Nice quaint location in Berkeley. A quiet Sunday, light crowd but busy. Service was quick in both ordering and delivery of the entrée dishes. Sides were delivered as soon as the order was provided and the waitress kept checking on us beinging additinal sides once we fisnished them. . Food was great and a lot for the price. Yes, prices are high due to inflation but the food portions are large enough for two people per dish. Great place to eat if 8n the area. read more

Spoon - Hot Bimbimbap , Tonkatsu - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

The cheesy corn was super good. Also really enjoyed the tteokbokki and the custom ramen. The service was excellent and really helpful

Spoon Korean Bistro is one of my go-to spots in Berkeley! Service is always quick and super friendly. The food hits every time. The dolsot bibimbap is perfectly crispy, the seafood pancake is loaded and crispy on the edges, the kimchi fried rice is flavorful with a nice kick, and the chicken wings are crispy, saucy, and addictive. Great vibes, great food, fast service! read more

The food and atmosphere have improved a lot over the last 6 months! I truely enjoy visiting with the server Naomi being so accommodating and friendly~ read more

On my recent visit we ordered short rib bbq and jhapchae. Short rib was highlight of the dinner well marinated cooked perfectly. Jhapchae had slightly sweet flavor that didn't overpower the ingredients. Also complimentary side dishes were great and tasted fresh. Service was friendly and attentive. read more

Ughhhhhh I wanted to love this place, but I think you kinda know when a business tries to do too many things, they end up not doing a great job at either. I didn't end up trying any sushi, but the Korean food was not there. The Hamachi kama came out literally burnt and broken apart, which felt like the final nail in the coffin. You could not eat the skin at all. The fish itself was still moist, but I think the heat was too high or someone forgot about it. The seafood pancake had very little seafood in it, but it was crispy. Sauce that came with it was a little weird. The Korean Gnocchi soup would have been my favorite dish because we were able to fix the broth with some salt. The gnocchi was a good texture, and the shape reminded me of squid. But unfortunately we opted to add chicken which cost an extra 3 dollars and honestly, it kind of ruined the dish with no way to salvage it. It was giving dry/shredded rotisserie chicken. Egg souffle was tasteless. The side dishes were pretty bad, either underseasoned and also overly sour kimchi, overly funky seaweed. The servers were pretty attentive and got us the things we needed. I don't think I would come back. read more

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This little gem in Berkeley is serving amazing food and amazing service. The portions you get are by far better than most places in the Bay Area. I was able to try one of their new specials made for families to share and all I wanted was more! read more

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I have returned to this spot for a 2nd time and this place do not disappoint. Clean and the waiter and waitress very attentive. Food was excellent and it started out as quiet but by the time we were getting ready to leave it started to get busy. Food was excellent and came quickly after we order. Excellent and was flavorful but not salty! Just the best place for Korean food. read more

This place has a wide variety of Asian food from Korean, Japanese, and Hawaiian. Service was good and food came relatively fast. Started with the complimentary banchan dishes with kimchee, pickled cucumber, seaweed, seasoned broccoli. Also ordered the corn cheese, Jhap Chae fried rice, & bento box. Both meals were good proportions and had to take food home for later (even better late nite!). Would come back again. read more

Spoon - Corn Cheese - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

service was great, they were very hospitable. The food was excellent, this is my third time coming and their consistent quality is impressive. I love the atmosphere and look forward to coming again. read more

I have passed by this place so many times, but never got a chance to try it until recently. It's great to know that there's such a solid Korean place so close to Emeryville! The Spicy Beef Noodle Soup ($20.99) had really good flavor and the medium spice level was a nice, challenging amount. I really enjoyed all the veggies, especially the fern, in here. The noodles were also perfectly cooked. The Dolsot Bibimbop with bulgogi ($20.99) was my favorite -- it came out so hot and packed with veggies. It was probably the best Bibimbop I've had. I will say though that the banchan wasn't as good as at other places and the meal was definitely on the pricier side. However, the dishes really made up for it with their flavors. Spoon would definitely be one of my go to spots if I was ever craving Korean food! read more

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The service was fast and the food came out extremely fresh, I loved the kpop music and the light hearted atmosphere!!

