Love this place - especially the house special tofu stews. We make it a point to visit at least a couple of times a year, even though it's more than an hour's drive. I think it's the best Korean we've had outside of NYC Koreatown. Great for groups, service is always great from the kimchi appetizers right after you sit down throughout the meal. read more

I can't wait to come back here! Hands down the best Korean food I have ever had. Portions are huge - come hungry! read more

DuBu - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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Highlight of this place is the fried fish they gave us for appetizer, and the seafood tofu soup. I wish the seafood pancake came out more hot and crispy. As for galbi and cold noodles, it was pretty average. read more

DuBu - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Excellent food and great service. Ambience comfortable. We had a great time. Will be back.

I really, really want to like DuBu. Having been here a number of times in the last few years, I can say I've had some really great meals (usually at the very beginning or at the very end of service hours) and I've had some...huge disappointments. I'm a creature of habit: I'll almost always order haemul pajeon to start, then seafood or mixed soondubu or LA galbi. This past time, the haemul pajeon was too thick, so the middle was completely undercooked, the pancake was mushy instead of crispy, and the batter around some of the larger pieces of seafood was slimy. We immediately stopped eating it and were going to send it back, but then we saw that all of the pajeons coming out of the kitchen looked exactly the same. Honestly, if the kitchen staff working that day don't know how to make a dish, just don't make it that day. It's unacceptable that they were serving undercooked, completely incorrectly made food to paying customers. The soondubu are generally great and the LA galbi is always tasty. The last time I went, I had some kind of beef soup special served with the full bone, which tasted intensely beefy in a good way. I always enjoy the banchan - their kimchi is some of the best I've had. Service really only slides when they're very busy; usually it's quite good. Sometimes the haemul pajeon is outstanding - it's just such a bummer that sometimes it comes out inedible. I guess if I'm in the mood for Korean food at 10:30am or at 9:00pm, when no one else is there, then I'd turn to Dubu. But really, I'd just love to see a bit more consistency from this place. read more

Great Korean spot! Came here with a couple friends on a Saturday night and got seated right away. We shared the Tonkatsu, which was pretty good. I thought the potato chips was a bit interesting since they aren't usually served with this dish but they were good nonetheless. For myself, I ordered the Army Dubu Soup which was great. I love spam, so this was a real treat. Well worth the visit! read more

DuBu - tonkatsu: yummm - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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Growing up in Philly can be quite rough when there's no good Korean food nearby. Thankfully, Dubu opened up for me while I was in high school and have stayed with me since then. Of all the nooks and crannies I've explored in this small yet charming city, no place compares to Dubu. The staff is extremely welcoming and remember you when you come back. It's not just a restaurant to stuff your face and leave, but a place like visiting your mother's after a long day at work. Besides all the warmth of the people you'll meet, the food fills your stomach like no other. If you miss your family in Korea, it'll feel like they're with you. If you never tried Korean food, it'll open up your tastebuds to a new world! Some of my favorites are pictured here: la samyupsal, beef stew, squid bibimbap. Of course the soondubu too. My favorite part is that all the meals comes sizzling hot If you're like me, and want to find the perfect Korean meal, come here and support a family of wonderful people. Despite covid, everyone is staying safe and working hard. There's no other Korean restaurant I would be more willing to support than here. If you try it, lemme know your favorite meal! read more

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Was here last night for dinner and the food and service was impeccable. My husband and I have been coming here for years and Dubu never disappoints. This place is hands down the best soondubu restaurant in Philly, in my opinion. I LOVE the oyster and the seafood soondubu here. They have the perfect sweet, briney, seafoody umami flavor that can only come from real seafood. The small side dishes (banchan) here are free and you get as many refills as you want, which I really appreciate because I've recently discovered that this is not true at every Korean restaurant. I also really like their seafood pancake, dolsot bibimbap (regular and squid are both good, the pork was not bad either), nengmyun (seasonal), and LA galbi. The only dish I wasn't crazy about was the galbijjim. I've never had it anywhere else, so I was caught offguard because the broth was sweet and I did not expect that from a soup/stew. Another thing that sets Dubu apart is their fresh kimchi. Even though I love fermented kimchi, the fresh kimchi here is so refreshing and addictive! And you get as much as you want for free! I was told that they don't take reservations for parties less than eight, so try to come before the 6pm dinner rush if you do not want a long wait on the weekends. read more

