Some of the best restaurants don't feel like restaurants at all--they feel like someone invited you into their home for dinner. The moment I walked into Seoul Restaurant, I knew I was in for something special. Grandma was relaxing in her recliner watching TV in the dining room, the husband was taking care of the front of the house, the wife was hard at work in the kitchen, and the entire place had the kind of warmth and charm you simply can't manufacture. The service? Let's just say he wasn't there to become my new best friend. He was polite, efficient, and all business. When I asked if I could add cheese to my Army Stew, he immediately answered, "No cheese." From the kitchen, his wife overheard the conversation, called him back, and a minute later he returned with two slices of American cheese anyway. She knew exactly what I was after. It was one of those little moments that made the place feel even more authentic. The homemade banchan was outstanding. Every dish tasted fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and like recipes that have been made the same way for years. We ordered a pajeon, but asked if they could make it with only scallions instead of seafood. Without hesitation, they did--and it ended up being my favorite style of pajeon. Crispy around the edges, tender in the center, and absolutely packed with scallions. Then came the star of the meal: Budae Jjigae (Army Stew). I'd honestly never seen it on a Korean restaurant menu before, so ordering it was an easy decision. The pot was massive, filled with Spam, sausage, beef, ramen, mushrooms, vegetables, tofu, and bubbling spicy broth. It was comforting, hearty, and somehow even better after everything had simmered together. There was so much food that we had leftovers for days, and somehow it tasted even better the next day. What I appreciated most was that nothing about Seoul Restaurant felt trendy or manufactured. The menu focused on comforting Korean classics, the portions were incredibly generous, the prices were more than fair, and every bite felt like it came from a family recipe rather than a corporate kitchen. If you're looking for polished, over-the-top hospitality, this probably isn't your place. But if you want to feel like you've wandered into someone's home, where Grandma is watching TV, the husband is running the dining room, the wife is cooking from the heart, and every dish tastes like it's been perfected over decades... Seoul Restaurant is exactly where you want to be. We'll absolutely be making this a stop every time we're back in Alabama. read more

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It is all about the family and when you eat here you feel like you're part of the family!

I've been here a couple of times for lunch. Seems like they must do mostly takeout or dinner. When I have been there, I don't recall any other dine in patrons. Plus after bringing me my food the person went and sat in a recliner to watch TV. At least this time the food was on actual plates and not in a to go container. The food itself is really good. The most recent trip I decided to get an order of Man Doo (crispy fried dumplings) to go with my Beef Bul Go Gi Lunch Box, not realizing or remembering that the lunch box included 2 dumplings. The Beef Bulgogi was season well and tasted great. Rice was the typical Asian restaurant nice and sticky white rice. The kimchi was pretty typical but seemed very freshly prepared. The restaurant itself is like a hole in the wall type that would fit in any city's Chinatown. Dine in experience was not bad but when drinking water only comes from room temperature water bottles on the counter by the register, future trips may be for takeout instead. read more

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I was there last night trying this restaurant because I am craving for authentic Korean food and I ordered Beef Bulgogi, fan fried Mackerel and Seol long tang, I love the rice, the bulgogi is okay, I am still looking for the taste that I had when I visited Korea, this come a little short of that taste. The mackerel is good and taste fresh, the soup is good it's just had a little too much of ground pepper in it. The service is fast and the ambiance is like you're in little Korea. read more

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The food was AMAZING. Auntie working the kitchen was preparing everything fresh. The Banchan were a great variety and flavors. The japchae was phenomenal. The kimchi jiggae was hands down the best I have ever had. The LA galbi was so hot and fresh and delicious. 10/10, you should try! read more

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The food is great and fresh, the service isn't the best but worth it for the food being so authentic read more

