Yes, it's back!!! Weclome Hanmaru and your gamjattang (pork stew). Most people think gamjattang is a potato stew because gamja in Korean is potato. However, there is a part of the pork called GAMJA for all u meat noobs out there. And in the begining, everyone would order gamjattang and expect at least some potatoes...so they started adding potatoes to gamjattang. This is the story of gamjattang from Korea....=) Anyways, Hanmaru does it well. The meat is super tender and it just falls off the bones. You HAVE to dip the meat in the wassabi/soy sauce because it makes you wanna cry for joy. It's an awesome combo. Now, I told you from many of my Korean restaurant reviews that I've very sensitive to MSG. Their soup is like MSG central. This is where I'm very disappointed. It's like MSG maddness. Koreans pour MSG in their stews like it's water. But all in all, it's great gamjattang for Boston. I've had plenty of 5 star gamjattangs in Korea with a lot of vegetables and no msg so I can't it's the best. But I'm satisfied. It's 3.75 star worthy. read more

Stepped in here with a partyof 4 on a brisk Dec. night for some HOT and spicy Gamja Tang. It hit the spot more than their special ramen which we thought was just okay. We also ordered the seafood pancake and chapae. I though the pancake was also just okay. It didn't have enough seafood as I am used to and their dipping sauce was very plain. Chapae is one of my favorite all time Korean dishes but I wasn't impressed with theirs, It was just too sweet for me. My favorite was their Gamja Tang. Beef was soooooo tender, moist and soft that it was just was what I was looking for on a cold night. TIP: You may want to get in their early cuz it does get packed very quickly. read more

An excellent, crispy spring roll. Light wrapper, light on grease but pan fried hard. Sweet shredded cabbage with strips of carrot. A sweet duck sauce with flecks of fiery red pepper. Beef broth miso ramen, tender pork belly sliced thinly with layers of fat. Sprouts and sheets of dried nori. Highly spicy. Thick broth loaded with scallions and katsuobushi. Noodles are chewy and substantial. Plenty for the bowl to make an entree. Of course I ordered the only Japanese thing on a Korean menu but it was completely worth it! Service is polite; food is perfect. read more

Good spot for Gamjatang or pork neck stew. Came here with a bunch of friends after snowboarding and we were starving. We shared a Gamjatang. It is the perfect food for a cold snowy night in Boston. The broth was rich but a bit too salty and the meat was fall of the bone tender. It was delicious nonetheless. The banchan was whatever but their kimchi pancake was really good. What disappointed me was the portion. For the price we paid, I expected a lot more food. Service could be better too. read more

I've been here once without wanting to, and I was pleasantly surprised. I went with a big group of friends and sometimes when big group of people dine out together it gets a little hectic trying to figure out what exactly to order (especially at a restaurant where foods can be shared). The staff was very patient with us and constantly filled our waters until we were finally ready to order. I wasn't very impressed with the seafood pancake, but we got some stir fried beef (with scallion and some garnishing vege) on a metal plate and that was very tasty. We also got stir-fried rice cake in sweet/HOT sauce with veges, that wasn't the best I've had but it wasn't bad. What impressed me the most of the huge pork stew with potatoes, asian cabbage, tofu...etc-- It was delicious! I was blown away. I do not like pork at all, and I couldn't help myself from eating the juicy, flavored, tender, fall-off the bone pork. As what Korean restaurants should, they gave us lots of side-dishes, and unlike most other places, they voluntarily re-filled our side-dishes over and over again! It was awesome :) read more

Sure some of the servers are SE asian, and 1/3-1/2 of the menu is thai food, but there's only one reason to come here. Seriously. Gamjatang. According to a Korean dining buddy I came with, it's made with pork spine? He was all giddy when he told me too, thinking it would gross me out. First, spine is not even offal. It's just meat and bones. And second, I'm Chinese. I didn't really get what he was expecting... The gamjatang is as spicy as the stews in Korea, ie, bareable at first, but after a bowl and a half bodily fluids will be covering your face, just the way I like it, don't ask why. Gamjatang means potato stew/soup, so there are large chunks of potatoes, a heaping portion of spine, tofu, and a bunch of optional add-ons, including a bean puree that makes it thicker (one of my favorite ones). Throw on some veg, and make sure you bring double the number of people the stew is listed to be for. It's huge. read more

