Needing to arrive at a popular restaurant shortly after opening at 5, the evening seemed like an episode at Boca del Vista on 'Seinfeld'. However, the restaurant was filled at 5:30 as we were told it would be, but with a much younger crowd. The staff said they would call us in 30 minutes when a table was available if we wanted to check out the neighborhood. We had a cocktail at nearby Mixtape, which was a great experience, and we got our call right on time. The staff at SoJu was excellent and very helpful. They continued to be very efficient but unhurried through the meal. The food was also excellent, as we had been told. We sampled a few appetizers, one which we declared the winner was a corn fritter topped with fresh tuna. The meals were Korean food staples, bulgogi, bibimbap, etc.,but each was well plated and very good. It was a nice Saturday evening of good food and friendly service. read more

Enjoy your Korean viddles in a comfortable, artsy, cozy and clever vibe. The food takes a few creative twists but stays true to spirit and quality care and ingredients. Prices are super fair and service is spirited. Taking safety precautions per the current state of pandemic stuff. Can't wait to come back and try the whole menu over time read more

This is a nice little place to eat Korean inspired foods. The food is good and comes out fresh and hot. I just wish they had real tteokbokki vs sliced rice cake in a very sweet and lightly spiced sauce. Other than that everything was good from the soju to the combination plate. read more

I love this place! I brought 8 people for my birthday dinner this year and they were really accommodating and even gave us a free bottle of soju! I have since returned and was just as happy with the second visit. Really good happy hour specials and delicious cocktails. The poke bowl was fantastic, the bbq combo was good but not as exciting. Bibimbap is amazing here. It's well-priced for the quality. read more

Soju - Poke bowl and kimchi starter - Korean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Really enjoyed my late lunch at Soju. The pace is super cute. It was a nice afternoon and they had a garage door open with fresh air flowing in! They offer a variety of happy hour specials. It was our first time there, and the waitress was very patient and helpful as we made our decisions. I loved my poke bowl. I got both flavor options and was so glad I got to try them both! I recommend getting the pickled cucumbers with it! Yum!!!! read more

Soju - Korean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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They say that you can judge the quality of a Korean restaurant based on their kimchi. That indicator among others has proven Soju worthy of praise! The interior is pleasant with very friendly and attentive wait staff! The food was delivered quickly and was extremely fresh. Their fried tofu.... way too hot to eat at first (this is a good thing, trust me). For taste and authenticity, it was a great as was the Tteokbokki. Regarding portion sizes, Soju offers decently large dishes at very fair prices. While their hours indicate that they are a brunch or dinner joint, they do have happy hour deals as well. The alcohol selection can be on the pricier end, but I definitely recommend dining here at least once! I had a great time, and I hope to be back! read more

Soju - Tteokbokki, Fried Tofu - Korean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Soju has become one of those places I've been recommending to friends as a recent favorite. It labels itself as a "Korean-American Bar and Restaurant" and I think that's the perfect description for Soju. I just about liked everything about this place. The space was a little small, but decor was very trendy. Food was phenomenal and so were the drinks! We tried quite a few of the dishes and every one of them was delicious. The gimbap was probably my favorite app. Killer tofu was also very good, but I thought it needed something to cut the strong flavor, like white rice. I had my leftovers with jasmine rice the next day and it was perfect! The tteokbokki tasted great, but was a bit tough to chew. Star of the show was, hands down, the bbq. If you're not sure which to try, I highly recommend the Korean BBQ combination so you get a taste of every kind. My favorite, though, was the bulgogi. Next time I'm getting a whole serving of bulgogi! While you're here, make sure to try out some cocktails, which were just phenomenal. Looks like they have a happy hour too, which I would definitely love to take advantage of one of these days. I'll definitely be back for some bulgogi and cocktails! read more

Delicious!! We had to wait about an hour for a table but well worth it. The food was delicious and the drinks are really unique. 10/10 will be coming back! read more