Seoul Restaurant - Beef Bulgogi Bento Box - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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The food is delicious. Huge portions. We ordered the beef bul go gi, which was good, and the pork bul go gi, which was better. A little more on the spicy side but very good. Good quality ingredients. You get all the kimchi apps to start. I'm not a fan of kimchi but there's is perfectly balanced in flavor. The atmosphere feels like somebody's home. It's cozy but cluttered like a typical Asian family owned establishment. An elderly gentleman seated us and waited on us, and an elderly lady brought us our meal. Homey and welcoming, like getting your favorite food served up at Grandma's house. We loved it. We'll be back. read more

Fantastic experience from start to finish! The food was absolutely amazing, every dish was fresh, flavorful, and prepared perfectly. The portions were generous, and you can tell a lot of care goes into the quality of the food. The service was incredibly fast without sacrificing friendliness or attention to detail. Our drinks and food arrived quickly, and the staff made us feel welcome throughout our visit. If you're looking for delicious Korean food and excellent service, this place is a must-visit. We will definitely be back! read more

If you are looking for authentic Korean food in the Birmingham area, Seoul Restaurant is an absolute hidden gem. It is truly a hole in the wall in the best way, the kind of place you might miss if you were not looking for it, but once you find it, you will keep coming back. The restaurant is owned and run by a wonderful husband and wife team who make you feel welcome the moment you walk in. There is something really special about a place where you can tell the owners genuinely care about both the food and the experience. The portions are incredibly generous, and the quality does not take a back seat. Everything we tried was packed with flavor and tasted homemade in the best way. My father had been wanting to try kimchi and tteokbokki for the first time, and both exceeded expectations. The kimchi was perfectly balanced, and the tteokbokki had just the right level of spice and richness. This is the kind of place you leave already planning your next visit. Highly recommend. read more

Seoul Restaurant - . - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Wow where do I start? Imagine going to an auntie's house and enjoying a full force Korean feast. The PA JEON was stuffed full of veggies and had an amazing sauce to go with it. It was so fluffy and flavorful. Best Korean pancake I've had in my life hands down. The KIMCHEE JIGAE was so piping hot and flavorful. Loved it with heaping spoonfuls of the Korean white rice. I would probably ask this to be spicier! The JAPCHAE is perfectly cooked - bouncy sweet potato noodles - huge slices of beef - thin strips of perfectly stir fried veggies. This is the version I wish I could cook at home. Noodles were hand cut with kitchen shears and served by the owner. Kids were so spoiled. It was like we were at auntie's house. And finally the star of lunch was the HOTPOT BIBIMBAP. What a beautiful work of art on a stone platter. The crispiest caramelized ricey bottom was to die for. Mixed all together table side by the owner! It was perfection. BEST BIBIMBAP IN AMERICA. I'm broadcasting this all over YELP!!! read more

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Amazing food, and the sweetest couple! I got the king man doo and the jap chae and we loved both. Our meal came with servings of the traditional Korean side dishes which were also awesome. read more

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This was some of the best Korean food that I have had in the U.S. The portions are large and the taste is great. This is AUTHENTIC Korean food. As someone else said it is like eating Grandma's recipe. The spicey pork bulgogi was great, the beef bulgogi was also good. The Korean pancake was much thicker and crispy than anywhere else and absolutely delicious. The side dishes are first rate and also delicious. It looks like many simple restaurants that you find around Korea. I think this is a true gem and once the older couple stop running the restaurant it will be shame this level of food will not be available. I will be going back because it was very delicious and we had plenty of leftovers. THANKS! read more

This place is a true hidden gem and overall great local restaurant. It's run by an elderly Korean couple who clearly put a lot of care into what they do. Everything is made from scratch, so you're not getting mass produced food off a Sysco truck like you would at chain restaurants. That alone makes a huge difference in quality and authenticity. Because of that, yes, prices might be a little higher than what you'd expect from a chain, but people need to understand: this is a small, local business. With how much costs have gone up lately, places like this are the ones most affected. You're paying for fresh ingredients, and real cooking. The portions are also very generous. Most dishes are easily big enough to share between two people. The rice portions are more than enough for one person, honestly, and if you feel like you need more, that's more about personal eating habits than the portion itself. The atmosphere is simple and homey. The owner may be sitting in his recliner watching Korean TV, but he still takes your order, brings your drinks and food, and makes sure you're taken care of. It's not fancy service, but it's genuine and relaxed. And you're not pressured to tip, overall, everything feels very no-frills and honest. At the end of the day, this isn't a chain restaurant, it's a small, family-run spot where two hardworking people are just trying to make a living. If you're looking for authentic, homemade Korean food and don't mind a casual setting, this place is absolutely worth it. You truly get what you pay for here. read more