I'm updating my review to give this place a 5/5 because... I come here at least once a month and never disappointed. the kimchi here is one of the best kimchi's i've had, very flavorful and fresh. the banchans here overall are all pretty decent and love that they have a good variety every time i come the soondubus here are all delicious but there are so many other good dishes here i've tried and can't wait to try more the LA galbi here is delicious. it's been a necessary order every time i've come. the cold noodles (naengmyun) as well is delicious! the noodles are fresh and chewy, i love them. this place always satisfies my korean food cravings every time i come. read more

DuBu - Galbi & Naengmyun combo. So delicious - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Food is a bit salty. But overall it's good! Service is quick! Ambiance is quiet and cozy! read more

DuBu - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Food was good but very overpriced for its portions. Ambiance was good. A lot of places to sit and wait outside along with waiting areas inside. Service was quick, but the meat came out and we had to wait 5 minutes before the rice and soup came out. So we were just eating meat and it got cold by the time rice came. Soup came 5 minutes after rice, so things were cooling down. And I didn't pay $130 to eat cold rice and meat. read more

Came back a few times during my time in the Philly area. It is rare to come across a place with both a youthful chic-ness with decor, menu, etc. AND really good food--but I think Dubu has cracked it. The spicy galbi jjim is on point; as are basically all the other things I ended up trying but didn't have the self-control to not demolish before thinking to snap a picture. The line does get long here for good reason, so just brace yourself for that. I think they do a good job of getting everyone seated quickly though! Highly recommend! read more

DuBu - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Good food. Very busy during prime time. Can call ahead to make reservations. I loved their bonchon variety. The fried fish was delicious. Their kimchi is spicy and flavorful. My boyfriend always buys a large kimchi to go. For my dubu soup I ordered less spicy level and it did not have much of a taste, I will try regular spicy next time. The new braised pork belly dish was delicious! Perfect fat to meat ratio. The new beef stew dish was also excellent, but I do not remember the name of it. Full of flavor! read more

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Hot take but probably not that hot of a take: DuBu = best Korean restaurant in Philly. In a sea of over-priced, Americanized letdowns, DuBu is straight killin it -- boasting a generous array of complimentary banchan (side dishes) and blasting all your modern kpop faves in the background (move over BTS, Stray Kids is in town). In all seriousness, I've left DuBu satisfied every time I've went. The soondubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) is their eponymous signature dish, and my go-to each time. There are several variations of the jjigae; mandu soondubu (dumpling soft tofu stew) is always solid, as was my most recent pick, budae soondubu jjigae (army soft tofu stew -- replete with Spam, hot dogs, etc.). The other entrees look decent too, but why come to DuBu and not get dubu, yanno? It's customary in Korean culture to offer a selection of side dishes alongside the entree, and DuBu sure doesn't skimp. Everyone gets a portion of japchae, kimchi, the most yummy side salad everrrr, and a fried mackerel PLUS a raw egg to crack into your piping hot soondubu. I was wavering between 4 vs. 5 stars, mostly because DuBu isn't all that cheap, but the fun factor of the egg and that CUTE salad got me feelin' generous. One sad note is that DuBu is not as spicy as it claims. You choose the spice level of your stew (from not spicy all the way up to DANGER! spicy), but when my friends and I went to test our spice tolerances with DANGER!, it was about as dangerous as a round of middle school birthday party laser tag. While middle school birthday party laser tag was the total shiz, it was rather disappointing that the "spiciest" level of soondubu wasn't even spicy enough to make me take an extra sip of barley water. DuBu, do better. All in all, a solid Korean spot with nice indoor dining facilities, pre- and during Covid-19! read more

DuBu - Complimentary banchan - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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Update - nothing nefarious, but it's obvious now they're on their way to becoming Applebee's style. Everything is overly doused with the colonist slurry of cheap vegetable oil, table salt and corn syrup. Damn.. drive all the way here and now this bs. read more

Came back and i loved my mushroom soondubu - just made a mistake ordering the curry one last time. The best i've had in philly so far!

