Had to go back today for lunch. I'm in love with Olchi! Great atmosphere, wonderful staff. They know me now lol. They had chicken wing specials today. All flavors!!! Also a bbq special as well. read more

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Olchi is a cute spot that just opened in El Sobrante! It's so exciting to have a Korean spot open so close by. The restaurant is small yet has a good amount of tables. We ordered: tuna kimbap, pork bulgogi, and the kimchi fried rice. The kimbap was our favorite item we ordered, it was so flavorful. The kimchi fried rice was also delicious. Unfortunately, I was not a huge fan of the bulgogi as I thought the dish was a bit bland. Their menu is limited, I'm not sure if they are still in the soft opening phase or if it will be a permanent menu. I think they have a lot of potential if they continue to expand their items. For example, an order of tteokbokki would have paired really well with the kimbap. I also hope that their banchan expands as well. read more

was genuinely excited when this place opened because it felt like a solid addition to the neighborhood. I've been here around five or six times now, and at first the food was decent enough that I wanted to keep giving it a chance. Unfortunately, the last couple of visits have been pretty disappointing. I don't know if the chef changed or if the quality has just slipped, but the food hasn't been hitting the same. The banchan has been lackluster, and the tofu soup, which I remember being better before, was pretty mediocre on my most recent visit. The wings were especially disappointing. I ordered what was supposed to be a medium order for $26 with two sauces. I asked if it was OK to get two sauces and the waitress told me yes. I ended up being charged extra for two separate orders, and then another dollar on top of that for whatever reason. That would already be annoying, but the wings themselves were small and not good enough to justify the price. I really wanted to like this place because it's convenient and I was happy to have another Korean option nearby, but the quality and value just aren't there right now. Unless something changes, I probably won't be back. It feels like they need to tighten up the kitchen and rethink the pricing/ordering setup. read more

Loved it! Meet my sis & hubby for dinner. Delicious food, great service inside of an old, old Taco Bell Everything was hot and tasty read more

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I have passed by this place for months and never considered going because the parking lot looks dated. My wife wanted to try it, and after seeing solid reviews, we gave it a shot. It is a small restaurant in a building that was a Taco Bell many years ago. I was not expecting much, but the lively Korean music and videos really charmed up the place. The menu makes it easy to pick your items, and they offered a special. We tried the sweet and spicy chicken wings and the bulgogi. My wife ordered the spicy beef tofu soup. The service was on point. All the food was excellent, and we truly enjoyed the meal. I would give it a 4.5, and my wife was very satisfied so the 5 stars it is. We will be back as she loved the fresh banchan. read more

Olchi - Sapporo - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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Everything was a little pricey but good. Tuna kimbap was appetizing. Bulgogi had good flavors. Meat was not overly tender. The seafood sdb had good flavor, but not particularly plentiful(?). I've had some other sdb at a slightly higher price and it was less.. watery(?) and packed with more ingredients. This particular sdb was more soupy and the others I've had were more stewy--if this makes sense. Overall was good. Restoom pretty clean. Next time would like to get the budae jiggae. read more

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First time at Olchi. Small clean restaurant with about 9 tables. I went for lunch today around 1:30 pm. Small menu. I wish they had other stew options like kimchi jigae and dweongjang jigae with more banchan. Only 3 banchan, kimchi, broccoli and japchae noodles. They have 3 options for soft tofu soup (beef, seafood and combo). I asked for a veggie option which was possible. The broth was salty. The service was nice from I believe the owner. Parking lot. read more

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Good service, thoughtful and speedy from one person (presumably an owner) and friendly kitchen staff that were all smiles from the visible line I enjoyed the food, however I will say the ribs were a little rubbery But the side dishes here and the kimchi were in fact incredible Good dining experience overall, not GREAT but good read more

Olchi - Short Rub Special - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

Food is reasonably priced and delicious. Cute and cozy interior, fairly small restaurant. Service is attentive as well. read more

Olchi - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

On New Year's Eve, while running errands in the East Bay, we found ourselves craving Korean food and stumbled upon Olchi, which appears to be a newer restaurant. The interior is clean and bright, with a cozy, café like atmosphere and a cute, relaxing vibe. We ordered the Army Stew for two, and it absolutely hit the spot on a cold evening. It was served on a portable stove to keep it hot throughout the meal. While I'm not an expert on how it's traditionally supposed to taste, it was delicious, well balanced with plenty of vegetables and meat. We added ramen, which made it even better. The service was extremely friendly and attentive, with frequent check-ins that never felt disruptive. Overall, this is a great spot to visit if you're craving a hearty, comforting meal. read more

