Ginger Exchange

Came here after Disney on Ice. It felt like they were understaffed but they still gave great…read moreservice. Staff were still friendly although overwhelmed. Noticed the guy was helping serve and grilling at the same time. The boiled pork belly platter is a good sharing platter and was good. Had the baby and toddler with me so couldn't enjoy it as much so took it to go. The soup was good and loved that I got to salt to my taste.

We used to absolutely love this place, but our most recent visit was so disappointing. Not sure…read morewhat's happened over the years but the portions & quality got significantly lower while the prices got much higher. $33 for a combo with such tiny portions is insane. Not to mention our meat was overcooked to the point of being tough to chew. The Soulongtang broth was nice and rich but they barely gave any glass noodles. Banchan was bland. Overall, very sad to see how far they've fallen.

Seoul Soulongtang 11/2025

Army stew - before ramen

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Soulongtang

Coreanos Allston

4.3(639 reviews)

2.9 mi•Allston/Brighton

We ordered the pork katsu gimbap and the Coreanos Bowl--both had a little kick but nothing…read moreoverpowering or lingering. The Coreanos Bowl is especially generous in size and super filling. The gimbap is a new item and I'm obsessed with it. Overall, the food was fantastic and definitely worth recommending!

I recently stopped by Coreanos for a Korean-Mexican fusion meal…read more I ordered the bulgogi, shrimp tempura, and short rib tacos. While waiting, I was surprised with a bowl of miso soup, which was warm, comforting, and flavorful. The tacos were generously filled and served on flour tortillas. I went in expecting the short rib to be my favorite, but the bulgogi taco emerged as my favorite. That said, because they were so well-stuffed, the tacos were a bit soggy. I also paid extra to add kimchi to one of them via the ordering screen, but it seems that addition was missed. I paired this with a Thai coffee, which was refreshing and delivered a noticeable caffeine kick. I'll definitely be back to try the kimbap. My partner, Anna F., ordered it, and after stealing a bite, I was left craving more. The restaurant is small, but we were able to find a table without issue.

Bibimbap Kimchi Fried Rice

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Kimchi Quesadilla w/ bulgogi

Seoul Jangteo

3.9(223 reviews)

Located in the midst of the Allston/Brighton, this is a good spot for some Korean comforts…read more Frankly, it was my first visit in several years, but the staff were very welcoming and the food still very comforting in the cold weather we have. My personal favorite thing to order was the Tangsuyuk, especially with how it was served separately from the sweet and sour sauce. Yes, I know it's just another crispy fried pork dish, but as someone who seeks comfort in food, it's definitely worth a try. Anyway, not a personal fan of their seafood pancake as it seems pretty doughy for my taste, but would definitely give everything else another go (or perhaps try something new) the next time I visit!

Food is good - i'm not sure if there's another place i'd go for gookbap or korean-chinese food in…read morethe Boston area, not many other option. Check your receipts. They may pre-add tip and remind you to pay tip on top. It was an honest mistake but not professional and annoying.

Dining area

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Naksan BBQ

3.9(244 reviews)

2.7 mi•Allston/Brighton

•$$$$

Great ambiance, nice dimly lit atmosphere and each grill is nicely spread out. The service was…read morequick and wonderful. The servers grill the meat for you here. The food was all divine. Meats were delicious and cooked great! Definitely on the pricier side but worth the splurge for a nice date or meal with friends. Parking can be a doozy but if you circle the block there is street parking on the opposite street. Would definitely go back, this is Boston's best upscale-esque kbbq that I have had. Overall an 8 or 9/10, only deducting points because I do feel the price is a bit much in comparison to other restaurants that offer the same (but I also understand this is the only place bringing this kind of service in Boston atm) signed, a KBBQ fanatic

This was my first time trying KBBQ in Boston in probably 10 years or so. Based off of the photos,…read morebranding and ambience, I was expecting a somewhat upscale experience. While I appreciated small touches with being able to put your jackets in a plastic bag under your seat, everything else fell a bit short. The quality of the meats and produce was a bit disappointing. The onion our server used to flavor and start our grill with looked dry, the pumpkin seemed to have a bit of frost as though it were frozen, and the overall quality of the meat was a bit lackluster. Even towards the end of our meal, even when our server told us the meat was ready, a couple of pieces were still raw. The banchan was not bad and the bibim naengmyeon we had was probably the best part of our meal. Sadly I don't think we'll be back based on our experience.

