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    Dae Bak

    4.0 (328 reviews)
    ModerateKorean
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Dae Bak Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    DAE BAK ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Dae Bak

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    Mervi T.

    Good korean food for the price! Also fast service and yummy side dishes. Hits the spot when you are craving korean food

    Sul Lung Tang (ox tail soup)
    Jenny K.

    Sul lung tang is typically creamier. This one was tasted very watered down... also traditionally with a different type of noodle.. will not be getting again :( Tasted the sweet and spicy fried chicken which was edible but again sauce tasted watered down. I do like how it's pieces of a whole chicken (rather than drumsticks/wings only) Flavor of yuk gae jang (pork neck hot pot) and gal bi tang (short rib soup) were good though so would recommend these.

    Banchan side dishes
    Miles A.

    Was a great choice to finally stop in here for lunch. You enter on Race St and go upstairs to a second floor seating area, with a nice view of the street. You're greeted and sat warmly, and banchan side dishes are brought out - had their tofu, bean sprouts, kimchi, seaweed salad, and spicy noodle. Be prepared for that, it's a lot of food! As for main, I ordered bulgogi bibimbap and it was served in a sizzling pot. Lots of fresh ingredients (assortment of veggies, egg, rice) and the meat was very tasty. Pleasant laid back spot, would like to try more of their entrees. Thanks

    4F Naeng Myun
    Cindy W.

    decent naengmyun that certainly fulfilled my craving for it, but you can tell it is packed naengmyun made with either a soup concentrate or powder. This place is a no frills korean restaurant in the heart of chinatown.

    The food was really good and high quality for the price, and we got a lot of great and flavorful banchan. The waiter was very attentive and made sure we got a window seat. Very nice view of Chinatown from our seat, and nice atmosphere.

    4F Naeng Myun
    Kristen D.

    The food was really good! I quite enjoyed the side dishes (especially the kimchi). Everything was so flavorful and delicious. The location was a tad confusing at first. We were a little uncertain where to go at first, but it was actually quite simple, haha. The restaurant was pretty empty, but there was a constant stream of door dash. It was a nice place and clean. The water was actually really good too!

    4C. Ojing eo Dolsot Bibim Bap
    Jina P.

    I came him looking for something spicy and I got exactly what I wanted. The restaurant itself was hard to find. You have to walk into a deserted looking food court and walk up to the second floor. There weren't many people there when I went so I was seated right away. I got a ton of bon chon almost immediately and then I ordered the squid bibimbop. It came out sizzling hot in a dol sot bowl and comprised of rice, spicy squid, fried egg, and some bell peppers. I loved how hot it was and it was incredibly filling. It was a bit pricy at $20 or so, but given how full I was afterwards, a total bang for your buck.

    Rice cakes

    Delicious! Kimchi was awesome-- good crunch, nice and spicy. Rice cakes were also so good. Hot plates were fireGod I love Korean food

    Ben H.

    Amazing food and service!!! Mark and David were the most excellent hosts and servers. Not only was their service super punctual, but they brought the party to us! Very informative about the cuisine and helped us make the perfect ratio of soju to beer! We would come back just for them !!!!

    1A. Fried Mandu and 5E. Jeyuk

    I discovered this place last week as I wanted to try something new before a movie. I've been a fan of Korean food since I first ate at GIWA on Sansom street in the early 2000s (no longer exists, unfortunately). This place exceeded my expectations! The banchan is plentiful. The table overlooks Race Street from the second floor. The atmosphere is minimalist but it works. I ordered a sautéed pork and veg dish called Jeyuk. It comes on a sizzling hot cast iron skillet so it stays hot for the duration of the meal. And the best part is the ending. The spicy gochujang sauce sitting on the hot dish slowly caramelizes and offers the most savory flavor! It's truly something special. I'll most certainly be back. *Shout out to my server David. He's swift, attentive, and gives you your space.

    Jjajangmyun
    Bosco H.

