bone Soup ($17.99): I saw that they added a new poster advertising this. Served with noodles. Flavor and portion wise was good! I'm excited to try their other soups! - Stir Fried Squid ($21.99): Flavorful and again plentiful! We ended up making our own kimchi fried rice with this as the protein. - Ban chan (complimentary): Wow I was pleasantly surprised with so much ban chan included! Loved all of them! [Service] - Helpful, fast, friendly [Ambiance] - Small, casual, homey restaurant - Parking is located in a small plaza [Overall] - Love that this area now has a Korean restaurant! I'm definitely going to be a return customer - I would rate this place closer to a 4.5 but I rounded up because honestly, the flavors, portion, and affordability is amazing for the location. - Edit: Please note that there's been some price increase since my review

    Sharon C.

    a great hole in the wall for authentic korean food in east side san jose! although it was a small restaurant in a pretty empty plaza, the place was packed! we had to wait outside since there wasn't a seating area but the sweet korea lady called us once a table was ready! food came out fast and delicious! i loved all the different banchans that they give, definitely a plus! giving daeho a run for its money especially at a significantly affordable price (:

    Plating no 2
    David L.

    This place is awesome! It's not a very big place. But they can handle a large party! My jageun-eomoni comes here all the time with her family. So this place can do both big groups and cozier gatherings. The food was awesome! The galbi tang was very yummy. And the banchan is so good that my other Korean friends started boxing all the leftovers! Service was great! They made short work of my group of about 30 hungry Asian women. And then some. Orders were all taken with only one mistake? (No one is perfect... also 29/30 ain't bad). The food came out quick! I only waited 3 or 4 minutes to receive my galbi tang! Service was very attentive as well! They brought us water and hot tea. They gave us another bowl of tang when they were too quick in bussing the tables! And they even gave 4 kids free Korean ice cream from their frozen dessert fridge! Surely they will take care of you! I will go back for other stuff. And it's only in CV/Dub so I don't have to drive all the way to SJ! Check 'em out! Solid A+

    Army Stew
    Aerielle S.

    This place is certainly a hidden gem! Came at 8:20pm and we were the last customers to be served (place close at 9pm). The grandma was polite and had good service. The place is small but efficient. I came with 2 friends and ordered the army stew and kimchi fried rice. Both were so delicious! Not overwhelming in flavor at all and full of goodies. We weren't even able to finish all the food so we happily packed it to go. For the price, the army stew is big and easily shareable. I would come here again and recommend to anyone that needs a new Korean spot to try!

    Bon chons
    Felicia F.

    What a hidden gem in the East side of San Jose! I would recommend coming early to get a table because the establishment isn't that big, and is a bit difficult to seat a group with 5 or more. Everything was Soo delicious, from the fried chicken wings ( we got half plain and half honey), to the Korean pancake, short ribs (one of the best I've ever had), and the their japchae. Not too mention their bonchons were my husband's personal favorite. We split all of that easily with 4 adults and 2 kids, so their portions were generous. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Just plan accordingly as I previously mentioned about seating capacity. We will order to-go next time! Support your local restaurants! Enjoy!

    Beef Short Rib Soup with cheese

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    27 days ago

    Food is delicious. The owner very nice . Very fresh food. Not fancy but clean! Prices were very reasonable.

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    Ask the Community - BigSpoon Korean Restaurant

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    Shin’s Tofu - Shin's Tofu House menu

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    4.5(357 reviews)
    3.0 miNorth Valley
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    This place is always popular at night and decided to give it a try after passing by numerous times…read morelooking into the window and browsing the menu. I'm glad I did and was definitely delighted by the experience. Hot Stone Bibimbap 5/5: There was a review on Yelp saying that there was no crunchy rice at the bottom and that it was bland. As a fellow Korean, let me give you some advice. Wait a few minutes and let the rice cook more because the stone bowl is still hot. lift up the bottom until you see crunchy bits and then you could start mixing. Excellent mix of seasoned vegetables and rice. They give you the gochujang bottle sauce on the side. you can adjust it to your level. Soon Tofu Soup 5/5. I've had a lot of tofu soup of what I like about this one is that it had a good balance of tofu, kimchi was not super sour like some restaurants and they give you an egg on the side. Very clean finish. Banchan 5/5: The highlight for me was the banchan. I went with a very picky eater friend and she really loved the kimchi ,the cucumber kimchi ,the fish cakes, japchae. They put a lot of effort into making the banchan - which I recognize right away. They also fill up if you run out and the dishes are larger than normal restaurants. Amazing. You read my mind. Interior 4/5: It is a smaller, more intimate seating.( about 25-30 people) . It still has the vibes of of a Korean eatery with K-pop music playing on the TV screen, wooden benches and chairs. You'll have to wait a bit if you go during peak hours and parking is a bit difficult. I suggest going within the first hour they open up when there's less crowds.

    My daughter and I were both feeling pretty under the weather and really craving some comforting…read moresoup. We found this place on Yelp and couldn't believe they were so close to our house. I initially tried placing an order online, but it wouldn't go through. I called instead and the guy on the phone was really helpful and explained that one of the items on their website had an inaccurate description. I ended up ordering the beef tofu soup instead. He told me it would take about 15-20 minutes, and by the time we got there around the 15 minute mark, everything was already ready to go. The soup was SO good. Plenty of tofu and a generous amount of beef. I also loved all the sides they included along with a bowl of rice. Every side dish was delicious, but the kimchi especially stood out. Honestly some of the best kimchi I've had in a long time. The portion was enough for both my daughter and I to share, though that's probably because we're both sick and couldn't eat too much. We're definitely looking forward to ordering from here again. Would love to try the seafood pancake and some of their other dishes next time!

