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    Hancook

    4.2 (947 reviews)
    ModerateKorean, Barbeque, Hot Pot
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Hancook Photos

    HANCOOK ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Reviews With Photos - Hancook

    Mimi C.

    Hancook offers an affordable AYCE KBBQ and Shabu Shabu menu all day long! They even have an AYCE drink menu! The servers are super friendly and the portions are so generous. Everything tasted great so your whole party will be satisfied. My favorites were the boneless short ribs and Korean fried chicken. Those are a must try!

    Soft tofu on the left, korean miso on the right
    Ashley C.

    I have this really bad obsessive personality about food and discovered this spot and Friday and just had to go back on Sunday! The service is really good, even on a Friday night. The staff came and checked on us repeatedly and it was nearly empty when we came around 6pm, but quickly got busier. We still felt all the food came out very timely and did not feel rushed. You can grab veggies and sauces as you want in a self serve bar. I enjoy that there is a good variety of a la carte items like appetizers as well! We loved this experience and want to keep coming back! I am not aware of many other all you can eat hot pot in Oakland so they will keep getting our business! My only complaint or recommendation would maybe be to update the cleaning because there are some parts of the restaurant that don't smell great.

    Kbbq - pass

    Located in such a cute area! The restaurant itself was surprisingly spacious. I liked how the menu allowed you to do Shabu and "kbbq," but the kbbq were grilled meats they brought out. In all honesty, it was overcooked and hard to chew. Stick with the Shabu! I got the spicy miso / tonkotsu. Perfect combo! The meat quality was GREAT and their goma sauce was yummy. Make sure you throw in garlic and sesame oil in there too! Service was good also and waiters were nice.

    Valerie C.

    I'm genuinely concerned why this place has such high reviews because I was left disappointed with my family. The bossam pieces were either cut too thick or they were too cooked that it felt like I was chewing on carnitas. They gave like 4 pieces of lettuce for the bossam so we had to ask more. The seafood pancake was so soggy that I wasn't expecting it. Usually you get a crunch. I think they also forgot the dipping sauce to go with it. The galbi jim meat wasn't tender enough like the fall off the bone tenderness. It was tough to chew. The corn cheese lacked mozzarella cheese and kewpie mayo to bring out the flavoring. The snow cheese chicken was the best but we thought it was gonna be a whole fried chicken and not just drums and flats. This is only best when it's hot and fresh so I recommend you finish this at the restaurant! When the bill came, we requested to spilt 3 cards but the server only charged 2 cards and said they don't accept discover. She should've came back and ask if there is another card we can use instead of charging it already. The service was a bit lacking and we came in on a Sunday at 12pm when they opened. Parking was also hard to find as they don't have a parking lot so it's all street parking.

    Garlic bossam
    Dominic V.

    This is in a busy part of Oakland so traffic and parking is a little hard, but there's always someone leaving so if you don't mind walking a bit, there are parking around. It's a nice walk with a lot to see. It was pretty empty on a Wednesday night so we were seated right away. There are 3 different QR codes to scan to look at the menu: lunch special, All you can eat, or a la cart. We opted for the a la cart menu this time around. Corncheese: I really enjoyed it. It's cheese. It's corn, you can't go wrong. I love the hint of sweetness you get. It was a small dish. Between 3 of us, we all had about 2 spoonfuls before it was done. Gyoza/potstickers/pan fried dumplings: these were ok. We've had better in other places, they were not as crispy as we had hoped. Texture was more steamed than pan fried. Garlic Bossam: I'm not sure what I was expecting from this dish but to me it was pretty good. It feeds 2-3 people. My friend didn't like it as much as a regular bossam. The garlic was a minced sauce that sat on top but it was sweet and not at all garlicky. We had to ask for cloves of garlic on the side that we thought it came with along with lettuce leaves to eat it with. Budae Stew: we all agreed on getting this and it's also a big dish that serves 2-3. Between the 3 of us, we still had leftovers to take home. It was a delicious soup with ramen noodles, spam, hotdogs and a bunch of tofu, different sorts of mushrooms, onions, and a slice of cheese on top. One of the better Budae's that I've had, it was a really comforting dish on a cold night. I recommend coming here if you like Korean food. They have a lot of options from all their menus and the dishes are good portion sizes. There are plenty to do around the area after or before dinner but be prepared to look for parking on side streets. It gets pretty busy.

