5/5 - fun atmosphere 5/5 - friendly service 4.3/5 - delicious food If you have a craving for something hot (sizzling) with a variety of veggies look no further. This was my first time having Korean food and I will be back!! read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Goon Man Du - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

See all

cute little place with very friendly staff. our table had a food that was too spicy and they were not hesitant to change it out with no charge to us. would def go back! read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - bulgogi beef - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I wish I've known this place when I was in town for a 40-day project. It was close on my first attempt and completely never considered going back the rest of my project. My return to town was only for three days and I visited twice. Everything I ordered tastes so authentic. I couldn't get enough that I even ordered other dishes to go! This is my go-to when I return in the area. The service was outstanding and the place feels cozy and the vibe was like you step into a restaurant in Korea. I love everything about it. read more

We came here on a Thursday night and we were seated right away, no wait at all. The smell of Korean food made me very hungry and excited upon entering. The banchan were all really good; I had some bad kimchi when I was in Louisville just the night before, so I was glad the kimchi here was good. Kim Bab: it was really expensive compared to normal Kim Bab, but I think it was because they put bulgogi beef in the Kim bab, rather than just regular fish cake. I didn't like the Kim Bab here; I didn't like the bulgogi Beef in kim bab, I would rather pay $4.95 for the ones without. Sweet and spicy wings: these wings were pretty good. The breading was different than regular korean breading but the sauce was good nonetheless. Would order again. Ja Jang Udon: Udon doesn't really quite work with ja jang sauce, I didn't like this dish. The ja jang sauce was also quite heavy on soy sauce. Not that best I've had and probably won't order again. Galbi Tang: the galbi tang here was good, the beef was fresh. Quite authentic, would order again. I live very close to Haru so Haru has been my go to. The quality of the two places are quite similar. Riverside serves up better banchan and has bigger portion, but, the rice was cooked better and the noodle dishes were better at Haru. read more

See all

food was decent , wish it would taste more korean but it's the best we can get around here. staff needs some work kinda rude besides the guy at the bar . it's a big space so good for families read more

Based on other reviewers' comments, I am going to try again next business trip to Cincinnati/Northern KY. Deserving of another try. Service was quick. Other Small Disappointment: No Draught Brewskies read more

See all

We started with the "Falling for Yuja" drink, which was absolute slammable. We also got a free shot of grapefruit soju, courtesy of the owner. We started with the seafood pancake, and to our surprise, we were met with a crispy exterior and a soft pillowy interior chock full of shrimp, clam, squid, and vegetables-- cooked perfectly. It was the perfect appetizer to share and... Next came the side dishes. We ate them all before our entrées even came out so naturally, we asked for more. Our entrées came out in large bronze bowls and although the menu may seem pricey, the portions are ginormous!!! The jham bong was excellent and full of perfectly cooked seafood, simmered in a spicy broth, and not too spicy. My friend says it was delectable. read more

See all

The service was good! They were really nice to us and checked up often to see if we needed anything else! I got the Jajangmyun and my friend got the Bibimbap and they were okay- keep in mind we went during lunch. It was a bit too sweet for our taste, but other times I've gone they've been better for dinner. We sat in the larger dining area, and the dining area was nice and pretty! read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Ja Jang Myun Bi Bim Bab - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Delicious Korean food for my birthday in Covington Kentucky. Prices were reasonable with large portions. The Service was very efficient but he could have been friendlier. I believe he was very busy. Everything came out on time and hot. No suggestions or education was given on the dishes, just fast efficient service. We were in the back tiger room, I didn't know it existed but enjoyed the space. We will definitely be back with our Asian family members from California, they will love it! read more

Food was ok at best and My wife and I were disappointed. Our meals came with several sides and plenty to eat but was lacking in the flavor department. I had to add extra extra sauce to my dish due to the blandness of my beef. Also, it was not worth the high price we paid. There were several other dishes that I would have been willing to try as to give the spot another go, however, my wife and got nauseous after eating there. The service was slow and it took a long time for food to come out, even with there not being many people in the restaurant. I was close to giving this a 1* review but went with 2* due to the authentic venue and there were some side dishes that were pretty yummy. I'm hoping I just caught this place on a bad night because they do have some good reviews as well. read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