    Philly doesn't have a ton of Korean options to choose from but Dae Bak was conveniently located where we were traveling so stopped by for a bite. It's located in a mall with other restaurants and bars within Chinatown. Ordered the Jjangmyun (15) which was just ok. Portion was really big so definitely come if you're hungry but taste wise, it's about as average as it gets. Good service and plenty of seating which is nice.

    Julie F.

    I wanted Korean food and this was near our hotel. We got several apps to share and I wish I was hungrier to have eaten more food. There were so many options and everything was fresh and tasty.

    Side dishes

    Service was good, gave us extra side dishes without even asking. So much tofu and seafood in the soup. Good ambiance!

    3B. Pork Tofu Stew

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    6 months ago

    Super nice staff and so many options to choose from! A lot of banchan too and love the lively atmosphere.

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    4 months ago

    I love this place, best Korean food in Philly. I always come here when I have a craving

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    10 months ago

    Good service. The place itself in the Chinatown location is has very many space and ambiance. Food is very good especially the side dishe

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Dae Bak

    Is Dae Bak doing take out during this COVID period?

    Yes

    Is there an option for water based soondubu? Instead of seafood broth? what vegetables are in the vegetable option?

    Do they accept credit card? I know many places in China town are cash only... just want to be double sure.

    Yes, we do accept all major credit cards here at Daebak!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    4.9(82 reviews)
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    This place was great! Brought my husband and kids for dinner when we were stuck in Philly (a story…read morefor a different day). I was surprised how much my picky eater family enjoyed the food here! The service is very laid back, but that's ok, the food made up for everything else. The only negative was the bonchon at the start of the meal. I like when they offer more freshness like pickled radish and what not, this was on the heavier side with fried potatoes and something called "fish cake" that I would not recommend. The beef stir fry was a perfect meal, as far as I am concerned, containing my fave veggies (onions, mushrooms, carrots, cabbage). The flavor was spot on! My husband really enjoyed the bulgogi bibimbap; while I liked it too it wasn't one of my favorites and the rice wasn't crispy when we were served, like it usually is. When you are done you pay at the counter. Really "local" vibes and I highly recommend for the food!

    Tasty food with lots of seating on a Friday evening…read more Spicy boneless chicken was good. Not too salty, not too drenched in sauce, nicely coated. Portion size was surprisingly big in a good way. Bulgogi Bimbibap was good but the bulgogi was a bit too saucy/wet for me. It made the rice by that area wet. Would likely not get this again unless it changes. After ordering, the staff brought some complimentary banchan. The potatoes were my favorite! I would come back for the chicken and to try some other things on the menu.

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    Buk Chon Korean Cuisine - Spicy Pork Bun Japchae

    Buk Chon Korean Cuisine

    4.4(376 reviews)
    0.8 miOld City
    $$

    One beautiful phlidelphia day, my daughter and I were famished looking for some delicious food to…read moresatisfy our hunger. Alas! We found Buk Chon a cozy korean resturant with warm vibes and even better food. I dare say...the best korean food I have eaten! We went three times in the over the span of 2 days. Yes! 3 times. And obviously we loved it everytime. I insist that you order the spicy pork buns...absolutely delicious and my personal favorite is the kimchi paellla but i digress because every single dish at this establishment is wonderful to say the least

    Yeah, so I forgot to take any pictures, but I was here twice this week with colleagues when we had…read morean offsite meeting nearby. Everything was delicious, from the apps to the dishes, and definitely very healthy portions! Service was pretty good as well, with attentive staff despite there not being a whole lot of them. The food is Korean-inspired with some fusion elements, and all of it was nicely executed. Fried chicken bites were a pretty big hit, and the pork buns were good as well - crispier than usual, but still really good. Toppoki was nice too, and have to say that calling it rice gnocchi is pretty smart to make it easier to understand outside the Asian POV. Kimchi paella was essentially kimchi fried rice, but tasty and filling, and the scrape off parts at the bottom, that's rice gold right there. I don't always eat rice, but when I do, I prefer slightly burnt at the bottom of a stone pot. Second visit, I went with fire chicken, which is tasty and has some kick. I did notice that my not Asian colleague was asked if he was sure about the three fire symbols, but I was not :P Space is pretty nice inside too, a nice combination of old and new; the bathroom was nice and clean, and the general feel inside is casual but elegant. I wouldn't be opposed to returning, but would need to know much more about allergy protocols and awareness, which admittedly isn't always a strong point in Asian cuisine.