Yum. First, I always appreciate when the chef comes out and greets their guests. I really enjoyed this restaurant. Had gimbap and poke and was really delicious and full of flavor! If you do try the poke, I recommend doing 1/2 spicy 1/2 sweet. So so good and can't wait to return! read more

Definitely worth your time - and full belly! Soju has a casual atmosphere where grandma and the hipster with a food notebook can easily dine together at a communal table. I've never been to Korea so I can't speak to how authentic it is - but I can certainly confirm it's tasty (and so can Grandma). We couldn't decide between the three grill options so went with the mix. The pork, beef tenderloin, and short rib over rice were all delicious. Next time (and there will be a next time), it's beef tenderloin all the way. The savory pancake was.. savory. The Korean sushi was.. Korean? It had marinated beef and a collection of vegetables that all blended very nicely. The kimchi fried rice was good and had some good crunch to it. Of all the dishes, this one I could take or leave. Overall, good time and great meal. 4-stars: Go tomorrow (and especially if you're in the neighborhood) ------ Ratings: 5: Go today 4: Go tomorrow 3: Go if you're in the neighborhood 2: Go if you're desperate 1: Go somewhere else read more

Food here taste very good. Additionally, the price is reasonable for the amount we get. I may come here again. read more

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I love Korean food and it is not easy to find in the Pittsburgh area. This place is great! It's small so small groups are preferred. Also be prepared to sit at the bar or get take our if no tables are available. The food was perfectly cooked and the happy hour defiantly made me happy. Can't wait to return. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped in here on a Wednesday for a late dinner around 8:15. The tables were all full, but someone soon greeted us and we were invited to sit at the bar. This ended up being an excellent choice, as we were able to chat with the staff and admire the space a little more. The decor is clean and stylish with a few throwback elements scattered throughout. The metal bar stools are slightly wider than usual, making them a lot more comfortable to sit on while waiting to be served. (A weird detail to notice, but it helped!) We ended up drinking the Soju Spritzer and the Honey Plum Bulleit. I'd have either one again in a heartbeat, but the spritzer was especially perfect for summer with a refreshing watermelon flavor. We shared the Kalbi and Korean BBQ Sampler entrees for dinner. They only had enough short rib for the Kalbi, so we ended up getting extra pork tenderloin on the sampler instead. I'll be getting all pork next time! The meat was tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. I thought the pickles perfectly complimented it as well. This isn't an "authentic" family-style Korean restaurant, so don't come expecting that. Expect to indulge in delicious drinks in a stylish atmosphere while eating some Korean BBQ favorites. Enjoy the flavors, order another round, and accept it for what it is. You'll be glad you did. A word about the service also...this place is run with a small but skilled and super friendly staff. You might wait an extra few minutes, but I personally prefer that to having extraneous servers on the floor and a bored, angry looking host at the door. If that's not your thing there are plenty of other restaurants in town. read more

This is one of my absolute most favorite places in town. The food is amazing, the drinks are awesome, and the staff is the friendliest of any restaurant I've ever been to. I've been wanting to try different things on their menu, but I always end up getting the katsu curry because it's just soooo good. They offer huge mugs (liters) of beer and their green grape, grapefruit, and plum soju are all delicious. I've been here 3 times and 2 out of 3 times the waitress has given us free drinks just so we could try the soju (without even asking). My husband and I went recently and it was pretty empty so the waitress invited us to the bar to do shots of plum wine with her, the chef, and the rest of the staff. Another staff member also shared some tequila with us. It really made my day because it was such a nice thing to do. Such an amazing place and amazing people! read more

Need the fried tofu in my life again ASAP. One of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh. First time there we were given shots of Soju (which is awesome btw) and it's also a great spot for takeout during Covid. read more

After coming here a few more times, I've decided that it is worth updating the review, and Soju gets their 5th star. The food has been consistently good, if not entirely traditional. I still *really* wish that the bibimbap was served in a hot stone (dolsot), but alas, it isn't. But hey, they have spoons at the tables now, their staff is very friendly, and I've met the chef now a couple times. He offered to make the katsu curry with tofu instead of chicken - and it was *excellent*. I suggested that he make that a permanent menu option. I've also been able to try several of their drinks. Great beer selection, and the cocktails have also been pretty great. read more