I have never seen a Korean restaurant serve Kamjatang in the US before until Hanmaru. Eating this kamja tang was a life changing moment for me and I grew more Korean as I ate it. I even called my mother about it and she is making a trip from Virginia just because she hasn't had this dish in the US before. It is spicy and porky, ask for it with extra vegetables which makes it even better. It feeds me for days. If I have leftovers, I freeze them and eat them at a later time. It was still delicious and an easy meal weeks later. The banchan (side dishes) are not the freshest or best but they give you plenty which is great. I can't say enough about this place. read more

I LA-LA-LOOOOOOVE KOREAN FOOD. And this place has pretty good Korean food coming from a girl who used to live in a city full of Korean restaurants back in California. However, this place is like a fusion restaurant with different dishes from other Asian cultures (Thai, Japanese, Korean, Chinese). It's kind of a small spot but service is pretty prompt and it could get busy at times. I've come here both with a small party and with a large group and they're pretty accommodating. Everything I've tried was really really good and I don't have any complaints. - Pad See ewe - Tofu chigae soup - sizzling bulgogi - Nabeyaki udon (MY FAVORITE! So flavorful) - Gamja stew - Hamaru ramen - Bibimbab Their side dishes are good as well. It's a little bit more pricey than what I'm used to in California but I would pay anything for food that I am happy with. I would come here more often if it didn't take so long to get there on the green line or if I had a car here in Boston. Definitely a must-try place! read more

I discovered Hanmaru thru a korean friend and was my first korean cuisine ever! Eva eva; eva evaaa... The restaurant is located in one of the most Korean street of Boston 'Harvard Ave'. Let me set it straight, Hanmaru is GOOD! I especially like the 'Pork Bulgogi' (very spicy). Their is a lot of other dishes that you can pick; the portion good for a person who eats a lot. On Friday night and Saturday the place is usually full (make sure to reserve orgo early). The restaurant burned in 2009 and was redesigned. It's nicely designed wit nice colors as well as city-pictures on the walls. The restaurant is well ventilated can seat about 35 people. The waitresses are usually nice, willing to propose and even explain the dishes while some other days, they just take your orders. Also with every-meal that you order a set of 6 or so sides comes. They are Yummy! I recommend this restaurant for any person willing to try good Korean cuisine with friends but or for a second or third date. read more

I tried tempura ice cream at another restaurant and had no choice but to compare. Hanmaru fails. Hanmaru's tempura becomes mush because of the ice cream. They need to get that figured out. read more

I left Hanmaru after our meal with clear sinuses and itchy ears! Now that's a spicy pork bone soup! We ordered the 5-piece Gamja stew ($34.95) and the L.A Galbi ($17.95). The stew was a bubbly pot of spicy goodness but I found the pork bones to be quite lean (not a lot of meat) while the galbi ribs were sweet and tender. It was pretty busy on a Thursday night and service was so-so. I thought they could have been a little bit more on point with tea and sides refills. Hanmaru is a little bit more expensive than what I would usually spend on Korean but it was decent. read more

If you are looking to get your gamja tang fix, this is the place to be. Their portion is great. Whether you come here with two people or with a huge crowd, you have the option of choosing your portion as accordingly. As far as taste goes, the meat is extremely tender and soft. Meat literally falls out of the bone without much effort. The stew is excellent and is even better when they are soaked in those delicious soft potatoes. Their banchan is also above standard. I'm a fob and I am very particular about Korean food. This place is definitely one of those rare places that makes me think that it's even better than some of the places in Korea. Next time you are in Allston, definitely give this a try. Price wise, I do think its a bit pricey but trust me its worth the money. read more

I really like their pork bone soup. Set B is cheap and definitely enough for 2-3 people.