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    Buk Chon Korean Cuisine - First time and loving the venue and vibe. Waiting for our food

    First time and loving the venue and vibe. Waiting for our food

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    Mr Pig Korean BBQ - Cooking plate

    Mr Pig Korean BBQ

    4.4(118 reviews)
    0.2 miCallowhill

    My friend and I finally decided to try this spot we always pass, and honestly I'm glad we did. What…read morepulled us in was that it's not AYCE. We're never great at eating our money's worth, so the pay-as-you-go setup felt like a better fit. We got the favorite set for two, which ended up being plenty. The biggest highlight right away: they grill everything for you. KBBQ is just better when you can sit back and eat instead of managing the grill yourself. They also use a back grill to keep things moving, so there's barely any pause between rounds of meat. It felt really efficient. Also, the place is surprisingly clean and doesn't have that heavy "you're going to smell like smoke for the next 5 hours" vibe, which I really appreciated. Somehow they keep it all under control even with constant grilling. Service-wise, the staff were attentive and clearly working hard, especially since it seemed a bit understaffed. That said, my friend did feel a little uncomfortable at times. There were a few moments where it felt like we were being watched closely, almost like they were worried about a dine-and-dash situation, and we were asked multiple times if we had paid. I personally read it more as things being slightly disorganized with a small team juggling cooking, serving, and payments, but I can see how it might come across differently depending on how you interpret it. Food-wise, the meat was very good, but the banchan really stood out to me. The cabbage salad with a gingery soy dressing was super refreshing and cut through the richness of the meat perfectly. Free refills on banchan are always a win too. I also liked that the grill came with corn cheese, egg, and sprouts, nice extras you don't always get. The corn cheese wasn't as sweet as I expected, and the egg was a bit on the salty side, but still enjoyable. The tilted grill setup was another plus since it lets the grease drain away, so the meal didn't feel overly heavy like some AYCE spots. Overall, it was a really fun experience. A bit pricey, but worth it for the quality and how easy the whole meal felt. Just something to be aware of with the service dynamic depending on how sensitive you are to that kind of thing.

    FOOD I had their bulgogi bibimbap. It came with miso soup…read moreand gochujang sauce that you can control how much to add for spiciness. It was good, but quite pricey given how little meat was in the dish. I would visit again if craving KBBQ or for its convenient location but wouldn't go out of my way given the cost and amount. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly! AMBIANCE Ample seating is available inside the store. We visited on a weekday evening, so it wasn't too crowded, but I can imagine it can get so on the weekends. PARKING Paid street/lot parking is available at a limited capacity.

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    Interior

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    Jong Ka Jib - Side dishes

    Jong Ka Jib

    4.4(404 reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    Great Korean restaurant. Friendly service, reasonable price, easy parking. I had Bibimbap, which…read moreis the same price as stir fried bulgogi, and I find the latter of better value as the Bibimbap has very little meat. The mung bean appetizer tastes good but not sure exactly what's inside, slightly too greasy. Will definitely come back to try their soup.

    My first time trying this restaurant. For the most part, the food was pretty good, the service was…read moredecent, and the restaurant is nicely decorated. Overall Ratings Atmosphere - 4/5 Service - 3/5 Food - 4/5 Parking - Private Parking Lot Atmosphere - The restaurant gives off a vibe of a place that used to be a go to spot but has since been outpaced by other Korean restaurants in the area. While it is very nicely decorated, when we first walked in it felt a bit quiet and not as lively or vibrant as some of the other Korean spots nearby. Service - The staff is friendly and the service is sufficient. What We Ordered - Mung Bean Pancake - which was pretty good Galbi BBQ Beef Ribs - which were not as good as some competitors in the area, for example the beef ribs from Dubu have much better flavor Seafood Tofu Stew - which was very good Final Thoughts - In terms of food, my favorite dish by far was the tofu stew, which I was told is what they are known for. Everything else ranged from okay to good. I would come back to try other items, but personally I feel there are stronger options in the same area.