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Very cute, family-style restaurant. The place is clean and bright, and the service is top-notch. Our server (possibly the owner) was extremely kind and attentive, frequently checking on us and making sure our tea was refilled and that we didn't need anything. The menu is kept minimal, but they offer budae jjigae, which is not easy to find these days. We ordered the budae jjigae with noodles, and it was delicious--full of flavor, perfectly spicy, and packed with vegetables, sausage, Spam, tofu, ground beef, and more. The side dishes portions were also very generous. We had hot tea, plum soda, and yuzu soda, all of which were great. Overall, the experience was wonderful. I'm very impressed, highly recommend this place, and we will definitely be coming back! read more

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Surprised a Korean restaurant is in El Sobrante! Really good and love the combo plates. We got the beef bulgogi and the boneless chicken bites. For about $21-$23 you get the meat, rice, fish cakes, kimchi and japchae. Very good portion for the price. Dumplings are fried and comes with sauce. Very good solid spot for Korean food read more

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I am so happy such a good Korean restaurant opened up near me As a Korean from Korea, I can vouch that this place is legit and authentic. We tried their army stew, beef bulgogi, pork bulgogi, and seafood pancake and everything was bomb. The owners were super sweet and attentive too! They apparently owned restaurants in Korea too so they know what they are doing. They have their own parking lot so no need to worry about parking either. Very highly recommend!!! read more

Olchi - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

Our first time at Olchi and our family enjoyed it! The place is smaller, clean and comfortable. The service is great - welcoming, friendly and fast! The food was absolutely delicious! Everything we ordered we loved - the special Galbi (BBQ ribs), combination Soondubu, Donkatsu, Sweet & Spicy Chicken Bites, Kimbap, and some beers. Needless to say, we left stuffed and had a nice take away container for another meal! read more

Olchi - Our meals! - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

Great presentation and service. I'm 100% sure this restaurant is a great addition to the area. I'm not 100% sold on it though. They offer a variety of Korean food so there's a lot to try. Prices are a bit high but everything is just crazy these days. I wish they do better for their chicken option. The boneless sweet and spicy chicken wasn't crispy enough.. barely crispy at all actually. I would love to see some Korean fried chicken options here someday. read more

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We discovered Olchi a few months ago and have loved how delicious the food always was and the top-notch service they provide. Even my daughter, who is a very picky-eater, loves Olchi and requests to go there when we feel like dining out. Yesterday, I fell in love with them even more! My husband and I were coming from the hospital because I picked up my walking boot because perimenopause and working out have caused a small fracture on my ankle - that's a different post, PM for details! Haha! Anyway, going back to Olchi - we decided to eat at Olchi on our way home. We got there and didn't notice that they were closed - doors were open so we went in. We noticed that the lights were dimmed but thought they were just saving energy. So we waited for someone to notice us, and the kind lady, almost embarrassingly apologized and said that they're closed still and will open in about 45 minutes. My husband and I started walking (him) - hobbling (me) back to the door to leave. The kind lady saw my plight and said - "no, stay and eat." We said that it's really okay since they're still closed, but they insisted that we stayed so we did. They took our orders right away and asked us if we wanted water or tea. The food, again always lovely, came out in no time, and again always lovely (see what I did there?) We had the donkatsu, kimbap, sweet and spicy chicken - all very delicious! And also yes, we had all that food for two. Don't judge us, we're not books. They kept checking on us and asking us if we need anything and were also quick to refill our tea. When we were done, they asked if we needed boxes to go and again apologized and said thank you. I mean - I was the hungry one who crashed their lunch time and break time, but they were the ones apologizing and thanking us. Who does that these days? Olchi! If you haven't been to Olchi - try them out! Yummy food and even lovelier people! What a treasure to have them in our little part of the world! Kamsahamnida, Olchi! We'll see you again soon! read more

