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This restaurant opened not too long ago and we thought to give it a try. It is a casual atmosphere so we can sit back and enjoy our meal... esp on a Friday night after a long work week. We ordered the seafood pancake, wings, squid friend rice and rice cake dumpling. The flavors were all on point and we really enjoyed all the food to the very last bite. To me, you can't go wrong with a Korean meal. But service and ambience add up. I give this restaurant a 5 star overall.
First time and will return again. Was at first concerned as it was the first time and didn't look at reviews but alway open to Korean food. We got there at opening and were the first people in. Right after walking in there were people flowing in through the door. I said to myself we made a great choice as it was our first time. Understood why many people flowed in.
I'm thinking we may not have ordered the right dishes because we left feeling pretty underwhelmed. The restaurant is tucked away in an unassuming plaza near Providence Urgent Care. Parking was easy thanks to the shared lot, and the interior was surprisingly stylish (not something you'd assume from the outside). Modern decor with mirrors, greenery, and a trendy DTLA-inspired vibe that made for a nice atmosphere. There was only one server working on a Saturday evening. We arrived for an early dinner around 5:15 pm and there was just one other table occupied at the time though several parties came in while we were dining. The server was friendly, but service felt a bit slow and lacked attentiveness even before the restaurant got busy. We ordered the Spicy Beef Soondubu ($15.95), Gomtang ($17.95), and Bulgogi ($24.95), all of which came with rice. The Gomtang contained only a small amount of noodles compared to what I've had at other Korean restaurants. Overall, the food was good, but nothing really stood out or left a lasting impression. The highlight of the meal was actually the banchan. I especially enjoyed the pickled cucumber, onion, and tomato mix, the fish cake, and the candied yams. Those side dishes ended up being the most memorable part of the experience. *2.5% credit card surcharge* Bring cash if you want to avoid.
Everything was so good! I've been meaning to try it for awhile and finally got the chance. The restaurant was clean and spacious, service was great, and food was really good. I got the soondae and doganitang and loved both. The soondae says it needs extra time to prepare and the server said it would take about 20 minutes. It was well worth the wait! The doganitang was delicious as well, but I think the sauce was missing hot mustard. Really enjoyed every banchan as well. My friend got the mushroom soondubu and she said it was good! Overall would come back
We visited on a Wednesday evening, and there was a FIFA World Cup match on the television that everyone took interest in. The ambience was lively, but at the same time only one server was taking orders and accommodating all the tables. As such, it wasn't easy to flag our server who busily took care of several requests at the same time. I ordered the dumpling soondubu (mild). It came with rice and an egg. Perhaps I was particularly hungry, but I relied on the banchan to feel full during this dinner. The soondubu was flavorful, and I enjoyed the slightly firm texture from the dumplings.
We came here because they take the InKind app. We got the Korean Fried Chicken, Dolsot Bibimpbap, and Galbitang. Your standard, tasty Korean food. The side dishes were really good! Here are things that are unique about this place: 1) Modern vibes 2) They take InKind but they also charge 2.5% surcharge 3) Good presentation (I think the place is a little more welcoming to non-Koreans) 4) Good diversity of Korean food
I got the mixed gomtang. It was good! It was the perfect sweetness and flavor without adding salt but I added a little anyways haha. The sides were great too. The service was excellent. Super friendly and kind staff. I also liked how the music was not too loud, the ambience was great. Definitely would come back and try the other items on the menu!
Had dinner this time. The sides and the two main dishes were so good! We ordered bibimbap, bulgolgi, and friend dumplings for an appetizer. We ate everything! We even had seconds and thirds of the ban chan. Service was perfect and I got to use my Inkind discount (dm me for a code)
The flavor of the soup is perfect. It has depth and tons of flavor. It came out as medium spice level and I can definitely can go higher, but I like spice. The japchae also taste good, there's more ingredients in it making it more filling. The banchan is fresh and taste delicious, my favorite was their sweet potato! The galbi was cooked perfectly, really juicy and had lots of flavor. The service was excellent. Came in around dinner time and was seated right away! We didn't wait long until our order was ready. They also serve everything in the correct order by giving us our banchan first, then the japchae, then the main course of tofu soup and galbi. It's very clean inside and has plenty of seating. There was ample parking when we were there on a rainy day. I prefer this spot over BCD tofu house and it's a tough competitor against Kaju Soft Tofu. I'll definitely come back here again with a tofu soup craving.
Went here on a Monday for a late lunch. We had a big group and the restaurant was able to accommodate us with no issues. No delays in service at all. Food were great and very flavorful. We had a few family members who were vegetarians and love the fact the restaurant had a good variety of items for the to enjoy with us. Very clean restaurant. Will definitely come back.
I came here with a friend because I wanted to try their galbi tang. We came on a Friday night and it wasn't too busy. They had a nice clean modern look to the restaurant. Plenty of parking! Let me start with the sides. I've never seen the crab salad and the cucumber tomato as a banchan at other Korean restaurants. Both were my favorite out of the sides. I got the galbi tang and seafood pancake. For the galbi tang I didn't need to add extra seasonings, it was perfect the way it way. Warmed me up and made my taste buds happy. The seafood pancake was also delicious. Perfectly crispy and soft. My favorite thing was that they gave us Korean rice punch for free after the meal. Which was a nice surprise because it's one of my favorite Korean drinks!
Ordered galbi tang and it was exactly what I needed. It was hearty and came out very hot on a cold day. It was savory and had the perfect flavor! There was one lady handling all of the tables, so service was a bit slow but she was very nice and attentive to my son when needed. Will definitely return if I'm craving hearty soup!
Tucked in a small plaza with a small parking lot. Visited on a Sunday evening. There were only a few parties dining when my group arrived. The interior was modern but also cozy with touches of fake greenery to brighten up the space. There were two ladies serving the restaurant. The lady who served us was very nice, attentive and helpful. My group had a few questions, which she answered with patience and kindness. The other lady was busy helping other tables so we didn't have much interaction with her. The food was amazing! You can't go wrong with anything you pick on the menu. I will say though that 2 people in my group can't handle spice and they thought the Hama Chicken was spicy but still said it was good. I wanted to save my appetite for my own dish, which was their pork soondubu (mild spice). I love spicy food so this was very mild- I never know an individual restaurant's spice range so I always go with mild to be safe. It was still very good and warmed my soul! I also got their special kimchi pancake, which was so good, crispy, and flavorful! They also give ban chan (side dishes), which was all so good! Everyone enjoyed their dishes. I'm so glad I found this place on Yelp and was able to try it out. Now I have a go to place for Korean food when I need a fix!
The spicy cold noodles here is my favorite thing on a hot day. It comes with a sweet spicy broth that has ice and frozen pear shavings. A few small slices of beef and radish come with it. The variety of banchan they serve at every table also offer a nice variety of sweet, salty, tart, and spicy flavored veggies. Their bibimbap and also meat entrees look good too as others around me bob their heads in satisfaction when they dig in. Don't get the beef stew. It smells so bad to me, but I think it's a flavor locals love from authentic korean cuisine. The prices are decent and the area is lowkey with easy parking. The service can sometimes be a drag as they can get busy and understaffed. read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
This restaurant opened not too long ago and we thought to give it a try. It is a casual atmosphere so we can sit back and enjoy our meal... esp on a Friday night after a long work week. We ordered the seafood pancake, wings, squid friend rice and rice cake dumpling. The flavors were all on point and we really enjoyed all the food to the very last bite. To me, you can't go wrong with a Korean meal. But service and ambience add up. I give this restaurant a 5 star overall. read more
12 days ago
First time and will return again. Was at first concerned as it was the first time and didn't look at reviews but alway open to Korean food. We got there at opening and were the first people in. Right after walking in there were people flowing in through the door. I said to myself we made a great choice as it was our first time. Understood why many people flowed in. read more
I'm thinking we may not have ordered the right dishes because we left feeling pretty underwhelmed. The restaurant is tucked away in an unassuming plaza near Providence Urgent Care. Parking was easy thanks to the shared lot, and the interior was surprisingly stylish (not something you'd assume from the outside). Modern decor with mirrors, greenery, and a trendy DTLA-inspired vibe that made for a nice atmosphere. There was only one server working on a Saturday evening. We arrived for an early dinner around 5:15 pm and there was just one other table occupied at the time though several parties came in while we were dining. The server was friendly, but service felt a bit slow and lacked attentiveness even before the restaurant got busy. We ordered the Spicy Beef Soondubu ($15.95), Gomtang ($17.95), and Bulgogi ($24.95), all of which came with rice. The Gomtang contained only a small amount of noodles compared to what I've had at other Korean restaurants. Overall, the food was good, but nothing really stood out or left a lasting impression. The highlight of the meal was actually the banchan. I especially enjoyed the pickled cucumber, onion, and tomato mix, the fish cake, and the candied yams. Those side dishes ended up being the most memorable part of the experience. *2.5% credit card surcharge* Bring cash if you want to avoid. read more
2 months ago
Everything was so good! I've been meaning to try it for awhile and finally got the chance. The restaurant was clean and spacious, service was great, and food was really good. I got the soondae and doganitang and loved both. The soondae says it needs extra time to prepare and the server said it would take about 20 minutes. It was well worth the wait! The doganitang was delicious as well, but I think the sauce was missing hot mustard. Really enjoyed every banchan as well. My friend got the mushroom soondubu and she said it was good! Overall would come back read more
10 days ago
We visited on a Wednesday evening, and there was a FIFA World Cup match on the television that everyone took interest in. The ambience was lively, but at the same time only one server was taking orders and accommodating all the tables. As such, it wasn't easy to flag our server who busily took care of several requests at the same time. I ordered the dumpling soondubu (mild). It came with rice and an egg. Perhaps I was particularly hungry, but I relied on the banchan to feel full during this dinner. The soondubu was flavorful, and I enjoyed the slightly firm texture from the dumplings. read more
Business owner information
Sarah H.
Appreciate the continuing support and feedback.
We came here because they take the InKind app. We got the Korean Fried Chicken, Dolsot Bibimpbap, and Galbitang. Your standard, tasty Korean food. The side dishes were really good! Here are things that are unique about this place: 1) Modern vibes 2) They take InKind but they also charge 2.5% surcharge 3) Good presentation (I think the place is a little more welcoming to non-Koreans) 4) Good diversity of Korean food read more
I got the mixed gomtang. It was good! It was the perfect sweetness and flavor without adding salt but I added a little anyways haha. The sides were great too. The service was excellent. Super friendly and kind staff. I also liked how the music was not too loud, the ambience was great. Definitely would come back and try the other items on the menu! read more
Had dinner this time. The sides and the two main dishes were so good! We ordered bibimbap, bulgolgi, and friend dumplings for an appetizer. We ate everything! We even had seconds and thirds of the ban chan. Service was perfect and I got to use my Inkind discount (dm me for a code) read more
The flavor of the soup is perfect. It has depth and tons of flavor. It came out as medium spice level and I can definitely can go higher, but I like spice. The japchae also taste good, there's more ingredients in it making it more filling. The banchan is fresh and taste delicious, my favorite was their sweet potato! The galbi was cooked perfectly, really juicy and had lots of flavor. The service was excellent. Came in around dinner time and was seated right away! We didn't wait long until our order was ready. They also serve everything in the correct order by giving us our banchan first, then the japchae, then the main course of tofu soup and galbi. It's very clean inside and has plenty of seating. There was ample parking when we were there on a rainy day. I prefer this spot over BCD tofu house and it's a tough competitor against Kaju Soft Tofu. I'll definitely come back here again with a tofu soup craving. read more
Went here on a Monday for a late lunch. We had a big group and the restaurant was able to accommodate us with no issues. No delays in service at all. Food were great and very flavorful. We had a few family members who were vegetarians and love the fact the restaurant had a good variety of items for the to enjoy with us. Very clean restaurant. Will definitely come back. read more
I came here with a friend because I wanted to try their galbi tang. We came on a Friday night and it wasn't too busy. They had a nice clean modern look to the restaurant. Plenty of parking! Let me start with the sides. I've never seen the crab salad and the cucumber tomato as a banchan at other Korean restaurants. Both were my favorite out of the sides. I got the galbi tang and seafood pancake. For the galbi tang I didn't need to add extra seasonings, it was perfect the way it way. Warmed me up and made my taste buds happy. The seafood pancake was also delicious. Perfectly crispy and soft. My favorite thing was that they gave us Korean rice punch for free after the meal. Which was a nice surprise because it's one of my favorite Korean drinks! read more
9 months ago
Ordered galbi tang and it was exactly what I needed. It was hearty and came out very hot on a cold day. It was savory and had the perfect flavor! There was one lady handling all of the tables, so service was a bit slow but she was very nice and attentive to my son when needed. Will definitely return if I'm craving hearty soup! read more
9 months ago
Tucked in a small plaza with a small parking lot. Visited on a Sunday evening. There were only a few parties dining when my group arrived. The interior was modern but also cozy with touches of fake greenery to brighten up the space. There were two ladies serving the restaurant. The lady who served us was very nice, attentive and helpful. My group had a few questions, which she answered with patience and kindness. The other lady was busy helping other tables so we didn't have much interaction with her. The food was amazing! You can't go wrong with anything you pick on the menu. I will say though that 2 people in my group can't handle spice and they thought the Hama Chicken was spicy but still said it was good. I wanted to save my appetite for my own dish, which was their pork soondubu (mild spice). I love spicy food so this was very mild- I never know an individual restaurant's spice range so I always go with mild to be safe. It was still very good and warmed my soul! I also got their special kimchi pancake, which was so good, crispy, and flavorful! They also give ban chan (side dishes), which was all so good! Everyone enjoyed their dishes. I'm so glad I found this place on Yelp and was able to try it out. Now I have a go to place for Korean food when I need a fix! read more
23 days ago
