food was so good. jjajameong was juicy and the serving was perfect for a pwrty of 5. I would totally get the seoul chicken if you have a big party ! read more

A first-rate Korean BBQ place at a fair price: who'd have thunk it? (The last one, in St. Pete, cost me almost $200 for 4, without alcohol!) The service was prompt and adequate, the food was superb (especially the chicken, which is a must.) Portions were beyond generous: 2 entrées for 3 people, and we took a fair amount home. They have a lot of drink options, but we didn't partake. All in all, a great evening. We'll be back! read more

I've been coming to Seoul Pocha since it opened and although there were a lot of changes that occurred since then, I think that whatever they're doing is headed the right direction. It was packed when I came with my family. Ambiance was good (unless you like loud, tight places). It was definitely a date night type of vibe or if you're just hanging out with friends. There are also karaoke rooms, but you would have to let them know you came for the karaoke. Service was fast and the food servings were massive for the price. read more

Seoul Pocha - A1. Spicy Baby Octopus Dumplings (Steamed) A5. Spring Rolls (6 Pc) A13. Pork Katsu C1. Tteok-bokki - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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We went to Seoul Pocha for a weeknight dinner and got seated super fast. The place was about half full, with K-pop music playing and music videos on the screens. You can sometimes hear the karaoke rooms, which was kinda funny but not too distracting. Portions here are huge and every dish could easily feed two or more people. The four of us ordered four dishes and still had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. The spicy squid and pork bulgogi was one of my favorites. It came out sizzling and the sauce was really good. Just the right amount of spice for someone like me with low spice tolerance. It mixed really well with rice and had a good mix of larger and smaller pieces of pork and squid. The eel rice bowl was just okay. The eel itself had a lot of tiny bones, which made it annoying to eat, and I wished the rice had that crispy clay-pot texture. There was also a lot of onion and only 2-3 pieces of eel, and the rice was a bit mushy. The spicy jjamppong was insanely spicy but really flavorful. My cousin, who puts hot sauce on everything, inhaled it. The broth was delicious, and the bowl was huge. I could only handle a few bites since it was too spicy for me, but if you love heat, this is the one to get. The jajangmyeon is a must-order every time. Huge portion, super tasty, and the noodles were soft but not overcooked. Simple toppings but always hits the spot. Only downside is that every dish has a ton of onions, but overall the food was good and portions were generous. Great spot for sharing plates with a group. read more

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The food was very good and the atmosphere was nice. The service was good as well. The tteokbokki was very spicy, and usually I like a medium level of spice, but it was still tasty. The cheese corn was sooooo good. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for good Korean food in the Gainesville area. read more

Seoul Pocha - A11. Corn Cheese - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Fantastic food. Great selection of Korean classics. Everything came quickly and hot and fresh and was delicious! I especially recommend the potato corn dog! Yum! The waitstaff were friendly and welcoming. We will definitely be back! Thank you! read more

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The staff is really nice. A little disappointed that as a Korean restaurant they do not have banchas. The dolsot bibimbop was okay, but the egg was overcooked (yolk was solid but should be runny) and would have liked a little more bulgogi in it, and more veggies. Spouse got the Fried Chicken in the house sauce. It was $30.90 and did not include anything except chicken, no rice and no veggies. You can pay an additional $2 for a side of rice. The menu states it is a whole chicken, however it was only white meat, no thighs or legs. We asked the waitress and she said it was only white meat, the last time we checked, a "whole" chicken has both dark and white meat. It was a little overpriced, we have tried it but wouldn't go back again. read more

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We really enjoyed the food at Seoul Pocha, particularly the hot wings and the Jajjangmyeon dishes. Part of the restaurant was a bit warm for the Florida summer, but our waitress happily moved us to a different table that was more comfortable. read more

Looove this place. one of our new favorites. the sweet potato glass noodle dish was so good. i don't remember the names of what we ordered, but everything was amazing. can't wait to come back and try other items on the menu. read more