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    Shin’s Tofu - Follow us on instagram @shins_tofu for a free Soda!!

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    Daeho Kalbi Jjim & Beef Soup

    Daeho Kalbi Jjim & Beef Soup

    4.4(1.5k reviews)
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    Genuinely so impressed with my experience here and cannot wait to visit again. I stopped by on a…read moreFriday evening, and it was insanely busy. You'll have to wait at least thirty minutes unless you get there extremely early. My party of nine was seated around 45 minutes after we first joined the waitlist. However, we were able to order our food ahead of time. The atmosphere of the restaurant was bustling and noisy, a super fun and casual spot. Our dishes arrived minutes after we sat down, which was impressive. There was also a variety of delicious side dishes, with various types of kimchi. The nine of us split two braised beef short rib dishes - and we were struggling to finish it all. The portion size is massive, which makes sense since it's a pretty penny. The meat was so tender, literally falling off the bone. There were a ton of potatoes, daikon, rice cake, and carrots as well. The entire dish was savory and delicious, pairing perfectly with rice. You can also specify your spice level. The medium spice was a fair amount of spice but not overpowering. I highly recommend getting the cheese on top, it provides a creamy contrast to the sharp flavors of the meat. I'm still thinking about the braised beef short rib - it was just that delicious!

    My sister and I ordered the kalbijjim short ribs topped with cheese, and wow--this dish was…read moreabsolutely outstanding. The short ribs were incredibly tender, practically falling off the bone, and the sauce was rich, savory, and deeply flavorful. The melted cheese on top added a creamy, indulgent layer that made the dish even more satisfying. The banchan that came with the meal were delightful and well-prepared, offering a nice variety of flavors that complemented the main dish perfectly. Service was great--friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout the meal. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, but it adds to the cozy and intimate dining atmosphere.

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    Daeho Kalbi Jjim & Beef Soup - #1 Braised Short Rib Kalbijjim  (갈비찜.특) $92/Large + $6/Cheese

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    Jeonju Hostetter

    Jeonju Hostetter

    4.0(416 reviews)
    2.8 miNorth Valley
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    We came here for lunch with the family on Saturday around 1 pm. Most of the popular items were sold…read moreout, such as a seafood pancakes, kalbi short ribs, and bossam pork. I ordered the bibimbap pork rice. When it was brought to me, the waitress told me they were out of the sauce so it was very bland. Also to know they were sold out of seafood, squid, and bulgogi bibimbap. Half of the menu items were not available. There were also only 2 Bachan dishes. Kimchi and broccoli. Very disappointed.

    I've been to Jeonju a handful of times, and unfortunately the experience has gone downhill each…read morevisit. The first two times were great -- they served a wide variety of banchan and the seafood tofu soup was packed with fresh shrimp, clams, octopus, mussels, and squid. My daughter also loved the galbijjim. On our third visit, we arrived right at 5 PM and were told they would open shortly because the cook was on lunch. We waited until 5:20 and they still weren't serving, so we ended up leaving. Our most recent visit was the last straw. They only offered two types of banchan (not even kimchi), and they were out of all dishes that included meat or beef. It was surprising for a Korean restaurant to not have Korean BBQ or short ribs available. My seafood tofu soup barely had any seafood, and I had to point out to the waiter that there was no shrimp at all. He later returned with a cheap frozen seafood mix and said they use a seafood mix, which was disappointing considering the higher quality seafood they used to serve (including head-on shrimp). They also did not serve the usual purple rice this time -- instead we were given dry white rice that seemed reheated. There was only one server handling all the tables and cleaning, so service was slow. It's disappointing because the quality used to be much better. Based on our recent experiences, we will not be returning anytime soon.

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    Danbi Korean Restaurant - 29. Bibimbap (no hot stone)

    Danbi Korean Restaurant

    4.3(875 reviews)
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    Came to Danbi around 730pm on a Friday night and there were maybe 3 other parties inside. It's…read morebrightly lit inside, with plenty of tables and a rather open space. Service was brisk. We were just looking for some quick bites, so we ordered a seafood pancake and meat jun to share. Both of these were very generous portions. The seafood pancake had a nice light crisp, and was full of seafood and green onion, while the meat jun game on a bed of fresh cabbage and was full of tender, sweet and flavorful bulgolgi. We really enjoyed both with the banchan! Danbi has some great offerings, and I'll definitely try to come again to try some of the entrees and other things when I'm in the area and looking for a full meal!

    Came by last weekend after we tried to go Rice Junky Katsu next door and there was an unknown wait…read more There were 5 people in front of us and 3 completely open tables around 8PM, and we needed to be somewhere. This restaurant was filling up but it really only seemed like 3 or so employees, one waiting tables, one by the counter, and another in the kitchen. Looks like a family run business that could probably use some more hands! We ordered Yookdaejang: Good! I have no complaints about this one. Galbitang: Didn't try any but my wife said it was kind of bland. We went to Kunjip the week before and didn't get to order this, so we were really craving it. It's very good at Kunjip. I was debating just doing a seafood pancake instead. I saw a bunch of other tables have it and it looked thick and crispy. For both soups, it was too much for us so we took them both home and ate it for dinner the following day. Added more noodles to it too, so value wise it kinda worked out. The banchan was good. They ran out of fish cake but I loved the kimchi! Pretty solid for good korean food with no wait - the only wait really was the lack of employees, but sitting and ordering was quick enough.

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