I heard this place had good gamja tang (translates into...potato stew?) and what a perfect day to go check this place out when its rainy and cold. Upon entering, the place is small. Nothing really fancy...very casual. My friend and I went in for lunch. A lady seated us but there was like one guy doing the waiter job. It would of been nice to have two waiters. So we ordered the gamja tang (spicy stew with potato and meat...specifically the back of the cow, which sometimes you have to literally suck out the meat from the vertebrae...not very attractive on a date...just an FYI) and omirice (fried rice with fried egg over). The gamja tang was spicy...I love spicy food and this was SPICY. It wasn't the painful spicy that you get from a jalapeno...it was one of those refreshing spicy that could clear the snottiest nose. It went well with the omirice, which kind of neutralized the spice. Definitely a place if one wants to have good, hot Korean food...especially during a rainy, cold day. I would love to try their ramyun the next time I go. read more

Disappointed. The gamjatang was spicy as promised, but that was it. The broth itself was bland. The pork was tender and easily fell off the bone. Yet not much to fall off. Maybe my taste buds are used to the flavorful tofu soup at Kaju, even though this stew is different, it doesn't compare and I'd rather much go down the street and wait half an hour for a smaller bowl of kickass goodness. The sides were minimal. They will refill if you flag them down to ask for it. Tteokbokki tasted good and spicy. Beware it's just carbs and sauce. Well, to be fair, the description did not say meat. LA kalbi, hm, was just regular kalbi. Perhaps the secret ingredients were too secretive I was not able to appreciate it. Even tried the spicy pork and there was not much to rave about. In conclusion, I was disappointed. There are better Korean food joints around. read more

I only remember the ganja..no wait, gamja stew. It's so spicy but you keep going back for more! (Even the mild has a kick to it.) They have 3 sizes and all the portions are ginormous! The small can feed at least 2 and the large can feed at least 5. It comes with an unlimited amount of the basic korean side dishes like kimchi and potato salad. You will sweat, you will cry but your tummy will be satisfied. (Eat that, insert name of famous poet.) I also like the age-tofu, pan fried in a nice thin batter but the inside was soft and silky. I've tried a few of their other dishes, but nothing to write home about. Also, plan to be there for a while because the service is slow even for a tiny place. read more

The sign outside is so fancy so I thought when I got inside that the place would be super nice but it wasn't what I expected. It was def smaller than I expected but I guess it's cozy? The server was awesome and told me I can hav dishes less spicy coz I for one can't handle the Korean kick. That stuff jus hurts to a point that I can't even enjoy the food. I ordered the ramen and I slurped that bowl clean. RAMEN!!!!!!!!!!! It was soooooo good. The lovely lady that went on a food date with me ordered the Indonesian fried rice. The rice was a lil stickier than I wouldve liked but the chicken is top notch. I do wanna go bk to this place n try the gamjatangs ... But I dnt think I'm ready yet read more

Five stars for their Gamja Tang but four stars for the restaurant as a whole and other items on the menu. If you come here you have to get the Gamja Tang - its extremely spicy so it's not for everyone. The meat falls off the bone which makes me wonder how long they cook it for to get it to be so tender. The broth is really good too probably because they cook the beef for so long! There are many sides that you can add to your stew. I recommend getting the small one (Stew C) for two people. Their Fried Gyozas are amazing too, super crispy and flavorful. I've also tried their L.A Galbi which is on the sweeter side. Their Chicken Katsu is really bad - don't get it. The one thing that confuses me about the place is the items on the menu. It is extremely fusion! It offers Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai! I think their Korean dishes are the best so I will stick to the Gamja Tang and other Korean options. The music here is super 90s, relaxing and totally throwback. The service is ok - could be better but no complaints so far. I will be back for the super spicy Gamja Stew. read more

Soup is really good And I really like tofu and noodle!! I'll try the lunch menu next time!! read more