Stopped in on recent H Mart outting. Getting take out to enjoy at home. We had the pork and vegetable fried rice and pan fried dumplings. Both were very tasty. Pork was spicy and extremely flavourful. Excellent, efficient service. We will be back. read more

We had ordered takeout, but I feel compelled to comment on the experience of when I went to pick up the food. This place was JUMPIN. A lot of energy - people walking in and out, plenty of customers waiting to be seated...so you know you are in for a solid experience when you see that. The pick-up process was super easy too - clear signage at the host booth to head to the back and my food was ready on time. Also - additional shoutout, I had a 25 minute drive home, and the food was still piping hot when I got back to eat. So their packaging is stellar and perfect if you are getting delivery/picking up. Now to the food - I wasnt under or over-whelmed. It was good and what was expected. I enjoyed the variety of different vegetables used in their dishes, and the consistency ginger, garlic, and chili highlighted throughout. Their soups were very spicy - so be prepared...if you aren't accustomed to spicy food, get it as mild as you can. I had their Kimchi Dolpan Bibimbap, which was like a fried rice with pork belly, and the entree size is huge. It literally served as my dinner and lunch the next day. That plays into pricing, which for the portions, it is more than fairly priced. All in all - we enjoyed it, but for where we live, I wouldn't say it is worth the 25/30 minute drive. If I lived closer, easily would be a spot we would go back to. If you are in the northeast philly area, definitely give it a try. read more

Stopped by with a few friends on a Sunday night for dinner. There was no wait and we were seated right away. We decided to start off with some appetizers. We got the haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) and goon mandoo (fried dumplings). The small size of the pancake was more than enough for 3 people and delicious. My friend who is vegan was able to eat the fried dumplings as they were vegan! We each got our own tofu stew which came with a side of rice. I tried the seafood tofu stew which included shrimp, mussels, and other seafood. The tofu was soft and the broth was very flavorful. I got the spicy level which had a good kick to it but not overwhelmingly spicy. They were able to make a water based tofu stew for my vegan friend which was awesome. She did mention though her stew was a little bland. The interior was nice and the service was great! Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about each dish and the ingredients. Also our dinner was very affordable as we felt that we got a lot of food for the price. COVID-wise, everyone in the restaurant was wearing masks. Overall, loved it here and will definitely be coming back soon!! read more

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Delicious food. Amazing atmosphere. Wonderful Customer Service. I love this restaurant. The food is amazing, and the employees are kind and helpful. In addition, I greatly appreciate Dubu staying true to serving traditional Korean dishes and ensuring that its cultural influences are incorporated into its modern style. Many Asian restaurants tend to strip cultural decor away and default to pure white walls in attempt to appeal to more non-Asian customers, but I love how Dubu is steadfast in keeping its Korean restaurant Korean. Everyone is welcome and restaurants shouldn't have to mute their cultures to make newcomers "comfortable." read more

This place was great! The food was delicious! The service was super fast and everyone was so nice. The restaurants also nice and clean. I will be going back to try other items on their menu read more

I've been to Dubu many times. It's located near Hmart and they share the same parking lot. They now have individual paper menu placemats and your meal does come with side dishes. I have tried dishes like the Jeyuk Dolpan Bibimbap, LA Galbi, Bibimbap, Japchae, and Gejang. I am a fan of meat, especially pork so I enjoyed the Jeyuk Dolpan Bibimbap the most. I recommend trying the LA Galbi and Gejang. The Gejang had so much of the raw crab meat and I enjoyed the spicy red sauce that it was covered in. I will say it was a bit too saucy for my taste but still enjoyable. The Bibimbap was a bit too plain for me. 4/5 read more