    3. Kimchi Pancake
    Laura Y.

    This place was a bit of a miss, kind of on the mediocre side. This place is one where we used up the veggies for sure but the corn cheese was a bit sweet like as if they topped it with sugar. The other food we kind of felt like we"d rather leave it than finish it. The banchan was ok enough that we got refills on a few of them too. The one item I really enjoyed that I can't get at many restaurants like this was their noodles that were wide and chewy like sweet potato noodles. Service wasn't really existent, went on a weeknight so maybe that was part of it. It was pretty empty except for 1 or 2 other tables so pretty quiet night, no need for a wait.

    Entrance
    Ashley C.

    We ended up here by accident after the place we had planned on going to was unexpectedly closed. This is a nice place though - they have AYCE shabu and even AYCE bbq for an extra $5. They also have a regular Korean ala carte menu available as well so we ordered from that. Everything sounded amazing but it was just two of us so we stuck to just 3 dishes. Turns out one dish would've probably been enough. We brought nearly everything home for leftovers! Braised beef short ribs - the dish looks gigantic so it seems like it would serve more than two for the $80 price point but it's actually not too big. It does have fish cake and thin rice noodles and rice cakes, as well as some carrots, so thats what makes it look like a lot, but there isn't a ton of actual meat. I thought it was delicious especially with cheese, but I'd actually rather just have AYCE KBBQ for that price. Rose spicy cream ttebokki - I'm so glad I asked about the rose part, I thought it meant it was rose flavored which I don't like. But she said it wasn't - the sauce is creamy and spicy and more like carbonara, yum!! I loved the flavor of the sauce a lot with the creaminess. We got the small size and it was still a LOT for $18. I wish they left the bacon out though and just leave it as an option for an add-on. If I came back I'd get this again and add ramen or udon and dumplings to make it a complete meal. Yukgehjang - this is my first time having this dish in general but flavors were familiar. It was a spicy hot noodle soup with glass noodles (like in japchae) and shredded beef (reminded me of carnitas). It was very yummy but I think I could skip on this next time. Overall great food but I would've just preferred to do the shabu and kbbq and spent way less! I'd get the rose ttekbokki again out of all 3 dishes, otherwise all three together really began to taste the same and we really needed the banchan for a pop of freshness. Service was good but took a while for us to get the check. Then I realized there's actually a call button on the table that they didn't tell us about until they told us it's there if we needed extra boxes haha. At the end of your meal you also get a Yakult drink and I liked that it was semi frozen so it was like a slush.

    Korean AYCE Hotpot
    Leilani V.

    We came here with the family for Mother's Day and we split the adults and kids into 2 separate tables. The food and sauce bar was really good. I removed 1 star due to service. It was quite slow and we didn't get everything we orders. Possibly because they were busy (considering the occasion- it was Sunday and it was in fact Mother's Day) also, parking was quite shady. I'd probably come back and try them again on a regular weekend to try their a la carte dishes. Overall though food was good. Soup/broth was on the salty side not sure if by design since you're supposed to cook meat and seafood in it but for me it was on the salty side. Other than that, side dishes were delicious!!! A must come back to try again type thing and then final verdict! Lol

    Jude D.

    This was such a unique and delicious experience. My friend and I did the hot pot for two with prime rib and noodles. Basically they bring out two pots of broth of your choice, and you can also go to the veggie and sauce bar to get everything from salmon balls, dumplings, cabbage, and other assorted veggies and fish items. You put the meats and veggies etc into the pot and ladle them out as they cook. It's a fun activity while eating and the food was delicious. And don't forget to ask for banchaun for some pickled veggies as well!

    Korean Fried Chicken (Soy Garlic)

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    Hancook Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hancook

    Is there a "sauce bar"?

    Yes! Sauces, sides. Their kimchi that you can get at the bar is delicious

    Do you allow dogs in your outside area?