My friend and I came here for a late lunch on a Tuesday afternoon. It wasn't busy when we arrived and we were seated immediately. Food: My friend and I ordered the following: Corn Cheese - Delicious but you cannot go wrong with corn and cheese. Spicy edamame - these were saucy and good Garden Roll - this was avocado and cream cheese which is great for me. Hate it all you want, but cream cheese in sushi rolls is good. Tofu Pancake - not really a pancake, but more like fried tofu. Still good though. Spicy Pork Belly - My friend ordered this for herself, and she thought it was pretty good. The portion was pretty big too. Service: Our waiter was pretty friendly and attentive. They weren't very busy when we were there so we could see the servers restocking and taking deliveries. Even then, they never forgot about us! Our food came out promptly as well. TL;DR - good service with some good korean food! read more

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I am surprised by the relatively low average rating of 4.0. We had a delicious meal. I had the Korean Spicy Beef Stew and my wife had the Kimchi Stew. My wife said she had tasted slightly better someplace else in SF, but we both really enjoyed our meals. But, absolutely the BEST part was the serving of banchan. They gave us six different banchan sides, all very good and kept offering to give us more without us even asking. I know you can get good kimchi many places, but this was absolutely the BEST kimchi I think I have ever had. I asked them where they got it and they said it was made in-house. I suggested that they sell it. We had dinner there, but I asked if they also served it at lunch and they said they did so long as you ordered an entree. I thought Spoon was better than Berkeley Social Club, where I ordered an entree at lunch and did not get ANY banchan, not even kimchi. I also liked the food and service better at Spoon. And, the restaurant has an adjoining (free) parking lot, so you don't have to "feed" meters on University Avenue. read more

I've eaten at Spoon about a dozen times and tried about 6 of their dishes plus the banchan of course. All the food and service has been consistently great. I love going during off-peak hours for a leisurely meal when I don't feel bad about asking chef to make the stone bowl extra hot so I get that delightful crispy rice at the bottom of my bibimbap. Yum! read more

Had a good craving for Korean food today, so here I am! Parking is not too bad but I did a circle around twice until i found something. Street parking only. I looked around the menu and instantly noticed a few glaring things. You're probably going to shell out some $$$ for what you would normally get in most other Korean restaurants and most standard things will cost you as an add-on. Luckily the banchan are still free with the entrees, phew... Though don't get your hopes up yet. The banchan were incredibly bland, pretty much flavorless. Pretty sure its not me and its the dishes. The banchan could definitely use some help in the flavor department. Now, what did I get? I ended up getting the tofu stew. You only had one selection and it was an incredibly vanilla one. So don't expect a wide selection of tofu at this place. The fishcake was an add-on for $2 at the time of writing this. The dish came with an egg, no charge. The flavor in this entree was pretty good. This restaurant brings the rice out with the banchan unless you ask them to hold it till the tofu. I usually turn the lid the egg comes on over on the rice to keep it warm. Overall, it was a bit below expectations, but wasn't bad. Would I recommend it? For the pricepoint and what it offers, probably not given everything else in the area. read more

Spoon - Banchan you get with entree orders. - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This was genuinely the best korean food I've had in the bay. As someone who was born in Korea, I've had a hard time adjusting to American restaurants so it was definitely a good experience. The servers were super friendly and helpful and they have this new space in the back which really adds to the atmosphere. 10/10 recommend read more

Food was ok. Service was pretty good. Outdoor seating area is nice but can get a bit chilly We got there around dinner on a weeknight and most the tables were filled but we didn't have an issue getting seated. Service was a little slow after getting seated. We asked for some sauces and a refill on the banchan and they said sure but never gave them to us. Spicy beef stew - pretty tasty. The glass noodles were very overcooked though. The rice they served with the stew was hard. Japchae - noodle texture was better but sauce was on the sweeter side Good banchan! read more