Today was our second time trying Olchi. The first time we tried the army stew, which I absolutely loved. Army stew is probably one of my top 3 favorite dishes. It's a big meal, so definitely recommend sharing with others. We also ordered the kimchi pancake. It was really crispy, which is something I look for in pancake. The flavor was really good too! The kimchi flavor was the perfect balance. This time, I ordered the donkatsu, which came with rice, kimchi, a cabbage salad, and tonkatsu sauce. It was perfectly krispy and has a nice flavor of curry. My partner ordered the combo soondubu and he really enjoyed it! He said it was delicious and the seafood was tasty. Not only is the food delicious, but the owner is also really friendly and makes the experience that much more worth it. He made the effort to engage with us and discuss our recent trip to Korea. There was also a family there and he was very friendly towards them. You can really tell he loves what he does and is proud of the food. Rightly recommend eating here! read more

I went here recently with friends and we had a delightful experience! The restaurant was small, cute, and charming. We were served relatively quickly after ordering and were tended to during our experience there. Everything was yummy! We would come back if we're ever in the area again. read more

Olchi - Beef Bulgogi, Budae Jjigae, Beef Soondubu, Sweet & Spicy Boneless Chicken Bites, Galbi - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

Olchi has kalbi!! I was hoping they would add it to the menu and, thank the heavens, they did! And OMG...it is mouthwateringly delicious!! And so much meat!! This time, wife and I ordered seafood pancake appetizer to start. Crispy and flavorful with a tasty dipping sauce. But the star of the show for me were those juicy grilled short ribs!! I'm am so happy and FULL!! read more

Olchi - Kalbi!! Grilled beef short ribs - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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Ordered the pork bulgogi. Very well priced with good proportions. Kimchi was excellent and nice staff in a very clean atmosphere! Cheers and enjoy! read more

Olchi - Pork bulgogi - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

I am afraid of too many people finding this place but their deliciousness must be shared. The menu is scaled back but everything has been a hit and consistent too! I'd rather a less is more menu with thought and care put into it than an inconsistent one. Their service is friendly and attentive, and I don't feel rushed either. This is a little thing but I like that they give non-metal chopsticks because I struggle with those :P and IU cutout is there what more must I say about the ambiance? B) I get their beef soondubu and love that it's flavorful and never watered down! I've also loved the banchan they provide, every one is good here where it might be you only like half at another place. The north-east bay needs more spots like this! read more

Olchi - Sweet & Spicy Boneless Chicken Bites, Yubu Kimbap - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

Ordered pork bulgogi, Kimchi pancake and combo tofu soup. Delicious authentic Korean food! Very friendly staff. This is definitely one of my favorite Korean restaurants. read more

Hands down one of the best dining experiences I've had. The service is professional, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. Every dish is packed with its own unique, delicious flavor -- every single bite was amazing. The ambiance is relaxing and makes the whole experience even better. Highly recommend. If you're looking for amazing food, great service, and a place you'll want to come back to, this is it. read more

Olchi - So good! - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

New place. It was very delicious tofu pot..it was pipping hot and was a perfect meal during the cold nights. My child who is a foodie like myself kept raving about it and looking forward to returning. Service were excellent and I can't wait to return. I am excited to try more items! read more

You have to try this new hidden gem! If you're from the area this has to be your new local spot for great Korean food. The menu options were great and so delicious! We ordered the beef tofu stew, pork bulgogi, kimchi friedrice, kimchi pancake, sweet and spicy boneless chicken bites and beef dumplings! 10/10! My favorite was the tofu stew! Great flavor- nice sour taste with a bit of spice! When you walk into the restaurant it looks so elevated, cozy and very inviting! The guy working the counter I'm guessing is the owner was so friendly! Came over to make sure we were refilled and had enough sides! It was so cold out so serving hot tea was the perfect drink. The tea was well made and not bitter or overwhelming. Must come back and try the hot pot! read more

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El Sobrante finally has its first Korean restaurant, and it's delicious ! The owner is really kind and attentive, creating a welcoming atmosphere from the moment you walk in. We ordered the special Korean barbecue, short ribs and pot stickers and beef bulgogi. Each dish was prepared with care, well‑seasoned, and truly delicious. The quality and consistency stood out. The restaurant is clean, comfortable, and already feels like a great addition to the neighborhood. I look forward to returning, especially once their liquor license is finalized next month. read more

Olchi - Korean short ribs - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

I was passing by, so I decided to stop in. It's a clean place where you can casually enjoy Korean food. Delicious! It came with rice, which was nice. There was only one staff member, but the atmosphere was good. read more

