Finally found a legit Korean place! I'm Korean and have been looking for a place like this for a long time in this area. The food was authentic and the lady and gentleman working there were very kind. Some might be put off by the lack of attention but in Korea they usually do not approach the table unless you call for them. I felt like I was back in Korea. Highly recommend the kimchi pancake. The portions were generous and priced reasonable. read more

I stopped by for dinner after work. I was the only person in the whole restaurant and the host/waitress was...resting with her head down when I came in. It was slow so no problem, but service was not very great, almost uncomfortable. The bibimbap was average and fine itself and the price was cheap, I did find some of the banchan to have an off taste, like maybe it was on its way out. Over all I probably wouldn't return and this place had great reviews from a few years back maybe it's different owners now from what I read. read more

Nagwon Garden - Dining room - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

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This place is so homey. It feels like you're visiting family. The food is very flavorful and portions are generous. The naengmyeon cold noodles was very refreshing for the hot weather and the seafood pancake was full of seafood! Very crispy and well seasoned. Nagwon Garden is owned by a sweet husband and wife. The wife was very attentive and seeet while her husband cooks in the back. We were the only customers which made me a little sad, as this restaurant is very delicious. We've been to quite a few Korean restaurants and this is my favorite in Philly. Definitely stop by, you won't regret it! read more

Nagwon Garden - Seafood pancake - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

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The food was soooo good. The portions were so generous. It's was worth every penny. I'm a repeat offender of the Jjajangmyeon!! It's so yummy and comforting. Both of the pancakes (seafood and kimchi) are so good. Working my way down the menu!! They deliver!!! read more

Came here for a birthday dinner. The old couple that runs the restaurant is sooo sweet. The woman took our order and did everything - I thought she was actually cooking the food in the kitchen too (she might have been) until I saw a man come out of the kitchen after we had finished our meal and they were sharing a hard-boiled egg together. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen. I took off a star just because I felt like the experience was good, but not amazing. We came on a Saturday night and for the 2.5 hours we were in the restaurant, only one other person came in to have a meal alone. There was no music playing in the restaurant and it was a little eerily quiet. Other tables that weren't occupied by customers had lots of papers on them and clearly weren't for customer seating even though they were in the middle of the restaurant. It was my birthday so we showed up with a cake and the woman was very kind to let us put the cake in their fridge until we were ready for dessert. We ordered 3 meats for Korean BBQ: pork, seafood, and beef. They were all marinated well and were tender and flavorful. We also got the kimchi pancakes, steamed dumplings, and japchae noodles. All the food was delicious! read more

Nagwon Garden - a grill with various types of food - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

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Good food and excellent service. the owners are so nice and I wish more people knew about this place. It's not the most eye opening korean bbq but it is very good ayce for the price. the Gabli short rib was especially flavorful and the sides dishes were pretty good (the steamed egg was a little overdone but otherwise was really good) read more

My friend and I came for dinner. We did the Korean BBQ and had a pork and the seafood (squid and shrimp). The pork we did was the bacon which came unseasoned. They give you a little dish of seasoning paste, but if I do the pork again I would probably go with the seasoned version. The food was great quality and the marinade on the shrimp and squid was great! The restaurant was pretty empty the entire time we were there which was really surprising as this is the only KBBQ place locally outside of driving into the city. The owners were incredibly sweet. I did not realize that we would not be cooking our own food, though. They set up the grill, bring out the food and do it all for you. I do wish it was a little more hands on and that we were able to do some of the cooking ourselves. Overall the restaurant was pretty quaint and cute. There was no music playing, and the owners were a little hard to find when we were ready to get the check and head out, so due to this and the lack of DIY cooking I removed a star. I will definitely be coming back! read more

Came here for lunch after a recommendation from a friend. We were the only table there which was a bit of a red flag but at least we got the restaurant to ourselves? We did the all you can eat option which was roughly 35$ a person (so worth it since galbi was 30$ by itself) We had to get our meats and our sides from the metal tins in the buffet lines. Which is fine but not sure how long the meats/sides have out. The waitress started the grill for us which was nice! The charcoal grill does give the meat w nice taste to the meat. I think out the meats the galdi, bulgogi and the pork spare ribs were the best of the meats. They had the best flavor overall. We also got the seafood pancake which was huge and delicious :) overall lots of food that was pretty good. Our waitress never refilled our water which was annoying. Overall meats were tasty, sides were okay, pancake was delicious. read more

Nagwon Garden - Seafood pancake - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