Spoon - Banchan side dishes - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Had the spicy ramen with medium spice and spam as the protein. It tasted absolutely fantastic. The servers were attentive. The music gave a casual vibe, there was k-pop music videos playing on their TV. I would definitely come back for the ramen! read more

Spoon - Spicy Ramen with Spam (medium spice) - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

Sorry guys and gals, I know " Crash Landing on You" is like one of the best Korean shows ever made right? I simply can't get into watching it! Maybe it's too "cheesy"? However, I'm always up to eating some cheesy corn and a hot bowl of kim chi stew! Spoon is a great spot in Berkeley for some casual Korean food. Good soups to warm the tummy and the soul. Order some deep fried wings and wash it down with bottle of Terra beer! Lots of patio sitting and indoor sitting as well that's great for the warmer days we've been having. read more

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Delicious food, great service, fun atmosphere and a lovely back room that is great for groups!

This has the best homestyle Korean food in the bay!! Tried their dolsot bibimbap and they had a nice array of toppings. Definitely would come back read more

A solid spot for Korean and Japanese food. Parking is street parking only but when we went it was a weekday pretty close to when they opened. There's outdoor and indoor seating available. Our server was very nice and the food came out quick. We ordered beef bulgogi and mandu. Everything came out piping hot including the soup. The bulgogi was served hot and sizzling on a hot plate. The banchan were just fine. Not plentiful or anything extraordinary compared to other Korean restaurants I've been so around CA, especially Koreatown in LA. Seaweed soup was great. We were in town so it was a good place to go that was nearby without having to go in a different direction. As always I'd recommend not keeping belongings in your car in plain view. This is true anywhere in the Bay Area though. read more

We ate here for lunch on a Saturday and overall had a great experience. The portion sizes and quality definitely match the pricing. My BBQ rice plate was huge and the beef was really tender and flavorful. We absolutely loved the spicy rice cakes with cheese and that was probably our favorite part of our meal. Service was great, they are very friendly and accommodating which I appreciated. They have a nice shaded outdoor patio that is really nice in the summertime. We will definitely be back! read more

Spoon - Tteokbokki with cheese (extra charge for cheese) - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I would give zero score one is too high for them I sit outside and wait for 40min no food and very cold the food is not as good as any other Korean house here at bay or in NYC bad experience read more

My food was very good, kept me full for quite a few meals. The service was average (nothing to write home about but very standard which is good). I went when it was slow so it ended up not having too busy but it was very good. The bibimbap toppings were a bit odd for me but still tasty. read more

Came here on a sunday night, and place wasn't packed at all. The korean fried chicken (soy garlic) was one of my favorites . Great korean comfort food and customer service. read more

If you want authentic Korean food then this is the place. The menu is limited but the food is great. The Korean chicken and soups are delicious. Service is variable depending on how busy it is: great to ok. read more

best food ever!!!!! Great service! the place is in such a good location and has parking! read more

Great restaurant just came to Berkeley and really good Korean food. Amazing staff one guy runs the whole restaurant, so nice and restaurant so busy but makes you feel like the only one. Busy ,on a Tuesday night, must be a known local spot. Next time I'm in town I will be at Spoon! read more

Personally, I would only really go to spoon for their family special, because it's so worth it for what you get! It's $49, and I split this with my friend and we had a pretty big appetite but left feeling full. You can definitely get away with sharing this with 3 friends and you'll get a good bang for your buck + the quality is decent. Service is great - the server was adorable, friendly, and attentive! Definitely left a good tip. It's a sit down and eat type of spot, so probably would be a 60 minute lunch or dinner! read more

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Casual setting, fair prices but the bimbimbap veggies included kale and red cabbage which isn't traditional? Good selection of sides though read more

Spoon - Bimbimbap - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

Very generous portions! Good Flavor. Very Yum. Music very hip. Service super fast. The banchan are very good.