Banchan (side dishes)

Steamed egg (comes with the combo)

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Premium pork belly

Kimchipapi Kitchen

4.3(308 reviews)

2.9 mi•Allston/Brighton

Kimchipapi, consider me your kimchison(too much?) I must be a part of this family and all they…read morehave going on here. I mean, I've heard of rhdjdjd before, but my dislike for American corndog from a young age has kept me completely oblivious to an other version. Just a very select few times in my life, I have eaten something so good, it's made me question everything around me. Korean corndog?!? How could I have lived this long and overlook something so good? It is nothing like the corndogs we are used to in America. The panko is everything. The crunchy texture paired with the oooooeeeyyy gooooeyy cheese makes this what I can only describe as a eutrophic experience. Yes the corndog is phenomenal, but the crispy chicken sliders alone would have been worth the trip. The crunchy, light and airy breading is perfection. Paired with house made pickles, spicy mayo and a pillowy soft bun, and a honey teriyaki pineapple glaze crispy chicken. I did not come here for any sort of chicken item, but unexpectedly, this is easily a top 3 chicken sandwich/slider I've ever had. This little restaurant is dangerous. The menu is simply irresistible. Kimchi papi may be small in footprint, but it packs a huge punch to the tastebuds.

Delicious, fun spot to go to with friends or family. The customizable Korean corn dogs are simply…read moresuperb, and they have same really fun combinations like Hot Cheetos. We also tried the Kimchipapi Fries, which had a great blend of toppings. There's some searing inside, though not a lot, but it wasn't crowded when we came. Would definitely recommend going if you get the chance.

Nice art work of owner and logo name!

SRIRACHA BBQ SLIDERS

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KIMCHIPAPI FRITAS

Seoul Topokki

4.0(179 reviews)

I don't typically write reviews but the food was amazing + nice ambiance+ service was so good. I…read morewas surprised to find affordable food with good portion sizes that tastes delicious... I'm already craving the spicy tofu soup again . (Goodbye savings) joking aside, im so happy I've found this gem. Im definitely coming back Also you can get a discount if you pay in cash so keep that in mind before you come!!

This was our second time ordering delivery from Seoul Topokki. We remembered it being really good…read morethe first time, so we went for round two. We ordered the cheese topokki (soft rice cake, fish cake, vegetable, & mozzarella in Korean spicy sauce) & the beef bulgogi bowl (fried marinated beef, vegetables, steamed rice & side of soup). The cheese topokki was just as good as we remembered - chewy, flavorful, comforting, & a little bit weird. The cheese was poorly distributed, but it was still very tasty. The beef bulgogi bowl was really underwhelming. Firstly, it was very little food. We were promised vegetables, but there were only a few scarce onions & zucchini pieces mixed in. It was also dry. It was devoid of moisture & sauce, so we added some from the fridge at home. The side of soup was a joke. It filled only about 2/3 of the container & looked so sad, we wondered if it was the sauce that we we so desperately needed. Nope, just a meager amount of watered down miso soup. So the conclusion - great topokki, sub-par bulgogi, non-existent soup.

Inside

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Kaju Tofu House

3.9(835 reviews)

2.9 mi•Allston/Brighton

I returned here for a late 2:30 pm lunch. Street parking was less terrible than usual, so I managed…read moreto find a spot right next to Kaju. The establishment was almost at capacity, but I got the last 2-top. I ordered the intestine tofu stew ($15.99). The tofu stew itself seemed decently savory with silky tofu, an egg, and well-cleaned intestines. It also arrived piping hot. The banchan seemed disappointing today. The radish kimchi was barely fermented and slightly bitter; it tasted like raw daikon purchased from the supermarket that morning. Cabbage kimchi seemed acceptable. Banchan sizes were quite skimpy; I ordered a refill for myself. This has convinced me to find another default / go-to place for soondubu / tofu stew.

I appreciated the homey vibes of this spot- the atmosphere felt very welcoming and warming, along…read morewith the bubbling hot soups!! Though I haven't eaten a lot of korean food before, I felt this restaurant captures the essence of a traditional home cooked korean meal, with plates to share and perfectly personalized pots of their famous tofu soup. I would definitely recommend trying their beef and kimchi soup or their beef dumpling soup, both had standout taste while maintaining a simple flavor profile that you could continue to return to. I also absolutely loved their kimchi fried rice, so don't miss out on their additional menu items aside from their most popular offerings. Overall, I thought the food was tasty and satisfying, but otherwise there's not a specific thing that would continue to draw me back to this restaurant. The service was nice but mostly left us to ourselves and the food took a little while to come out. Unless you're really craving a korean tofu soup, I feel there's other restaurants in the area that serve up a little more variety and boldness in their flavors.

Interior

Bimbim guksu

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Kaju galbi

Cha Yen Thai Cookery

4.5(509 reviews)

1.5 mi

Everything was delicious in this Thai restaurant. It was really genuine Thai cooking. The service…read morewas welcoming, and the ambience was cozy and yet it was high ceiling modern. I ordered the Papaya salad, Chicken satay. Curry Shortribs and Phad See Yue with beef and the mango sticky rice with coconut ice cream. All I can say was everything was exceptionally tasty and I would definitely come back here again. This place is reasonable and not overpriced. Definitely make a reservation.