I am at a loss for words over this place. Tried coming here once before, but underestimated how busy they would be since they have no reservations (1 hour wait!) came back again on a Saturday night, kinda early (6pm) and the wait was only 30 min, which is so worth it. We sat at the bar, but it was still a very enjoyable cowrie crowd. The menu is curated perfectly in my opinion, with classic korean dishes and some fun twists jn the appetizers. Everything we ordered was so full of flavor and perfectly cooked. The portion sizes are HUGE, almost enough for 2-3 meals. They even had a host of vegan options! Unfortunately, the drinks weren't very strong, but still yummy. The staff was absolutely fantastic and very accommodating and attentive. They checked in on us and thanked us at the end for being patient. The owner/chef even came out at the end to greet us. Overall fantastic experience, I'm counting down the days until I get to go back! read more

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Bulgogi Beef. I have had this specific dish at least 4 times. It has been excellent and prepared perfectly each time. Everyone that I've interacted with has been extremely pleasant. I have only ever done takeout, but to me that makes the fact that the food being as good as it is every time even more impressive. We need more restaurants to follow this example. read more

I love the atmosphere and the service is great. We have been several times and always loved it. We went recently and were excited to share this experience with friends that currently live in Korea. Sadly, we did not finish our meal. The food was cold, overcooked and either drowning in sauce or lacking flavor. We went for a slice after to cleanse our palette. I really hope this was a one off but I for one won't be back any time soon. read more

I liked the ambience of the location and the friendly service. However, one shocking thing to get out of the way, both my Chinese American boyfriend and I were shocked that the rice was overcooked but then also tasted like there was not enough water. It was disgusting. But the actual food part was delicious. We loved the dwaejibulgogi, the gimbap, and the sides were so incredible complemented the meals deliciously! We wish they gave a little extra of sides since my boyfriend and I share asian food family style. I would definitely come back, and I'd like to order some drinks next time. read more

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Went here a few weeks ago and was very impressed. We sat at the bar. The staff was like a fine oiled machine in that I was never quite sure who my server was because they were all smooth in the transition of service. The food was delicious and flavorful. We ordered the Gimbap and were surprised at how fresh it was, we forgot to ask for yum yum/ spicy mayo sauce because it didn't need it. We got the Nori fries, because I've an unhealthy obsession with fries, and enjoyed the take on it with the nori. My companion ordered the kalbi and i got the Korean bbq combination. My goodness was it all good! The mixture of flavors and seasonings was well balanced. My companion got the soju plum which he liked. We tried the 3 soju infused in lavender, espresso, and pepper and fairly enjoyed their uniqueness. I had the soju punch and loved its fruity/ sweet flavor. Looking forward to going back tonight! read more

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Wow! What a cute place. Glad we got there early (6pm) as people were waiting for tables once we got there. I have a gluten allergy and the wait staff was very conscious and knew the menu so I could eat with confidence. I tried the poke with spicy mayo and it was amazing! The sides of pickled cucumbers and kimchi were also top notch! Nice selection of beer,wine and mixed drinks. I tried the sangria. It was complex and refreshing so much that I had 2. Definitely going back and I recommend you try if looking for a new place to eat. read more

A rare gem! This spot is definitely in my top 5 favorite Pittsburgh resteraunts. The menu pays homage to authentic flavors and dishes allowing a newbie to access amazing Korean tastes. Soju deeply cares about the community and offered $5 dishes on Mondays to help make food accessible during tough times. They also created remarkable new dishes like kimchi nachos which live on forever in my memory! I ordered takeout but went back for dine in several times. The interior is beautiful and the staff exceedingly friendly. I have sampled half the menu and have never been let down once! read more

Definitely more fusion and not your traditional Korean restaurant. Food was tasty, although it was not what was expected when we ordered. A bit overpriced and lacking abundance of free side dishes. read more