    Do you offer all you can eat?

    Yes they do!

    Do you guys have sauces?

    Hi Kristina what kind of sauces are you looking for?

    Are the dishes marked vegetarian actually so, including veggie broth for the soup? What about the kimchi?

    I did not see any but I am sure you can call and ask if they can make it specially for you? I am guessing the broth maybe already made in a big pot.

    View All 15 Questions

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    Horn Barbecue

    3.5
    (320 reviews)
    2.2 mi
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    I visited Horn Barbecue and I NEED management and ownership to read this carefully--because what I…read moreexperienced deserves to be recognized on a higher level. First of all, my order was TO-GO. And let me tell you... when I got home and opened that bag, I was honestly blown away. My food was packaged with so much care, precision, and pride--it was neat, organized, and handled like it actually mattered. That alone told me everything about the level of service in that building. Candalen--YOU DID THAT. The attention to detail on my plate did not go unnoticed. You treated my food like it was being served in-house, and that speaks volumes about your work ethic and pride in what you do. Aaron--listen... that peach lemon drop??? BABY. That was my first time trying one and it was EVERYTHING. Smooth, flavorful, perfectly balanced--you made that drink an experience all by itself. I will be back JUST for that. And let's talk about the vibe--the music, the energy, the atmosphere--it all came together in a way that made the entire visit feel GOOD. Not just food... a whole experience. But what really stands out is this: It has been a LONG time since I've experienced service this genuine, this intentional, and this excellent. Not rushed, not careless--EXCEPTIONAL. Management, if you are reading this--please understand--you have some powerful people on your team. Candalen and Aaron are the kind of employees that elevate a brand. They are the reason people come back. They are the reason I will be telling others. This wasn't just a good experience. This was the kind of experience that turns customers into loyal supporters. I will absolutely be back--and I will be bringing people with me. Until next time, WUHAPN NATION

    I have been telling my friend about how satisfying and delicious the food at Horn BBQ is, but every…read moretime we came by the restaurant was closed. Finally, we were so excited to see it was open on a Saturday an we came in for lunch. To order you need to scan the QR code and pay plus tip before a single person spoke to us or offered us service. From the menu we saw they were out of beef ribs, smoked chicken, rib tips, no peach cobbler, no banana pudding and no kool aid. I come for their brisket and my friend loves ribs so we went ahead and ordered combo plates to share. Mine was the brisket with a side of collard greens, she had the pork ribs, a hotlink with a side of Mac-n-cheese, & cornbread. For drinks we had lemonade and an Arnold Palmer. I'm not sure what has happened over the last few months but the quality of the food, the service and the expectation to pay and tip up front were very disappointing. The greens, Mac cheese, brisket and ribs were cold. The hotlink wasn't BBQ'ed it was pan fried. Everything tasted like warmed up leftovers and we will not return. For 2 of us to eat it came to $100 and we were not satisfied. The dining room is an attractive space, it was completely empty. The staff was unclear about what we ordered, had to be told to bring our drinks, bartender is also working as server and apologized for his uncertainty. I suggest this restaurant hire and train more staff if they intend to keep their doors open.

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    Brisket, beef rib
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    The South Smokin BBQ

    The South Smokin BBQ

    4.4
    (729 reviews)
    16.0 mi
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    We were blessed today to visit this bbq restaurant. We were greeted by Tim the owner! Tim served us…read moreand even came over to chat with us regarding our experience. I can say of the hundreds of thousand locations I have graded. This is the best BBQ I have eaten in the East Bay! The drive was so worth it! Try it the sauces are made in house and have the best southern smoke flavor! Yum we will be back!