I've had Cha Yen Thai Cookery bookmarked for a while now & we found ourselves in the area, so we…read moreknew we had to try while we were here! We visited on a Friday night around 6pm. It was very busy but we were able to get a table for two within 5 min. The service was super slow. Took ~20 min for our server to take our order & another 40 min for our food to come. We noticed our server was the only server for all the tables, haha crazy! Here's what we ended up ordering: -roti (w/ potato curry sauce) -chicken wings (w/ spicy garlic sauce) -pad see ew -pla pad kun chai (fried cod fish fillet w/ lemongrass + Chinese celery) -Thai iced tea We tried the chicken wings, the roti, and Thai iced teas at the restaurant & ended up requesting for the rest of our food to go since we were on a time crunch. Thoughts: The pad see ew was delicious! We reheated it later that night & it was flavorful. I would definitely get this again. The chicken wings had good flavor but we found the chicken itself to be very dry inside. Made it difficult to enjoy. I loved the potato curry sauce that came with the roti. Simple but tasty dish. The pla pad kun chai was our least favorite dish we ordered. It didn't taste good at all after reheating. We're curious if we would've enjoyed this more if we ate it at the restaurant when it was fresh? The fish had a very fishy smell & didn't taste like it had been treated with lemon, vinegar, or both. We usually enjoy cod fish & lemongrass but this was a complete miss for us. Lastly, the Thai iced tea was okay. It was a bit too watery for us & we wished it could've been creamier. Overall, I would come back again to give Cha Yen another try. I did like the dishes we tried at the restaurant & perhaps the fish for example would've tasted better if had at the restaurant.

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Thai tea

Korean Garden Restaurant

3.1(336 reviews)

Back in Boston for round two, and honestly, Korean Garden was at the top of my "must-visit" list…read more This place consistently delivers that authentic, comforting vibe that's getting harder to find. The Highlight: The Kalbi If you come here and don't order the Kalbi, you're doing it wrong. We got it prepared from the kitchen, and it was hands-down the best we've had in the city. * The Texture: Incredibly tender. * The Cook: Perfectly charred with that signature smoky sweetness. * The Verdict: We literally had to order a second round because one plate wasn't enough. It's that good. The Supporting Cast * Seafood Pancake: Light, airy, and actually crispy (no soggy centers here!). * Spicy Cold Noodle: The texture was spot on. Often these get overcooked and turn into a sticky mess, but these were perfectly chewy and separated easily. * Seafood Soondobu: Hot, comforting, and packed with flavor. A solid 10/10 for a chilly Boston day. The Banchan & Service The banchan (side dishes) were fresh and flavorful. The bean sprouts and kimchi were the standouts for me, though I was a little bummed they didn't have the spicy cucumbers . Service was fantastic--super friendly and very attentive without being overbearing. They kept the water filled and the vibes high. If you're looking for that perfect char without the DIY smoke on your clothes, let the kitchen grill the Galbi for you. They have it down to a science.

Have no clue why this place has such a low average. Food is fantastic and you're always served with…read morea smile. Kbbq is good, but also a great option for soups. Their galbi tang is fantastic and banchan is delicious. Bossam is also awesome with nice, thick slices of pork belly, though I wish they came with more cabbage leaves or lettuce for wrapping. Fun and lively with large TVs with kpop for viewing while eating. No complaints!

Interior

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Kimchi Jae Yook Tofu - kimchi and marinated pork, spicy sauce and tofu

Bonchon Allston

3.6(1.2k reviews)

The service was very friendly, made some small talk about phones with one of the servers…read more We got the usual half spicy half soy garlic wings and a house fried rice. The flavors are definitely the same, but the skin on the wings are kind of different. Most bonchons have a crispy outer layer that can come off, but this location didn't have that. Their fried rice is also different in texture, where the grains are actually separated like Chinese fried rice rather than the signature Korean soft fried rice. Either way, it was still good.

Let me start with all the positives. First, the server Dara was very friendly and attentive. She…read morecame around my table multiple times to see how I was doing, if I needed anything, and checked in on my order. Star-waitress, I'd hire her for every restaurant. Second, the ambiance is really cool. With the neon wall art, cool LED-strip lighting, and the wooden tables with cozy lights. Good, chilled-back music that's great for this type of restaurant. Lastly, the food. Best pickled radish I've ever had. Couldn't even tell it was radish at first. Had this sweet, delicate taste to it. Also, there were several beers I came across that I never tried before. They had a lot of food options to choose from which is nice. Had the seasoned fries which were tasty. Would have been helpful if they listed what was on them (e.g. parmesan) since some might be lactose intolerant. I feel most Yelp pictures don't so the appearance of the chicken its justice. My main critique about the chicken is that it's overly friend but that's my personal preference. Much like when Chinese restaurants fry chicken wings. I think if they reduced the temperature a bit, the skin wouldn't be so "uncomfortably crunchy" when biting it (yet alone messy). With sauce, the skin can act like a carmelized shell. Chicken quality is alright, but wouldn't return for it. I'd rather try one of their other dishes.