Soju - Korean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This place is top notch! The food was flawless, the drinks were strong and carefully made. The service was excellent and informative. Makes an affordable night out with a partner. I will be eating here regularly. Also the namesake beverage, Soju, is DELICIOUS. Have a shot, or two, or ten. The grapefruit variety was particularly memorable. Thank you kind folks at Soju! You make other restaurants look lazy and uninspired. Keep doing what you're doing and we'll love you forever. (Recommend the fried chicken katsu, but everything is excellent. Never seen better grill marks on the veggies that came with that dish. These people are seriously good.) read more

AMAZING!!! Im still dreaming about the food!!! Great place if ur vegetarian as most Korean places are. Killer tofu is amazing! It tastes like a chicken nugget with honey! The drinks are also amazing! So glad I found this place! Also the waiters are very nice and prompt! read more

Soju - Korean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Amazing food, service and atmosphere! Worth the effort. Atmosphere is terrific for drinks or dinner with friends. read more

Soju - Menu - Korean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Everything! This place has the best service in all of Pittsburgh not to mention Korean fusion with a menu that changes seasonally. It's always fresh and amazing. From the dishes to the tables, and curated cocktails. SOJU is the best and I hope all customers can keep it that way! read more

Came in for a late dinner after a long day of travel. Didn't want to finally make it to Pittsburg and eat at a chain restaurant. Found Soju on Yelp and decided to head over after looking at all their tasty menu items online. Started with the pork and kimchi dumplings. Delicious. Not too greasy and cooked to perfection. Loved the spicy dipping sauce. Ordered the bbq chicken entree and was very happy with my meal. Chicken was NOT dry, flavorful and charred perfectly. I was really impressed with the tasty side of vegetables. This place actually got me to eat all of my string beans and beets! The sauce for this entree was money. I told the chef he needs to bottle it up and sell it because it's that's good. Loved the atmosphere of this place. Warm and inviting. I sat at the bar and had a great experience. After having to choose from many delicious beers and cocktails, I ordered a really well crafted sangria. The fun and friendly staff gave me a warm welcome to Pittsburg. Everyone was great. Loved the music as well. Eat here, you won't be disappointed! read more

Great food! Super slow service! Be aware of the long wait When you come in, you can seat yourself and do not waste time waiting for a host. When we came in around 7pm, they weren't busy so they told us we can sit wherever we want. But during our time at the restaurant, it got filled pretty quick and people were coming in, we saw them waiting to be seated for a long time before the waitress get a chance to stopover and tell them seat themselves at the bar or any table. We were really happy with the food but not the service. Our appetizer came out very fast but it took a very long time for the entry. Ordered Chicken kasu, it is fried chicken with house bbq sauce. 10/10 crispy batter and well seasoned chicken. Madu, we got the pork ones. I would say they are 7.5/10. It is essentially fried dumplings. The dipping sauce is sour and spicy/sweet, but the filling were a little bit dry. For entry, we got BBQ combo, 8.5/10, it came with 3 kinds of bbq, kabi ribs, bogogi and grilled pork. I like the beef better than the pork. The pork turned out a little dry but the beef were very juicy, tender and flavorful. Also the BBQ combo comes with two small side plates, it includes kimchi, radish and pickled cucumber. As I was saying the slow service, we waited long time to get it, even people came in after us ordered the same thing and had their entry for a while and we were still waiting. After we finished our meal, we waited long time for the check, even we try get eye contact so that our waitress would notice that we are ready for a check. Not very effective. Eventually, we were able to get her attention by waving. I'm not sure if I would come back to do a sit down dinner anymore. We had to wait too long for a Tuesday night, I can't imagine any other days that could be less of a wait. Maybe takeout next time? read more

Love this place. Everything on the menu is incredible with taste. The drinks are phenomenal as well, Soju Punch and Spam drink are DELICIOUS. Staff is always friendly and always on top of service. 5/5. read more

