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    Somaek

    4.0 (88 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Somaek Photos

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    SOMAEK ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Somaek

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    Julie F.

    I'm Korean and had the most wonderful time here on my birthday with friends. Love the story behind the restaurant. Service was wonderful. Food was delicious! It is served family style. Some of our group was newer to Korean food and they all loved it. I felt like I was in Korea and eating Halmoni's food.

    Wern O.

    TLDR: Delectable Asian food Interior is casual and would not recommend the spot for big (6+) groups. However food was quite good and the service also very good. Our highlights included the Galbi, Mackerel, and Jigae. We've been long time Temple Bar patrons and were happy to finally try out Somaek!

    Banchan
    Evelyn W.

    I thought the location was great and service was amazing, but food fell a little flat for me. I really enjoyed the cocktail selection and banchan, but not sure I'd return for apps and entrees. The jajjangmyun leaned more heavily into the chinese version rather than the korean one, which I didn't expect. The braised fish was very good and hearty, but not much different than what you can find at another more casual Korean restaurant. For the price and how much I'd heard about the head chef, I expected a bit more.

    Kimchi jjigae and panjeon
    Nina F.

    Easily the best meal of my long weekend in Boston with top reviews on not just food, but service as well. It's a small place with options for bar or table and could be a little cramped for some. I wish I caught the name of our server who was outstanding, patient in explaining the various dishes and helped our pronunciation! Not pictured in our photos were the sashimi and stir-fried squid with veggies plus kimchi jjigae and panjeon. We enjoyed every dish and wish we tried more of the banchan outside of the complimentary. Leftovers were a must and just as enjoyable the next day. Great place that I'd love to visit again!

    Beef Mandu
    Connie L.

    While the service was nice, the food definitely fell short of expectations. Nothing tasted that authentic and their dishes were so expensive for such small portions. $19 for 5 pieces of Bossam is insane. The doenjangjigae had a really off-putting fishy taste & smell to it. The only redeeming dish was their beef mandu that was rather tasty. But everything else was genuinely so disappointing.

    Kkaennip-jeon
    Christina K.

    The food and service were amazing! The servers and manager (Dennis) were informative, helpful and kind. Theo helped us with the menu and picked out a great beer & soju for us! A couple other servers helped bring food out to the tables and kept up with picking up plates as they were cleared. Each being very nice. Yes the tables are small and a tight space which can be a concern BUT they know how to work the space and can still have an enjoyable meal. We had a total of 4 banchans, 2 apps and 2 entrees along with sauces, rice and our drinks on the table. A lot, and it still worked. The food was amazing. I could probably drink their sauces. The sashimi was fresh. Everything was great. I'm not a Korean food connoisseur so not sure about lower ratings on here but from my understanding it is inspired by family style meals. That being said I think the smaller portions + multiple plates meant for sharing are perfect and makes for a fun meal that leaves you at a satisfied full. As for comments on authenticity while I cant comment much on that I feel this always varies as families across regions of any country have their own influences and versions of meals. The food is good, the service is great, and with that you can have a great meal solo or with company!

    Nancy H.

    Small space with maybe 10 tables. Service was good, but food was very poor to mediocre. Not authentic whatsoever. The dumplings tasted frozen. The doenjjangjigae was altered way too much and didn't even taste like the actual soup anymore. Pretty expensive for the portion as well.

    Stir fried squid
    My-Linh D.

    Somaek is such a cute spot and the location in Boston is super convenient. I went on a Thursday night with a reservation, and it was still completely packed -- we ended up being seated at the bar, which honestly added to the lively vibe. The menu has a great range of classic Korean dishes. We ordered the seafood pancake, vegetable dumplings, kimchi soup, bossam, and the stir-fried squid. The seafood pancake was a bit soft for my liking, and the dumplings were solid and well-balanced. The kimchi soup was decent bossam was good but standard. The stir-fried squid dish unfortunately had more veggies than squid but still tasty. Overall, everything was good and well-executed, just not necessarily "wow" for me -- but that's more personal preference than a knock on the kitchen.

    Mackerel
    Kayla L.

    Conveniently located in downtown, the restaurant is cozy and very beautiful decorated. They have a long bar tables for individuals or in case you didn't manage to snag one of those tables. The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. Food wise-bosses (steam pork belly wrap, seafood pancake, pork bulgogi, grilled salted mackerel) was all so scrumptious and I'm about to die for the mackerel ! The cocktails are very creative and cater to using Korean influences in the drink-I got the Seoul 75 and it was deliciously dangerous! Hehe. Can't wait to come back again!