Seoul Pocha - S2. Padak - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Coming from California, I struggled to find any restaurants in Gainesville that matched the taste and quality of food I was used to. Upon walking in, this restaurant gave the same vibes as the usual korean bars you'd find in Cali, it made me feel right at home. First of all, the service was amazing. The hostess explained to menu to my boyfriend and I very well, gave recommendations on what was popular, and answered any questions we had. She was very knowledgeable about the dishes and enthusiastic. The different employees all came over checking in periodically to ask if the food was good and seeing if we needed anything else. They were also all friendly and hilarious. My boyfriend got the padak (korean fried chicken) and it came with two sauces. The yellow one was so good! The padak here tasted even better than the ones I've had in Cali, which says a lot because Cali has a ton of KFC. The hostess wasn't lying when she said they had the best fried chicken in town. The portion of it was a lot! It was enough to share with about 4 people. My boyfriend ate about half of it though because it was so good. Their Spicy Jjampong (Spicy Seafood Noodles) was AMAZING. It was so flavorful and the portion was sooo big. I could've shared it with my boyfriend and we both would've been full from it. They're very generous with the seafood in it as well. There was A LOT of clam, octopus, shrimp, and two mussels. The mussels tasted so good! It also stayed hot for so long, as it sat there for about ten minutes while I ate the padak and it was still steaming hot when I finally ate it. Lastly, their dessert cocktails are amazing as well. We got their Melona one, and my boyfriend typically doesn't like Melon flavored things, but he ended up drinking like 80% of my cocktail-- that's how good it was. Overall, if you're looking for authentic korean food, big portions, good vibes, and amazing service, come here. This is the one spot that's a MUST TRY in Gainesville. EDIT: also, we were struggling to pack our food at the end (the jjampong) and they helped us do it and even gave tips on how to do it cleanly !! read more

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Came in after the game. Friendly staff. Ordered bulgogi, dumplings, spring rolls, and tofu bibimbap. Overall pretty good. I wish they had some bonchon to go with it but only got kimchi which was really good. I saw their wings and they looked good too. Should have gotten those instead. Bulgogi had bean sprouts which I wasn't use too and honestly lacked flavor. I'm trying not to be picky but my Korean mother would never! I was just hoping for a home cooked traditional Korean meal and it fell short. read more

Food 2/5: we ordered the okonomiyaki, Korean fried chicken, marinade pork. The okonomiyaki was very dry. I was really looking forward to it however it was honestly very disappointing. The Korean fried chicken was cooked well and had a good crunch on it, but the flavor was very much on the ketchup side, which I didn't really like. The pork was Marinated very well however it was on the chewer side. Overall, food was a little disappointing. Service 2/5 the service was not good. Our server was unattended, put in the wrong order, never came to the table so that we can ask him questions or to request other things. I ended up flagging down a server that was not at our table because our server was nowhere to be found. Ambiance 5/5 very nicely decorated place. It is a nicer restaurant that you can go on a date too however, I wouldn't really recommend it as the quality of the food and the quality of service is subpar. read more

Seoul Pocha - Seoul KFC - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Flavors are amazing! It's my go to spot when visiting UF. I love trying something new and different. I like spicy, but I usually go for the mild and it is more than enough. read more

We ordered jjambbong, japchae, and spicy pork, and everything was excellent. This was our second visit, and once again we were very satisfied. The food is flavorful, portions are generous, and the service is consistent. We will definitely be coming back again. read more

Seoul Pocha - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Very kind and quick service. Food was very authentic and had a speedy service. Calm environment read more

Seoul Pocha - S5. Spicy Squid and Pork Bulgogi F8. Spicy Jjamppong Very good and authentic - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Great food! Excellent service! Glad KBBQ is in Gainesville. Only complaint is that it is on the pricier side.

First time here! Food, drinks, service, and ambience all just what one would hope for. Got the Veggie Bibimbap! read more

Seoul Pocha - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

This place had good reviews and we've wanted to try it for a while. After our experience, I will never be going back. The most regrettable part of our experience was the service. Our server is the one who actually sat us, in a table at the very front of the restaurant, which makes it even more notable that somehow she completely forgot about us. She then sat another table in the back. She passed us and said she'd be right over with waters. She poured waters. Made eye contact with my husband. Then walked right past us to the table she sat after us with the waters. She took their order. 15 minutes passed. We were getting ready to leave when she walked past us, looked at our table, and suddenly gasped and apologized for "completely forgetting" us. She asked if we were ready to order. We were hungry and it was late, so we ordered. I wish we hadn't. She then got a message on her phone, pulled it out to look at it, and apologized (seriously?). She put our orders in. Another table was walking up to her to place their order, because apparently our's was not a unique experience. Sometime later, we got our waters. My husband had also gotten a soju cocktail. He asked about it, and she said they were busy but they were working on it. After a short time, my pork jeyuk came out. I was looking around because any other Korean restaurant I've ever eaten at, the dishes come with rice and kimchee dishes. Several minutes passed and I could not catch our server. When she did come back to the dining room she had two rice bowls and the kimchee. She told my husband his was coming soon. At this point, we still hadn't had the dumplings or corn dog which were ordered as appetizers... then several minutes passed with his rice getting cold before the other three items came out together. The spicy octopus dumplings were not spicy whatsoever, if the correct ones were actually ordered because they have a non-spicy version too. It was unclear if they just weren't steamed long enough or sat in the window, but they were cold and tasted like they were just out of the freezer section. The corndog wasn't super hot or cheese melted. Our dishes looked good, and they were just okay. The pork jeyuk was a bit oily and tasted like they went overboard with the white pepper. The pork and squid bulgogi had decent flavor, but had jalapeños (not typically in Korean food) and some of the squid was chewy. Overall, just not very authentic. As we're eating, we again ask about the soju cocktail. Our server says they were busy but she'll just go make it. When she comes back, she apologizes and says the other girl forgot to make it and chuckles... but says she'll "try to get a discount" since it came nearly at the end of our meal. Check comes. No discount... at this point we just want to pay and leave. When she comes back for the check, she apologizes again and says she couldn't get the discount but we can have a free packaged ice cream. Our overall experience had been so poor at this point we just wanted to leave. Needless to say, this was the one and only time we will eat here. read more

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Amazing service, very kind and friendly staff. The food and atmosphere are both very authentic and there's a great selection of Korean food and drinks imported from South Korea that you can buy and take home with you. Best kimchi in the city too! read more

Kimchi is so good and tasty, little bit spicy but don't mind at all Order eel rice bowl. The portions is good amount. Service is awesome, server check back couple times to make sure everything is right. Good atmosphere, went there on quite times read more

Our server was amazing and very helpful with picking dishes. The ambiance was welcoming and the restaurant/restroom was clean.

Recently tried this place and it lived up to the hype. It's easily the best Korean place you'll find in Gainesville. The Korean fried chicken (padak) is a flavor-packed with an insane crunch and just the right amount of spice. A messy, but totally worth-it experience--maybe not ideal for a first date. It's the first dish I've ever ordered where gloves is the utensil it's served with. The spicy squid and pork bulgogi stole the show for me, with perfectly tender meat and a bold, satisfying blend of spices. The place's exterior may be deceiving, but the food is worth it. The quantity of food for the price is also a steal!! The attentive wait staff enhance the overall experience as well which is always a plus. read more

Seoul Pocha - Spicy Squid and Pork Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

The environment, service, and food was the most amazing experience I've had in Gainesville thus far! I ordered the tofu yakisoba dish and it was absolutely amazing, and my server was so sweet. 10/10 would recommend read more

Came here when it opened, and I used to think eating here was fine as there aren't any truly amazing Korean options in town. But this place has fallen way off. They used to have portions to match the prices, but they are REALLY skimping. The bulgogi came on this teeny plate and was 70% bean sprouts. The sweet & sour pork was wet and soggy and came on a small plate as well. The rosé tteokbokki had a great flavor, but it is also much smaller than it was and was maybe 35% tteokbokki. I don't know why you'd skimp on the rice cakes on a rice cake dish. And finally, the seafood pancake was not at all crunchy, just a floppy mess. Very confused by this place, they had a good thing going and now it's just one disappointment after another. And we had to ask about rice and sides - only 2 rice bowls for the 4 entrees we ordered and only kimchi as a side. What kind of korean restaurant doesn't give rice per person and at least like 4-5 sides for the table? Even garlic & ginger does it, and that place is disgraceful. And the kimchi here was watery. Service was also extremely slow and uncommunicative. It's not worth the price to eat here with the small portions these days. Save your money. This place is washed. read more

Recomend coming here, the food is perfect for all levels of spice and flavor lovers. The Service is fast and nice. Very great place with a karaoke rooms for parties. You Should definitely come! read more

Seoul Pocha - K-Style Popcorn Chicken - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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The food was great and the server was very nice. I would 100% recommend if you're hungry at night.