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This unassuming restaurant is surprisingly great. Our meals were tasty and they serve the best jap chae in the area. Service is not as quick as other places, and you'll come out smelling like smoke from the bbq, but the food is well worth it. read more

We've been coming to Nagwon for over a decade. We stray and try a new place every so often, but this modest, nondescript, no frills, all-you-can-eat korean bbq joint at $40 per, is delicious, and still the best bang for the buck. It's self-service here. Pick your meats, be it marinated or plain galbi, pork belly, bulgogi, shrimp, marinated chicken or squid and cook 'em at your table. Bring over, too, the variety of banchan,(vegetarians have plenty of options too) including lettuce, samjang, garlic, sliced peppers, steamed egg, and five different types of kimchi. Sit back and get ready for some good barbecue, but be forewarned. It gets seriously smoky and you will need a shower when all is said and done. And completely sated. read more

Nagwon Garden - All you-can-eat Marinaded galbi is best tasting best deal in town. Marinated like mom used to make them. - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

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I can't speak to anything cooked in the kitchen as we've never tried it, but they turn out consistently very good Korean BBQ, based on having gone there 5+ times now. The quality of the meat is absolutely a cut above the other local places; excellent marbling in every cut, extremely tender, and their marinades and sauces are all quite good, at least to my relatively untrained palate. It also seems that most of the pickled vegetables are made in-house as well. Also, how many other shops use charcoal instead of gas? I've only run into one other locally. The couple who own and run the place are pretty limited in how much English they speak but they positively dote on you in terms of helping you cook and cut the meat; it takes some doing to convince them you know how to grill it. That said, they do dote over customers. Decor is pleasant, but nothing amazing. It's also the quietest restaurant I know; never full, never loud. Definitely worth the occasional excursion. read more

Nagwon Garden - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

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The food is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Meat was tender, juicy and very flavorful. The taste was accentuated with the smoke from the coal. The old Korean couple who run the place also run the Korean food truck outside Tyler on Temple campus and they said they will reopen the food truck again on Jan 10, 2022, so I'm definitely visiting. They were so nice, caring and genuine. At the end they also gave our table sweet cinnamon tea. 10 out of 10 Korean food experience read more

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It's about four years since I've been here and some things have changed. One thing is they now offer BBQ buffet. We didn't try that this time, maybe next, since we always loved their Kimchi and Galbitang Stew. And that's what we went back for. Side dishes were ok. The kimchi lacked flavor. But the stews.. OMG... LOVE IT... Hasn't changed from what we remembered. The flavor of the broth is still there. You could taste the flavor of the pork bone in their broth. It is a bit pricey, but worth it. The only downside is their seafood pancake. Other than octopus, we didn't see any other "seafood". read more

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We arrived at 6pm on a Saturday. It was fairly empty but we received great service from the owner. She cooked the galbi for us and it was delicious. We'll definitely be coming back! So far, this is the best galbi we've found in the Philadelphia area. Two thumbs up! read more

Been here twice now. Really love the food. It is all so flavorful. The service is also very fast and timely.

This place needs to get more people. Wow. Food is decent and prices are good for what you get. They have the cognac beer there- quality stuff! Service was good. Felt bad for server. She was so bored that she was watching Asian flicks most of the time on a Saturday night. Otherwise, my friends and I had a great time eating there. I hear the BBQ is great here too. There was too much sauce used in my fried pork, but otherwise it was good. Convenient enough to public transportation. Considerably walkable enough from 69th St. to there to work off what you ate, or a few parking spots in their small parking lot. A karaoke room might help them out a lot. read more

Very solid Korean restaurant. Honestly I would never have gone in without a friend's recommendation - the parking lot is almost always empty as is the restaurant during the past few times I've visited. It's almost a marvel how this place has stayed open against competition with other more well-groomed Korean restaurants in the area - but very understandable because of one important aspect: the food. I'd recommend: Seafood pancake - huge and so good AYCE KBBQ (~$30) - pick your own meats Galbitang - a light but delicious beef soup Hotpot - the portion is enough for 2-3 people, packed with meat or seafood, whichever you choose. Ask to add udon/ramen! Black bean noodles - a comfort food of choice You won't get the most bubbly service but the old couple that runs this place will make sure you have what you need. The price might seem steep but the portions are more than reasonable. It's rarely ever loud, and sometimes you'll have the whole place to yourself. All in all a good choice in the area, especially if you don't like waiting! read more

