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Mugunghwa

4.4 (317 reviews)
ModerateSoup, Korean, Noodles
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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

Recommended Reviews - Mugunghwa

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Reviews With Photos

18. Bossam
Cathy H.

Came here on a Sunday evening with a group of friends and got seated right away. We ordered bossam (tender boiled pork), which came with some lettuce, ssamjang, and purple rice. The pork was really light and tasted great with the sauces for a filling but not heavy meal. We shared the seafood pancake, which was really crispy and full of seafood. Also got the tofu soup with pork, which was spicier than expected but good if you want something to warm up your body. Prices were reasonable for the portion size and quality of food. Highly recommend giving them a try if you're craving Korean food in the area!

Beef soft tofu soup
Rachel H.

I came here right at opening for lunch, and there was no wait. There are tablets at the end of each table that you order from, but they can bring out paper menus if you prefer. I had the beef soft tofu soup with mild spice level, and it was a little more spicy than I'm used to. It was still really good, though. I came with my toddler, and they even brought out a suction-bottomed bowl for her. That was really thoughtful. She had the pork dumplings, and they were huge! Service was good.

Rosy Tteokbokki
Amy T.

The food is great, the customer service is not. Love their rosy tteokbokki. Also tried their beef bibimbap and that was also good. Side dishes are unique and fresh. They do use sugar on their kimchi, may not be for everyone. Please continue to provide side dishes if a customer is spending $20+ on an item regardless of you call it an entree or not.

9. Mugunghwa Neang Myun / 무궁화 냉면
Sophia Y.

This place is good but very inconsistent. Thought it was very good when we first tried it, but it has gone downhill since coming back. I was a big fan of their naeungmyun, but the last couple times we went it was disappointing. The flavor is good, but the texture of the noodles was off as they hadn't been properly separated and ended up in chunks. Their meat is pretty normal quality for kbbq. I personally wasn't a fan of their kimchi, just didn't enjoy the flavor that much. However, I do appreciate that some of their side dishes are pretty spicy. Ambiance wise, it's a family place so it can get pretty loud. It's a gamble whether or not there will be disruptive kids. But overall it's a nice place. They also have their own parking lot which is a huge plus!

Olivia H.

My new favorite Korean restaurant! Everything was so good. The portions are very generous, and the prices are reasonable. The galbi jjim was especially generous and packed with flavor. The soft tofu soup was rich, flavorful, and delicious as well. My favorite dish is the yukhoe. I've been to this place three times, and without a doubt, I order the yukhoe every time. The seafood pancake was also excellent. I just wish they had a kimchi pancake on the menu, but unfortunately they don't. We also tried the cold noodles, which were incredibly refreshing. Highly recommend this place! The place is big and clean. During weekend lunch hours can have wait. They have their own parking lot so easy to find parking.

Kalbitang - two ribs with plenty of meat
Scott L.

This is definitely our go-to for comfort Korean food. The combos are a great value (Kalbitang & Spicy Pork with Ssam), the Cold Noodle Dishes are tasty, Banchan mix has a good balance of salty, sweet, spicy, and sour dishes, and service is excellent. Also a convenient private parking lot.

Christine M.

This is the third iteration that we know of at this same location. Food has always been excellent and today was no exception so flavorful and fresh! The rib eyes were amazing along With great soup! My son ordered a pork bit mop. Crunchy rice to perfection always love this meal expensive but worth it.

Lovetta J.

They were so fast, and there was SO much food! It was just my husband and me this time, but we're already saying we need to come back with a group of friends. Everything was delicious!

4/28 - Assorted Banchan
Dexter D.

We were part of a party of six with reservations for 11:30am on a Tuesday morning. Arriving first, we were asked to wait while they set up the table. Everyone else arrived and we were seated at a six-top. The restaurant is much brighter than it was back in the old days when it was known as Golden Dynasty. We felt very welcome and comfortable. After we ordered, it was suggested that we spread out to two tables which we refused because it would be difficult to hear each other. Then the food started coming out and the suggestion was made again. Okay, fine, six people took two six-tops and barely had enough room. The portions and quality are commensurate with the pricing structure. We started by ordering appetizers: Steamed Vegetable Dumplings Japchae Chive Pancake Soy Garlic Chicken Wings Then we ordered entrees: Premium Galbi Tang Grill Mackerel x2 Bibimbop x3 (different proteins) and of course there was the assortment of BanChan. When the food began to arrive, it came fast and hot. When they had us spread out, instead of having to pass the Banchan back and forth, they simply brought out another set. Service was excellent and unobtrusive. Everything that I tasted was delicious. There was very little conversation going on after the food was served until everyone was full. That's always a good sign. We will definitely be back when hungry for Korean cuisine in the El Cerrito area and we're looking forward to their planned Castro Valley location!

Ashley L.

I love this place. they have so many fav korean dishes. had to try the galbi jjim w cheese and ugh it hits every time. cheaper than daeho and bigger portion and just as delicious. it also came w glass noodles w no extra charge love that. tried korean cold noodle for the first time here and it was so good. vv vinegar and salad like and pickled flavor which I love. the seafood pancake was amazing as well and is especially delicious with the sauce that it comes with. service was so fast and attentive. love the ambiance it was new and modern in there

Banchan- side dishes
Selina L.

I REALLY enjoyed my experience here! My husband and I ordered a combination with bulgolgi and seollongtang, and an order of fried chicken wings. That was more than enough food for two people so we had plenty of leftovers. The banchan (side dishes) here are very impressive, super flavorful. I can taste so much in these little side dishes, unlike some other Korean places that only offer 2-3 standard sides that are only kimchi cabbage and turnip. I like that the food reminds me of the Daeho chain in the Bay Area, but pricing is slightly cheaper. I would put food quality in the same category as Daeho. I love Korean soups and stews and I cannot wait to try Galbijjim and other items on the menu next time! I also love that the restaurant parking lot is so convenient! Some of the restaurants here have limited parking spots, but not is place! The lot is huge! I am terrible at parallel parking so this is a super important thing for me when I look for restaurants.

Spicy BBQ Chicken - and it was so good
Craig Y.

Another fun place to eat in the East Bay. Mugunghwa has a fun name to pronounce and the food is excellent. For a place where you order via a video menu, the service is terrific and I appreciated the variety and flavors of the food. The place is also extremely clean! Instant trust. FOOD: Came here with my foodie friend Naomi on her recommendation. Was craving some Korean and had my cravings satisfied for sure. So many good things to order but I had to go for the spicy chicken which was flavorful without being too spicy. The bulgogi was also tasty and delicious. And the rice was terrific (which not everyone gets right). Had so much took home almost half! SERVICE: Service was terrific (again not always the case) and felt well cared for. The plating of the food was terrific and the portions were nice and huge. COST: For what you get it seemed like a bargain! I would definitely come back.

tofu soup with mushroom and vegetable broth
Annie G.