FYI: Ordering Togo food from this restaurant which also charge you 10% for service fee that made me feel speechless unbelievable read more

Seoul Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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So, I've been here twice since I moved to Alabama. The first time was a dinner early in my time here, a couple of years ago. The second was this afternoon for lunch. I was uncertain as to how to review this place after my first visit, but this time I think I've got it: this is a wonderfully authentic Korean restaurant, incredibly homey and unpretentious, in all the best and most complicated ways one could interpret that. I came in for lunch today and was the only one in the restaurant for lunch. For the entirety of the time, the owners were watching Korean television in the main dining area (except for when they were cooking my meal). The whole experience felt very much like being invited to eat at the grandparents house but the grandparents aren't yours. I imagine this vibe wouldn't work for everyone, but it really worked for me. The main reason it worked is the food is quite good. The ban chan was served on a cafeteria-style styrofoam tray, which is a little hilarious, but the kimchi, cucumber kimchi, and fried tofu in sesame oil were awesome. The pork bulgogi was also excellent, complete with delicious mushrooms, peppers, and onions in the gochujang and oil on the hotplate. Pile up each perfect slice of pork on the steamed rice you're served, along with some ban chan, and life is really, really good. Again, I'm not sure this place is for everyone. The prices are high (although I agree with other recent reviewers that EVERYTHING is expensive now so why not get something good?) and there isn't much in the way of modifying or changing pieces of your order. You get the ban chan they have prepared. You get the rice and the dish as is. Water is served in water bottles with a glass of ice. I wasn't checked on once during the meal and you know what? I was perfectly happy eating on my own and enjoying every bite. If you're looking for an intimate, homey, your-grandmother's-kitchen feel to a Korean lunch or dinner experience, I would definitely recommend giving this place a try. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Pork Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I tried to go here in the past but I didn't know they were closed on Mondays. Today I came on a Thursday to discover they are now closed on Mondays AND Tuesdays... This place is amazing. The owners are so sweet and soft spoken. It only took 15 minutes for them to give me the best jap chae and banchan I've had since I moved to Alabama. Authentic and delicious, I couldn't wait to write this review. 100% recommend read more

Seoul Restaurant - Jap chae - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

So I am going to call it like it is. I wouldn't recommend this place for a romantic atmosphere, it's very homey. I wouldn't come here for the best service, it's an older couple that takes your order and gets you your food...no fuss, no muss. HOWEVER.....if you are looking for fresh, authentic Korean food with no frills? Well, you found it. They have a small section of lunch menus. We ordered a beef bulgogi from it. We also ordered a hot stone Bibimbap. A plate of banchan with 6 small dishes of restaurant's choice comes with the meal, no free refills. The food? On point. I will say the beef bulgogi is a little thicker than I think it should be, thin slices would be better. The taste is good though. The hot stone Bibimbap is very, very good. After it arrives at your table, let it sit for a bit on the hot stone to give the rice time to turn crunchy. If you don't do this, you are missing out a bit. Add the red sauce as it adds a lot of flavor and is not too spicy at all! Circling back to the service as I see some complaints on this. There isn't anything wrong with it. It's just basic. They sit you, give you your menu, take your order, give you bottled water with cups of ice (49 cents per bottle, btw), give you your food, respond if you need something, give you box and check when you ask for them. That's it. No attitude, no issues. However, they are not all smiles, chit chat, and multiple check-backs (which you don't really need since the place is like a small rectangle so you can easily tell them what you need anytime....). I am not looking to make a new friend when I go out to restaurants, so I am good with this, ha. Oh and if you don't know what something is on the menu and they aren't helpful as their English isn't the best? Try Googling...... I will comment on the price a bit. So pre-COVID, I never came here as I thought the menu prices seemed high. However, post-COVID? Well, to get a decent meal out, ALL the prices are high. So it is what it is. I will say yesterday my SO and I went to another restaurant for lunch and got a pasta dish and fish tacos and paid the same amount as this lunch. Both meals were tasty in their own ways but this one was infinitely healthier! read more