    Everything platter
    Carter S.

    Wasn't bad but wasn't great. Service was on par and the best servers/hosts, but the food imo didn't quite match what I hoped it to be. I liked the aspect on taking on a fine dining lens on korean cuisine but the two noodle dishes that we got wasn't anything special. The dried fish however was STELLARRRRRRRR. Would come back to eat that again. Banchan was yummy too but nothing crazy.

    galbi
    Winni Z.

    Honestly, everything was just okay. Can't say I would go back. In terms of the food, I don't think Somaek can beat any of the Korean restaurants in Allston. The prices weren't bad, but the portions were disappointing. Paying for banchan is also against everything I stand for. However, they were kind enough to provide free banchan since it was our first time there. The interior was clean, but bland and boring. I thought the service was great. The staff was kind and friendly and was ready to provide recommendations. I'm glad I gave it a try.

    Exterior
    Adina S.

    Great spot! I've actually been to Somaek twice and really enjoyed it both times. It's a pretty nice spot, but it's not especially fancy in terms of ambiance/decor. I'd recommend sitting at the bar if you want to have more of a relaxed dining experience. Great service overall. In terms of food, Somaek is sort of a Korean tapas style place, especially if you're fairly hungry. I really enjoyed all the dishes I tried, the kimchi stew. The second time I went they actually provided some free banchan, which I really appreciated. Very solid drinks as well. I'd be happy to come back!

    Bossam
    Amy C.

    I've been meaning to try this place since it opened and finally got the chance to on a Thursday night. Definitely make a reservation if you can because it was quite busy and it's a smaller restaurant. They have a smaller menu so we ordered a few to share. We got the bossam, pajeon, jjajangmyeon, jjigae, and galbi. Overall the dishes were good but I definitely had better Korean food in Boston. The dishes were smaller in size than I expected for the prices. My favorite out of all the dishes was the jjigae (soybean soup). They do have a small cocktail menu and I got the gam cocktail which was surprisingly good. I would recommend the drinks more than the food.

    Pork bulgogi

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    1 year ago

    Great Breakfast. Mexican pork Hash is amazing! Pancakes also amazing! Delicious and good service.

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    KChickin

    KChickin

    4.6
    (175 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    After our hotdog at our first Fenway game, we were hungry. The hotdog was good but it was not…read moreenough LOL We decided to find a place nearby and decided on some Asian food. We found KChickin nearby on Peterborough Street and they're open until 9:30pm. We walked quickly over as hunger is a good motivator to walk fast. The restaurant has takeout but offered enough space to hold three famished Fenway newbies. Service was quickly and friendly and the food was served fairly quickly. Seems like most restaurants begin at the suggested 18% tip to start. Some calculate their tipping suggestions at your subtotal before adding the taxes to your bill. This restaurant included the taxes as part of its tip calculation so be aware that you're actually tipping more than 18%. FYI: as a customer, you decide how much to tip for quality service. Bringing your orders to your table is basic. How many times they filled your water cups and check up on you are important and expected. Tipping is not automatic in my humble opinion. Servers who work diligently for their tips so tip accordingly to those who provided a great dining experience.

    KChickin is one of those places that earns its high rating without much argument. We walked into a…read morespace that buzzes even on weeknight evenings, with a menu spanning Korean fried chicken, sushi, hand rolls, and Japanese comfort food. That combination sounds like it could go sideways, but the kitchen handles the range with enough confidence that the whole thing works. The fried chicken is the anchor of the menu and the reason most people come back. We ordered the soy garlic wings, the most talked about item, and they justified the reputation. They came out freshly fried with a glaze that coated evenly and a crunch that held. The chili basil version is worth ordering alongside if you want some heat, and the classic crispy is the right call for anyone who wants to taste the chicken itself without much interference. The calamari is a strong starter, well fried and light enough that it did not weigh down the rest of the meal before it got going. On the Japanese side of the menu, the kaisen don stood out. The presentation was careful and the fish was fresh in a way that made it feel like a dish the kitchen takes seriously rather than an afterthought. The hand rolls are solid and satisfying, though they lean more reliable than revelatory, making them a good addition to a larger spread rather than the sole reason to visit. For a spot covering this much ground, the consistency impressed us most. People drive over an hour to eat here, and that says something. It earns the trip. We would come back for the soy garlic wings and a bowl of kimchi tofu soup, and we would bring friends who want both Korean fried chicken and fresh sushi under one roof.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Kimchi Tofu Soup
    Kimchi Tofu Soup
    Soy garlic wings

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    Soy garlic wings
    Naksan BBQ