Food: 4/5 Service: 2/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Food was alright -- I'd eat it again but I wouldn't consider it the best Korean food I've had. We got: - tofu soup with mushroom and vegetable broth - japchae - dolsot bibimbop with tofu The soup was probably my favorite, it was flavored well! The bibimbop felt a bit plain to me. The japchae was decent. The appetizers were good and varied differently from most places I've been to. Overall the place was clean and organized, and the tablets we ordered on were easy to navigate. We found street parking, but we also realized there's a parking lot right next to the restaurant with plenty of parking spots. Service was polite and after we asked, they found out three of the appetizers had fish sauce in it (we had a vegetarian in our group). However, it otherwise was pretty neglectful service -- they never came to check on us or refill our water (I personally don't really need the checkups anyway and sure, we didn't go out of our way to request water...) and when we requested the check through the tablet, we probably waited another 10-15 minutes before I went up to the counter and waited another 5-10 minutes before they finally addressed me, where I requested boxes and the check. It was about 3-4pm and there was only one or two other tables of people in an otherwise empty restaurant. I don't know -- it bothers me just a tad that we already put our orders in through the tablet, we already had pretty minimal service, and we had to wait for quite a while to get help, but overall not an awful experience, so I tipped 18% as per usual! The clincher is that I forgot a hat somewhere along the way, and after my group thought about it, we figured I must've left it at the restaurant. I called and asked, and they, after asking me what it looked like, politely told me they had not seen it. We went back to the restaurant anyway, two hours after eating (a bit of a delay due to other constraints), and when I walked back to where I'd been sitting, the hat was there on the ground, under a chair behind my table. It legit took me two seconds to spot it; it wasn't hidden. WTH? Why would you not walk a few yards over and take at least a cursory look on the ground under/around the table before telling me you hadn't seen it? And within the next several hours still no one bothered to look? I get that customers' personal items are ultimately their own responsibility -- if someone had taken it, I wouldn't blame the restaurant. But I don't see how keeping a simple lost and found, even for the day, would be hard, especially when someone is explicitly calling to ask about a lost item. This totally rubbed me the wrong way -- I would not come back to this place, and just a warning to those who like to have a bit of service while eating that you definitely won't get that here lol

Bulgogi bibimbap and bulgogi in the back

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Mugunghwa Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Mugunghwa

Do they serve anything for vegetarians? The dishes described on the website all involve meat.

They definitely do! Firsts and mains have veg/vegan options

Do you have a catering menu?

We do catering services. You can call this number. 510-989-5019.

Does anyone know if they use sesame oil for their food?

Of course they do, it's korean. But they probably do not cook with it.

Do you have to make reservations on a Saturday night?

They will take action if there are more than 8 in a group.

Are there lunch specials?

Yes, I think so.

I am wondering if they have beer and wine and / or hard alcohol here?

They had beer, soju, and rice wine (makgeolli) when we visited a few weeks ago.

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Gangnam Tofu - Gangnam Chicken

Gangnam Tofu

4.4(843 reviews)
1.9 mi
•$$

Omg! Amazing discovery! Amazing authentic Korean! Holy cow! What a gem! Tell all your friends!…read more First off, bonchon dishes are amazing. Fresh, flavorful and fulfilling. My must have is the eggplant. Ugh! Yum! Sauce, samjang is samjanggggging! They make this in house. Store bought samjang isn't the same and other places don't make their own from scratch. The sauce is the ONE! My favorite go-tos to order is the pork belly platter served with rice and copious amounts of romaine lettuce. So fresh and satisfying. The tofu soup option is also a must and they allow you to go extra spicy. Korean food isn't typically spicy but the extra spice level is what I need when I'm looking for more than just a hint and a kick. Service - amazing! Super attentive and observative. They pay attention. For example, low on samjang. You don't need to ask, they bring it right to you. Low on bonchon, they'll bring more. Also, if you notice for to go orders, they pack you bonchon. This is rare. No one does this. You guys have a customer for life!

I really liked this place! Fast service, delicious food and quality ingredients. Also the spicy…read morelevel means legit spicy here. They are also one of the only Korean restaurants that I know that uses real prawns in their soondubu jjigae, a lot of other Korean restaurants will give you the weird small shrimp that aren't all that fresh/appetizing... I got the stone pot rice with seafood and thought it was expertly cooked with a solid portion of spicy squid and shrimp. I think this is one of the better Korean places that I have tried in the Berkeley/Oakland/Richmond general area.