I like this place. Did I feel like I was in Seoul? Not really - too many people speaking English, not enough people glued to their phones, and women didn't all have one of five haircuts/hair colors. Did I feel like I was in Koreatown in Manhattan? Not really - way too many sober people. Did I feel like I was in Flushing, Queens? Could've been! I liked the food, may not be the most authentic Korean food I ever had but when I ate it my taste buds were like, "mmm more please." Prompt and very friendly service. Nice ambience. A little expensive, though I did have plenty of leftovers. Banchan should come with every meal, and not just a few, but that's a minor quibble. I will come back. read more

Best new restaurant in Pittsburgh. Been twice in two weeks. The pork mandu is a quick delightful app With the homemade sauce topping it off. Gimbap for all sushi lovers is something like I've never had before. Excellent. I got chicken Katsu both times because it was good the first time but there are a lot of unique dishes that all look tasty. The homemade cheesecake was light and airy with great taste. Can't wait to go back to the friendly atmosphere and enjoy some of the hand crafted cocktails. read more

Went to Soju with my boyfriend and ate outside. Atmosphere and seating was good although there was a large bumble bee flying around us! I got bimbimbap which was very filling and tasty, though could have been a bit warmer when served. They gave me a sauce on the side which was quite spicy- recommend trying it alone before putting it on the food lol. The service was very nice and fast. I have been to better Korean places in NYC and Boston but still highly recommend this hidden little restaurant near the heart of Lawrenceville. read more

The food is excellent, and the service is very nice and friendly. The interior decoration of the place is also great and makes the place very welcoming, nice big open window in front as well to enjoy summer evenings. My only negative point is that the prices are rather on the high side and could be a little bit more reasonable for the food you get. For vegetarian fellows, they do have a good set of options which I particularly appreciated, as long as you would be ok with eating eggs. read more

Soju is a great new restaurant in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Garfield. We had the Kalbi and the Bulgogi for our entrees and the Gimbap for the appetizer. All the food was great and the Serb was wonderful. We'll be back for sure. read more

Soju - Korean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've been wanting to try Soju for a long time (ever since I saw the first picture of their kimchi pancake) and it didn't disappoint. I brought my mom along since she loves to explore food too. Service was very good. Our waitress gave us the drink specials and mom tired one. It had tequila and watermelon water in it and was very interesting. I had the Soju punch with maggie's pineapple farm rum and like it. Mom like it too and had one as her second drink since I was driving. We had to try two apps. The Kimchijeon (Kimchi Pancake) of couse because that is what caught my eye to try this place and the Tteokbokki (Spicy stir-fired rice). I loved the pancake and the dipping sauce that came with it. I wasn't as fond of the rice cakes but mom loved them and she really loved the sauce they were in. Mom loved her bbq pork and the side cucumbers and wasn't as impressed with the side of kimchi (both radish and cabbage). I tired and liked a three. I've had better kimchi but it was still decent. The Poke was flavorful and fresh. The chunks were cut a little small for my taste but still really good. I also got a side of the spicy cucumbers. I just love them. We were way too full for desert but the waitress came back after we had the check and asked if we would like to join her in a shot of Soju. Neither of us had ever tried it and we both liked it very much. Not sure if that was just something the waitress did or if they do that to introduce new people to it but it worked either way because we plan to come back and order it on our next trip. read more

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This is a pretty new place. The dining environment is really nice. They also have a wet bar. The food is so so, very Americanized mixed Asian food. We tried six different dishes. The curry and short beef ribs are pretty good. The rice bowel and spicy kimchi tofu soup is not good. They are not even close to what Korean food like. In general, 5 stars for environment and services. 2.5 stars for food taste. read more

In town for business from Minnesota, saw it was hot and new. Food was was awesome, brought me right back to when I was there. Staff and Owner super nice. Best wishes Must go read more

AUTHENTIC homemade Korean food! I am Korean and have been to South Korea many times to visit my family. The food reminds me of my childhood because it tastes like the food my mom makes at home. I overheard the owner say that he uses his grandmother's recipes. I think that this is my favorite Korean restaurant in pgh. The kalbi is addicting and delicious! Also tried the kimchijeon, chicken katsu, and bibimbap. All delicious. I can't say enough good things about this place!! read more

Soju - Korean Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania