We came for lunch during restaurant week but ended up deciding on the normal lunch menu which was great value. The banchan here is amazing with more than 20 options (of which you will get a selection) that are freely refilled. We had the black cod bulgogi braise with daikon, squash, potato, tofu tteotboki which was tasty and generous. The bulgogi plate was on the sweet side but the meat tender and popular with the kids. Overall the food was delicious although the service was overwhelmed for the weekend lunch rush. read more

This is a bombdigitty good Korean joint- Michelin recommended restaurant- Tight little restaurant, but that's the charm I think. The menu is not huge, but you'll get what you need and you'll be satisfied and happy- Small operation, but service is personable and friendly- Probably top 5 Korean restaurant in K-Town read more

I went to a place called Soban over the weekend. Since it's a Michelin restaurant, I went in with pretty high expectations. The food was good and everything was nice, but for a Korean palate it definitely felt on the sweeter side. Overall, most of the dishes were a bit sweet, so I felt like American customers would probably enjoy it even more. It felt more like Korean fusion than traditional Korean food. That said, the food was good, the atmosphere was great, the interior was nice, and the service was solid -- everything was good. But if someone asked me whether I'd go back again, I'd have to think about it. read more

Soban - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Lots of great side dishes Food was great and very tasty. The lady that worked there was super nice! Ordered the beef brisket, fish and bean paste soup! read more

Black cod was incredible. What a dish! I loved the kabocha and potato, really goes well with the sauce. Excellent quality fish. I'd return to order this again. It was empty when we got there early but lots of folks waiting by the time we left. Probably good idea to make a reservation. The Ban Chan is interesting, some I liked better than others. I loved the kimchi and radish. It's a small restaurant but spaced out well and didn't feel claustrophobic. read more

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Last night, I went to dinner with my mom and my two brothers at Soban. Soban is a well-known Korean restaurant that has been famous for a long time. I had been there once before with my mom and tried their soy-marinated crab, which I remember really enjoying. But my mom said that ganjang gejang isn't something you should eat in the summer, so this time we ordered something different. We had braised short ribs, braised black cod, and spicy fish roe soup. Every dish was absolutely delicious, and all the side dishes were amazing as well. The service was incredibly friendly, which made the experience even better. They even gave us a complimentary meat pancake, which was a really nice touch. This restaurant is also famous for being visited by many Korean celebrities. In particular, when Bong Joon-ho won the Oscar for Parasite movie, instead of going to an official Oscar party, he and his entire staff came here to celebrate together, which made the restaurant even more well-known. Because of that, you can see photos throughout the restaurant of Director Bong, the actors, and even food critic Jonathan Gold. (Honestly, I didn't know who he was at first, but I saw his photo on the wall and ended up Googling him.) It was also very interesting to learn that Maggie Kang, the director of K Pop Demon Hunters, had visited this restaurant. I asked one of the staff members when she came, and they said it was about two months ago. Also, I didn't realize this restaurant had received a Michelin recognition, but I noticed it said "Michelin 2019." I definitely think it deserves it. Soban is truly a place where every dish is delicious, and the service is so warm and welcoming that I would definitely love to come back again. cf 1) After finishing the meal, they serve maesil (plum tea) as a complimentary dessert, which was really nice. cf 2) Also, when you order rice, they ask whether you want multigrain rice or white rice. My two brothers and I chose multigrain rice, and my mom had white rice. But if you order white rice, they charge an extra $2. read more

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I wonder why Soban's reviews are low because I was blown away when I ate here with friends over the weekend. It's no wonder the Parasite cast came here to celebrate after their big win because everything from side dishes to main dishes were perfection. I love that nothing is too salty despite being soy sauce heavy, and service is great. We had a really large party (~10 people), and they were able to save a table in the middle for us the same day around dinner time. I had such a good time trying their many side dishes, fish, raw marinated crab, and galbijjim. Everything is made so well with really high quality and healthy ingredients, and even though I ate so much, I didn't feel lethargic or heavy afterwards. read more

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This place feels very authentic and the dishes taste amazing! All of the banchans are delicious. The marinated raw crab was super flavorful and unlike anything I've tasted before. I wish the galbi was a bit more tender, but the flavor was good for sure. I enjoyed the braised black cod as well. Service was pretty quick and friendly! read more

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If I could give 10+ stars, Soban is definitely deserving! It was our first time dining at Soban Korean Restaurant today, 12/12/25 and it absolutely exceeded our expectations! From the moment we arrived, everything about the experience was outstanding. The food was fantastic--delicious, authentic, and full of flavor. Every dish we tried was thoughtfully prepared and tasted amazing, making it clear why Soban is so well loved. We ordered the cod fish, short ribs, seafood pancake, bulgogi, raw crab dish. Omg, I am still tasting the food in my mouth and wishing I was still there eating! The service was phenomenal. The very kind lady was attentive, friendly, and made us feel very welcome, which made our first visit even more enjoyable. She worked alone but was so happy to help and ensured everything was perfect throughout our meal. The restaurant itself is clean, relaxing, and comfortable. Even the bathroom is worth mentioning--spotless and well maintained, which really shows their attention to detail. Parking was also easy with convenient spots in the back. Overall, an excellent first-time experience with incredible food, top-notch service, and a great atmosphere. We'll definitely be coming back and highly recommend Soban to anyone looking for authentic Korean cuisine! Located in K-town on Olympic and Noble Ave. if you haven't tried it, go now, run! read more

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Soban has some of the best galbi jjim (braised beef short ribs), braised black cod, and soy marinated raw crab. On the wall, they have gold leaf art honoring Jonathan Gold. Today they still have their summer DineLA menu, so when in K-Town, you gotta go large! 12 Seasonal Banchan: A dozen of the best banchan of the season! The best ones were the candied lotus root, the soft tofu, and the mountain greens. Small Jiggae Stew: The fermented soybean stew (doenjang) contains tofu, onions, and potatoes. Seafood Jeon Pancake: The shrimp and squid patties are crispy and savory with a tasty red chili sauce. Soy Marinated Raw Crab: One of the shining stars of the restaurant arrives in a giant dish containing a soy marinade with raw onions, ginger, garlic, jalapeños, and 18 aromatics. But, first you must don thin plastic gloves. The blue crab legs are attached to body segments. So you grab the soft-shell legs and squeeze the soft gooey blue crab. You slurp and suck the contents that have a savory and floral flavor. This isn't a pretty sight, but it's worth the effort for the briny treasure. When you're finished and it's gloves off, they instruct you to add the purple rice, sesame oil, and seaweed into the shell. Stir the orange and yellow crab mustard with the added contents and enjoy the flavor explosion. 2-year Aged Maesil Cheong: The glass contains a beverage of Korean green plums fermented in sugar with ice. Intended as a digestif, this is the best plum juice you'll ever have. Dining Area: The cozy spot has almost ten tables with a long counter next to giant jars of fermented goods. Parking: There's a tiny lot in the back, with a valet booth. However, depending on the time, you can probably snag street parking. read more

Soban - 12 Seasonal Banchan - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Had Soban bookmarked for a while and finally made it in for a Sunday lunch. They've been recognized by both the Michelin Guide and Jonathan Gold over a decade ago - so clearly, they're doing something right. The space itself is cozy and traditional, with limited seating (definitely recommend snagging a Resy). Inside, massive jars of fermented goods line the walls, adding to the vibe. I already knew what I wanted and went straight for their specialties: braised short rib galbi jjim, soy-marinated raw crab, and braised black cod. We started with nine assorted banchan, and contrary to some reviews, they do refill them when empty. All the side dishes were solid; nothing that blew me away individually, but the variety was great. Shortrib Galbi Jjim - Tender short ribs, perfectly cooked with shiitake mushrooms. The portion runs a bit smaller compared to what I'm typically used to, but it's still shareable for two. 7.5/10 Soy-Marinated Raw Crab - Served as a single crab, which I could've easily inhaled two on my own. Super fresh, well-seasoned, and absolutely delicious. My only gripe is again portion size. 8.5/10 Braised Black Cod - The star of the show and rightfully their signature. The fish was fresh, flaky, and generously portioned. Every element; the radish, kabocha, and potato - was cooked to perfection and paired beautifully with their purple rice. Watch out for bones, but this is a must-order. 9/10 Overall, I can see why Soban has been a K-Town staple for decades. Between their specialties and the care in execution, it's a spot that still earns its accolades. That said, with all the strong competition in the area, it may not be the most mind-blowing meal if you eat Korean food often but it's definitely worth trying at least once. read more

