This place is legit. Located on Thayer St in the bbq chicken space. The spicy pork bibimbap was perfectly cooked, how can you not love it! read more

Soban Korean Eatery - 34. Spicy Pork Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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After a long night of Brown's annual Campus Dance, our party of twelve found ourselves craving some food in the chilly rain. We came across this Korean fried chicken joint on the ever-popular Thayer Street, and at around 10:30pm on a Friday night, we were one of the only ones in the restaurant, so we were immediately seated. You can order up at the front from their extensive menu ranging from various types of Korean fried chicken to more classic Korean fare (such as bibimbap and soft tofu stew) to Korean street food like Ddeok-Bokki and corndogs. The owner was a Korean halmeoni and she was absolutely hilarious - she conversed with us in both Korean and English, and was more than happy to put up with our rambunctious group. We opted for 24 pieces each ($46 for a 24pc) of their Golden Original Wings as well as their Hot Spicy Wings. We also got an order of Ddeok-Bokki ($16.95) and Veggie Soft Tofu Stew ($14) for the table, as well as soju and beers all around (there's a large variety of Korean sojus in the fridge!). The wings were great on a cold night, especially when paired with the soju and beer (ever heard of chimaek? It's a combination of chicken and maekju, which is Korean for beer).The Golden Original flavor wings are simple dry wings with a perfect ratio of crispy breading to juicy chicken, with a good amount of meat on the bone. Their Hot Spicy Wings (3/3 hot chili peppers on the menu!) live up to their name, but aren't unbearably hot - they're the same chicken but tossed in a delightfully hot yet tangy and sweet sauce. They're fairly expensive for wings, but since they're both meaty and expertly fried, I won't complain. The ddeok-bokki wasn't bad, with chewy rice cakes in a sweet and spicy chili reduction sauce, although it was a small portion for the price. We enjoyed that it came with fish cakes and a boiled egg, which is an unexpected bonus of protein in a usually carb-heavy dish. The veggie soft tofu stew was pretty disappointing - it just seemed like they dumped chili powder, random vegetables, and some soft tofu in a pot and then called it a day. This was a great stop for some good Korean junk food on a late night, with friendly service and reliably good chicken. The owner was incredibly kind and let us stay until midnight, even though the restaurant's hours say that it closes at 11pm. I'm sure this is a popular spot for college students, and it's easy to see why! read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Ginseng Chicken Soup/Samgyetang ($25.99) - whole cornish hen stuffed with sweet rice, date, chestnut, garlic, and ginseng root, banchan - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

bb.q Chicken + Soban Korean Eatery located on Thayer Street in Providence serves authentic homestyle Korean food with hot soups, stews, fried rice, kimbap, donburi, and bibimbap. It is located on the lower level of YAS Chicken and has been around for years. I walked in on a Monday afternoon and only 1 other table was occupied at the time. Menus were handed to us and we were informed to come back up front to place the order. You can sit anywhere in the restaurant. There are plenty of tables. After looking at the menu, I ordered 8 pieces of the Secret Spicy Wings and Kimchi Fried Rice with beef. The dishes were brought to our table. It didn't take too long for our food to come. The kimchi fried rice came first and then the wings. The kimchi fried rice was really yummy. I wish it had more pieces of beef, but it tasted really good. For the wings, there were plastic gloves on the table for you to use so your fingers don't get messy. The wings were very crunchy and the sauce was really good. A small container of radishes were also brought to us. After finishing, you bus your own table and bring the dishes to a bin next to the trash. I would definitely come back here and try their other dishes. For drinks, there are fridges in the front and at the counter for you to choose what drink you would like to have. read more

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Soban BBQ chicken, located on Thayer Street, has the yummiest most creative food options. I will say, I am removing one star because I witnessed the a female employee (maybe the owner because she's there a lot) yelling at a DoorDasher because he was at the wrong place waiting for an order. She was yelling at him to leave, and he didn't really understand because his primary language was Spanish. He was very confused and was not arguing back, and was just trying to do his job. I felt bad for him and was uncomfortable watching the incident. It's better to order takeout there. All other employees I've met are amazing and very friendly and kind. I come in a lot. The food is so healthy and fresh. It's hard to find food like this in Rhode Island. The spicy pork bibimbap bowl is my favorite here, impressing with its rich flavors and well-balanced spice. If you're up for authentic Korean dining amidst the energetic ambiance of Thayer Street, Soban remains a great choice. read more

Overall excellent. Really fresh and well seasoned. Super clean inside. Take a few menus and order at the front. They bring your meal as it's ready. The best was the stone bowl chicken. Dumpling were very flavorful and perfectly fried. The honey garlic wings were sticky and had a lot of garlic.. lol but was good and hot. Nice and plump and good coating . Lunch overall was around $50 ./ we got two soft drinks as well . read more

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Great place for quick take out on dine in. Order at the register and if you eat in they wheel the food right out to you. Chicken Dumplings were outstanding, great noodles and 6 stars for the amazing chicken wings. Can't believe I walked by this place countless times and never stopped in, check them out. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - a bowl of soup and a plate of food - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Soban has one of the best bibimbaps I've had and was a reasonable price. There were generous proportions of the different kinds of banchan. The choice of protein I usually go for is either beef or spicy pork, both of which are always well marinated. I remember coming here with two co-workers in the summer, and we appreciated all of the k-pop that was playing in the background heh. It seems like it is a family-run restaurant and appreciate the workers going the extra mile to take care of you. Can't wait to return! read more

I've eaten at Soban many times before. It's my go-to when I'm in the mood for simple Korean dishes. My usual is their spicy pork bibimbap, but this time I decided to try their Beef Bulgogi Box. I was in the mood to change things up and in the end I liked my choice. The bulgogi beef came in a savory sauce with sauteed onions and some small dumplings. The sides were unique but very flavorful, especially the stir fried bok choy and side salad. The salad dressing was different than anything I've had before before but I think it went well. Service can be super slow here, even when it's empty, but overall I have never had a bad experience with food quality and I've been coming here for close to a decade. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - 13. Beef Bulgoki Box - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Have ordered here a few times and really the only thing we'd order again is the japchae. Soups were flavorless, pancake burnt, and even kimchi friend rice had no flavor or chicken like I had ordered. To top it all off a staff member was quite rude despite having placed a substantial order. If you order delivery, every item costs $5 more dollars each so save your money and pick up your order (or go elsewhere!) read more

My daughter and I went there for dinner this past Saturday night. Food was excellent. We had 2 hot stone bimbimbaps - one with beef, the other with spicy pork. It was so well done. Lots of fresh vegetables atop of white rice sizzling on the hot stone bowl. Excellent bibimbap! Also order some bone in spicy chicken wings. Perfectly cooked, crispy and delicious. Most importantly the service was excellent. Such a fun Kpop/KDrama vibe, with lots of KVideos playing on their many big screens around the restaurant. Love that Brown U and Thayer street have such an excellent Korean restaurant. Great stuff! read more

Can't believe I've never reviewed Soban! At 10 years old it is one of the few restaurants on Thayer to stand the test of time. We got takeout from here recently and it was ready in less than 15 minutes on Snackpass. They have a surprisingly number of vegan options! The Dwenjang zigae (soybean paste stew with tofu and veggies) had the perfect amount of spice. It really warmed me up on a cold winter day. The vegetables seemed fresh and weren't overcooked. The portions are a good size--with the side of rice, the stew was not quite enough for 2 full meals but definitely too much for me to eat in one sitting. Entrees are about $13-15, pretty reasonable for Thayer Street these days. Soban is a great option for Korean comfort food, especially if you want it fast! read more

Cozy spot for when I'm craving some beef bibimbap and don't wanna travel down the hill. Always go for the stone pot- the rice gets crispier and the heat forces me to slow down and enjoy my meal. I've also had the dumplings, but would like to try a couple other things on the menu when I'm feeling adventurous :) There's a complimentary side bar where you can grab as many sides as you'd like (gimme all the broccoli) but sometimes things run out :( If you're ever looking for a late night meal on Thayer, look no more- this place is open till 2am! read more

Soban Korean Eatery - stone pot beef bibimbap (before i mixed in the red sauce) - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Soban has undergone renovations! The space is much bigger now, and the prices haven't been impacted. I can't speak to any of the food here except the bibimbap (all of which are great!). What makes this place hit or miss is the service. Sometimes it can take more than half an hour to receive your food, and the workers aren't always the friendliest. That said, if you're craving good food, and don't have anywhere to be, drop on by! read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Spicy Pork Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Soban has renovated it's interiors and it so much more spacious and decorated. Although the prices increased, the meal sizes are still large and filling. Ordering a Bibimbap and Chicken Bento Box was about $30. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Comfort Korean food. Cafeteria-like dining. Very casual and cozy. Nothing fancy, but the food is delicious. I love the scallion pancakes. A friend loves the bibimbap. My daughter likes the dukbokki rice cake dish, which I thought was too watery, bland, and lacking vegetables and proteins. However, the day I ordered the dukbokki they were offering complimentary spicy fish cakes (that look like thick, flat tofu noodles) at the salad bar, which was a perfect addition! Prices are reasonable, considering they offer free self-serve miso soup, and different kinds of Korean salads/condiments like kimchi, pickled daikon radish, spicy fish cakes, etc. Selection changes daily. Popular among the students from the nearby universities (Brown & RISD). read more