See all

Horrible experience and buyer beware. I'm in Food & Beverage and I only give negative reviews if the food is truly bad. Bim bab, in the tiniest container possible, looked like it had been thrown on the floor and kicked around, was missing major components, and was completely unseasoned, including salt. No egg was included. Rice was cooked to a gummy mush for the entire order, not only this item. Kimchee with so little flavor that I questioned what it was. The food wasn't even salted, to say nothing of any other seasoning. TO BE CLEAR, I cooked an egg I had at my own home and added salt and rice seasoning I already had. I feel like I should charge this restaurant for the time and personal resources I put into making this something a human would eat. $23.95 for this is criminal and whoever in the kitchen thought this was acceptable to serve a paying patron needs to be let go. I don't say that lightly. I know places have off nights, however, were no redeeming qualities to this food. Not in quality, flavor, portion size, or price. They failed at basic rice. There is no way someone in that kitchen looked at this and thought it was ok to send. We might be in the Midwest and not expect much in regards to the quality or flavor of Korean food, but this took a sledgehammer to the very basic standards of what is acceptable. If I could give this zero stars I would. The picture is what I received AFTER I cooked an egg in my home and added seasoning vs what the restaurant advertises. read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Dol Sot Bi Bim Bab - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Food was outstanding! Authentic flavors and preparation was as close to what I experienced in S. Korea. What a great surprise for such a small, low key spot. read more

One of the best authentic Korean dining experiences I've had. Service was great as was the seating options (traditional Korean or American style booths). There really wasn't a single thing I could say that I would improve. We'll definitely be back. read more

We have been going to Riverside since it was a tiny little restaurant. I've always enjoyed their Dolsot Bob. I still love that you can sit at traditional Korean tables to dine, but my aging back doesn't love it so I'm glad they opened up the side bar area with additional tables. The food has always been good and it continues. Vegetable pancake (Ya Chae Pa Jun) along with the potstickers (Goon Man Du) are both very good. The more traditional Korean stews/hotpot's and other noodle dishes looked good so I'll have to try one of them next time. We walked in about an hour and a half before closing so the staff seem to shift their focus more to closing and getting out on time instead of checking on us. We to keep flagging them down to get their attention. That aside, this is the best Korean restaurant in the area IMHO. read more

Two words. Lunch. Box. One of my favorite go-tos for lunch since I work in Covington. I get either the pork or beef bugogi and it is always amazing. Get the potatoes, kimchi or radishes on the side. The pork is spicy and fragrant and completely tender and unctuous. The beef is packed with flavor and a wonderful, mild choice. I may have to order again this week! So glad they're open during this stressful time. Definitely a comfort food for me! read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Bul Go Gi lunch box with potato and radish - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Riverside Korean is unsuspecting from the outside but there's lots of character behind the doors. When you open the doors, you'll find that the left side of the restaurant is lined with booths while the right side has floor seating (with pillows and short-legged tables). You'll have to remove your shoes before you sit in the floor-seating area, but it's one of the few places locally that I've seen offer this kind of seating. The service here is remarkably friendly and always very efficient! I ordered the stone bowl bi bim bap. If you're anything like me, you order this dish because you love that crispy rice that the stone bowl makes as it continues to cook! I was a little disappointed, it seems as thought the bowl wasn't hot enough to warrant this effect (at least as much as it has in other places). The flavors were generally fine, but it wasn't the best stone bowl bibimbap, I've had. I would recommend going heavier on the spicy sauce on the table, it's not too hot and it definitely helped with the flavors. I'll definitely be back the next time I want Korean in Covington! read more

See all

My out-of-town friend and I dined at Riverside last night and the staff were EXTRA generous with their time in allowing us to stay late (after close) to finish catching up! We enjoyed the hot stone bowls and lots of tea, the warm, family-friendly atmosphere, and the sweet staff members. Highly recommend supporting this neighborhood gem!! read more

So efficient! Food comes out fast and delicious. All of the banchan items were tasty as well! Definitely worth a try.

As far as korean restaurants go I feel that riverside is pretty standard, I think the highlight was their seafood pancake. It was a light and airy texture as opposed to doughy or chewy. There were some small chunks of seafood and the sauce was a standard soy vinegarette. Their Banchan was missing kimchi which was a little disappointing but I liked the spicy cucumber and fishcake. I also got their seafood soup and grilled mackerel during this particular visit which were good but they didn't stand out. Of note the seafood soup had a good amount of cucumber and tasted sweet from this major addition, which is not bad, but also different. It would probably be a more complete review if I knew the details of their bulgogi or kalbi marinade but alas, I have not delved into that realm in a while. For all the pescetarians out there, the fish options are decent and I would come back. read more