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I'll be honest I'm not very familiar with K food except for some K BBQ. I had no clue what to expect but I was blown away. The restaurant was very busy since it was Valentine's day - we had a res and we got seated pretty quickly. The staff were all very friendly. The food was absolutely amazing! I ordered the braised black cod and my bf got the braised ribs. I really enjoyed the presentation of the variety of side dishes and the main dishes of course. The flavors were incredible! The fish, potatoes and kabocha squash were all cooked to perfection. The portions were incredibly generous - I even had left overs which they packed with fresh purple rice to go. I don't eat beef so i didn't try my bf's. But he also thought it was very flavorful and he was very satisfied with the portions. We definitely plan to come again. read more

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For a group of 4 around lunch time, service was fast. The staff quickly seated us and gave us just enough time to deliberate the menu. We got two sets of the Dine LA special so we could get a good sample of the menu and also added on order of the raw marinated crab. The banchan was served very fast and the selection is so wide! The server made sure to explain each one so we could be aware for allergies. The seafood and the kimchi pancakes were so delicious. The galbi jim has such a deep and rich flavor, with hints of sweetness. She let us know the jujubes inside were from her house! I'm usually not a fish person, but the braised cod is worth trying just to taste the mixture of flavors they've cultivated. The star is the soy raw marinated crab! On top of hot rice, it's so delicious. Street parking seems to be easiest for this place, be prepared to come early and find a spot to walk. read more

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We arrived for dinner and were seated right away. I saw two other tables who arrived after us get their food before we did, which was annoying because I was very hungry and we placed our order before them. They were still honoring their dineLA menu so we got the $35pp for 2 people and it included a jjigae, pancake, entree, and two bowls of rice. It was a good deal and very filling. The braised beef was tender, sweet, and savory. The seafood pancake was crispy, but not memorable. Doenjang was okay. I want to try the raw marinated crab next time. It looked delicious. We found free street parking. Otherwise, it's pay to valet. read more

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We came here around 1:30 PM, and had a reservation for 1:45 but did not end up needing it. We were seated immediately and greeted very kindly by the patron. The store is clean and was lively and had a very homey, cozy vibe. There were a couple open tables at the bar but pretty crowded for late evening. They also had a bathroom. There is free street parking, which was relatively easy to find as well as a customer lot on site (it was filled though). We came for the Dine LA deal, which is $35 per person. We had 3 people so we ordered the $70 for 2 people and $35 for one person. We ordered the beef bulgogi and braised short ribs, as well as the banchan, purple rice, kimchi stew, and doenjang stew. Our food came out quickly and with large portions. It all tasted very home cooked and We ordered cold tea, which was barely tea - perfect beverage on a hot summer day. The banchan had 12 dishes to try and all of them were very tasty! Our favorite was the peanuts as well as the two tofu dishes and the woodear salad. The beef bulgogi was meaty and the onions balanced the dish well. We did order two beef dishes though, so I would like to come back to try something else like their cod or crab. We also ordered the braised short rib and the beef was so tender !! I loved the vegetables too, like the carrots and mushrooms. The soup that the meat is braised in itself is quite sweet, but provided a thin coating of flavor so not overpowering. The doenjang soup was our favorite out of the two soups, more of a miso and mild taste than the sour spicy kimchi. Both paired well with purple rice. Overall, great Korean place serving home cooked vibes and delicious food. Everything was tasty, and the total came out to around $40 per person. Clean and cozy interior. Recommend! read more