The place failed the State health inspection. So, if your health is important to you, maybe reconsider.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and had a wonderful server! She was very helpful and checked in on us frequently. My favorite dish was the padak. The chicken is fried perfectly while keeping its juiciness! Always love coming back here. read more

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Great service and the food was amazing! The portion sizes are also big and the average person will definitely have enough for more than one meal. read more

Seoul Pocha - S5. Spicy Squid and Pork Bulgogi S4. Stir-Fried Smoky Brisket - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I don't typically eat Korean food, but Seoul Pocha really surprised me in a good way. The flavors were new to me but everything tasted fresh, balanced, and comforting. The portions were solid and the atmosphere felt casual and welcoming. A couple of items were a bit stronger or spicier than I expected, but overall I enjoyed the experience a lot. The service was nice and I had no problems with them. Definitely a great spot to try if you're new to Korean food and want something approachable. 4 stars. read more

Seoul Pocha - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I am not familiar with Korean food, so the people I had gone with ordered for me. The food was flavorful and came out pretty quickly. I was not a fan of the Bonita flakes as they had a smokey flavor. Their kimchi was homemade which I really enjoyed. read more

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The best Korean food place to get in town! It's pretty authentic and has huge portions for the price you get. My favorite is the jjajjangmyeon and Jjampong. It tastes pretty good and similar to what you can get in Korea read more

Absolutely the best Korean food and dining in Gainesville....hands down. Very authentic. They make their own kimchi and sell it as well. The menus are easy to understand and the portions are shareable. Took my two boys their last night and they couldn't get over how good the food tasted and how wholesome the place is. The server spoke Hangul and I was able to speak some words to him. Very enjoyable and will be going back for more....and more....and more. read more

I'm pretty inexperienced with Korean cuisine, so I wasn't sure what to expect here. It ended up being really good. We shared a creamy stew that was delicious. We also got okonomiyaki that was very tasty as well. The service was pretty good and friendly. We didn't get a chance to use the built-in hot plate on our table which was a small let down. By the end of the dinner the stew was a little cold, so it felt like the hot plate could've been useful. I would definitely come back here. read more

Seoul Pocha - Rose stew - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

so amazingly good. the main entree dishes are huge and delicious and made to share. We got the japchae, beef bulgogi, padak, and jajangmyeon. gonna have leftovers for the next three days read more

Seoul Pocha - A8. Beef Japchae / 소고기 잡채, F5. Jajangmyeon / 쟁반짜장, S2. Padak - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Good service, good food, authentic Korean dishes, the kimchi and deung-galbi-jjim were really good. I will be back to try more dishes. read more

Seoul Pocha - Kalbi Jim - Korean Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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10/10 One of the best Korean spot my family has been to in a long time! Everything was absolutely delicious and amazing and we'll definitely be back if we ever come through again! I personally loved the atmosphere and the service here! They made sure we were taken care of throughout our whole experience and offered lovely food suggestions that did not disappoint (My favorite was the beef!) Also true to their words the servings are big! Definitely family style vibes! If you have the chance please come in and enjoy because we are very happy we did!! OH! Also make sure you get some drinks whether that be Sake or even the Binggrae Milks there! I say the Melon is the best but honestly you can never go wrong with any of the flavors! read more

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The food is amazing. The service was great, the ambience was such a vibe and we will be coming back here again for the third time (me and my best friend DEEJAYYYYY)! They're so sweet: the servers, and I love the ice cream options! It's so great!!! Everything here is so good and authentic! read more

Great place to eat and hangout with friends. The service was great, would definitely come again.

Amazing. I've ordered the sme thing in other places and was disappointed but thus was exactly what I wanted. The way I pictured it in my head is how i got it into my stomach lol. Nice people and beautiful restaurant. read more