So to start off with, my friend and I are Korean food newbies. We saw pictures of ramen in the window and it was an extremely cold night, so we decided to duck in around 5:15. At that point, it was pretty empty. By the time we left at 6:30, it was packed. The decor is cute and the music they play is lots of fun. The staff is very attentive and really friendly. They really wanted to make sure that we weren't off put by the spice level, so I guess we must wear our newbiness on our sleeves. We ended up going for the gamja stew with extra veggies. They brought out six little appetizers beforehand at no cost, along with a couple of bowls of rice. All of the appetizers were totally awesome and unexpected. There was kimchi, something like a teriyaki flavored jelly, macaroni salad, potato salad, tangy bean sprouts and a spicy wasabi-like paste. We cleaned them out. The stew comes to the table on a little sterno burner thing. We did order it mild, but it still had quite a bit of kick in the reddish broth. Still, the beef, potatoes, tofu and other veggies were cooked extremely well, very tender and flavorful. Our noses were running a little by the end, but it'll sure warm you up on a cold night! The communal eating style also makes for a really fun social dining experience. We're definitely heading back soon. I can't wait to try more! read more

I came on my birthday with die-hard determination to get Dukbokki (sweet, spicy rice cake). With a party of 3, we ended up with a dukbokki appetizer, Pork stew Option B (copying two Korean fellas at the next table), a chilled bibimbap, and a hot bibimbap. The pork falls right off the bones in the stews but lacked some flavor so I would highly suggest you make use of the soy sauce and/or wasabi that is also supplied. I'd suggest generously mixing in the red bottled sauce (not spicy) into the bibimbap because it becomes heavenly. I'm in love with the 6 little dishes as a precursor because it sets the mood for a fantastic meal. The waitress was extremely understanding as we changed tables and were given new utensils and plates. She also tried hard to be helpful with suggestions and personal preferences. Don't be deceived by the red color of some dishes, as it's not an indication of hotness, but may well be the kimchi flavoring or their unique tangy red dressing. I admit at one point I was scooping up spoonfuls of the dukbokki sauce and slurping it; I wouldn't mind more rice cakes in the dish but it was an appetizer after all. My only suggestion is that dukbokki becomes available as a main dish. Treatment is inviting and comfortable, despite Hanmaru not being as large in square feet as its neighbor. When you leave, the "accountant" that handed you the bill bows cordially. Hanmaru has earned my customer loyalty for a long time to come. *Parking is on the street. I can on a Monday night so there was ample room. I cannot speak to Friday evenings or weekends, however. read more

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Quick and friendly! (although im not sure if they were korean haha) Price: everything was pretty decent, being a big COLORS fan (which is right next door) their food quality is a little better and a little more high! GOOD FOR QUICK LUNCH & DINNER ! Their Japchae was really good!! and their side dishes were also. MUSIC: ( I know this is random) but i wish they played korean music! instead of english music, maybe thats why I like color's atmosphere better hehe ^_^ OVERALL: I like this place! I would come again for a cheap and quick lunch * THEY ARE VERY CHILDREN FRIENDLY read more

When we walked in (party of 4) the place was PACKED. The host told us 10 minutes - internally, I was like, uhhh no way will it only be 10 minutes - but sure enough, about 15 minutes later we were seated. We started with apps that they provided (free I think to every table). There was Kimchi (too spicy for me, but i'm a wuss and my friends loved it), some kind of pickled shredded carrots which were tangy and sweet but also sour, broccoli with spicy sauce and a clear, gelatinous, cubed one with a teriyaki sauce. When we asked what that one was, the waitress said emphatically, "JELLY! It's good for you. No calories!" Yes, she was the cutes thing ever. We ordered: 1. Udon Soup - SO FLAVORFUL, AMAZING, I GIVE IT 100 Stars! I was happy that this was my meal. There was so much leftover, I get some for lunch on Monday. It had broccoli, carrots, shrimp tempura, lots of noodles (too many to finish in one sitting) and yummy leeks/onions - and it arrived still boiling! 2. Fried Chicken - again with the 100 stars, so delicious. 3. Some kind of beef bowl (don't remember the name) that was filled with veggies. 4. BBQ beef with Leeks. Too spicy for me but the person who ordered it was pleased. The food arrived so quickly, it was delightful! The only reason that I gave it 4 stars is because I know that everyone I was with wasn't as completely bowled (don't mind the pun) over as I was by my gigantic, yummy, filling, savory Udon Noodle. So if you go, order the Udon. No questions. I plan on returning as soon as possible! read more

