What a great taste of Korean food. Is it the absolute best you're ever going to have, no, but is it the best in Madison, very likely. I grew up with alot of Korean friends and frequented their homes for after school dinner and it may be that I've been in Madison too long, but this brought me back to it. The aesthetic of the space, the cleanliness, the attentiveness of the employees and honestly, the simplicity of the menu. Here is what we do, we're going to do it well and you're going to be full at the end, which is what I got. I think the prices are fair and you can easily go home with leftovers. Personally, I got an order of the Kimchi with Beef spicy tofu soup with a side of Kalguksu noodles - which is a must. The banchans (complementary side dishes) came out quickly and were fresh and flavorful. It could have used a little more sesame oil in my opinion, but overall was a great start. The tofu soup came out shortly after with a large heaping of noodles. It was boiling hot so I added my egg, which cooked while the dish also cooled down. Once cooled, my first bite was exactly what I wanted. Spicy, flavorful, umami broth with lots of strips of beef and tofu. Adding in some noodles or using chopsticks to dip and eat was prime and this meal hit the spot. I finished about half of the soup and noodles, then packaged it to eat for lunch the next day, which protip, sometimes makes the broth even more flavorful and better to eat. I think this is a great taste of Korean food, the best in Madison and will definitely be back on a cold day. Happy Eating! read more

Gave this place a try after the hype that I have heard and was not disappointed. Their Soondubu Jjigae is definitely a must-try. I enjoyed the soft tofu and flavors from it, and honestly each dish had its own unique character to it. My only wishes would be that the Seafood Pancake to have a more crispy texture and for the Bibimbap (Beef) to have a little more meat to it. The staff members were very kind and made sure our table was well taken care of. The restaurant was very clean, but the only other complaint I would have is that there was no A/C on, and the door was left open to allow for airflow, causing a lot of smoke from outside to come into the restaurant (tobacco smell). Otherwise, I was satisfied with everything else. Each dish was full of impactful flavor, and I can understand why SGD has its hype! read more

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The presentation and atmosphere was amazing! The food itself wasn't as flavorful as I was hoping it would be but the presentation made up for it. read more

Sgd Dubu - Tteokboki - Korean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Excellent Korean food. Probably the only spot in Madison with good Korean food. Service is spotty. They hire young college folks who don't really know how to answer questions about the menu. SGD is a franchise with other locations in the US (I prefer SGD over BCD). Food is great but staff training is needed. read more

This was a solid Korean place--appreciated the banchan! The food lacked a little something--could have used a little more spice and richness in the chigae--but the quality was good and everything tasted fresh. read more

This restaurant delivers truly authentic Korean flavors with dishes that taste like they come straight from a traditional kitchen. The meats are perfectly marinated, the banchan is fresh and varied, and every bite shows real care and heritage. The atmosphere is welcoming and true to Korean dining culture, and the staff is attentive in a way that feels genuine. A standout spot for anyone seeking real, comforting Korean food. read more

I went here when it first opened, so I thought I'd give them another try after having more time to settle in. The banchan was good, but I wish the kimchi and cucumbers were fermented a bit more. I got the mixed sundubu jjigae which has beef and seafood. I thought it was good! The food was overall great, but the service was a bit lackluster. It took a while to get the bill, as the waiters were not only taking orders but also clearing tables. I wish they had more employees to help cover all the tables. read more

Sgd Dubu - Soondubu - Korean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Finally you don't have to go all the way to Chicago for some decent Korean food! Want the full authentic experience? Here are 3 easy steps: 1. Get soondubu jjigae (tofu stew) - don't bother with the rest of the menu (unless you have kids). Go for beef, seafood, or mixed. Pick your spice level (mild is not spicy at all), and get the hot stone bowl rice. 2. Ask for hot barley tea (boricha) instead of iced water. 3. Once you finish your rice (there will be grains stuck at the bottom), pour the tea into the stone bowl, let it steep for a minute, then enjoy your crispy rice! SGD does all the little things right and it's no wonder they have multiple successful chains on the east coast and in the Midwest. I'm so glad that Madisonians can now enjoy their food too! read more