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The Stone Pot Bi Bim Bop is the BEST!!!! Looking for fast, friendly, no frills quick bite on the East side? Look no further!

Decided to trek out on a cold, snowy day, and overall have to say no it was not worth it. We arrived at 1, with only one other table occupied. Nonetheless we waited 40 min. for our food to come out. When it finally did arrive the BiBimBap was cold (not just certain sections, the whole thing). Not wanting to wait any longer we decided to eat it cold; at least it was flavorful. Our kids both ordered a ramen soup which they said was quite good (and hot). So, for those keeping score at home: - 2 good/above average meals - 2 meh, meals needing improvement read more

Absolutely horrible people I went there by accident to pick up an order not noticing it was the wrong place the guy insulted me in all kinds of ways with slurs and even after I left still came out to insult me even more just horrible people animals! read more

Got a new favourite dish in Korean cuisine. Japchae!! Had never had sweet potato noodles and I definitely enjoyed the change of taste. Don't assume it to be like a sweet dish. It's just like any other entree. Mushrooms they use Taste great. When you're bored eating the same ramen, white rice , fried rice all the time. .a new taste is a must try. Also, they have a variety of complimentary sides. My fav was Radish + Carrot marinated in sugar. Kimchi is good too. Do try them dear foodies!! :) read more

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We ordered here for the first time. I had a craving for Black Bean Noodles (JajangMyeom). We ordered the noodles, sticky pork bibimbap, and beef spicy soup. We enjoyed everything. The noodle is one of the best I had ever! I travel a lot and have tried many and this is one of the best. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Spicy pork bibimap - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Horrible bathroom, mall quality food. Service was... fine. Boring ambience but it seems to be mostly a takeout place.

Took a bit to be acknowledged when we walked in, knew it was gonna be bad when we were asked to pay before rather than after our meal. Bathroom was beyond disgusting, smelled horrible to the point I had to walk out before washing my hands. Food was served very sloppy and not at all appetizing. 30 dollars all for us to take 2 bites. Much better places in the area for something to eat. Avoid this place at all costs. read more

My friends and I really want fried chicken at Soban, but she is allergic to seafood, and their fried chicken all contain shellfish. So we only ordered soft tofu stew, and got fried chicken from Yas Chicken upstairs. And the server was really mean to us and said," You cannot bring food from the outside." So I was like, "ok, sorry." And I was gonna put the chicken back into the bag. But he was like,"it's ok, just don't do it next time." So I thought it's fine. But he is actually mad at us, and when we asked him for extra bowl, he just said," sorry!" And never gave us the bowl. He keeps staring at us behind the counter and even comes to us to just tell us," please clean up." Will never come back to this place again. Kinda petty. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I was in love with this place when I discovered it two years or so ago, but after they renovated the place I feel one the quality of their food has gone done. Prior to renovation: 1. Banchan, side dishes, for you help yourself. They had a Banchan station and there were around four dishes to select from (e.g.kimchi, sounds bean sprouts, pickled radish and carrots, and the chilled see seaweed). They also had miso soup at the station which I didn't care about. 2. Tofu stew were served in the ceramic pots and see can see the raw egg in the center. I remember the first time when I had their kimchi tofu stew there were pieces of pork in stew, maybe that's why the stew tasted really good because of the flavor from the meat. After renovations: 1. More table and a bigger seating area, which is a good thing. However at the same time they should hire more staff to address the customers and wipe down the tables. I went in on a Saturday around dinner time(bad idea) and I waited for nearly 30 minutes for my food (there were six orders in front of us). It time it was a middle-age man taking orders behind the counter while one cook was making food in the back. 2. Need a better system to serve food. All the came out at the same time, so the orders that were in front of us all came at the same time as, but rather than going by slip number the woman just called out the name of the dishes, rather than serving customers in the order it was placed. :( 3. Bring back the Banchan! I went in twice after they renovated and both times there were no banchan :'( 4. Tofu stew are now served in plastic bowls rather than the ceramic pots... read more