Nagwon Garden - Seafood pancake! So good - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

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The charcoal grill is a step way above the competition. So good! It really adds something to the already delicious food. Unfortunately the smoky air quality in this place might take years off my life, so I haven't been back quite yet. But I know I will soon. read more

I heard such great things here so I decided to try the buffet today. Problem is I was alone. I was informed by the lady at the door that they only accept parties of 2 at the buffet. I was turned away. That's just not good business. read more

I wanted to like this place and I hate to write bad reviews especially in a mom and pop place like this. It just wasn't good. Disclaimer that this isn't for the BBQ. This review is simply for the dolsot bimibap - a very simple and classic dish of any korean restaurant. The rice was dry, slightly overcooked. I had a miso soup with my bimibap and eventually had to dip the rice in the soup to finish my dinner. The beef was barely existent. It was almost like ground beef. Had to literally search for it to taste it. Kimchi sadly was bland. I'm no kimchi expert but the color was pale and lacking the red spicy coloring and lacking the punch. Overall I didn't have a good dinner, not a good bimibap specifically. Try elsewhere. -- keep eatin' read more

Nagwon Garden - Spoonful of rice and stuff from bimibap. I spy beef. See it? - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

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Just like visiting your Korean aunt's house for dinner. Even though I'm not Korean, my Korean friends have loved the experience when they visit. Be a bit patient as the owners/staff don't speak much English. Never fear as the menu has English descriptions and plenty of photos. My wife and I are particularly big fans of their soups/stews. read more

Nagwon Garden - Beef and octopus casserole - yummy! - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

The wife loves Korean food. Soooooo I've been here a few times. It just doesn't make it for me. The cost/quanity/quality numbers Just don't add up. I've also found the service to be nothing special and sometimes poor. The food is OK but not, in some cases, for the price. read more

First off I'm from Cali and we have more Korean BBQ than McDonald's. This was my first ever charcoal Korean BBQ. The smoke flavor gave the bulgogi a better more authentic flavor. Not sure if it's standard but a nice ahjumma cooked our food for us...way cool. DEFINETELY recommend this place! read more

Nagwon Garden - Nice ahjumma cooking our food - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

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I found this place when I was on the bus going to the mall and me and my bf decided to give it a try. We didn't try the BBQ because we want to try their other dish out first. We didn't regret not getting the BBQ either! Their utensils were very old and looks dirty so we have to ask for the plastic forks and spoons:( And the foods(squid and teriyaki chicken) that we ordered were ok. What I try to say about this place is that it is over-priced and not worth your hard-earned money! P.S. Be careful, the people here can't really speaks English so you have to be very patient with them! read more

Man I am really bumped out. I had high hopes for this place. Even though it had a three star, most of the reviews were good and they had a bunch of five stars. Maybe this spot was popping at one point but for what it is now, I cannot recommend it. We pulled in on a Friday to a completely empty restaurant. There was one server there and even though she's nice, she seemed very uninspired. We were the only customers in the restaurant and when we asked for extra side dishes, she seemed really bothered like we took away her time. The food ordered included: broiled king mackerel, stir fried spicy pork and soondubu soup. So the first thing I want to point out is that the king mackerel is just terrible! It smelled like dead fish that's been washed in slimy water. The smell was so pungent that it penetrated the entire table. I have to leave all the way on my side and my friend was still affected by the smell. It was hands down, the worst fish I've had. The soondubu tofu soup faired no better. The broth was pretty much just water. There was barely any seafood or eggs. The best most flavorful thing in the soup was tofu, tofu! The spicy pork was the most edible dish of the meal, which is not saying much. The meat smelled burned. There was no seasoning or flavor, i don't think the meat was even marinated properly. All the flavors came from the sauce, which acted more like a superficial coating and did not provide any depth of flavor. This was by far the most disappointing Korean meal I've had. I do not recommend at all. read more

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We came here after a union's game and saw a rat scurry across the floor. We brought it up to the lady running the shop and she said it was normal and to not worry. We left immediately. read more

Having grown up around NYC Ktown, food was 4- but the hospitality was a 3 at best. It was one woman working all tables on a Saturday night, so things were slow. 3.5 stars overall is prob more appropriate. The food was fine - def get the pancakes as they're nicely portioned and super crispy! Kimchi jigae was whatever. The charcoal grill is what makes this place stands out .. they also marinate their meats in an alcohol based sauce so it hits differently. Unlike other Korean BBQ spots, they didn't offer lettuce, peppers, garlic upfront but we later learned you had to ask for it. I don't know if they charge you extra. IMO, that's a bit stingy for a Korean bbq place where the meats go for $30-40 a serving. Also, the ban chan that came with the set was meh .. the kimchi was bad and the other dishes felt old. We spent about $120 total for two people, which is comparable to NYC prices but I do feel this place offered you a downsized meager experience. Would I return? Probably not. read more