    Naksan BBQ

    3.9
    (245 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$$$

    Great ambiance, nice dimly lit atmosphere and each grill is nicely spread out. The service was…read morequick and wonderful. The servers grill the meat for you here. The food was all divine. Meats were delicious and cooked great! Definitely on the pricier side but worth the splurge for a nice date or meal with friends. Parking can be a doozy but if you circle the block there is street parking on the opposite street. Would definitely go back, this is Boston's best upscale-esque kbbq that I have had. Overall an 8 or 9/10, only deducting points because I do feel the price is a bit much in comparison to other restaurants that offer the same (but I also understand this is the only place bringing this kind of service in Boston atm) signed, a KBBQ fanatic

    This was my first time trying KBBQ in Boston in probably 10 years or so. Based off of the photos,…read morebranding and ambience, I was expecting a somewhat upscale experience. While I appreciated small touches with being able to put your jackets in a plastic bag under your seat, everything else fell a bit short. The quality of the meats and produce was a bit disappointing. The onion our server used to flavor and start our grill with looked dry, the pumpkin seemed to have a bit of frost as though it were frozen, and the overall quality of the meat was a bit lackluster. Even towards the end of our meal, even when our server told us the meat was ready, a couple of pieces were still raw. The banchan was not bad and the bibim naengmyeon we had was probably the best part of our meal. Sadly I don't think we'll be back based on our experience.

    Photos
    Banchan (side dishes)
    Banchan (side dishes)
    Steamed egg (comes with the combo)
    Steamed egg (comes with the combo)
    Premium pork belly

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    Premium pork belly
    Somenya - Soba restaurant

    Somenya - Soba restaurant

    4.4
    (195 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Handmade noodles... no need to say more! I'm in! I was not disappointed. The restaurant is small,…read morecozy, casual nestled unassuming on the edge of bustling Chinatown. For an appetizer my friend and I had the spicy salmon tartare which was excellent. Thick cubes of salmon poke tossed in a bright yuzu vinaigrette that enhanced the flavor of the salmon excentuated by bursting ikura added another level to a refreshing texture. The saffron threads added aesthetic and a perfectly delicate garnish. For entrees, we had to try both the homemade soba and udon noodles. Both were so soft with great flavor that provides the essential reminder that homemade is superior. The soba noodles, if you have never had them, are almost sweet. The tofu in the yasai soup was a delightful fluffy pillow of fried tofu skin thinly cut and same flavor as inari tofu. I added a poached egg and the flavor of the yolk mixed into the noodles is unrivaled. I want to eat it for breakfast. I will definitely be back to try more of the menu.

    I've been here a couple times. The soba noodles were refreshing and the broth has been umami. Had…read morethe tofu here as well. The service was pretty typical, so the wait staff were friendly and attentive. Ambiance and decor was pretty cool too. The pricing is pretty typical of Chinatown Boston restaurants. 8/10: food gets the job done. Effort was shown to the dishes but nothing was extremely mind blowing. Definitely worth a try.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Spicy snow crab meat hot soba
    Spicy snow crab meat hot soba
    Japanese Takoyaki

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    Japanese Takoyaki
    Seoul Topokki

    Seoul Topokki

    4.0
    (180 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    I don't typically write reviews but the food was amazing + nice ambiance+ service was so good. I…read morewas surprised to find affordable food with good portion sizes that tastes delicious... I'm already craving the spicy tofu soup again . (Goodbye savings) joking aside, im so happy I've found this gem. Im definitely coming back Also you can get a discount if you pay in cash so keep that in mind before you come!!

    This was our second time ordering delivery from Seoul Topokki. We remembered it being really good…read morethe first time, so we went for round two. We ordered the cheese topokki (soft rice cake, fish cake, vegetable, & mozzarella in Korean spicy sauce) & the beef bulgogi bowl (fried marinated beef, vegetables, steamed rice & side of soup). The cheese topokki was just as good as we remembered - chewy, flavorful, comforting, & a little bit weird. The cheese was poorly distributed, but it was still very tasty. The beef bulgogi bowl was really underwhelming. Firstly, it was very little food. We were promised vegetables, but there were only a few scarce onions & zucchini pieces mixed in. It was also dry. It was devoid of moisture & sauce, so we added some from the fridge at home. The side of soup was a joke. It filled only about 2/3 of the container & looked so sad, we wondered if it was the sauce that we we so desperately needed. Nope, just a meager amount of watered down miso soup. So the conclusion - great topokki, sub-par bulgogi, non-existent soup.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Seoul Topokki
    Seoul Topokki

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    Somaek - korean - Updated June 2026

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