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Soban has consistently been one of my favorite Korean restaurants in Rhode Island. I specifically come here for the chicken stone bowl bibimbap, which comes steaming hot in a stone bowl, this dish is nothing short of fantastic. It's newly renovated inside, they've also added BBQ chicken, so that is something I will try in the future. Easily one of the best local spots in Rhode Island. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Chicken Stonebiwl Bibimbap with an Egg - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Foods ok, nothing excellent. Pork belly dish was gross, 85% fat, 15% Pork. Most of their food is average. The kimbab was quite good, Kimchi average. Bim bim bap not bad. read more

I've always thought that Soban was a good staple to have on Thayer. Yet, I have never found myself craving it like some of the other restaurants on Thayer. This past visit, I brought my parents along and decided to get their dumpling soup since I wasn't in the mood for a filling meal of primarily rice and meat. I tried their dumpling soup a number of months ago and it was delicious, however, this time it was way too salty. Almost unbearably so. Plus, there were only two dumplings in the whole bowl! My parents split an order of fried chicken which was good but didn't make up for the disappointing dumpling soup. As many other reviews mention, sometimes the food can take a really long time. There were only three other parties having lunch in Soban at the time but our food took nearly half an hour. I probably won't be revisiting anytime in the near future. read more

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Nice Korean place tucked away on Thayer street. If you want to avoid the crowds at Den Den then I suggest hitting Soba up. Food is good and service is fast. You can help yourself to an assortment of sides dishes while your waiting that are generally pretty good. They have your typical Korean dishes, bibimbap, bulgogi, kim bap. Quality food that's quick and relatively inexpensive. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Kim bap - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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I've been here 20 years. Best Korean in the state. The bibimpap is amazing. I get the spicy pork. I order my other fav theKimchi stew to have for breakfast with rice and eggs. This place is, in my opinion, my hands down the best for Korean here. read more

We got free delivery from another app and we choose to try this. It was prompt delivery. We ordered the spicy pork bibimbap, bulgogi bibimbap and dukboki. It cost extra to add eggs and ramen. Each dish was $11-12 and the serving sizes were okay. Rice was a little hard. There wasn't a lot of beef and the bits of were really sweet. There are other Korean places in town that are affordable and serve larger portions. They also didn't provide us with kimchi or any other band hand. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Soban has very tasty Korean food at reasonable prices. The owners are very nice and accommodating. There was a free appetizer section of mostly pickled vegetables which was good. I had the spicy chicken bibimbap which was excellent. Also ordered the soban chicken wings which had just the right amount of sauce. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Spicy Chicken Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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The wings were very tasty and well-seasoned. However, I would have liked it if they had a spicier option (their spiciest sauce was only moderately spicy). The guy who brought us the food was extremely polite and friendly. Definitely a great experience. read more

I ordered Tofu Bibimbap with an egg and Appetizer. The Bibimbap was absolutely delicious. So flavorful yet delicate in flavor, really beautiful. It tastes really clean and healthy also. The egg was perfectly cooked. The texture and flavor of the rice was good, as well as the pickled veggies. I'm excited to order this again soon, I'm definitely addicted! The fish cake app was very good also, but next time I'll try something different for an app. The portions are decent, I'll have leftovers tomorrow. I ordered delivery tonight, and will do take out next time, or dine in to try the sides. read more

After eating here several times, and reading the reviews, I'm compelled to chip in my two cents on Soban. This place is great, one would mainly come here for Korean fare, I come here for the dolsat bibimbap. You need to calibrate you expectations, as this place is not fine dining. Soban is an eatery - Just like Asian Food Courts and Hawker Centres frequented and showcased by celebrity chefs such as Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern. With that expectation set, you soon come to love the value and great food that is to be expected from a quality eatery. I love the fact that there is a self service bar/buffet for bancha (Korean Side Dishes). You will always have kimchi on the line. But you can expect two or three other side dishes depending on the day. Stone pot dishes and soups are perfect for New England winters. Every table also has the house red chili sauce - gochujang. Which is excellent, no required, for bibimbap. The gochujang sauce has a fermented red chili paste base mix with a custom blend of other juices, chili powders, and ground aromatics. Thus resulting in a sauce that is complex with just the right balance spicy, sweet, sour, little bitter, salty, and umami. I keep the squeeze bottle at the "ready" to hit a dash of it on every spoonful. Go here to appreciate the food, bang for your buck and convenience. If you are looking for ambiance or fine dining try downtown. read more