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    Seorabol Korean Restaurant - Interior

    Seorabol Korean Restaurant

    4.2(621 reviews)
    6.0 miOlney
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    I love Korean food and when we travel to big cities, I like to seek it out…read more We were staying in downtown Philly and decided to try Seorabol. The decor is fairly modern and comfortable. We just walked in on a Saturday night, without a reservation, and did get a table, but it filled up shortly after. I loved the bonchon they served after we sat down. I love kim chi and all things fermented; so it was a nice way to start our meal! I ordered the kimchi fried rice with shrimp, which was good, but I probably wouldn't order again. The flavor was one note, I wish it had more veggies in it and I'm not sure why it is served on a bed of melted cheese. My husband got to hot Bibimbop bowl (the hot one), and he paid extra for bulgogi beef. This was a very flavorful dish that I highly recommend!! I also had a couple of the pomegranate soju drinks which I enjoyed; similar in taste to a vodka cranberry.

    My husband and I love finding local Korean spots when we are out and about and found this quaint…read moretucked-away spot in Old City. Needless to say, their Korean BBQ is out of this world! The seasoning, Banchan options, and soju were just what the doctor ordered! The staff is Korean and even though we communicated through limited English, they were so friendly and excited for us to enjoy the food! Definitely recommend! Food quality: 5/5 Customer Service: 4/5 Value for cost: 4.5/5

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    So Korean Grill

    So Korean Grill

    4.5(128 reviews)
    6.6 mi

    This place was ridiculous. I called to make a reservation and had my name/number written down. We…read morehad a 7:00 PM reservation for 4 on Valentine's Day but were NEVER seated OR acknowledged. I came at 6:55PM. We stood at the "please wait to be seated" sign for over 10-15 minutes without being acknowledged. We tried to be patient since we saw the hostess juggling multiple tasks at once. Multiple couples arrived after us and were seated first. Emphasis on they were in line AFTER us. When a waiter finally showed up, he started seating people that were last/behind us without asking for names for reservations. Who starts from the back??? Even after telling that waiter we had a reservation and were there first, he looked at us like he felt guilty. Very poor organization and guest management. Disappointing from the moment we walked in. I was excited to try the food at this place but will never show up again after what was experienced.

    Came on a Saturday afternoon and it was surprisingly quiet. We went specifically hoping for yukhoe…read morebecause we saw it on a photo outside and yes, they do have it. It just is not on the printed menu. Very cool, but also slightly chaotic. If you speak Korean, there is basically an unlocked menu situation. Same with tteokbokki. Not listed, but available. Love that for the insiders. The only downside is you do not really know all the prices ahead of time, and things ended up being a little higher than expected. It is right next to H Mart though, so prime real estate. The yukhoe came out still a tiny bit frozen in the center, but the seasoning was great. Nicely balanced sesame oil, garlic, a little sweetness. They mix it for you at the table which is a nice touch. We were mid mixing and they tried to take our picture which caught us off guard, but honestly it is a fair trade for how attentive and kind they were. Seafood tofu pot was a bit underwhelming protein wise. One shrimp and maybe two squid rings. Not exactly seafood heavy. That said, the broth itself had good depth and the tofu was silky and comforting. Service was warm and attentive the whole time. The space is super picturesque. Small booths with grills built into the tables, wooden frames, very traditional KBBQ vibes. Cozy and cute without feeling cramped. Overall, good experience. Just a little pricey and I wish everything was clearly listed on the menu. But vibes and service are definitely there.

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    Set A

    Dae Bak - korean - Updated May 2026

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