Beef soondubu was decent -- they don't ask for a spice level and it comes out as a mild-medium. The egg is only available upon request since according to the server, it can change the flavor of the dish. Their banchan is actually elite and one of the best I've had as far as I can remember. The fish cake, tomatoes, broccoli, and salad were all so flavorful -- might be even more than the main dish. The service is slow and our whole dinner took over an hour, but it's probably cuz there's only one server holding it down for the whole restaurant for both dine-in and take-out orders. Shoutout to Sarah! I'll be back to try the other popular dishes out but I'll temper my expectations with their long waits for dinner. (Side note they also have a 2.5% card surcharge) read more
My local Korean spot (da Rae) closed so I wanted to try something new, so here I am at hamahippo and it's well worth it. So glad I found this spot. It's my new go to for Korean! Everything is quality and super friendly service. I got the spicy cold noodles, beef bulgogi, and the japchae. All delicious. The ambience can be a little loud due to all the hard surfaces, but there's nice plants and wooden accents in the dining area. The food is so damn good and very reasonable prices. read more
9 days ago
3 months ago
Pleasant experience! The service was so amazing and the food was really delicious! Will definitely return! read more
1 year ago
I came on a weekday, can't remember the day of the week. I was excited to try the latest tofu house in fullerton. Their banchan is so tasty, great flavor. I really like their fish cake and kimchi. I ordered the popular pho like soup, and my dad ordered the spicy tofu soup. In my opinion because I love lots of spiciest I prefer the tofu soup! read more
Awesome fried chicken and beef ribs soup! Nice staff but but poor follow ups and it is noticeable that Korean patrons are treated much better. I don't know why some Korean restaurants do this. It is not cool!! Not nice and poor experience. Unfortunate because their food is pretty good. I want to come back but thinking about experience makes me not want to! I would need to drag a Korean with me if I do haha! read more
29 days ago
Amazing place - the food and service were wonderful!! The soondubu was so flavorful and the side dishes were really good. The lady who served us was so kind as well! Would definitely come back again and recommend to others. read more
7 months ago
Hama Hippo in Fullerton seriously hit the spot. We ordered the seafood pancake, tofu soup, and galbi and every single dish came out on point. The seafood pancake was one of the better ones I've had in the area. Crispy on the outside, packed with seafood, and not overly greasy. You still get that soft, savory inside with the green onion flavor coming through, and it pairs perfectly with the dipping sauce. The tofu soup came out boiling hot like it should, with a deep, comforting broth that had real flavor instead of just spice. The tofu was silky, the portion was generous, and it's the kind of dish that makes you slow down for a second because it's so satisfying. The galbi was the standout for me. Super tender, well marinated, and grilled with that slight char that gives it the smoky sweetness. It didn't need anything extra, but wrapping it with the banchan and rice made it even better. Speaking of banchan, they were fresh and kept coming without us having to ask. Service was quick and the food came out fast even though the place was busy. The whole restaurant has a fun, energetic vibe and feels like a great spot for a casual dinner with friends or a late night meal. Everything we ordered was solid and I'd come back specifically for the galbi and tofu soup again. Fullerton has a lot of options but this one is definitely worth putting into the regular rotation. read more
1 year ago
The food here was amazing, not pictured we also purchased the Hama Chicken appetizer that the menu notes needs extra time as they make hot and fresh for you. There was no lack of flavor, everything truly tasted exceptional. The banchan was good and different from other Korean places we have tried. A couple of them were a sweet balsamic cucumber and tomato, fried zucchini as well as sweet glazed pumpkin. The prices with portions are very good, portions are pretty large and can easily be shared or enjoyed individually. The staff is very nice and attentive. Asked us if we had any questions and gave suggestions based on preferences. Parking is easy and the ambiance was nice with music, not too loud. It was a wonderful first time experience and I'm excited to go back read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