The food's alright and the space is meh. I'm amused anyway. One interaction: Bf: can I have this less spicy? (gesturing toward a picture of a bright red chili soaked fiery concoction) Owner Lady: ????? Bf: less spicy. I don't like it so hot. OL: (Answers to me, sotto voce, shaking her head disappovingly) nooooooooooooo.... Me: (what do I have to do w/ this?!) he doesn't like it too spicy. OL: (sad face) ... a little spicy? Bf: (eye roll) fine, whatever. Food comes in. MOLTEN LAVA, just the way the Owner Lady intended. Lesson Learned: You're gonna eat the food, and you, little one, are gonna like the food. That. Is. All. Culture. read more

Check out the Katsu picture i posted! :) Yep -- Becca is definitely right; yelp HAS been unfair to this place. So ppl are trippin over 12 bucks for a full entree, accompanied with sides, that is right around double the size of 2 orders of Mama Kim's rice set. Now, I'm not trying to stir up inter-ethnic food sale conflict on Thayer, I'm just saying -- hype... man, I'll never get it. I've had several items and most items are solid and everything also looks good. I haven't tried the soondubu, but my friend who said she didn't like it also raved about the one I had at Teriyaki Korea House on westminster and that was definitely not good, so I'm not really sure if I trust these cats' judgment. Check out the pic I post of the Katsu. where you gonna find that on Thayer? Seems like the bibimbap is the hit. One thing about ALL the orders are that they are abundant. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Mama who? but nah really, check the SIZE OF THIS KATSU ORDER. - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Authentic Korean fare in the amazing Thayer Street East Side location with the fastest service! The prices were easy on the wallet and if your in the neighborhood check it out read more

Soban is slightly underrated, in my opinion. Of course, I am not as familiar with Korean food as I wish I would be, so keep that in mind. I've ordered take-out from here twice. The chicken bibimbap (not the stone pot, just regular) is amazing. The ingredients go together very well, and the spiciness of the chicken is pretty evident. I don't love one of the types of spinach they put into it, and they go a bit rice-heavy, but there's still plenty of chicken and veggies to go around. The supposedly spicy red sauce (on the side) isn't really that spicy, but maybe that's just me. :) Soban definitely lives in the shadow of Mama Kim's, a local and beloved Korean food truck, but Soban is still good in its own right. read more

Soban's quality has varied over time. As it's the only Korean sit-down restaurant on Thayer, I inevitably land here once in awhile. The management changed a couple years ago, and since then the quality of the food has as well. When I came back this fall, I was disappointed to find that their serving sizes have shrunk a fair bit. Nevertheless, their offerings still hit the spot. A variety of side dishes including kimchi, sprouts, pickled seaweed, and potatoes, as well as miso soup, are always complimentary and delicious. My go-to order is seafood jjampong, chewy noodles and seafood swimming in a spicy, savory broth. The jjampong is sometimes delicious and sometimes just okay. It comes with a lot of squid and a whole prawn. The broth is addictive and tasty, though the salt and spice levels have varied for me with each iteration. My favorite part of the dish is the noodles, which have a wonder, chewy, elastic texture. The service is a little brusque, and you have to be really, really clear about your order, as I've gotten the wrong dish before. The food also takes quite a long time to come sometimes. Nevertheless, the food is good enough to keep me coming back. read more

Soban Korean Eatery - Seafood jjampong - Korean Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Food was pretty good. I opted for the seafood bibimbap and ended up with plenty of leftovers to take home. However, when we tried to get a to-go container we were each begrudgingly given a tiny container that could've been no more than 1 cup in size. The waitress explained that giving people larger containers encourages them to take more of the bancha (side dishes) that are offered in buffet form. While she was not rude, she was getting to be accusatory, saying that we took more than our share. This confused me. If we were at fault for taking more, it would've been because we front-loaded our hungry stomachs while waiting for our food to come out. Why offer the bancha in buffet form at all if there is a hoarding issue? In the end, I was able to magically compress all the leftovers into this tiny container, but left with an unsettled feeling at the whole encounter. I don't live in Providence so my business has little bearing on this establishment, but my friend that brought me there is a resident, and may think twice before coming again. read more