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Cozy Korean place that we stopped at in Philly on a road trip to NY. This place was a real pleasant surprise. The banchan (반찬) came with a salad and fish which most Korean places I go to don't come with which was nice. The LA Galbi was fantastic. Lots of flavor. The soondubu was good as well. The tofu has a silkier texture than other soondubus I usually have. The mandu was fine, not my favorite but still enjoyed it. My only small gripe is that you have to pay for bowls of rice ($2/ea.) Not a huge deal at all, but just a bit surprising. #Inflation :( Overall I really enjoyed this place, and would love to come back if I had the chance. read more

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Growing up, my family always went to Jong Ka Jib for soondubu (tofu soup). We still go, but recently a friend introduced me to DuBu. It's quickly risen to become my favorite Korean restaurant in the Cheltenham area! Located conveniently right next to HMart, you can eat and grocery shop during one trip. They even share a parking lot so you don't have to move your car in between errands. The food is why I keep coming back every visit, bringing more friends and family each time. The side dishes are varied and fresh. I'm picky with my kimchi and pickled foods, but I've never had a problem here. Main entree portions are large (even the lunch options), so like most traditional Asian cuisines, it's fun eating family style. All the ingredients are prepared well and the beef is super tender! The stone bowl rice is so fluffy and delicate. Our waitress was super kind and helped us scrape the crispy rice from the bottom of the bowls. It's one of the best parts - kind of like rice crackers. Or if you prefer, they're able to pour hot tea or water to help soften the rice. Overall, the service was attentive and warm, and the food was authentic and amazing. Tons of options for everyone. Can't recommend DuBu enough! read more

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Ordered the king galbi stew as it was the new chef's recommended item. The beef ribs were very soft and tender and the portion size was definitely ample, albeit a little pricy. The side dishes were delicious, especially the various types of kimchi. My server, David, was incredible. He was super attentive and took care of everything for me, without even needing to ask. read more

DuBu - King Galbi Stew - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

My friends and I were on the hunt for some good Korean food and we stumbled upon DuBu. It's a bit far from Philly but completely worth the drive. The restaurant has its own parking lot and offers takeout, delivery, and limited dine in. The server takes your temperature before you sit down and there's hand sanitizer on the tables. The waiters were really friendly and continuously checked on our tables and refilled our water and side dishes. DuBu features some quality soondubu and other popular Korean dishes. I got the Mixed Soondubu ($12.99) and the portions are hefty. Every meal comes with banchan (side dishes) and sungnyung (the leftover rice from your stone pot mixed with barley tea). The soondubu really hit the spot especially since I went when it was freezing outside. The broth was so flavorful and I liked how the tofu was in huge chunks. My only qualm is that my friends and I ordered the "danger" spicy level, and we all agreed that we were expecting something spicier. But overall this is hands down one of the best soondubu places I've found in Philly (or near Philly). TLDR: Quality soondubu that hits the spot and comes with plenty of side dishes. read more

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This is an authentic Korean restaurant located in K-town. Most of the customers dining in there are Korean people. The restaurant provided unlimited appetizers. La Galbi are marinated beef ribs. Ribs are cooked properly and is east to chew. We also have the seafood pancake. Recommend. Bibimbap has a mixed of proteins and vegetables. Recommend. read more