We came here as a group- there's seven ladies, we have to reservations, but was able to get in right away. The host, asked us to wait for a few minutes, she even escorted us to a waiting room while our table was being cleaned. We were served right away with our water and our orders taken right away. While waiting for our food, the wait staff served us with small bowls of Korean salad as appetizers. I love the kimchi- cucumber and cabbage, it's not so spicy. I ordered the dol sol bi bim bab, it's a big serving good for 2-3 people. This is the hot stone bowl, you can order the same food without the hot stone $2 cheaper. Our wait staffs were all very nice, our water get refilled right away. We also did not wait too long before our food was served. The food was delicious! I will definitely come back to this place again. read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Part of the menu - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

See all

I will preface this review by saying that Riverside Korean holds a special place in my heart. It's where my husband and I had our first date 12 years ago and where we got engaged 6 1/2 years ago. That was the last time we visited. We stopped in for dinner tonight while passing through Covington. There is the option of booth seating or floor seating. The floor seating is low tables, pillows to sit on for comfort and you remove your shoes for that option of dining. We chose a booth this time. We ordered the Twee Kim Man Du. They are fried dumplings with beef and vegetables inside and served with a dipping sauce. They were pretty good. We've had better but they were good and we finished them. For my meal I ordered Dol Sot Bi Bim Bab. It's a hot stone bowl filled with rice, your choice of meat (I chose beef), a variety of vegetables, and a fried egg on top. The rice on the bottom gets crispy from the hot bowl and it so tasty! My husband ordered O Jing Au Bok Um. It was a spicy stir fry of squid and vegetables. Our entrees came with 6 sides called Ban Chan to share. They consisted of black beans, slaw, kimchi, spicy cucumbers, potatoes, and a pickled vegetable. I thought my dish was delicious and I really liked the sizzling bowl. I did think it needed a bit of spice, so I added some of the hot sauce that the server brought to the table when he brought our all of our side dishes. My husband really enjoyed his entree. He said it had great flavor and plenty of heat. I had a small taste of the sauce in his dish and it was delicious. I would definitely order it. The service was quick and efficient. We enjoyed our meals tonight and the fond memories that it brought back of our previous visits. We'll be back again and not wait so long before we do. read more

See all

The food and service were both impeccable. We arrived 30 minutes before closing and everyone at the restaurant was gracious and accommodating. The bon chon was great, as well as the gal bi & beef bulgogi. Better than my favorite korean restaurant at home. read more

I haven't dined in here yet, but I've gotten takeout two times during covid. I ordered the Bibimbap with chicken and added shrimp. For $12 lunch it's filled with fresh veggies, fried egg, plenty of rice, pickled veggies and kimchi on the side, and only $2 extra for double chicken. It's lasted me two meals both times. The staff is very friendly and the food is ready within 15 min. This is my new go-to for healthy takeout and I can't wait to dine in person. read more

See all

Soo delicious! The staff were great, our server was super chill, friendly, and recommended her favorite. I would definitely return to try something different. read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Chicken Kas - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

We visited during the dinner time, and the restaurant were busy. Thankfully I called ahead and made a reservation. They have regular seating and floor seating (a traditional Korean way). This Korean restaurant offers a lot of traditional Korean dish options. We ordered a variety of food to try, and overall we enjoyed them. Side dishes were refreshing. For appetizers, we got deep fried squid and seafood pancake. I ate them with the sauce they came with, otherwise the flavor was kinda plain. For entrees, I enjoyed the black bean sauce noodle the most. The toppings were cooked perfectly and soaked into the sauce. The sweet potato noodle dish was too sweet for me. Both stew were great to eat with rice. However, the dishes are kinda expensive for what they are. Also it was 90+ degrees outside, but inside AC didn't work well. We sat at the corner and were sweating a lot while having the meal. read more

See all

GREAT KOREAN FOOD. I've been craving a good Korean restaurant since moving to Cincinnati for the summer, and I think I found my place. The interior was very nice. They had booths on one side, and traditional floor seats on the other side. You'll have to take your shoes off for the floor seats so wear socks if you're that kind of person. When the side dishes came out my cousin and I could not wait for the food before we tried them. Their kim chi was incredible. It was not too wet or too dry. It was just right lol. The food was amazing and came out surprisingly fast. The Du Bu Kim Chi was a little spicy but it made it even better. The tofu complemented the dish well. The Sul Long Tang soup was a great mild dish. Overall my stomach was extremely pleased and I would go back every day if I could. read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Sul Long Tang (the soup) and Du Bu Kim Chi (the stir fry) - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

