Koko Korean Restaurant

Bleh why have they regressed :( It was good when they first opened, and then it became acceptable…read more I would go if we have a larger group and are focused more on the company than on the food. The quality is choppy, and there are some things that you would only know is askew if you've been to Korean places in Koreatowns or in Seoul. E.g., the dumplings in the army stew were overcooked and the soon dubu can come out lukewarm (their reason was "we didn't want to scald you" but we order stone pot things for the hot sizzles). Overall good in a pinch, but I would only go if it's the most convenient option.

An incredible experience with very tasty food. The only problem was I ate too much and was moaning…read moreall the way to the concert at the State theater.

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My beer

Sopoong

4.0(54 reviews)

0.0 mi

•$

great food, nice staff, pretty fast service, and food came out piping hot, good portion size…read more strongly recommended korean food in collegetown

I recently tried the Jaeyook Bokeum Bap, which came with a side of miso soup, and it was absolutely…read moredelicious! The spicy pork was tender, flavorful, and had just the right amount of heat - yum! Maybe it tasted extra amazing because I was super hungry after accidentally skipping meals all day, but it really hit the spot :) My friend ordered the kimbap and was equally happy. In fact, it's probably the best spot for kimbap in Collegetown. I now prefer this place over Gangnam Station across the street. 5 stars out of 5!

Menu photo

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Asia Cuisine

4.0(264 reviews)

0.6 mi

Good Jajjangmyeon in Ithaca!…read more My parents recommended this spot to me- and they are very particular about their Asian food. They absolutely hated Kimchi. I finally got around to trying Asia Cuisine though must admit I was a bit hesitant given their extensive menu (I feel like if a restaurant offers too many types of cuisines the quality takes a hit). However, I was pleasantly surprised! I had been craving jajjangmyeon (I had it once at Koko's but it was not good) and ordered Asia Cuisine's C3 green tea noodle w jajang sauce. The noodles were delicious! Al dente and the slightest hint of green tea flavor! The jajang sauce was a tad oily and not super traditional, though I still enjoyed it- especially the addition of onions! Service was okay. Nothing exceptional. While I haven't tried any of their other menu items, I would recommend their green tea noodle jajjangmyeon!

Hey Google inconspicuous restaurant a corner lot but when you approach it, you notice the lines out…read morethe door and it's completely packed compared to the high your end places next-door. Pretty straightforwardly named Asian cuisine. They offer a combination of Chinese Japanese and Korean food. I had a tasty Bulgogi bento box which had tempura, a California roll, japchae, salad with ginger, purple multigrain rice and of course the delicious bulgogi. It's a casual atmosphere with friendly service. We honestly walked in cause we overheard several people saying it was better than "this", "this", and "that". But honestly the aroma from the kitchen was enough to draw me in. Definitely tasty, fresh, well portioned and highly recommended.

Jamppong and spicy pork

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Four Seasons

3.2(99 reviews)

Four Seasons is veryyyy mediocre, but I have to admit, the portions are great -- if you order the…read moreright thing! It's one of those places where you need to know exactly what to get to have a good experience. If you want the perfect affordable meal for two people (they note two but honestly if your friend group is small backed like us, three might also do the trick), head on right over and try their casseroles. If you want to perfectly replicate our experience, try their Boo Dae Jeon Gol, better known as Korean army stew (for curious folks and my fellow food baddies, definitely check out this link about the history of this sexy dish: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budae-jjigae#:~:text=It%20also%20goes%20by%20the,stew%2C%20and%20spicy%20sausage%20stew.&text=The%20dish%20has%20its%20origins,Korea%20was%20experiencing%20significant%20poverty. ) It's not a healthy meal for sure nor is this the best budae jigae I've ever had (quite bland for what it is) but omg, it's definitely THE ONE where you can have the most bang for the buck. They have an massive hotpot pan just for their casseroles. My friend and I, both very hungry college students, literally could not down this thing. The menu also mentioned to "share with my people" but perhaps it was a warning all along. The soju here is pretty expensive per bottle, which is a bit of a letdown. However, I do like their green grape soju and the specific brand that they have; it doesn't have that alcohol taste upfront, which is arguably dangerous. Will I willingly come back? Probably notttt, heh heh. There are better places out there to spend your money and time. Nothing about the food or the atmosphere really wowed me. It's just okay for a casual meal, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.

Four Seasons isn't gonna blow you away with how authentic or excellent the food is. However, if you…read morejust want some Asian food that isn't bad, you could do a lot worse. I've been here countless times, and the service has always been good. With regards to the food, it's always serviceable and sometimes pretty decent. Another advantage of Four Seasons is how open they are to sake bombing - it's one of the top sake bombing locations in Collegetown.

Pork bone casserole with potatoes (we added ramen)

Beef Bibimbap

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Bi Bim Bap

Gangnam Station

3.3(51 reviews)

Kinda strange place. Its main dishes are Korean Chinese like jjajangmyun and tangsuyuk but they…read morealso have some Korean dishes like soondubu jjigae. Banchan was very basic but home made and not too bad. Soondubu jjigae with beef was pretty good. Beef was bulgogi I think (Korean marinated beef) which is kinda weird but it worked. No raw egg to put in the soup though. But it was spicy and good. Jjajangmyun was okay but I imagine this is the only game in town for that dish so you have to give them credit for having it. Tangsuyuk was the star though. It was freshly fried and crispy. Make sure to ask for sauce on side. Ambiance is absolutely zero. LOL. They have tables and they were clean I give them that. No AC so probably best to order delivery in the summer. The owner is Korean Chinese and very nice. I was only passing through but if I went to school at Cornell I can see myself coming here.

Mediocre Korean food. They seem understaffed…read more The ban chan was not good. There only seemed to be one person waiting on all of the tables, so we didn't have water for a large portion of the meal. I ordered the kimchi jigae as a main- it was fine. Definitely an improvement from the ban chan, but not spectacular. Overall, I would probably not return.

N1. Ja Jang Myun Korean Chinese classic. Not the best but not bad either. Hits the spot.

Spicy pork bibimbap

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T12. Tang Soo Yuk Freshly fried and crispy. Make sure to get the sauce on the side.

Shi Miao Dao

4.0(5 reviews)

Excellent menu selection. Splendid service. Comfortable atmosphere. Highly recommend others to…read morepatronize as I will next time in the area.

Came here on a Friday afternoon, and there was no wait. It's a quiet, clean restaurant with lots of…read moreseating. I got noodles with tomato broth and pork chop. The noodles in a boiling cauldron of soup and tray filled with numerous toppings came out within 2 minutes. The portions were huge, and it was hearty and comforting. The soup itself was very flavorful, but the pork was very tough and somewhat dry. Overall, it was okay. It's good if you're craving soup or feeling under the weather and want something hearty. The employees are nice, but there seems to be an understaffing as we were waiting to be seated and had to find someone to pay the bill later on.

R5. Tomato Pork Chop Rice Noodles Soup

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BiBiBowl Asian Grill

4.8(13 reviews)

0.0 mi

Ordered for lunch and couldn't eat it all. The entire bowl was delicious! So many flavors and…read moretextures. The pickled daikon was my absolute favorite but I also enjoyed the bulgogi beef. Looking forward to trying a different bowl!

Fast, delicious, and borderline addictive. The bowls here go for around $15, but the portions are…read moregenerous enough to feed you now and your slightly hungrier future self later. Definitely a better bang for your buck than Pokelava next door, which charges the same price for a smaller bowl. My go-to is white rice and salad (because texture matters, and crunch = joy), with a half-and-half of teriyaki salmon and either teriyaki chicken or bulgogi depending on my mood swings. You seriously can't go wrong and everything slaps. And the best part? They let you pick up to eight toppings, which is more than enough. The staff are fast, efficient, and clearly have their life more together than I do. There's plenty of seating, but it can get crowded. Oh, and the self-ordering kiosk is an absolute lifesaver. No small talk, no pressure, just you and a glowing screen full of food options. Introvert-approved.

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Korean Bowl

Maru Ramen

4.2(293 reviews)

1.1 mi

My go to place when I visit Ithaca, always has great service and delicious food. Yum yumread more

This place used to be amazing. They have recently changed from "Maru Ramen" to Maru Korea "…read more Not sure if they changed ownership (I believe they did) but the new place is mediocre at best. Maru Ramen served homemade noodles and broth. You could taste the love and care that went into the food. Now, as "Maru Korea" , the food is incredibly underwhelming. The noodles come from a package (confirmed) and the broth tastes like it does to. Some of the dishes are decent but even as traditional Korean dishes go....still underwhelming. I've eaten Korean cuisine regularly for 24years....this place would be equivalent to the Korean food you would get if there was a Korean version of McDonald's.

Seaweed Salad and Tofu Salad

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New store front

De Tasty Hot Pot

3.3(135 reviews)

Solid hot pot + amazing Sichuanese. De Tasty is a staple for Cornellians and Ithaca folks alike…read more The hot pot is comforting and consistent. The broth could be more flavorful. Garnishes (veggies, noodles, mushrooms) are a bit sparse but adequate for a small solo pot. They have a small sauce bar on the side for $2 as well. Sichuanese here is always a hit and very authentic. Highly recommend the Mapo Tofu or Spicy Fish Stew. The family-style portions are perfect for sharing. Would recommend the entrees here over the hot pot. Prices are reasonable given the portion sizes and quality. HEADS UP: There is a 15% service charge automatically included in the check. Perfect place for large family/friend outings and cold snowy days. Will definitely be coming back

Wow I was really impressed by this place! All the dishes we ordered were delicious. I especially…read morelove the lamb dish and the pork belly dish was also good. The string beans were also really flavorful. We went during a weekday for an early dinner in the summer so there wasn't a lot of people and the service was prompt and the food came out fast. The restaurant itself is at the bottom of some stairs so you might miss it if you're not looking for it. The inside has lots of seating and it feels like your typical Chinese restaurant with a somewhat of a dark interior.

Inside

D5. Beef Tripe with Chili Pepper in Dried Hot Pot

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Outside

The Lotus

4.0(31 reviews)

0.5 mi

The menu offers a great fusion of Korean food, Japanese…read moresushi and tempura, and Chinese rice dishes. Our soba noodles were delicious in a broth with chicken! That chicken was a bit dry. Our vegetable wantons were nicely steamed. The server was so helpful and explained everything we asked about. Atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

Good choice if you're craving Asian in Ithaca. The interior is nice and clean. Service is…read moreattentive. The kalbi was very tasty. The banchan was mediocre. I enjoyed the cheesy tteboki and the seafood soup is decent too.