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Gangnam Tofu
Gangnam Tofu - Bibimbop w/Beef

Bibimbop w/Beef

Gangnam Tofu - Mul Naeng-Myun

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Mul Naeng-Myun

Zomsa - Wai Wai-Wai Chatpatey

Zomsa

4.5(181 reviews)
0.6 mi
•$$

Zomsa offers a truly authentic Nepali dining experience, combining high-quality cuisine with a…read morewarm, family-oriented atmosphere. The owner's traditional approach to greeting and serving guests is a highlight, creating a welcoming and culturally rich environment. Meals are served in a timely manner, which is much appreciated for family gatherings. The Khashi ko Bhutton Set and Khashi ko Sukuti Set are standout dishes. The Buff Jhol Momo also offers a pleasant and decent flavor profile. While the initial service is excellent, the overall experience could be further elevated by improving the attentiveness to table maintenance. More prompt clearing of empty plates once guests have finished their meal would enhance the comfort of the dining space. A wonderful destination for those seeking genuine Nepali flavors and a friendly atmosphere.

This spot is super yummy and on the rotation for Nepalese & Himalayan food in the area ~ kiddo…read moreapproved too. Small and clean, nestled in the corner of the El Cerrito Shopping Center off San Pablo, you'll find Zomsa. We stopped in early on a Friday night and over the course of our meal, several families and a few date night couples came through. We didn't go with an appetizer this time, rather ordered our mains right away to make kiddo bedtime: Butter Chicken, Palak Paneer, Cheese Naan, Garlic Naan, Mango Lassi for the kiddo, and beers for the parents. FYI, I noticed Zomsa now serves hard alcohol for those wanting a little extra kick! We've also ordered momos here before and the chowmein. Everything is extremely solid, fresh, flavorful, and just overall, comforting. To note, several veggie/vegan options here, shrimp dishes, and also for meat eaters: chicken, pork, buffalo, goat, beef, lamb. Service is typically always quick and efficient, and you can tell there is a lot of heart and soul in their cooking. A few seating options outside. The menu seems to be expanding since our last visit, so that's exciting to see. Pricing is fair and parking available in the shopping center.

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Zomsa - Chicken Choila Set

Chicken Choila Set

Zomsa - Chicken Choila

Chicken Choila

Zomsa - Vegan Thakali Thali

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Vegan Thakali Thali

Larb Thai Food & Tapas

Larb Thai Food & Tapas

4.4(744 reviews)
0.0 mi
•$$
Vegetarian friendly
Family-owned & operated

===TL;DR=== - Larb chicken…read more- Beef boat noodle soup - medium spicy - Dry tom yum noodle - spicy - Thai iced coffee ===TMI=== Rustic and wooden interior. Their water cup was super cute personal touch to their style. Everything was amazing! Portions were bigger than I anticipated so don't let it fool you. Larb chicken - light, flavorful in one plate. A must get! One thing I wish was different was if they provided more lettuce cause we ran out quick! But I guess that's what the rice was for Beef boat noodle soup - big bowl, noodles on the bottom and the proportion was big! Not stingy at all with a lot of beef's and it was not dry. Super flavorful soup base (umami bomb!), even good pairing it with some rice! Dry tom yum noodle - love how they serve it dry with the soup on the side. Spicy was actually quite spicy (and I love spicy). They actually match the spicy level from Thailand so be mindful of that! It's one of those addictive heat. You're like sucking your teeth but you want more and can't stop! Savory, flavorsome, I even added some noodles to my Larb lettuce wrap and it was delicious. Thai iced coffee - it was ok. Imo the coffee flavor wasn't strong enough but overall a balanced drink. We were also gifted a cup as they're reached 10 years serving the community! Congrats and can't wait to have more yummy foods from them!

Family-owned restuarant down in El Cerrito. Friendly server and homey feel. I am not usually into…read moreThai but this place was so fresh. You can tell they put so much care in their shop, from the decorations and the plates. I got some fried rice. My friends got the pad see ew and I forgot what the other dish was called. I actually liked that noodle crisp with the soup. I would definitely go again when I venture out.

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Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Crispy rice ball salad

Crispy rice ball salad

Larb Thai Food & Tapas - Dry tom yum. Got medium and it was SPICY, couldn't eat it and had to wash it with water.

Dry tom yum. Got medium and it was SPICY, couldn't eat it and had to wash it with water.

Larb Thai Food & Tapas

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Mugunghwa - soup - Updated October 2026

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