When the food came out, I thought that I had made a poor decision but the flavor was really good. Surprisingly, the salmon roll had some very buttery salmon and their seafood pancake and spicy beef noodle soup tasted great. read more

Can't believe I haven't been here earlier. Spoon is probably one of the better Korean spots in Berkeley so far, dishes alone. The decor definitely adds cool points. For COVID safety purposes, patrons/staff must wear masks, and social distancing is enforced. We ordered takeout, but would absolutely revisit to dine in sometime in the future. Our order (3 dishes) took around 40 mins on a busy weekend evening. SOFT TOFU STEW (no spice): Great tofu-protein-soup ratio! Spiced up well without any spiciness (': Their takeout portions are pretty hefty, even for a soup. SPICY CHICKEN PLATE: Very much on the sweeter side. I'm spice-adverse, and even my bland taste buds could handle the chicken. Comes with salad (sesame dressing), veggies, & rice-- skimping slightly on the chicken, but otherwise tasty. In true Berkeley fashion, almost everything on the menu can be made vegan. More on the pricey side for a casual dinner out, but you really get the quality you pay for. read more

Spoon - BBQ Chicken Plate - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

Spoon Korean Bistro is the real deal and I'm still in a food coma from my meal. The food, ambiance, service--they have it down to a T! My Mom and Stepdad raved about their experience here so it was a nice surprise when they took me here. For dinner I ordered the Soft Tofu Stew with Vegetables and Mild Spice. The stew comes with a side of rice and an egg and you have the option to choose your protein and spice level. Every bite was packed with the flavorful broth and loaded with tofu and vegetables. Although I asked for mild, my tongue was burning and my nose was running. On a cold night, the stew hit the spot. It was hearty, filling, and wasn't heavy. My Stepdad and Mom ordered the Korean BBQ and raved about it! The banchan that came with it was fresh and tasty--they also refilled it for us which was a plus. We all found the food to be delicious and portion size to be huge! Overall, the restaurant has an extensive menu from traditional Korean dishes, Japanese offerings, and lots of rolls--any customer is bound to be satisfied! They offer seating both inside and outside. We opted to eat outside where they have a beautiful setup! Service was friendly and parking is on the street. I can't wait to come back to try their other dishes! read more

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YUM! This place was soooo good. We got the tofu Jhap Chae noodles, bulgogi Korean BBQ with all the sides, and the chicken wings! Everything was flavored well and tasted so delicious. The chicken wings had just the right amount of spice and some crunch to them. I think the standout of the meal was the bulgogi which was served on a steaming bowl and was perfectly tender. It came with lots of banchan side dishes which were fun to try! This spot is great for a casual Korean dining experience and they have indoor seating with a nice outdoor dining patio. Service is friendly and efficient and there is usually lots of parking! Definitely will be back for more food! read more

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When I first saw this spot I was a bit skeptical because they serve Japanese and Korean food, not a fusion, but both separately. As they say though never judge a book by its cover because this spot had some really delicious food! In terms of sushi we ordered the Sakura roll and dragon roll. Both were really good but the size of each piece was pretty different. For the Korean food we ordered the rose rice cakes, kimchi pancake, spicy pork belly, galbi, and beef bibimbap. They have a lot of side dishes as well and the meat also came with lettuce, the galbi was some of the best I've ever had it was so tender and flavorful! The kimchi pancake was also one of my favorite dishes of the night because it was so crispy and the kimchi tastes amazing. Service was attentive as well, we got sat in the back but the server kept coming back to check on us. It's a fairly large restaurant as well so it's great to come with a group. Overall this isn't going to be the best quality sushi or Korean food but it's a great spot if you're feeling indecisive between the two cuisines. Definitely recommend checking it out if you're in the area! read more

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Good service!!! Great food!!!!!! Would love to come back!!!!! Prices are affordable and portion is huge too

Vegan ramen 100/10 Love coming here for their spicy ramen. Comes with sides of broccoli, seaweed, cucumber salad, and Kimchi (which I unfortunately learned isn't vegan friendly bc of fish oil ) They have a soft tofu option to add which is great! I wish/hope they consider to add fried tofu and more vegan friendly options. read more

Spoon - Spicy vegan ramen with tofu - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

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