I have been to riverside in the past and they have completely remodeled the restaurant. What they have done looks great! Tall ceilings, cool paintings, wallpaper, greenery, etc leave a great impression. The food has stayed great as usual. My only critique was that one of the waitresses was either new or not cutout for the job, she forgot to get us a round of drinks twice before another waiter took her place. Very satisfied over all and this is a great place to go if you want to break from the norm and have a more ethnic dinner. read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Lived in South Korea for over 3 years and this was the closest I ever came to tasting authentic Korean food in the USA! Well kept place and always packed. 감사하다! read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Binto lunchbox and soup - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

The waiter doesn't know what is Korean food, the glass was dirty - we left without eating

I'm from Chicago. A lot of great Korean restaurants and grocery stores. I never would have expected such authentic Korean cuisine In Covington, KY. The food was great. The portions were great, except for the side of Kimchi. I LOVE KIMCHI, and I only had 2 fork fulls. I could have eaten 10 fork fulls. Some people have said it's a tad on the expensive side. I say, you get what you pay for. If you like, or love authentic fresh Korean cuisine, do not hesitate, and enjoy. It's a very small restaurant, I'm guessing it sits less than 60 people. I ordered it "To Go" and I'm in a very happy place read more

Looking for a good spot for some delicious Korean? This is the place. No wait on a Sunday at 5. Menu is digital, scan the code and look through it. Pretty decent selection. You do get appetizers regardless of what you order, and most of it is pretty tasty. I a noodle girl at heart, so I got the Ja Jang Myun, and wasn't disappointed. Sweeter sauce, plenty of veggies and beef, and my favorite, NOODLES. I was impressed with the portion size, I had enough to save for another meal. Service was good, atmosphere is great, and the wallpaper is amazing (seriously, where do you even find tiger wallpaper?!). Overall very impressed with our experience here. I think next time we come we will try the hot pot as it looked delicious. read more

Food: -Mediocre Americanized Korean Price: -Overpriced Service: -Slow Decor: -More Japanese than Korean Recommendation: -Go find a real Korean restaurant run by real Korean people in a hole-in-the-wall place that might or might not seem to pass health inspections if you want delicious authenticity, preferably outside of Kentucky -Or, if you prefer overpriced mediocre Americanized Korean food, I guess this place is for you. read more

Riverside Korean Restaurant - Banchan - Korean Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

See all

Friendly staff and great food. We sat at the bar and got to which Kpop videos during dinner while the staff chatted with us. It was a bit pricey by my standards, but I would certainly go back. read more

Great bibimbap. Awesome date night spot, but can get pricey. Service was quick. Hard to know what to expect with the multiple sections of seating, but good for Korean food in NKY read more

Riverside Korean is the place to go to get your Korean fix. I especially like the...... well I like everything. The Twee Kim Man Du (deep fried dumplings) are killer and I could drink the sauce. YUM. We really like to get the Lunch special plate. Pork Beef or Chicken you cant go wrong with either. The lunch plate comes with 2 delicious dumplings with the famous dipping sauce, rice and two side. The Kimchee is PERFECT. Now I want Korean again. MAN!! read more

Riverside is great and we're lucky to have them here in Covington. Thanks for being here Riverside! Great for vegetarians too!

The food is amazing! Everything we have gotten my husband has loved. It's not my type of food so I can't judge it fairly but he just raves about it! Today I had the wings because I had read other peoples reviews and many mentioned them. It is for good reason as they were amazing! I will be ordering them every time I go! Lovely surroundings.. service was slow to start but the food was so good that the slower service isn't worth knocking down the stars.. read more

See all

After trying most of the competition in the Cincinnati area, Riverside was the last well-known Korean restaurant that I had yet to experience. It is now, hands down, my favorite Korean restaurant in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area. The ambience and interior decor is quaint and welcoming. The service was absolutely fantastic for my party of four, with very attentive and knowledgeable wait staff. Most importantly, the food was fantastic! The complementary side dishes that come with the entrées are flavorful and (to the best of my knowledge) authentic. The kimchi especially is excellent. Everyone in my group thoroughly enjoyed their entrées, and we all left with a generous portion of leftovers. I will definitely be coming back! read more

See all

Kicked off the new year supporting local! This was actually our second time at Riverside Korean, and like the first visit, it did not disappoint. They are currently renovating the space therefore only half the restaurant is available for seating. My dish was very good. Unique menu with a cool vibe, recommend if you want to try something new! read more

See all

Excellent service, phenomenal food, and wonderful ambience. I could not recommend more highly.