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Well established, authentic Korean restaurant in Ktown. They specialize in traditional, homestyle Korean dishes using seasonal elements. The braised black cod, eundae gu jorim, was very flavorful, balancing sweet, spicy, and savory notes. Soban also serves an impressive rotating spread of banchan. Equally loved the seafood jeon and the doenjang stew. Service was very accommodating and food was served quickly, will absolutely go back for more food. This is a neighborhood gem with excellent food and service. The DineLA restaurant week offer also made it quite reasonable price wise. Restaurant has a small valet parking lot at the back otherwise it's typical ktown parking scenes. If you wanna try Korean home cooking especially seafood and braises, Soban is a must try in Ktown. It's cozy and family run, reservations are recommended. It's not flashy or BBQ-heavy like some Ktown spots rather more refined and traditional. read more

Soy marinated crab! I've been wanting to try this for a while and it's quite a delicacy and full of flavor and so delicious. Over 17 different aromatics that make it stand out! The Braised Short Rib was soft and tender and also full of flavor. We came here on a weekday for lunch and wasn't too busy. It's a very small space so definitely make reservations if you're going here for dinner. The owner, Jennifer Pak, was there and helped teach out the correct way to eat the soy marinated crab by mixing it with sesame oil and rice within the shell! We loved her hospitality and kind heart that really made our time special. Also, so many banchan that paired well with the food. read more

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We had a really disappointing experience here. We made reservations on 3/2 for 8:30 PM and were genuinely excited for a rare date night. From the moment we walked in, the experience felt off. There was no warm greeting, just a woman at the front who seemed irritated that we were there. She told us we needed to order at the door before being seated, which already felt unusual. When we asked for the per person special, she told us we couldn't order it because it was only for guests who come in earlier. However, the menu clearly stated it was available until 9 PM. When we pointed that out, she changed her response and said the items were no longer available. Throughout the interaction, she had an attitude and even rolled her eyes, which made the situation uncomfortable. Honestly, it was surprising and disappointing, especially for a place that has a Michelin recommendation. Based on how we were treated, we didn't feel comfortable staying to eat. I would strongly suggest the owners take a closer look at the staff working that night, as this was a very poor representation of your business. read more

I liked the food but dont like feeling treated like a second class citizen. She went out of her way to seat us away from the door. out of sight of the rest of the restaurant read more

Came here with a friend during Dine LA week. The menu gave us 10 banchan, kimchi pancakes, shared cod stew and barley tea. The kimchi pancakes were probably our favorite thing and the fish in the stew was cooked well but over all the food was average. Might have bumped the rating to a 4 but our server was bordering on rude. Very rushed and not welcoming at all, it's been a while since I encountered a wait staff like that. Maybe she was having a bad day but we were pretty taken a back. The place was pretty busy for a Wednesday night but food came out quickly. read more

Back on my tofu soup again and why not? Who am I to resist a craving for delicious Korean soup when it grabs me??????????

I went to Soban in Koreatown, a Michelin-recommended Korean restaurant famous for its marinated raw crab. Honestly, the experience left me more shocked than impressed. The presentation in Los Angeles just doesn't compare to what I've had at a Korean restaurant in Bangkok. In Thailand, the crab shells are carefully prepped so you can enjoy the dish smoothly. At Soban, you're left struggling with scissors just to get through the tough shells. A little girl at the next table asked me, "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate it?" I told her 5.5. She followed up wisely, "How's the taste?" My answer: the crab is simply too old to be enjoyable. For the price--$70 ($61+ tax) here versus around 1,000 THB ($31) in Bangkok--the difference in quality and portion is worlds apart. Sadly, the bar feels way too low in America when it comes to dishes like this. read more