Olchi - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

None of the restaurants that have occupied this spot since we moved to El Sob 3 years ago have been very good nor have they survived, so the b.f. and I had low expectations for Olchi. Well, we were blown away by how good the food is, the ambiance, and the friendly service. We ordered the haemul pajeon (seafood pancake), the Korean fried chicken, and the beef soondubu (tofu stew). Five stars for the fried chicken which was crispy and super flavorful, with just the right amount of gochujang sauce. Five stars for the tofu stew with just the right amount of heat (temperature and spice) for a cold winter night and plenty of beef. Only 4 stars for the seafood pancake because it was slightly undercooked in the middle, but otherwise very tasty. We didn't expect twice the banchan with our meals and a yuzu drink on the house! Such excellent and friendly service from the owners! We're huge fans of Korean food, so we've been to some of the best in the Bay Area. We're ecstatic that there's finally good Korean food only 7 minutes from us! We'll definitely be back and want Olchi to be around for a good long time. read more

Olchi - Look at all this food for two people! It was so good we forgot to take a photo until we were halfway through! - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

OhMG, I was mourning the closing of the Pho place on the cornerman Appian and San Pablo Dam Rd in El Sobrante and noticed that there is a Korean restaurant there. Hurried in to try it and was so pleased to find Korean food that is on the border of fine cuisine. Here's why. Yes they offer the usual bulgogi and the deep fried dishes but this is what floored me. I ordered the tofu soup as I am supposed to be doing lower carb and high protein with hopefully not too much salt. I picked exactly the right dish. An iron bowl came on a tray bubbling (still boiling). There was a raw egg on a little dish and I put the egg in and let it poach into the most savory and delicious broth. There was a huge prawn in th soup. I found clams, squid, mussels too. The broth was perfect. Subtle flavor that is hard to find in most Korean restaurants. This broth will make you believe you are in the owner's grandmother's home eating her best soup. The side dishes (banchan) were also done in the same understated way that allows the ingredient's taste to shine. Best of all - the food was NOT greasy!!!! This is huge. Most places use a lot of oil to achieve that over the top Korean flavor that leaves a person so thirsty. This place does not. It is as if the owner brought her grandma with her. I almost peeked in back to see. The server is her cousin. The owner is the nicest and sweetest Korean lady. Please everyone eat here!!!! I want them to stay. El Sobrante will become a foodie's playground some day!!! read more

The food tasted good and had sizable serving too. I was impressed by the tableware too. That may be insignificant for some but it says a lot about their presentation. The service was great as well. We stayed past their closing time but wasn't rushed out. Will definitely come back! read more

Inside was nice and clean. The meat of beef bulgogi might be the toughest I'd had. It was also a little on the dry side.

The service was excellent from start to finish. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome. The food was absolutely delicious. We had a wonderful experience overall and are already looking forward to coming back again soon! read more

SO delicious!!!! The servers were very nice and the space was new and clean. Our favorites were the tuna mayo kimbap, sweet and spicy tofu, and sweet and spicy chicken. This will be our new go-to spot for Korean food! read more

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This is a great experience! Tasty, friendly service, and good music. I will be back! read more

Olchi - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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I'm so happy there is a new Korean restaurant in the area!!! We checked this place out last week and it was just what we wanted. Delicious food and great service. Also, the playlist was fire. Definitely will be coming back here. Can't wait to try the Budae Jigae next time! read more

Olchi - Spicy pork bulgogi rice plate. - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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Great customer service food was amazing. Cleaned all of the plates because the food was so good lol.

The food was amazing. The customer service was good. It's very family orientated. We're definitely come back here.

Great service, staff was so friendly and nice. We loved the atmosphere of the place. Food was very delicious and you get good portions! read more

Olchi - Pork Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - El Sobrante, California

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Hiked in Wildcat Canyon and saw this gem listed here on our way home. Has their own parking lot but only a few tables, so get there early. Menu has so many amazing options but chalkboard has the specials & meal boxes: Main with 3 sides - which is what we chose. We chose Beef Bulgogi and Sweet & Spicy Chicken - rice plus sides are japchae noodles, kimchi, potatoes. Food had great variety of flavors. Tea was amazing - we had two pots! People next to us had the hotpot spicy soup cooked right on your table. Service was pleasant, prompt and kept checking on us. Nice upbeat music in the background. Bathroom was clean with nice smelling soap. Will definitely come back! read more

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Homey and delicious new place! We tried the combo soon doobu (with giant whole prawn!), beef bulgogi, seafood pancake (crispy and excellent) and surprisingly good tuna mayo kimbap. Good variety of tasty banchan. We'll be back! read more

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