Sgd Dubu - Korean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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So Gong Dong Tofu and Korean BBQ is a Korean chain restaurant in Madison, WI with several locations across the United States. The place was very busy completely packed with people as the Madison location is in a smaller compacted space along State Street. Their menu doesn't have a large variety of different menu items but instead narrowed down to highlight Korea's most popular cultural dishes like Soondubu Jjigae (a delicious savory Korean tofu stew), Bibimbap which is (rice with seasoned vegetable, fried egg, and meat), Beef Bulgogi (marinated beef dish stir fried served with rice), and popular Korean Bento boxes! Also try some of their appetizers like the seafood pancake which is a delicious crispy Korean style pancake filled with shrimp, squid, and scallions! My husband & I were there mostly to try the Beef Bulgogi which is our favorite Korean dish! While waiting they brought out a variety of complimentary Banchan which are incredibly delicious small bowls of different super flavorful side dishes served with rice/meals meant to compliment/enhance each bite of your meal meant to be shared with others in the middle of the table which is a huge part of Korean culture! I absolutely loved the banchan they had from the kimchi, Oi Muchim (cucumber salad), to the corn salad! I loved the banchan so much I had to ask for more refills! Their Beef bulgogi was okay. We have had way better bulgogi from other restaurants and homemade Bulgogi so we were disappointed. It wasn't as flavorfully marinated with Korean flavors/seasoning. It didn't have that smoky and delicious rich umami flavor and a little bit sweeter in flavor than I personally like beef bulgogi. I like beef bulgogi to have a nice balance of both salty and sweet along with that savory umami flavor! We plan to come back and try more dishes from So Gong Dong. This is a great option if you are looking to try Korean food as there is currently not alot of options for Korean food in the area. read more

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service is okay, compared to other locations not the best, less food options, not as fast. food is good a little salty. ambiance is good read more

Sgd Dubu - Korean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I was so surprised to see that an SGD opened up in Madison. I came with two friends at around 1:45pm on a Saturday and it was packed. We joined the waitlist and were 11th in line so we weren't sure if we'd get a spot before the kitchen closed at 2:30pm. Thankfully the waitlist moved quickly and a table was ready at 2pm. We ordered a seafood pancake and each got a sundubu jjigae with the rice. The pancake was delicious- crispy and flavorful. Our tofu soups with beef came out shortly after. I got the regular spice level but could have definitely gotten it spicier. Overall, my rating would be closer to a 4.5 because instead of the hot stone bowl rice we were just given a bowl of rice which was unfortunate and they also didn't have cups for us until midway through our meal when we asked. They were very busy and they just opened so understandable. Otherwise, I'm excited to have an authentic a delicious Korean restaurant in Madison! read more

Sgd Dubu - Hameul Pajeon (Seafood Pancake) - Korean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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It's so exciting to finally have an SGD here in Madison - with so many Asian restaurants opening recently, the Asian food scene here is experiencing a dramatic rise! A group of friends and I came for their soft opening day today, and we were super impressed - with an intimate ambiance, extremely attentive service, reasonable prices, a wide selection of bonchon (side dishes) with free refills, and tasty Korean tofu dishes, this is significantly raising the bar for Korean food here in the city of Madison. We highly recommend any of the Soondubu Jjigae dishes (their specialty!) as well as their tasty side dishes. read more

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I went here with my friends the other day and here is my honest review. First off, the place has been super busy since it opened so expect there to be some wait. There is no area for waiting since the place is really small so be prepared to just brace the cold when waiting to get seated. For food, I got the soondubu and thought it was alright, nothing special. The soup doesn't come with an egg if you get ramen, but it does if you get rice. The soup flavor wasn't very strong and it felt like I was eating ramen that I made from a packet at home. I really liked all the banchan they brought out, especially the pickled cumbers, those were chefs kiss! My bf got the beef short rib which was decent, but if you've ever had BCD they don't really compare. Only one side was really grilled, while the other side was just cooked. The portion is big but it's pricey. The short rib comes with rice. A compliant I have is that the appitizers we ordered took forever to come out. We had already eaten half our main meals before our first app came out, then when we finished all our food our second app came out. We were all full and barely finished it. We had to ask 3+ times about our order. read more

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What a lovely find! I ended up eating here twice on my trip to Madison. It was walking distance to Memorial Union (which was where the event I was attending was held) and ended up being a great lunch spot. The banchan (side dishes) such as the cucumber and radish were more on the pickled side (which is how I prefer it) and refreshing to take in between bites. I ordered the seafood soondubu jjigae with udon and I loved that I could substitute that for rice. The service was great and the staff were always nice and welcoming. It took roughly 10-15 minutes for the food to come out but the ambiance of the restaurant was very chill and quiet. Lots of solo diners and overall seemed like a great place! read more

Sgd Dubu - seafood soondubu jjigae with udon - Korean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Good food and decent service. Was a bit noisy and pretty small. Dumplings crispy and decent sauce. I found the prices for some food a little disappointing. But is probably the best Korean food around Madison read more

We enjoyed dinner at this Korean spot. Apparently it's a chain, but this is the only one I've ever been to. The menu is pretty small, mostly soon dubu (a tofu soup with your choice of protein added in) and bibimbap, with some appetizers and a few additional main dishes. They start you off with some nice banchan, including delicious fresh cucumber and marinated turnip, and a jug of complimentary barley tea. My soon dubu was tasty and I enjoyed the generous selection of seafood (clams, shrimp and an oyster) in my bowl. My companion liked his bibimbap. Spice level seems a little mild--I asked for spice level 4 out of 5 but there was really no heat at all. Still tasty though and a fun and well-priced stop on State Street for a generous meal. read more