    What a gem of a restaurant!…read more We were looking for some bbq on a Sunday funday and were so glad we stopped by. It's in the grocery outlet plaza. Order at the counter and sit and enjoy kind of place. It's decorated simply with a tv that was playing ufc and we were welcomed by Tim who was so warm and hilarious our entire visit. First thing I noticed was how fairly priced the place is. 1lb of brisket is 30 dollars, potato salad is 5 dollars and soda is 2 dollars (some places charge like 4 bucks for a can!) Ordered, sat down and enjoyed some convo with the order and our food came out in about 10min. If there's one thing to get, it's the brisket fries!! Oh my word, the sauce and cheese all go so well with the bbq. I like how their sauce has a kick to it and isn't overly sweet. The brisket was really tender and smoked well. I personally enjoy fattier pieces of brisket but I bet if I would've asked for those cuts he might've accommodated. The smoked potatoes salad is almost a must. Very unique style of potato salad and pairs well with everything. We noticed they also do catering, and the prices for that also look very reasonable. Would definitely considering using them for our next party!

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    Inside, if you can catch Tim working you are in for a treat
    Inside, if you can catch Tim working you are in for a treat
    Pulled Pork Cheese Fries ($18)
    Pulled Pork Cheese Fries ($18)
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    Pig in a Pickle

    Pig in a Pickle

    4.0
    (302 reviews)
    1.8 mi
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    After hearing so many people rave about Pig in a Pickle, I finally made the trip over to…read moreEmeryville, and I'm glad I did. This place is located in a food hall, so there are plenty of other choices. If you're looking for barbecue that focuses on the meat first and doesn't rely on drowning everything in sauce, this place deserves a visit. I ordered a plate with brisket, a pork rib, hot link, collard greens, a side of BBQ sauce, and a drink for Super Duper. Brisket Without question, this was the star of the meal. I specifically asked for the fatty point, and it absolutely delivered. The brisket was incredibly tender with a beautiful bark, plenty of rendered fat, and a deep smoky flavor throughout. It had just the right balance of salt, pepper, and smoke without any one flavor overpowering the others. Honestly, this is the kind of brisket you don't even need sauce for, but I couldn't resist trying it with their BBQ sauce anyway. Pork Rib I ended up with an end piece, which can sometimes be a little dry, but that wasn't the case here. It was surprisingly tender and packed with flavor. The smoke came through nicely, and the seasoning had a great balance of pepper and salt. It wasn't falling off the bone--which, in my opinion, is exactly how properly cooked barbecue should be--but it pulled cleanly with each bite. I'd absolutely order the ribs again. Hot Link I've had plenty of hot links that were overly dense or aggressively spicy. These weren't. The casing had that satisfying snap when you bit into it, and the sausage itself was juicy and flavorful. The heat level was very approachable--enough to notice but never overwhelming--allowing the smoky, seasoned meat to remain the focus. A really well-made sausage. BBQ Sauce I mixed the mild and hot BBQ sauces together, and that ended up being the perfect combination for my taste. The mild sauce added sweetness and tang while the hot sauce contributed just enough kick without masking the flavor of the meat. That combination complemented everything on the tray exceptionally well. Collard Greens The collard greens were another pleasant surprise. They were well-seasoned, flavorful, and not overly spicy. The greens still had some texture without being tough. My only complaint is that I wish there had been a little more smoked meat mixed in. The flavor was definitely there--I just wanted a bit more of the meaty goodness. Overall, Pig in a Pickle impressed me from start to finish. The quality of the smoked meats really stands out, especially the brisket, which was easily one of the better briskets I've had in the Bay Area. The rib was excellent, the hot links were flavorful without being overly heavy, and even the sides held their own. I'll definitely be making the drive back to Emeryville to work my way through more of the menu. If the rest of their offerings are anywhere near as good as this tray, I can see why they've built such a strong reputation. Highly recommended--especially if you're a brisket lover. Simply Wonderful!!

    Got a hot link sandwich. 3/4 lb of brisket. Med potatoes…read moresalad, and med Mac and cheese. Everything was so disgusting. The hot link wasn't even spicy and was way too much smoke flavor. There was this weird meaty gristly thing in the potato salad which literally made me puke. I'm always looking for the next bbq spot. But could have done without this one. The service was good the food was terrible. Honestly $80 dollars horribly spent. Don't believe me.. go experience it for yourselves

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    Beef Brisket - 1/2 lb. , House Made Hotlinks , Chicken Leg

    Hancook - korean - Updated July 2026

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