Soban - Soban's dish - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Had my first dining experience at Soban on Saturday night. The food and experience were amazing. The moment we were seated, a wonderful assortment of dishes began filling the table. Fortunately, I was with someone quite familiar with the restaurant who made sure that we got the full culinary experience. The assortment of dishes was staggering. The Braised Black Cod was probably my favorite although every dish exceeded expectations. Hats off to the owners and staff. It was truly a remarkable experience. read more

Soban - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I do like this place! It's definitely not my favorite restaurant in ktown but it's definitely not a bad option. I don't remember how I found this place but I did! I made plans with a friend to check it out and I was super lucky to be able to find parking on a 6pm Friday in their lot! They do have a very small lot, which is helpful but of course it does fill up fast. Around 6pm, there were spots available and also lots of tables available. Again when I came there was no wait so we were seating immediately. We ordered the short ribs and a soup! The short ribs were really delicious. The sauce for the ribs were amazing on rice! The soup I felt was okay. Nothing special. They did come with a lot of banchan, which I wasn't too impressed by, but still really enjoyed. Overall, I would be open to coming back. It'd definitely be more of a lunch spot for me than a dinner spot just because of parking and the few tables they have. But not a bad choice for sure! read more

Soban - Soybean Paste Stew, Braised Beef Short Ribs - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Soban came highly recommended by the lead editor of EATER, so I had high expectations going in. As a big fan of Korean food, I wouldn't say this was the best I've ever had, but it was definitely a solid meal. The standout dish for me was the braised cod--perfectly cooked, flavorful, and had an addition of rice cakes. The raw soy-marinated crab was good, but if you're looking for the best in LA, there are other spots that do it better. The meats were exactly what I expected, well-seasoned and flavorful. I really appreciated the generous spread of banchan, which added a great variety to the meal. We were a group of 11, and they accommodated us, which isn't always easy at a place like this. Each of us got our own rice, and the bibimbap was a great portion to share. read more

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We were in the area and decided to give this Restaurant a try. We only shared the Braised Cod which was packed with vegetables and rice cakes. In addition they also give us all the side pickled dishes. Interestingly they did not charge for the purple rice but did charge for the white rice. The Braised Cod was a very generous portion and super flavourful. The service was good but was a little slow. This is not a big restaurant by any means. I think there are only 7 tables of 4. There were autographed pictures from the cast of Parasite, I think the lead in Quid Games, and that adorable actress in Minari. Will definitely go back and try the Short Ribs and Crab. read more

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Loved the galbi jjim, braised cod, and soy marinaded crab, and the large variety of really great banchan (side dishes)! Perfect for those who just want well executed traditional Korean dishes with quality ingredients :) Service was very friendly. Seating was limited, and the ambiance is homey and intimate read more

The menu is small and they specialize in Kalbi Jjim, spicy black cod stew, spicy marinated crab. On this occasion, we got kalbi jjim and spicy black cod stew. Both were delicious. The great thing is the owner takes the time to present the meal to you. You can feel a high level of pride when she does it. Overall the food exceeded my standards. After a while with most Korean cuisine, the sauces start to become very salty which let's me know to stop eating. This meal will make great leftovers. We will definitely be back. read more

The side dishes were very plain and unmemorable. Nothing stood out in terms of flavor or quality. The soy-marinated crab ($61) was disappointing--not fresh and had a slightly bitter taste. Definitely not worth the price. The tofu pancakes ($25) were also underwhelming, lacking any standout flavors. The only real positives were the availability of street parking and the cozy interior. Service was okay too. The walls were covered in celebrity photos, which might give the impression that the food is amazing, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. Wouldn't return. read more