Great korean food with free parking and takes rezzies?! This is it! I had never heard of Hamahippo before but I was doing a Yelp & Google search for restaurants near St Jude as I was going to meet a colleague there and saw amazing reviews of the food and staff so I made us a reservation so we wouldn't have a wait at lunch time. We were greeted promptly and warmly shown to a table which had a little "reserved" placard on it which I appreciated. Large two-sided menu with options for everybody and I like that they labeled it "spicy" or not as I have a pretty wimpy palette. I got their popular beef bibimbop hot stone pot and it was so good! It was definitely hot in that I was sweating as I ate over this hot sizzling stone pot but the food was amazing. All of the banchan they serve it with we're delicious. We also got the soy glazed fried chicken wings which were sweet and crunchy and delicious... the wings must be from a weight lifting chicken because they were nice and meaty. The restaurant is clean as out of the bathrooms and I would definitely come back here again. read more
5 months ago
What a pleasant and yummy find! We were looking for a nearby restaurant while in Fullerton and found this gem. The restaurant has a very open and casual vibe. We found plenty of seating on a Friday evening around 7. The staff was welcoming and the food came out fairly quick. At first glance the side dishes didn't seem impressive. But looks can be deceiving. Both my husband and I thought that they were one of the highlights of our meal. For our main dishes we tried the scallion pancake, dumpling tofu soondubu (stew) and the "KFC" chicken wings. The only thing we thought could have been better was the chicken. I wish it had a little more seasoning on it. But otherwise everything was very good. I was also impressed with the variety of vegetarian dishes on their menu. We would definitely come back again to try some of their other dishes. read more
HamaHippo Korean Kitchen in Fullerton is hands down the best Korean restaurant I've tried this year--not just in Fullerton, but anywhere! I ate here last night and I'm still thinking about it. We ordered the kimchi pork soondubu, and OMG, the soup was incredible. It had such incredible depth and layered flavors--the perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and savory. Every spoonful made me excited for the next bite. The grilled pork ribs were another highlight: tender, flavorful, and with a generous portion that left us completely satisfied. The banchan (side dishes) were outstanding too! We especially loved the sweet pumpkin and the perfectly fermented kimchi--fresh, vibrant, and refilled generously. The restaurant itself has a super clean, modern vibe, and the upbeat music playing created such a happy, welcoming atmosphere. Service was top-notch; our waitress checked on us regularly and even offered more banchan without us asking. Plenty of parking in the lot, which is always a plus. I absolutely loved everything about HamaHippo and can't wait to return soon. If you're craving authentic, delicious Korean food, this is the spot--easily the best of 2025 for me! read more
4 months ago
2 months ago
1 month ago
Such a great spot for authentic and delicious Korean food! Wasn't sure what to expect from this little unassuming place, but it did not disappoint. Thoroughly enjoyed the Dolsot Bibim Bap and Gomtang soup. It was the perfect amount for two people and the flavors were spot on. The crispy rice on the bibim bap was perfect and it had a great ratio of toppings. I would absolutely go back and order the same, but also would want to try so many other items. Chef's kiss! Other positives: staff was super friendly, attentive, and helpful and the price was really good! read more
Was in the area with the fam, so decided to try this place out. There aren't many food options for dinner in the vicinity, so having this spot here was great. The outside is unassuming, with the normal strip mall vibe, but when you walk inside, you are welcomed to a nicer than average restaurant. The food was traditional Korean fare. We got the beef bulgogi, spicy pork bulgogi and the pork ribs. All the dishes are served with rice and a range of accoutrements. The food was great, the ribs were tender and juicy, the bulgogi had a more refined flavor, not like the regular stuff you can buy at Costco (which I also really like). The only one that was a miss was the spicy pork bulgogi. It was okay, not my favorite, or my son's. The service was great, we were seated immediately and the server took our orders and was very attentive. Also of note is that soft drinks are from a can, so no free refills. Like with the other places I like, swing by if you're in the area. read more
4 months ago
I've been here before and everything was great the last time. This time around the food was still good but the service wasn't. read more
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More info about HamaHippo Korean Kitchen
2219 N Harbor Blvd
Fullerton, CA 92835
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(657) 500-7637
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Ask the Community - HamaHippo Korean Kitchen
Can the mushroom soondubu be made vegetarian?
Yes! Will make delicious for you.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
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