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This is my first time at DuBu. It's conveniently located inside the Hmart of Cheltenham parking lot. Of course parking is a little rough especially during peak hours, but if you circle around a bit, a space will open up. We didn't dine in this time bc hubby wants something else so I got take-out instead. Upon entering i immediately saw DuBu playroom, it was taped off probably bc of the pandemic. But it is definitely a great addition to a restaurant to keep our little ones entertain while we wait for seats. Our waiter/cashier is very patient during ordering since this is my first time. I order LA Galbi, Gejang, and Kimchi Dubu soup. He triple checked with me three times to ensure that I'm aware that Gejang is raw crab. My food didn't take long either, probably no more than 15 minutes, which is awesome! I feel as though DuBu really cares about their food bc my soup and entrees were wrapped tightly in another bag, probably to prevent spills. The Gejang were wrapped on top of a bag of ice, since it is raw, it keeps the crab fresh. I absolutely enjoy everything, Dubu soup are very flavorful, forgot to mention you can adjust level of spiciness to your liking. LA Galbi is also very flavorful and tender. The sauce on Gejang is sooo freaking'licious, got me drooling just by thinking about it lol. If you ok with raw sushi, then try Gejang, you definitely won't regret, you won't even taste the crab, just their licious finger licking sauce lol. Almost forgot the sides, I loved everything except the fish. That fish got so many bones it is really hard to eat. Now some might say the bones are very thin that you can swallow, but if you are like me who can't swallow those, then you might wanna avoid the fish. read more

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*HIGHLY RECOMMEND* 4.5/5 Stars Every Asian I know in the area brings up Dubu when we speak of Korean food in Philly, and after coming here a few times, I can agree that Dubu is one of the best Korean restaurant in the area. The place is always popping whenever I go, even during the weekdays. And even if you have to wait, it's only for like 15 minutes. Dubu (Korean word for Tofu) is known for their Soondubu (soft tofu stew). They have many variations of it and also a bunch of other entrees as well. I have tried their stews, hot plates, and appetizers, and all of them are really good. And the price is very reasonable in comparison to other Korean places I've been to. *ENTREES* Soondubus - I've had the Mixed (beef and seafood) and the beef soondubus and they hit the spot during the winter and cooler Spring days. You can choose how spicy you want (5 spice levels) and I tend to go to medium and it's perfect for me (not as spicy as you think). The tofu is soft and just melts in your mouth, and they are quite generous the amount of beef and seafood. They even give you an egg to crack into the soup! I've never had soondubu elsewhere that does that. *Jeyuk Dubu Kimchi - pork marinated in kimchi and pepper paste with tofu on a hot place. This dish is soo good. Seasoned very well, definitely on the saltier side, but with a nice spice kick. Goes well with rice and a light soup. Plus the marinade goes so well with the tofu. I love that it comes on a hot plate so that it chars the exterior of the tofu but you still get the softness when you bite into it Dubu Gui - salad with fried tofu filled with beef and vegetable (basically like a tofu sandwich. The tofu was pretty big and I really like how crispy and puffy the exterior is. The sesame dressing taste really good with this. Maybe a bit too much dressing for the salad but overall, I enjoyed this and it was definitely a very unique dish. Haemul Pajeon - this is a pretty standard seafood pancake. Ordered the small and even that was pretty big for two people to share. *VERDICT* I definitely would come over and over again read more

Good food but the price went way up. Too bad because it was a place for everyone. Service is good and fast. read more

Great place for kids. They have a TV room in the front and rock climbing wall too. You can also get some crayons to color too. The food is good - would give it 4 stars. The appetizers are hit and miss. The kimchi are huge pieces - wished they made them smaller. The broccoli with some aioli is good. Enjoyed the beef ribs - sweet and savory. The fried fish is ok. Lots of little bones you gotta navigate through. They also had a mashed dish that was sweet - not my fav. I ordered the hot stone bulgogi. It's beef unless you order something specific. They come around and start to snip the pieces into bite sized manageable pieces. Nice touch. The meal was good - wished it came with more sauce because it was pretty plain without it. Food is good here and the service is great. Very kid friendly. read more