I was looking forward to trying this place out since I've heard some many good things about it. My experience wasn't what I expected, but turned out ok. There was nobody there except for my "nae yeoja chingu" (my girlfriend) which gave it a more intimate feel. The staff/lady was patient & helpful although we came close to closing, which could explain the emptiness. I didn't get the opportunity to try the self grill, but did enjoy the toppings/sides that came before our main dish. Overall, not a bad experience. Only thing I could say for improving would be that I wish there was more options for the self grill selection. read more

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Authentic Korean restaurant with the usual traditional dishes and the cook-it-yourself BBQ grill. I came here with my Korean friend, and she gave it the Korean stamp of approval (as in it's not bastardized food, watered-down to suit "American" tastes). I've gotten their soondubu (tastes as good as I've had in LA), galbi tang (as advertised and better). Of course, like any good Korean restaurant, they bombard you with side dishes after you've ordered. The side dishes have as much love put into them as the main courses, and are seasoned well. You know how some Korean restaurants don't give these essential side dishes their all? Not true here. Wrapping up the dinner is a free included dessert: a sweet, cold soup. Very cinnamony and topped off with pine nuts. I don't know what it's called, but I've had it before, and Nagwon does it the best. So far, the best Korean food I've found in Philly. I've heard there's better in North Philly, but until I venture out there, Nagwon is my Korean joint. As for transportation, it's probably best to get here with a car. Using SEPTA takes too long, and there's a fair bit of walking involved if you try it (at least using the routes I used). read more

for korean food, there's a general rule that holds true: that the fluency of the servers/owners' english and the authenticity of the food is inversely correlated. and lemme tell you, the ladies who work here have HORRIBLE english. it's funny because one lady will try to take our order, and when she doesn't understand something, she'll call over another lady whose english is even worse. so naturally, the food is delicious. the focus here is really on more traditional korean food: stews, casseroles, and the ever-reliable korean bbq. however, there's also the usual favorites including an assortment of noodles, rice dishes, appetizers and soondubu(!). i would say their typical spice level is somewhere around medium, but you can certainly ask for more spicy. service is spectacular, despite the limited english comprehension. however, the ladies who work here sometimes like serving and cooking (in the case of kbbq) your food for you. i'm not a fan of that because i've been raised with a bit more westernized influence in my culture, but i understand that this is a sign of courtesy and respect in the traditional korean culture. so just be prepared for some over-the-top service along these lines when you come. one catch: if you order meat to bbq, order at least two plates of meat, or else they won't let you grill the meat at your own table (instead, they cook it in the kitchen and bring it out for you). and that's really no fun at all. not THE ABSOLUTE BEST korean food i've ever had. but the best i've had in philly so far. much more accessible than north philly for those poor souls without a car (me me!) read more

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Best value all you can eat Korean bbq in city. It's not close from where we live so hesitated to go there however the owner couple were very attentive. All you can eat bbq has all kind of meats and seafood. So everyone has something to eat. Side dishes are pretty good. Sometime they are cold if you go odd hour. Bean paste stew are delicious. Great value. Wish they were close to center city. read more

I just tried this Korean restaurant this past weekend. The food was good, menu included traditional Korean dishes and Korean BBQ. Servings weren't as big as I expected them to be. The restaurant wasn't that busy for a Saturday dinner (maybe 1/3 occupied). Service was good and polite. To barbeque on the table you will need to order at least 2 orders from the BBQ menu. Servers and phone receptionist not very fluent in English. I've gone to better places in the Los Angeles area around Korea town as well as in Orange county. read more

Nice little place with a lot of Asian people eating here, so I guess that's saying something. This place uses charcoal to cook dishes of meat that they bring out to you. Their marinated BBQ pork is really good, albeit costly (you get enough meat for 1.5 people= $19.00). The bibimbap (rice/meat/vegetables in a stone dish) is always a winner. Anything that comes in a stone bowl deserves 10 stars. Their kimchi stew goes well with the BBQ pork because it's salty and tangy (the pork is sweet), and it's not too costly, being around $9. I like it, but it ended up being a bit more costly than i would have liked. Otherwise, good, down-to-earth Korean food. read more