Hanmaru is definitely one of the best Korean restaurants in Boston area. You have to try Gamjatang, their main offering. It comes with pork bones(good amount of meat on them), potatoes, tofu, and veggies. Side dishes and other menus such as Scallion Beef and Ramen are also great. read more

I really really liked this place. The food was pretty cheap and man the food was good. You pretty much gottta get a soup here because that's their thing. I got the the GamjaTang which was spicy and really delicious (my mouth is watering just thinking about it). My partner got some Udon soup which was even better. Definitely recommended. TIP: Get the Udon Soup (or at least one of the Gamja soups) read more

Yay! Finally found a place in Boston that has decent Ramen! My girlfriends and I came here by chance since out original plan was to go to Color which is now closed. It was cold and hanmaru was just next door so we took a culinary chance. Good thing we did! The restaurant is a very casual with very little decor but it was cozy. We started off with the dokboki (rice cakes) appetizer which was delicious and satisfyingly spicy. All of us were in the mood for ramen so we got the lunch special Hanmaru Ramen with pork belly. The broth was soo good and the noodles were made just right; not over or undercooked. The table next to us had the gamja tang and it looked amazing. Will definitely need to come back to try it. read more

I love their every soup dish. I strongly recommend their new chicken soup. There are sticky rice and garlic inside the whole chicken. The soup is fresh , light and tasty. You can add salt and pepper as you like. So good. read more

Came to the restaurant around 8:30pm. We ordered the pork feet and the popular pot for two. While we were still enjoying our food around 9-ish, we were told to finish up quickly. We were rushed to pay the bill and one of the restaurant owner/waiter (not sure) insinuated that we were eating past time as a kind gesture from him. However, yelp shows that the restaurant closes at 10pm! Seriously, i felt badly treated and rushed to finish my food, which is not the most pleasant experience. 3 stars for the food and 0 for the service. read more

Went to Hanmaru to have some Gamja Tang (beef bone stew with veggies, tofu and potatoes). It's excellent, authentic in it's simplicity. The stew is spicy and on a cold day it's perfect to warm you up. Service is friendly, pan chan was good although I would have love more variety. Overall quite pleased and I recommend Gamja Tang! read more

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I had high hopes for this place after reading all of the stellar reviews, as I was really in the mood for gamjatang. There were a couple red flags I should've noticed about this place, but chose to ignore initially. Most of the clientele were enjoying Chinese style hot-pot upon entering. As a place that advertises itself as the spot for gamjatang, this was surprising. Both the banchan and entrees hinted that the cook is more familiar with Chinese cuisine, and not Korean. Starting with the banchan, the mashed potato was not koguma, but sweetened mashed potato. Cucumbers were crudely cut and marinaded. Old style kimchi sorely lacked spice and flavor. Moving to entrees, no gochujang was used whatsoever - a big red flag for what was ordered: gamjatang and cheobokkeum. The cheobokkeum was oily and spiced using Chinese peppers - pork was thinly cut (like bulgolgi ribeye style) and fatty. The gamjatang had an oversized hunk of pork in the bowl, also on the watery side and spiced with Chinese peppers. The server even brought it out by hand - not in a dolsot bowl, which always requires a tray to carry. I'm sorry to say that if you're looking for Korean, PLEASE avoid and try the seollongtang at Seoul Soulongtang down the street on Comm Ave, or even go further up Harvard Ave to Kaju Tofu and get soondobu. Would also like to add that the waitress attempted to charge us for an extra dish we did not order. I would not recommend this place - I promise you are not missing out. read more

very nice little restaurant. They serve Korean, Japanese, Chinese and some other Asian food. We ordered Korean BBQ, Korean hot pot, Thai pad and Thia ice tea, they were suuuper yummy! We added meat and vegetable after we finished the first-round hot pot~lol The service was good, no one brought us ice water though. The price is reasonable, the food is yummy and service is good. I will definitely go back!!! I love this little spot!!! P.S, It is closed on Sundays! read more