DuBu - Appetizers - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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My favorite soondubu place! I have had so many bowls of soondubu from many places and this has the right amount of flavor, depth, and spice! So much silken tofu and beef, paired with a bowl of korean rice. Highly recommend you come here for authentic soondubu. Their service is very good, and the banchan (side dishes) are refillable and endless. The fried tofu banchan is so crunchy yet soft inside. If you're going to get any appetizer I recommend their jeon! The pancake is really crispy and chewy and the soy sauce complements it nicely. Parking is right by the Hmart and easy to find, and the pricing is what I would expect for good quality food. read more

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This place is awesome! It's so hard to find authentic Korean food, and we thought this place was 100% worth the ~50 minute drive...(maybe we were just really craving Korean food). The soondubu was amazing, we ordered both the beef and the kimchi with pork. The place has a very cozy vibe and the service was top notch. It's definitely a bit of a hike to get there, but we'll be back! read more

DuBu - Spicy Pork Bibimbap, Spicy Beef Soondubu, Kimchi SoonDubu - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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Good Korean Cuisine, pancake, LA Kalbi, jap chae, Bibimbap all so delicious, appetizers were also tasty, fast & efficient service. Enjoyed our meal at this restaurant. read more

Pleasant atmosphere, delicious wine, good staff, near the house, good parking, round tables read more

DuBu - Pleasant atmosphere, delicious wine, good staff, near the house, good parking, round tables - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

My go-to spot for Korean food! I absolutely love this place. During covid, they do a great job handling the safety practices. The tables are kept 6 ft distance and sanitized after customers leave. The restaurant is spacious, and it has a great vibe. The outdoor dining is set up nicely, and you have water bottles for drinks. The banchan selection here is very good- I enjoy the fish, sesame sauce salad, potato dish & macaroni salad. I am not a big banchan person, but I love eating them here religiously. I have tried many Korean restaurants in Philly, and I can tell the banchan dishes they offered in Dubu are the best! I usually order the beef soondubu, and it is always delicious. The curry soondubu has a curry texture since the broth is very dense. The taste reminds me of the Japanese curry. I am not a big fan of the curry soondubu though since I want it to be more like a bowl of soup with a hint of curry flavor, not a curry dish itself. My favorite dishes are the galbi and bulgogi. They are very tasty and you can tell the meat quality is good. The bulgogi is very interesting as it is served as a soup dish with vermicelli. I was surprised since I only find this dish was served like that in NYC and LA. The bulgogi is a bit sweet for me, but still delicious. This place is pricier than the average restaurant, but it's absolutely worth your money. Philly does not have many great Korean restaurants, but this one won't disappoint you. read more

DuBu - La Galbi Beef SoonDubu - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Perfect place to eat when it's chilly/raining. I've been coming here for the past 4-5 years now and the food is delicious. My go-to order is the beef SoonDubu. I did get a chance to try the marinated raw crab for the first time last week and it was delicious! The sauce has a kick to it but it was so addicting, I couldn't stop eating it. I also like the fact that they have delicious side dishes. The staff is always lovely as well. read more

DuBu - Army Base SoonDubu - Korean Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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The best Korean food in the Philadelphia area. Highly recommend the LA galbi, the japchae noodles, the mushroom tofu soup, and the bibimbap!

Had many solid experiences there in the past. But this past weekend, I personally noticed bathrooms without paper towels and an employee spitting in the sink. Terrible read more

Wonderful lunch at Dubu! I went with two friends from South Korea and this is their favorite restaurant. The banchan were superb, although none of us tried the little fish we were served. We shared a first class Haemul Pajuen. My friends said it was perfect, and I've eaten this dish many times and this was the best. Portions are huge! Jeyuk Dolpan Bibimbap was a dish is never had. It was glorious, although it was hotter (spicy) than any jeyuk dish I've ever had. Tonkatsu was the big surprise to me; a huge crispy pork cutlet with delicious sauce on the side, salad, rice and marvelously crispy homemade potato chips. We ate so much yet there was plenty for one person to take home a good meal. Parking is a pain, because it's next door to Hmart. However that will not stop me from going again! Even better is the restaurant is adjacent to Sangkee (my favorite Chinatown restaurant) Cheltenham location. read more

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