I don't know about you, but sometimes taste buds just get bored. They want you to walk into a Korean restaurant. I love the complimentary mystery bowls of taste treats -kimchee, cucumbers,zucchini, egg and seaweed etc. And once excited,they want you to order Bo Sam- boiled pork with fresh oyster and spicy radish that you roll up in a steamed cabbage leaf . Another treat was Boyang Jungol- black goat and vegetables which included an interesting mix of arugula and sesame greens. Who knew sesame had greens? It would be an invigorating walk, if you didn't have a car but it would be a sassy choice before an event at The Tower Theater. read more

This is a staple restaurant for Koreans living in the West side of Philly and beyond. Being that this is a BBQ restaurant do not come in looking for a bargain. Depending on the size of your party - look to pay anywhere from $35-$100. To cook tableside you'll need to order for 2 - otherwise they just cook it in the kitchen. As far as the meat selection is concerned I go for the Spicy Pork (Mae-eun Dwe-jee Galbi)or the Pork Bellies (Sam Gyub Sal). Soups are alright with Fish Roe Soup (Al-Chigae) and Cow Knee Soup(Do Ga Nee Tang) being on my top list. For foreigners I would go for their Dol-sot bibim-bap (Cast iron bowl with rice and assorted veggies/meat). I think it's the best in town. If you're looking for a cheap Korean meal just head over to H-Mart over by 69th Street Station and go upstairs to the food court. Again - this is the best Korean spot outside of NE Philly/Cheltenham. Everything in the city is garbage as they cater more to western taste buds. The only issue you may run into is the service - it's a bit slow. Not all staff speak fluent English, so do be aware of this fact. read more

I love this place a lot due to it make me feel more of a home setting, relaxing and peaceful atmosphere... the food is great, all the beef meats are marinated to my preference, I ate at many other places but I like their meats and marinating the most in the area. There was once a place like this in Elkins Park but no longer there due to real estate company took over, so now every times I have the crave I have to drive all the way to Upper Darby for some good Korean BBQ but always call ahead to make sure they are open read more

A solid 2 stars! Stumbled upon this place while driving around. Food was absolutely awesome, service very very good, decor was ok. My date and I shared a seafood and scallion pancake, bulgogi and short rib BBQ. Every dish was bursting with flavor and we were more than satisfied. I'll be back! read more

Nagwon Garden - Inside - Barbeque Near Me - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

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I have NEVER in my life ate the worst bulgogi that was made so wrong! The bulgogi was prices at $20.99, so I thought it would be a decent dish. It came out to be a few pieces of meat drenched in a watery puddle of mess. I understand that some lower end restaurant would probably make this quality of food but........ priced at $20.99. I will never return for my life!! Please don't come here. Also, there is only one person working there so the service is slow. Overall, I will NOT return!!!!!!!!!! To be correct, I am giving this place 0 stars!!! read more

TL;DR Underappreciated find with the best AYCE self-serve rolled marinated galbi (beef short ribs) deal in Philly. Owners don't know much English but who cares as long as they understand "water" and "check?" Came here with a friend on a Monday night and it was empty except the Korean couple owners. They don't speak much English but if you're Korean like we were, they love to chat and are super friendly. Anyway, galbi is on par or better than the best kbbq restaurants in the area. They serve them in the rolled style instead of with the 3 annoying bones which makes eating it a million times easier. The owners also cook the meats for you unless you say you can do it yourselves. Good service. Friend and I ended up eating about 10 galbi pieces which if you bought at a restaurant would be about $30/pair or $150 in galbi alone. On top of that we ate samgyupsal (thick cut pork belly) and a bunch of other meats and side dishes. All in all, AYCE KBBQ dinner for 2 came out to $80+tip-- fantastic quality and deal if in the mood for high quality KBBQ. read more

I was initially hesitant to go in as the giant "KOREAN BUFFET" sign gave me pause. I didn't want a buffet, but my desire for kimchi propelled me on. Thankfully, they don't offer buffets at lunch time (or at least not at lunch time on weekdays - not sure of the weekends). They have really good lunch specials - I had soondubu jigae (soft tofu spicy stew) that was I think only $7.99 - and it came with a whole host of banchans!! The service was really friendly and attentive, which made sense since I was the only person here eating at 2pm on a Tuesday. I promised the server that I will be back if ever in the area again! read more