Soban - Soy *Raw Soy-Marinated Crab $61 (Bitter Tasting) - Korean Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Disappointing meal. We made a reservation ahead of time but with the restaurant being empty when we arrived, we wouldn't have had a problem with getting a table regardless. The owner (?) in the pictures on the wall needs to get off her high horse and stop acting like she's a celebrity. Not only did she not greet any diners coming in, but she also refused to acknowledge any presence except her own KOREAN coworkers. We also didn't get banchan served until our entrées arrived whereas other tables got them way before. Food: 1/5 Seafood pancake - These are cut into smaller servings, which isn't the traditional way for these to be served in. Not much seafood and flavor for a whopping $25. Spicy stir fried pork - Meat was dry and the flavor wasn't just there. Spicy stir fried squid - SALTY. For a famous Korean restaurant in K-town, the quality of the food and service just didn't deliver. Would not recommend. read more

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Wow the food here is so excellent and the nature of the food is just perfect for sharing with a group. The restaurant is pretty busy but my server still tried to explain the menu to me. It was a bit confusing because they also had a special set menu. We got the raw marinated soy crab and the spicy braised beef short ribs, which came with 12 assorted Banchan. I love Banchan so when I saw 12 little dishes presented to me I was so excited to try all the variety and assortment. They did not disappoint and they were perfect accruement to the main dishes. The raw marinated so crap was delicious with white rice and the quality of the crab was so great because it was filled to the brim with roe. I will say I was surprised that it was only one crab a dish because it was pretty pricey, but nevertheless, it was delicious. The spicy braised beef short ribs were also delicious and fall off the bone tender. Everything was very flavorful and our group of three people ate every last morsel of food. read more

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Such excellent Korean food! We really enjoyed the pancakes, galbi jjim, and monk fish stew. The banchan offered was a great variety and I was so pleased with the whole meal. read more

My sister and I go on weekend trips where we try new restaurants and explore different cuisines. We drove down to K-town and found this cute little restaurant in a corner street. When we entered we were pleasantly surprised to see jars of fermented vegetables. We were greeted right away and sat down immediately. The restaurant was not crowded which we loved and the atmosphere felt peaceful. We were greeted by our waitress Debbie who was very knowledgeable about the food items and even recommended us her favorite dish which we ordered and loved. She explained the dishes and what they had and even explained the drink she provided. She also explained each banchan dish that was brought to the table. We ended up ordering the raw soy marinated crab, the braised black cod and the half monkfish and fish roe stew. Each dish was perfectly prepared and amazing. It was our first time trying raw marinated crab and it did not disappoint. The braised black fish was our favorite and the stew was a perfect. The food was amazing overall but I think what made this restaurant stand out was the staff and our waitress. They were very attentive and honestly made us feel like family. I think the food alone is enough to make you try out the restaurant but the experience and attentiveness they provide is what is going to make you want to come back. We really loved this place and we will definitely be coming back. read more

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Visited in part of dine LA. Food did not disappoint! Great portions and banchan was good. Although for the shared menu of $35 is a bit steep for 1 shared entree and shared soup even. I feel like the $25/person menu would have felt like more food than shared. Service was kinda slow and it took a bit of time before we ate. Space is small so it's better to reserve in advance. read more

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I got the bibimbap and it's the best one I've had! The meat was nicely trimmed and tasty. The vegetables were fresh and very nicely seasoned. It was a very refreshing meal! I was blown away by the side dishes were also so tasty and the colors, flavors and freshness were amazing! The fish cakes, peanuts and vegetables were my favorite. Very delicious I would order again read more

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2.5 stars really b/c of the poor service. Food was meh (the entrees) and service was subpar (Rude). The saving grace was the ban chans. I had been seeing all kinds of beautiful pictures on Instagram about this place. The main reason I went was to eat ban chans. We ordered for dine in: - Raw marinated crab, taste was meh, you only get 1.5 crab parts, not a great value for the price - Grilled JohGEE, I thought it was going to be a fresh fish, but it was the kind that was partly dried (fishy), not a great texture - The fish came with a side soup of miso soup, it had two tiny pcs of tofu, some (4 tiny pcs) of squash and slightly more mushed up potato slices The banchan was great in the beginning. But they were slow to deliver the first round arrives just right before the entrees. You will get hungry waiting. When I asked for refills, it was stingy, just a few of the banchans. Then the last time / round, she only brought two items. There are overly long pauses before they bring you stuff: more rice, water refills, banchans, etc. The service was horrible. One mean lady for the whole restaurant. She was rude. When she hadn't refilled our water and banchans for 15-20 minutes and I just reminded her again, she stopped to lecture me and asked if I didn't see others that she needed to serve in the restaurant. They don't give enough rice. You have order two bowls. Perhaps Sat lunchtime is a bad time to go. Perhaps we ordered the wrong things, not their best entrees. Perhaps the server was unleashing / projecting onto me. They have a strange rule: you are discouraged from taking the leftover rice home. The waitress told me a false story how food exposed to air can give you a tummy ache. She just wouldn't bring me the togo containers. I had to use a produce bag in my purse. She rebuked me about taking the expensive leftover crab home, that it says on the menu you can't take it. She told me I was really stubborn. I told her it's a waste b/c of the price, so expensive for what you get. Well we ordered another whole raw crab to go for my client's wife, she had no problem with that. Let's be consistent here. It left me feeling bad, and kinda soured my Saturday. Boo hoo. Never gonna go there again. If the restaurant makes you feel like you need therapy afterwards to regain your peace...it's a hard NO. read more

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Raise your hand if you heard about this from Mark Wiens....‍ Anywhere Mark goes is an automatic bookmark amirite?! I have to say, they are definitely not messing around with the banchans here! Was honestly a little overwhelmed by how many Annnnd how delicious they all were. Following in Mark's footsteps, had to try the main dishes! The short ribs, cod, and crabs! Everything was so good. Our host Debbie was super gracious. She was so friendly and accommodating. All the jars of pickles really make the place seem like some Asian grandma's house. I was told that those pickles are not just for looks, they are served to customers. We asked if we could take a shot of the pickle juices and they gave us some! It's quite interesting. I definitely recommend checking this place out when you're in Ktown. read more

What a phenomenal journey that my tastebuds had the opportunity of experiencing at Soban. This has to be my favorite Korean restaurant of all time at this point. My friend was visiting town and wanted to eat here, and I am so glad that he suggested Soban. Despite being in K-town, there is a decent amount of street parking along the residential area. The restaurant itself is small and quaint, and there is not very much seating to begin with. The ambiance is nice and quaint, with the decor not trying to do too much. You can tell that this restaurant is really just here to serve you some delicious authentic Korean food. The service was friendly, and the staff were very attentive. Now onto the good stuff: Braised black cod: 5/5. The fish was cooked so perfectly and the sauce that coated the fish was delicious without being overwhelming. This was my favorite thing today. Beef bulgogi: 3/5. This was a bit too salty for my tastes. Compared to all the other dishes here, this was my least favorite. That doesn't mean it wasn't Raw soy marinated crab: 5/5. This was my first time trying this dish, and I had wanted to try it for an extremely long time. The crab was absolutely delicious. I think not everyone might enjoy it, as the texture is pretty slimey and the flavor is quite fishy, but if you're adventurous with food and love seafood then I think you will love this dish. Galbijjim: 5/5. Best galbijjim I've ever had. Portion was definitely on the smaller size for the price, but you really can't beat the quality. Overall, if I want to splurge on some really delicious and authentic Korean food, I will definitely be back here! I'd highly recommend anyone to try Soban. read more

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The food tastes very authentic Korean dishes and very tasty. Will definitely come back again. The staff were nice and even the owner helps out the servers. read more

honestly, food is amazing here. service is lacking but they do tht bc they're extremely busy, but definitely can be better. BANG PD came here and JYP and so many other celebs! so exciting to see they've been on the michelin guide. got the marinated crab and soybean stew w fish(조기) and seafood pancake (came out to be $74) per person! the ahjumma is so cute tho, if ur korean they definitely like u more, unfortunately the culture is like that at some ktown la spots. overall i would come back just for the food tbh! read more

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