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Small place, quite cozy and weathered interior as well. Do beware and make sure your copy of your charge card receipt matches your statement and amount once it's been fully processed through. The owner took the liberty to add an additional $8.12 for his tip. The owner did nothing to deserve this 20% tip at all. Unreal. The man seated us, asked us what we wanted to drink. We asked for barley tea. He wasn't super warm or friendly or welcoming at all. Started off with barley teas, ordered budae jjigae (two person minimum here) and tteokbokki as well. The budae jjigae is $55, that's a hefty cost. Tteokbokki was $22. $81.26 is the total bill. It's quite expensive for what you get here. I think the meal was worth maybe $50 at most. They do charge for the bottle waters here as well. What's up with this place? Our meal tonight is the same price for this meat as what we paid for Brazilian all you can eat meat last night. Korean TV playing in the background. The guy watched TV in his lounge chair in the middle of the dining area. The man working here needs to take his TV and chair in the back are where no customers can see him at all. The women do all of the work here, sad. The barley tea is a tea bag. The banchans are all yummy. The pickled radish, shredded radish, kimchi, fish cake, bean sprouts and cucumbers. The kimchi and fish cake were my favorites. The rice is good, although a small portion. Their stock photo pics on the walls look quite appetizing. Not sure what all is in the army stew, think it's hotdog meat, spam, fish cake, bean sprouts, rice cake, mushroom rooms, tofu, beef bites that have disintegrated to soft meat paste from cooking too long, lstraw mushrooms, greens, ramen and so much more stuff I can't quite place or identify. It's big enough for two for sure. The broth is so-so, not super flavorful. The tteokbokki comes with Ramen, fish cake and fish balls, fish cake, beef bites, green pepper, carrots, onions . This big tteokbokki only comes with one half hard boiled egg, why only one? I would have rather had the other half of the egg than the random beef chunks. The tteokbokki sauce is super sweet and not so spicy. I would have preferred it to be spicier and less sweet, not for me. The tteokbokki is fairly big, enough to share with two or more, makes sense since it was $22. read more

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We went there last night and it was bad because it was very salty at everything except kimchi and cucumber salad. :( And the host was elderly man who can't walk and shuffle around and we didn't know we have been charged for waters! We are Korean and ate LA Korean restaurants and it wasn't last night. So sad... read more

3.5/5 Was good and well priced, however I wish that it felt more welcoming. All the side dishes were homemade and yummy!

Delicious and authentic Korean Food! It feels like a very mom and pop small business that you want to support and keep bringing others to try out! The Korean shows playing on the TV and posters as well as decorations throughout the restaurant make it a unique and traditional Korean spot that you'll want to come back to and enjoy again with your friends, family, or co-workers! read more

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I want SO badly to give a 5 star review...but I just can't. We used to love Seoul, and have been coming for many years. Being the only Korean restaurant makes it hard to not stop every once in a while. Being a partially Korean household, we sometimes just want to eat food we didn't have to make. The food is great, but so overpriced. An extra bowl of rice, or more of a single banchan should NEVER cost you the amount they charge. The last time we went for BBQ there, the guy gave our appetizers to the table next to us instead that ordered 15 minutes after us. When I mentioned this, he said, "your food was coming up and they ordered the same appetizers as you, so I gave it to them and I'll give you theirs!" The worst thing, was our meal was $250 and he did NOTHING to deserve a tip (never once refilled our drinks or cooked, or anything) and because we were a table of 4, he automatically got a very large tip. We went back again after my son got out of the hospital because he was craving Budae Jjigae. He felt so awkward having to ask the owner for anything while he was sitting in his recliner watching his dramas. Luckily, being Korean he isn't very patient and just asked anyway. (I can't imagine what not speaking Korean and having to interrupt him would feel like) When we left, he said, "Mom, can we just never go back again?" Food is wonderful, but be prepared for an expensive meal with horrible service no matter who you are. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Army Stew - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Bit of a no frills restaurant but it always serves very good and traditional Korean food. Probably my favorite for the food in town