Yay, 4 stars for Hanmaru! I wanted Korean for dinner on Saturday, and so did my friend. He had BonChon in mind, but I convinced him that we could have delicious chigae tofu stew and ramen at Hanmaru... and I'm glad that the meal turned out well. It really felt like I was back home in the Bay Area, eating Korean food at one of the many, many Korean restaurants along El Camino Ave. in Santa Clara. Service was (semi) brisk, friendly and bustling. The banchan was decent, and I liked the chigae. They made it spicier upon my request, since Korean restaurants usually ask you to specify your desired level of spiciness for chigae, but Hanmaru did not, for some reason. My friend and I also ordered the stir-fried pork and scallion, which was also oh-so-tasty. Unfortunately, we did not try the gamja, but I hear it is very good, and I shall order it the next time I visit Hanmaru! read more

Delicious spicy broth is my choice for today's lunch and I have no regrets. This place has a two person sharing menu that's is both social and tasty. If you and a friend are looking for a warm alternative to the traditional hotspot this is a good alternative. read more

Hanmaru - Korean Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

The foods are always awesome here! The server is friendly. Every dish we ordered tastes amazing. Their popular dish Gamjatang is the best, that no other place can beat. This time we tried the cold noodle, it's so refreshing and perfect for the summertime. The papaya salad is also great, Chapchae is awesome as well. The portion here is also a plus. We use to go to Hanmaru often when we live in town but since we moved out to a suburban area, we couldn't go as often anymore. If you are in the Allston -brighten area this is a must restaurant to hit. Let me tell you, the foods here are worth every penny. read more

This place is alright. When I came here, the water cup that the waiter put on the table clearly was not thoroughly cleaned. There was some orange stuff stuck to the outside of the cup, which kind of grossed me out. Food-wise, they have a nice selection of different kinds of cuisines, making it difficult to choose what to order. I ordered the Dolsot Bibimbop, which was pretty tasty. My friend got the Kampungki (just like deep fried chicken) and said it was too heavily breaded. Another friend got ramen, which looked like a very small portion in comparison to some other restaurants that I know of. Price-wise, it's okay. My bibimbop was $14 including tax and tip. I think I would come again to try the ramen. read more

Gross experience with food.. In my experience, the food in this place is NOT good at all. I had crispy chicken (deep fried with sweet and sour sauce). The chicken came out dark-dark brown, cold, very hard, actual meat had lots of fat on it, tasted like something cooked a week ago, absolutely gross. The sauce was the only eatable thing, well, rice as well. In addition, the dishes are overpriced in my opinion (assuming they are eatable). The place is not super small but not big, very plain, no decor or any ambiance. I'd give this place one more shot, but definitely not soon. The food was really gross.. read more

Hanmaru - Crispy Chicken deep fried (GROSS!!) - Korean Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Went here for late lunch and this place was still a lot of people. We had Shrimp Papaya Salad, La Galbi, and Stir-Fried Spicy Squid. They were so good, especially Shrimp Papaya Salad and La Galbi. For salad, you need to like those Thai shrimp sauce to like this dish. We also saw a lot of people having pork bone hot pot which looks very yummy. The service was great and people were very friendly. Definitely need to go back again. read more

Hanmaru is one of my favorite Korean restaurants in boston. I ate kamja stew B with my boyfriend and it was enough for two people. But there were just small kamja in kamja stew or I hope there will be more diverse vegetables or rice cake. Whenever after eating from kamjatang in this restaurant, my stomach is uncomfortable but I don't care maybe It is because I ate too much or spicy for my stomach. I really like kamjatang and there is not where to eat around Korean town as Iong as I know . I will be there later again read more

Hanmaru - Kamja stew B - Korean Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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One of the best Korean restaurant in Boston. Not too many choices, but what they have are all authentic! read more

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Nice, quite small korean restaurant that also serve "asian" food of other kinds. It is a korean establishment though, and there were quite a few Korean speaking people present during my visit. And just like you shouldn't order a hamburger at an italian place, don't eat chinese food at a korean. That said, let's get on with the review. I had the galbi that turned out to be very nice. I got six types of banchan with it, although I missed the kaktugi, which is my favorite. Also no soup. The size of the portion was alright, but after the meal I didn't really feel full. The galbi was markedly more expensive than other dishes, but worth its price in my opinion. I'd come here again and like to recommend this resturant to others. read more