Really good Korean food in cozy casual atmosphere. You can tell by the flavor that these meals are cooked to order. I had the beef bulgogi and my wife had stir fried squid with vegetables, both amazing! It's great to see a restaurant stay true to authenticity and not change their recipes to cater to American taste preferences. read more

First of all this place is ok... I had the pork bolgogi lunch box. Here's the thing, I believe they are the only fully Korean restaurant in town so they freely chose their price point. The food is EXTREMELY overpriced. As other reviews have said. When you walk in you can definitely tell it's a mom and pop shop (which I'm all for supporting) but at a reasonable price. What I ordered came out to $20 dollars. The food was definitely good just very very greasy, which is not something you would typically expect with Korean food. They will definitely run this place to the ground with their price points. The restaurant was completely empty when I went in which I suspect is a common occurrence. The environment was also not something you would typically expect at a restaurant. There was a man right in the middle of the dinning room watching TV. I have no problem with this but again the price doesn't reflect the experience. I gave this three stars because the price was just ridiculous and the food was way too greasy. This isn't a place I would come back to I will most likely opt for another option like going to an Asian market and making it myself. It's very disappointing because I know it's a family owned business but there is no excuse for overcharging customers like this. If you do decide to try this place be aware that the menu that's on Yelp definitely doesn't have updated prices and I'm not sure if the menu they have at the restaurant is updated either. Also I believe I got one of the "cheapest" options on the menu so If I paid $20 dollars I can't even imagine the price point for other dishes. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Pork bolgogi - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I felt completely unwelcome in this establishment. I came in and ordered the lunch bul go gi box. I received my water and my CHECK before the food even came out. Then another man in the establishment received a plate of amazing looking food. A few minutes later I received a TO-GO box with my food in it. Don't come here unless you want them to make you feel like crap as they just did me. read more

Seoul Restaurant - To go plate - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Very authentic Korean restaurant with a great selection of different types of food on the menu. It's owned by an older Korean couple and the service is really quick. We've all loved the Jap Chae, the Korean pancake and Bibimbap. I do think the food is VERY overpriced though. We were a table of 6 and did family style and it came out to be around $34 per person which I thought is kinda steep. They also give the smallest plastic plate to eat your food on which I think actual normal sized plates would be better. Overall, I would still go back because the food is delicious. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I read a lot of the reviews before I came and I think they are a bit unfair. I want to first address the price. This is a local shop, operation cost are going to be greater because of this. I think the price is justifiable given the authenticity and small operation. Secondly, the service was great. This is an older couples restaurant, and it's very laid back. The wife of the couple was super sweet and even gave my friend tips on how to eat her food correctly! The woman mixed up her bowl for her. I thought this was insanely great service. Lastly, the food was super good and the inside is not extreme luxurious but you're not going there for the interior design, you're going for the food. All in all, I would recommend this place. Just know you may be spending a little more but it's to support a local business. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Excellent food and service! The chicken bulgogi was very good! The mixed kimshee tray was delicious! Portions large enough for two! read more

Seoul Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

One of the best Korean restaurants in Birmingham. It's a mom and pop shop and everything we got tasted so authentic. From the galbi to japchae to kimchi jjigae. Service was a bit slow BUT you won't regret the food. read more

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This is the best Korean restaurant in the Birmingham area. The food is amazing. The aesthetic is traditional Korean grandparents running a family restaurant. If you want authentic Korean this is where to go. read more

Best Korean Food!!! I've been to Huntsville and Birmingham and this place is it. Lovely mom and pop shop. Very clean and friendly.

Very good food. Weird service. But the food was good. Would I go again, not sure. But, probably I would go. Just brace yourself for the very disinterested level of service. read more

My go to for my Korean food fix!! Fell in love with cuisine while stationed in Korea during the late 80's with the USAF. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Korean BBQ!! - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Food itself is decent but quite a few cons for me. First, it's expensive for a strip mall spot! They have lunch bento boxes but other than that it's crazy. There were 3 of us for lunch and our check was well over $100.00 - 2 of us had water... Bottled required. Everyone, presumably, speaks limited English bcz we were never really fully engaged with at all. About anything. The elder man that took our orders mistakenly heard one of our orders wrong and there was a 20.00 price difference... tried to tell the younger woman but neither acknowledged so we just gave up and kept it and paid anyway. Grand scheme, we won't be going back because we just didn't find the service to work for the prices. But hey, options are limited in Bham so there's that. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Lunch special: Chicken box - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I just had an excellent lunch at Seoul. I ordered the lunch box with Fire Chicken. It was a generous portion of a moderately spiced chicken, onions and bell pepper served with rice, two fried dumplings, kimchi and spicy pickled cucumbers. Everything was cooked and plated perfectly. The restaurant is run by an elderly Korean couple who clearly take great pride in their food. It's really off the chart good. The vibe is casual and it's like walking into someone's home. A comfy chair is in front of a television playing a Korean television station, and there is a mix of regular booths and a couple of tables for Korean bbq I will 100% be back for dinner. This place is legit. read more

I'd describe this place as homey in all the right ways. It's owned by a husband and wife, and they do everything. The vibe is very chill--the husband even sits in a recliner and watches tv in the dining room when it's slow. The food quality was excellent. Everything tastes home cooked. It's like what your Korean grandma would make you, if you had a Korean grandma. The husband is a little chilly, but the wife is extremely kind. She held our infant and played with him while we ate. Even chilly husband loved the baby. The service is also homey. Almost like you were eating at the house of the Korean grandmother that you still don't have. You order, they bring you your food, then disappear for a while doing God knows what while you gorge yourself. They don't need to hear about your day--they're just happy you're there and that they could feed you. Could the prices be lower? Yes. Could you be a better grandchild for the non-existent Korean matriarch of your family? Also yes. You're paying for quality here. It's not anymore expensive than the places in Downtown Homewood. Don't act like it should be cheaper just because it's Asian food--your 할머니 raised you better than that. My wife and I ate ourselves silly for $90 and had two boxes of leftovers. I tipped $20 for the babysitting services and to support a great family business that we're lucky to have in Birmingham. read more

This place is very overpriced but the food is delicious. My friend & I ordered the japchae and seafood pancake to share. Both were yummy! The side dishes that come out first are also tasty. Service isn't the best but that's ok. It's a mom and pop kinda place. Don't have many choices for Korean food in Birmingham so I guess they can charge what they want. read more

Seoul Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I went with my mom and it was honestly very good and I loved the vibe when you walk in the door

If you're the type of suburban white chick who isn't super adventurous about food, but at the same time WANTS TO BE adventurous about food, you may balk when it comes to Korean. Especially if your spouse, who will eat anything that will be still long enough, used to live in Korea and has told you harrowing tales of spicy, fermented vegetables and mysterious street meat. But, you're safe, guys! It's genuinely delicious. It's not all spicy, the owner doesn't hit up your table with talk of the secret menu they serve in the back, it's just straight DELICIOUS. Plum iced tea? Yes, please. Shrimp tempura? Buckets of it. I want buckets of it. Kimchi? Actually WON'T burn your face off. And the dumplings? FRIED. THEY WERE FRIED. And now, I need a nap. Check these guys out. I drove down here from Pinson and it was totally worth it. read more

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